Newgate Prison, London, Newgate Street, City of London, England, British Isles [Map]

Close Rolls Edward II 1307-1313. 24th January 1308 King Edward II of England (age 23). Canterbury, Kent [Map]. To the Sheriffs of London. Order to deliver John de la Dune, Roger de Hopton, Richard le Harpour, Roger de Soppewalle, Roger le Keu, Rober le Hunt, Thomas de Sydenham, Henry le Gardener, Thomas de la More, Philip Kemp, John le Wayt, and John le Wodeward, the men and servants of Adam de Kyngeshemede, in the King's prison of Newgate [Map] for a trespass committed by them upon the King's men at Westminster [Map], from prison upon their finding sufficient mainpernor's to have them before the King or his Lieutenant in the quinzaine of the Purification of St Mary to stand to right concerning the said trespass. Witness: Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall (age 24).

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. Master Robert de Baldock,¹ after enduring many humiliations, was handed over to the bishop of Hereford's prison, where he lived a most miserable life until the next feast of the Purification. At that time, the Bishop of Hereford, architect of all this evil, had him brought to London. Once there, the Londoners, with the bishop's tacit approval, seized him and threw him into Newgate prison [Map], seeking cause to accuse him of treason, that they might have him drawn, hanged, and numbered among the dead. But after many investigations, they found no stain of treason or other felony in him. Nevertheless, they treated him so inhumanely that he died from torment not long after Easter [28th May 1327] of the same year.²

Set magister Robertus de Baldok, post multas contumelias, carceri episcopi Herefordensis fuit mancipatus, ubi nimis dolorosam egit vitam usque ad proximum sequens festum Purificacionis. Tunc siquidem episcopus Herefordensis, omnis huius mali architector, fecit ipsum ad se Londonias adduci; quo deductum Londonienses, non sine dissimulante consensu episcopi, rapuerunt et apud Neugate incarceraverunt, querentes occasionem contra ipsum, tamquam proditorem, ut possent distractum suspensumque mortuis adnumerare; set tandem, post multas inquisiciones in ipso non invenientes maculam prodicionis nec alius felonie, ita inhumaniter ipsum tractaverunt, quod eodem anno cito post Pasca obiit in tormentis.

Note 1. Annales Paulini 334.

Scriptores 10.2763: Among the charges which were brought against Orleton in 1334, he states the first to be: "That I ordered and sacrilegiously dared to lay rash and violent hands upon Master Robert de Baldock, and caused him to be seized against his will in the month of November, in the year of our Lord 1326, in the city of Hereford." His answer is: "I state and affirm that Lord Robert de Baldock, in the month of November, as a public enemy of the king and the realm, and guilty of the crime of lèse-majesté, was captured together with the late Lord Hugh Despenser by the peers of the realm, and was brought to Hereford. There, before a secular judge, together with the said Hugh, he was convicted by the peers of the realm according to law. I, then Bishop of Hereford, claimed him as an ecclesiastical person under the liberties of the Church, and according to custom he was handed over to me and committed to ecclesiastical custody, where he remained until the provincial council held in London in the month of January. At that council, convened by order of the lord king and his mother, the queen, and especially at the urging and initiative of the venerable father Lord John, then Bishop of Winchester and Treasurer of England, now elected Archbishop of Canterbury, along with many of the leading nobles of the land, I caused the aforesaid Robert to be brought up and, in good faith and without deceit, received him into my episcopal residence and kept him under diligent guard, until he might be conveniently presented before the said council, to receive, by its sentence and judgment, what he had deserved for his misdeeds, so public and notorious that they could not be concealed by any evasion. And although it was not credible that, with the king, prelates, earls, and other great men of the realm then gathered and present in London for the administration of justice in Parliament, within whose sacred company no one could or should rightly fear harm, anyone should suffer violence or coercion, yet through the power of certain armed men, and against the will of the guards I had assigned him, the said Robert was seized by the citizens of London and kept imprisoned until death, lest, as they claimed, being regarded as a public enemy of the realm, he might be freed through the intervention of certain of his friends and household then present in the city of London, by plea, or bribery, or gifts and promises of reward."

Note 2. The Annales Paulini 320 St Mary Mounthaw or Mounthaut was a parish church originally built as a chapel for the house of the Norfolk Mounthaunt family, from Norfolk in Old Fish Street Hill in Queenhithe Ward of the City of London. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt. In around 1234 the house and the patronage of the church were bought by Ralph de Maydenstone, Bishop of Hereford after which it remained in the ownership of the Hereford See.

