27 May 1541 Execution of Margaret Pole

Correspondence of Castillon et Marillac. 345. [London], 29 May 1541. Marillac to the King.

Sire, what has occurred here since the dispatch of my last letters on the 22nd of this month compels me now, from Salisbury, to write again and to begin with a matter more worthy of deep compassion than of long letters: the death of the Countess of Salisbury (deceased), mother of Cardinal Pole (age 41) and of the Seneschal of Montaigu. Yesterday, around seven in the morning, she was struck down with an axe in the Tower, in the presence of so few people that the truth of the event was still doubted by evening. This was all the more difficult for me to believe, for I had long held her in custody, and I considered her a lady of such noble lineage, of such advanced age, being eighty years old or more, and in any case already most bitterly punished for whatever fault or crime she may have committed: through the death of one of her sons, the exile of another, and the total ruin of her house. For all these reasons, I believed she should have been spared such a violent end, especially when nature herself was so near to taking her. Yet, Sire, neither her sex, nor her age, nor her noble blood, nor her long imprisonment, nor any other consideration, could prevent them from shortening those few days she had left to live. Not truly to live, but to languish for in the midst of so many misfortunes and desolations, she must have had more desire for death to be hastened than for life to be prolonged. And in this respect, perhaps one could say they did much for her. Still, Sire, the manner of the act raises thoughts among the people, who can hardly interpret the execution, much less the way it was carried out, in a favorable light. Especially when another execution was carried out at the very same hour, in the same place, on a lord whose name is still not made public. However, from certain signs and suggestions, it is presumed that it was Milord Leonard de Clidas, who had been lieutenant to the King in Ireland. And it seems, with all due respect, Sire, that these may be signs that those now in power prefer to put to death in secret those they dare not execute in public.

To this may be added that yesterday all the heads which had been set upon spikes on the bridge over the river that passes through this town were taken down, so that the people might gradually forget those whose memory these heads had refreshed daily unless, of course, it was simply to make room for new ones. For I hear from a very reliable source, Sire, that before St. John’s Day, they intend to clear the Tower of those prisoners still held there for the crime of high treason. Of which, I shall surely have cause to write again, though the matter is sordid, and for the most part, deeply pitiable.

345. [Londres], 29 mai. 1541 Sire, ce qui est icy advenu depuis mes derniéres du XXII^e de ce moys m'a donné matiere de présentement escripre et commencer par ung cas plus digne de grande compassion que de longues lettres : c’est la mort de la comtesse de Saalberi<, mere du cardinal Pol et du séneschal de Montaigut, laquelle environ les sept heures du matin fut hyer dans la Tour décolée d'une cognée en présence de si peu de gens que jusques au soir I'on doubtoit encores de la vérité, qui m’estoit chose d'autant plus difficille & eroire que j'estimoys pour I'avoir longtemps détenue prisonniére, estre dame extraicte de si noble lignée, femme si aaigée, comme de quatre vingltz ans et plus, et an demourant tres aigrement punye en ‘ce qu'elle pourroit avoir délinqué et forfaiet pour la perte de I'ung de ses filz, bannissement de 'aultre et totalle ruyne de sa maison, que toutes ces choses I'exemptassent de prendre fin constrainete puys que la naturelle estoit si prochaine. Toutesfoys, Sire, ny le sexe, ny l'aige, ny le sang, ny la longue prison, ny les aultres considérations n'ont empesché qu'on ne lay ayt abregé ce peu de jours qu'elle avoil a vivre, non pas a vivre, mais a languir, car en tant de malheurs et désolations elle debvoit avoir plus de volunté qu'on luy accellerast sa mort que prolongeast sa vie, et bien, Sire, il semble que pour cest esgard on ayt faict beaucoup pour elle. Toutesfoys le cas donne a penser au monde qu'on ne peult interpréter a bien la facon dont l'on a proceddé non seullement a ceste exécution, mais a une aultre qui la mesme heure fust pareillement faicte au mesme lieu d’ung seigneur qui ne se nomme poinet encores; tant y a que par les indices et démonstrations qu'on en faict il se présume que ce soit milord Léonard de Clidas qui avoit esté lieutenant de ce roy en Yrlande. Et semble soubz correction, Sire, que ce soient argumens que ceulx-cy doublent faire mourir en publicq ceulx qu'ilz font exécuter en secret.

A quoy se peult adjouster que hyer mesme se habattit toutes les testes qui estoient fichées sur le pont de la riviere qui passe par ceste ville, affin que le peuple peu a peu ayt a oublyer ceulx dont ces testes leur reffreschissoient tous les jours la mémoire, si ce n'estoil que ce feust pour peupler le lieu de nouvelles. Car j'entends de bien bon lieu, Sire, que devant la sainct Jehan l'on faict compte de vuider la Tour des prisonniers qui y sont détenuz pour le crime de léze majesté, dont je ne fauldray avoir cause d’escripre bien que ce soit de matiére luetueuse et la pluspart pitoyable.

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1541. 29th May 1541. 868. Marillac to Francis I.

What has here happened since he wrote last, on the 22nd, gives matter to write. To begin with, a case more worthy of compassion than of long letters, the countess of Saalberi (age 67), mother of Cardinal Pol (age 41) and the late lord Montaigue, was yesterday morning, about 7 o'clock, beheaded in a corner of the Tower [Map], in presence of so few people that until evening the truth was still doubted. It was the more difficult to believe as she had been long prisoner, was of noble lineage, above 80 years old, and had been punished by the loss of one son and banishment of the other, and the total ruin of her house. Further reflections upon this. The manner of proceeding in her case and that of a lord who was executed at the same time (who is not yet named, but is presumed to be lord Leonard de Clidas (age 62), formerly the King's lieutenant in Ireland) seems to argue that those here are afraid to put to death publicly those whom they execute in secret. It may be added that yesterday all the heads which were fixed upon the bridge of the river which passes by this town were taken down; in order that the people may forget those whose heads kept their memory fresh, if it were not that this will people the place with new, for Marillac hears from a good place that, before St. John's tide, they reckon to empty the Tower of the prisoners now there for treason.

The talk of going to the North continues, and provisions are already being sent; which are the greater as the company will be 4,000 or 5,000 horse, as well because the King (age 49) wishes to go with more magnificence (as he has not yet been there) as to be secure against any seditious designs. They will be gentlemen of these quarters of King (Kent), whom he trusts most. The 50 gentlemen of the house will each have tent and war equipment, as also will several other young lords; so that it will be rather like following a camp than going to the chase.

As instructed in last packet of the 20th, will write to no one of affairs here. Would not have done it in the past had he known Francis's pleasure, but was only written to to address all he wrote to Francis, not that he should not write to others. Will write affairs concerning war or peace to Mons. de Vendosme, as long as he is in Picardy, and in his absence a word to M. du Bies, to prevent them thinking better or worse in the absence of news. Is not spoken to about the Cauchoide nor about the conversation he wrote last in cipher.

Note. For the French text of this letter see Correspondence of Castillon et Marillac, Page 309.