On 20 February 1478 a Petition to Parliament from Roger Twynyho was heard. It related to the trial and execution of his wife, Ankarette Twynyho, at the direction of George Duke of Clarence. Ankarette had been charged with giving the Duchess of Clarence a ‘venomous drink’ which was believed to have caused the death of Isabel Neville, the Duchess of Clarence. The petition was read just days after George Duke of Clarence’s own execution for treason against his brother.
Roger Twynyho’s wife was blamed by George, Duke of Clarence for the death by poisoning his wife. Isabel, Duchess of Clarence, had, in fact, most probably died because of complications following childbirth.
The allegation against George was not cited by King Edward IV in the trial of the Duke of Clarence. It is therefore unclear if it had any bearing on the fate of the kings brother.
Petition of Roger Twynyho
The following is an extract from Roger Twynyho’s petition, dated this day in 1478:
“[They] took from her all her jewels… and also, on the Duke of Clarence’s behalf as though he had used the King’s power… they then caused her to be brought to the guildhall at Warwick before justices of peace in the county then sitting in session and caused her to be indicted by the same name… of having… given to the said Isabel a venomous drink of ale mixed with poison, of which she sickened until… she died. The justices arraigned Ankarette and a jury appeared and found her guilty, and it was determined that she be taken from the bar there to the gaol at Warwick and from thence should be drawn through the town to the gallows and hanged until she was dead. The sheriff was commanded to do the execution and so he did.”
The petition shows that ordinary people had the right to go to Parliament with a concern. Such petitions usually concerned economic or land rights but could include many other issues.
Twynyho received a sympathetic hearing from Parliament. It arrived two weeks after the Duke of Clarence had been found guilty of treason and just days after his execution.
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Isabel Neville Duchess of Clarence, whom George Duke of Clarence accused Ankarette Twynyho of poisoning.