On 28th May 1327 Robert de Baldock died in Newgate Prison, London [Map]; see Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker, Annales Paulini, 334

Patent Rolls. 11th March 1384. Commission to Nicholas Brembre, mayor of London, to arrest and bring Westninster to Newgate gaol [Map] all felons and evildoers notoriously suspected of coming nightly out of places ecclesiastically privileged, assembling in the city and suburbs to commit divers felonies, robberies, thefts, murders, &c. and after committing them, retiring by night to the said places for sanctuary, and also all such as are indicted therefor. By С.

After 31st October 1454 Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 31) was imprisoned at Newgate Prison, London [Map].

After 31st October 1454 Richard Percy (age 28) was imprisoned at Newgate Prison, London [Map].

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 1456. That same year the Lord Egramounde (age 33) brake owt of Newegate [Map] with many othyr men.

On 13th November 1456 Richard Percy (age 30) escaped at Newgate Prison, London [Map].

On 13th November 1456 Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 33) escaped at Newgate Prison, London [Map].

In 1533 Friar John Forest (age 62) was imprisoned at Newgate Prison, London [Map].

On 9th May 1546 George Blagge (age 34) was induced to deny the efficacy of the Mass, by trickery he alleged, while walking home after church. He was immediately summoned by Thomas Wriothesley (age 40), the Lord Chancellor, and sent to Newgate Prison [Map]. At his trial at the Guildhall [Map], the main witnesses for the prosecution were Littleton (age 41) and Sir Hugh Calverley (age 42), MP for Cheshire. On their evidence, Blagge was sentenced to be burned for heresy the following Wednesday. Fortunately for him, the Lord Privy Seal, John Russell (age 61), appealed on his behalf to the king (age 54), who had not heard of the proceedings to that point. Henry immediately pardoned Blagge and ordered Wriothesley to release him.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. The 13th daie of Aprill Mr. John Wishe, founder, dwelling John Wish, without Ludgate, was presented to the Court of Aldermen, and by them admitted for Alderman of Algate; he refusing it, was sent to Newgate [Map], where he remayned till the twentie-one daie of Aprill, and then he was swome alderman; and ymediatlie at his desire he was dispenoed with by the maire and aldermen and sett to his fine for three hundred markes, wherof he should paie in hande within three dales an hundreth markes; and he had a yeares daie given him and a quarter for the rest to be paid at tow paymentes by a bonde made to the Chamberleyne of London; and so he was discharged of his aldermanshipp againe and all other offices in the cittie whatsoeaver.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th March 1551. The xiiij day of Marche wa(s) raynyd at the yeld-halle [Map] a C [100] mareners for robyng on the see, and the captayne, behyng a Skott, was cared to Nugate [Map] the sam day, and serten cast.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th April 1552. The sam day was sessyons at Nugatt [Map] for theyfes, and a cott-purs spessyally was for one James [Ellys] the grett pykpurs and cuttpurs that ever [was ar-]raynyd, for ther was never a presun and the Towr but he had byne in them, -the vj king Edward vjth.

In January 1554 John Rogers (age 49) he was imprisoned at Newgate Prison, London [Map] on the orders of Bishop Edmund "Bloody" Bonner of London (age 54).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th March 1554. The xiiij day of Marche was in Aldergat-stret a woy[ce heard] in a walle that dyd spyke unto serten pepull, the wyche .... was complenyd unto my lord mayre, and so after yt was [made] knowen by dyvers what ther wher, and after cared unto [prison,] as Nugatt [Map] contur and the Towre [Map].

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 15th July 1554. The 15 of Julie, beinge Sundaye, one Elizabeth Crofte, a yonge mayden, stood at Paules Crosse [Map] on a litle scaffolde neare the preacher, which was taken in Aldersgate Streete in Aprill last past, called the wbyte byrde, or the byrde that spake in the wall^a. Her confession was readd by the precher openlye, which declared that one Drakes, a servant of Sir Anthony Nevills^b, which gaue her a whistle, and by theyr develish pretence feyned her to speake divers thinges of the Queen and Prince of Spayne, of the masse and confession; as that one Myles, clerk of St. Butolphes in Aldersgate Street, and a player, and one Hyll, a weaver^c in Reddcrosse Streete, declared to the people^d, which caused great assemblie of people to drawe thither, which there openlye lamented in the presence of all the people. After her confession read she kneeled downe, and asked God forgivenes, and the Queens Maiestie, desyringe the people to praye for her, and to beware of heresies. The sermon done she went to prison agayne in Bred Street, where she had bene a litle tyme, but afore that she was in Newgate [Map]. And after Dr. Scorye resorted to her divers tymes to examin her; and after this she was released.

Note a. "called the Spirit in the Wall."- Stow.

Note b. "John Drake, Sir Antony Knevett's servant." - Diary of a Resident in London, p. 66; but Stow agrees with the text.

Note c. Stow reads: "a player, a weaver, Hill, clerk of St. Leonard's in Foster Lane, and others confederate with her."

Henry Machyn's Diary. 1st November 1554. The furst day of Novembar was [carried] by the gard into Nuwgatt [Map] serten men.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs. 4th February 1555. The fourth day of February, the year above mentioned, in the chapel in Newgate [Map], the bishop of London (age 55) there sitting with his notary and certain other witnesses, came Alexander Andrew, the gaoler, bringing with him Master Hooper (age 60) and Master Rogers (age 50), being condemned before by the chancellor (age 72); where the said bishop of London, at the request of the aforesaid Winchester, proceeded to the degradation of the parties above mentioned, Master Hooper and Master Rogers, after this form and manner: first, he put upon him all the vestures and ornaments belonging to a priest, with all other things to the same order appertaining, as though (being revested) they should solemnly execute their office. Thus they, being apparelled and invested, the bishop beginneth to pluck off, first the uttermost vesture; and so, by degree and order, coming down to the lowest vesture, which they had only in taking Benet and Collet; and so, being stript and deposed, he deprived them of all order, benefit, and privilege belonging to the clergy; and consequently, that being done, pronounced, decreed, and declared the said parties so degraded, to be given personally to the secular power, as the sheriffs being for that year, Master Davy Woodroofe, and Master William Chester; who, receiving first the said Master Rogers at the hands of the bishop, had him away with them, bringing him to the place of execution where he suffered. The witnesses there present were Master Harpsfield, archdeacon of London; Robert Cosin, and Robert Willerton, canons of Paul's; Thomas Mountague, and George How, clerks; Tristram Swadock, and Richard Cloney, the sumner, &c.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 4th February 1555. The iiij day (of) Feybruary the bysshope of London (age 55) went into Nugatt [Map], and odur docturs, to dysgratt [degrade] Hoper (age 60), and Rogers (age 50) sumtyme vycker of sant Polkers.

Note. P. 82. Burning of bishop Hooper. The letter from the queen to lord Chandos directing him to repair to Gloucester and assist at the execution of bishop Hooper, has been published in Miss Wood's Letters of Royal and Illustrious Ladies, iii. 284.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 20th April 1555. The xx day of Aprell was raynyd at Powlles a-for the bysshope of London (age 55) and many odur and my lord cheyffe justys and my lord mayre and the shreyffes; ys name was (master Fowler, alias Branch ); he was a monke of Ely; and ther was a goodly sermon, and after he was cast and condemnyd to have ys hand that hurt the prest cut off or he shuld suffer, and after dysgracyd, and after cared to Nuwgatt [Map]ss.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th May 1555. The sam day of May was (arraigned) iiij men at Powlles, a-for none and after-non, of Essex, and thay wher cast for heresse, all iiij cast to be bornyd, and so cared unto Nugatt [Map].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 25th May 1555. [The xxv day of May were arraigned at St. Paul's for heresy, before the bishop, master Cardmaker sometime vicar of St. Bride's in Fleet-street, and one] John Warren a cloth [worker in Walbrook] and a-nodur of (blank), and cast to be brent; and [carried back to] Nugatt [Map].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 10th June 1555. The x day of Juin was delevered owt of Nuwgatt [Map] vij men to be cared in-to Essex and Suffoke to borne [burned].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 23rd August 1555. The xxiij day of August was bornyd at [Stratford]-of-bowe, in the conte of Mydyllsex, a woman, [wife] of John Waren, clothworker, a huphulster [over] agaynst sant Johns in Walbroke; the wyche .... John her hosband was bornyd with on Cardmaker in Smythfeld, for herese boyth; and the sam woman had a sune taken at her bornyng and cared to Nuwgatt [Map] [to his] syster, for they will borne [burn] boyth.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 12th November 1557. The xij day of November ther was a post sett up in Smythfeld [Map] for iij that shuld have beyn bornyd, butt boyth wod and colles; and my lord abbott of Westminster (age 42) cam to Newgatt [Map] and talked with them, and so they wher stayd for that day of bornyng.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 13th November 1557. The xiij day of November was sant Erkenwald eve, the iiij and v yere of king and quen, whent owt of Newgatt [Map] unto Smyth-feld [Map] to be bornyd iij men; on was [blank] Gybsun, the sun of sergantt Gybsun, sergantt of armes, and of the reywelles [revels], and of the kynges tenstes [tents]; and ij more, the whyche here be ther names-Gybsun, Hali[day,] and Sparow, thes iij men.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 13th August 1560. The xiij day of August was a grett robere done with-in Clementt('s) inn with-owt Tempulle bare, by on master Cutt and iij mo, and iij of them was taken, on led into Nuwgatt [Map] and a-nodur in Wostrett contur, and a-nodur in the contur in the Pultre.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 21st February 1561. The sam day sessyons at Nuwgatt [Map], and [there] was cast xvij men and ij women for to [be hanged.] ...

Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th April 1561. The xviij day of Aprell was raynyd at Nuwgat [Map] master Putnam gentylman for a rape, and cast, and dyvers odur.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th June 1561. The xviij day of June was a woman sett in the stokes in Newgatt markett with serten fylles [files] and odur instrumentes, the wyche she browth to Newgatt [Map] to here hosband for to fylle the yrons of ys leges, and odur thynges.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 29th September 1561. The xxix day of September, was Myghellmas evyn, the old shreyffes master Cristofer Draper and master Thomas Rowe unto the nuw shreyffes master (Alexander) Avenon, and master (Humphrey) Baskerfeld (age 44), was delevered Nugatt [Map] and Ludgatt, and the ij conters, and the presonars.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 12th May 1562. The sam day at nyght ther was a grett frey, [and my] lord mare (age 66) and the ij shreyffes was send fore, and they had a do to pasefy the pepull, and dyvers wher hurtt, and s[ertain] cared to Nuwgatt [Map] and to the conturs, and ther was .... the best archers of London with the flethe, and master Underelle hu.. the master of the comen-huntt.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 15th May 1562 and 16th May 1562. The xv and vj day of May was sessyons at Nuwgatt [Map], and so many wher cast doys [those] ij days; and the sam monyth were dyvers token sene in dyvers placys in England, a calffe and (unfinished)

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 10th January 1664. So to bed. All our discourse to-night was Mr. Tryan's late being robbed; and that Collonell Turner (age 55) (a mad, swearing, confident fellow, well known by all, and by me), one much indebted to this man for his very livelihood, was the man that either did or plotted it; and the money and things are found in his hand, and he and his wife now in Newgate [Map] for it; of which we are all glad, so very a known rogue he was.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 9th May 1667. After all this discourse we turned back and to White Hall, where we parted, and I took up my wife at Unthanke's, and so home, and in our street, at the Three Tuns' Tavern [Map] door, I find a great hubbub; and what was it but two brothers [Note. Basil Fielding and Christopher Fielding] have fallen out, and one killed the other. And who should they be but the two Fieldings; one whereof, Bazill, was page to my Lady Sandwich (age 42); and he hath killed the other, himself being very drunk, and so is sent to Newgate [Map].

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 1st August 1667. Then we home, the gates of the City shut, it being so late: and at Newgate we find them in trouble, some thieves having this night broke open prison [Map]. So we through, and home; and our coachman was fain to drive hard from two or three fellows, which he said were rogues, that he met at the end of Blow-bladder Street, next Cheapside. So set Mrs. Turner (age 44) home, and then we home, and I to the Office a little; and so home and to bed, my wife in an ill humour still.

In December 1672 Mary Moders (age 30) was captured when a turnkey from Newgate Prison, London [Map] recognized her while searching for stolen loot.

John Evelyn's Diary. 20th March 1683. Dined at Dr. Whistler's, at the Physicians' College, with Sir Thomas Millington (age 55), both learned men; Dr. W. the most facetious man in nature, and now Censor of the college. I was here consulted where they should build their library; it is a pity this college is built so near Newgate Prison [Map], and in so obscure a hole, a fault in placing most of our public buildings and churches in the city, through the avarice of some few men, and his Majesty (age 52) not overruling it, when it was in his power after the dreadful conflagration.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st November 1688. Dined with Lord Preston (age 39), with other company, at Sir Stephen Fox's (age 61). Continual alarms of the Prince of Orange (age 37), but no certainty. Reports of his great losses of horse in the storm, but without any assurance. A man was taken with divers papers and printed manifestoes, and carried to Newgate [Map], after examination at the Cabinet Council. There was likewise a declaration of the States for satisfaction of all public ministers at The Hague, except to the English and the French. There was in that of the Prince's an expression, as if the Lords both spiritual and temporal had invited him over, with a deduction of the causes of his enterprise. This made his Majesty (age 55) convene my Lord of Canterbury (age 71) and the other Bishops now in town, to give an account of what was in the manifesto, and to enjoin them to clear themselves by some public writing of this disloyal charge.

After 1727 Charles Wilkinson of Boroughbridge, Yorkshire was discovered to have been in debt to to the Government for over £30,000 and consequently spent the rest of his life as a crown debtor in Newgate Prison, London [Map].

In 1841 George Edward Waldegrave 7th Earl Waldegrave (age 24) was imprisoned for six months at Newgate Prison, London [Map] for having having drunkenly assaulted a police officer in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey [Map]. His wife Frances Braham Countess Waldegrave (age 19) and servants joined him during his imprisonment.