Trial and Punishment of Eleanor Cobham

Before 27th October 1441 Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester (age 41), wife of the heir presumptive Humphrey 1st Duke Gloucester (age 51), brother of the deceased King Henry V of England, uncle of King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 19), was tried for predicting the future of the King; in reality a veiled attack on her husband who had over-reached himself. She had consulted two astrologers Thomas Southwell and Roger Bolingbroke. All three were arrested, tried and found guilty. Eleanor denied most of the charges but confessd to obtaining potions from Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" (age 26). She was sentenced to do public penance, divorce her husband and remain confined for the remainder of her life.

On 27th October 1441 Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" (age 26) was burned at the stake at Smithfield [Map].

On 28th October 1441 Thomas Southwell died whilst in the Tower of London [Map] one day before his trial was set to begin. It was said that he died "of sorrow.".

On 18th November 1441, Saturday, Roger Bolingbroke was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn [Map].

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 1441. And in the same year there were take certayne traytourys, the whyche purposyd to slee our lege lord the kyng (age 19) by crafte of egremauncey¹, and there instrumentys were opynly shewyde to alle men at the Crosse [Map] in Powlys chyrche yerde a-pon a schaffolde i-made there-for. Att the whyche tyme was present one of the same traytours, whiche was callyd Roger Bulbroke, a clerke of Oxforde, and for that same tresoun my Lady of Glouceter (age 41) toke sayntwerye at Westemyster; and the xj day of Auguste thenne next folowynge she toke the way to the castelle of Lesnes [Map].

Note 1. Necromancy.

An English Chronicle. [22nd July 1441]. In the mene tyme, the forsaid maister Roger was examned before the kyngis counsel; where he confessid and saide that he wroughte the said nygromancie atte stiryng of the forsaid dame Alienore (age 41), to knowe what sholde falle of hir and to what astat she sholde come. Wherfore she was citid to appere befor certayn bisshoppis of the kyngis; that is to say, befor maister Harri Chicheli (age 78), archebisshop of Cauntirbury, maister Harry Beaufort (age 66) bisshoppe of Wynchestre and cardinalle, maister Johan Kemp (age 61) archebisshoppe of York and cardinalle, maister William Ayscoughe (age 46) bisshoppe of Salisbury, and othir, on the Monday the xxij day off Juylle next folowyng, in saint Stepheneȝ chapelle of Westmynstre, forto ansuere to certayn articleȝ of nygromancie, of wicchecraft or sorcery, of heresy and of tresoun. Atte whiche day she apperid; and the forsaid Roger was brouȝt forth forto witnesse ayens hir, and saide that she was cause and first stirid himme to laboure in the said nygromancie; and thanne be commaundement of the said bisshoppis she was committid to the warde of sir Johan Stiward knyghte, and of Johan Stanley squier, and othir of the kyngis hous, forto be lad to the castelle of Ledis, there to be safli kept vnto iij wikis aftir Mighelmasse next thanne comyng. But the said dame Alienore was lothe to go out of the sayntwary and fayned her seek, and wolde haue stole away priveli be watir, but she was let of her purpos and lad forth to the castel beforsaid.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 27th October 1441. And on Syn Symon and Jude is eve was the wycche (age 26) be syde Westemyster brent in Smethefylde [Map], and on the day of Symon and Jude [28th October 1441] the person [parson] of Syn Stevynnys in Walbroke, whyche that was one of the same fore said traytours [Thomas Southwell], deyde in the Toure [Map] for sorowe.

An English Chronicle. [27th October 1441]. And this same tyme was take a womman callid the wicche of Eye [Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" (age 26)], whooȝ sorcerie and wicchecraft the said dame Alienore (age 41) hadde longe tyme vsid; and be suche medicineȝ and drynkis as the said wicche made, the said Alienore enforced the forsaid duke of Gloucestre to loue her and to wedde her. Wherfore, and also for cause of relaps, the same wicche was brend in Smythfeld, in the vigily of Saint Simon and Jude.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. Another magical woman, commonly called Witch of Eye [Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" (age 26)], was captured near the town of Westminster on account of the aforementioned Eleanor and was burned at Smithfield [27th October 1441].

Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche of Eye, juxta villam Westmonasterii capta est pro prædicta Elianora, et apud Smythfeld cremata.

An English Chronicle. [28th October 1441]. And in the mene tyme the forsaid maister Thomas Suthwelle deide in the tour of Londoun.

An English Chronicle. [9th November 1441]. The Thursday abouesaid the said dame Alienore (age 41) apperid befor tharchebisshoppe and othir in the forsaid chapelle, and receyued her penaunce vnder this fourme; that she sholde go the same day fro Templebarre with a meke and a demure countenaunce vnto Poulis beryng in her hond a tapir of a pound, and offre it there atte highe auter. And the Wedenesday next she sholde go fro the Swan in Thamyse strete beryng a tapir of the same weighte vnto Crichirche in Londoun, and there offre it vp. And the Friday next she shold go in lik wise fro Quenehide berying a tapir of the same weighte vnto saint Migheleȝ in Cornhulle, and there offre it vp. The whiche penaunce she fulfillid and dede righte mekely, so that the more part of the peple hadde on hir gret compassioun.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 13th November 1441. Ande in that same year the Lady of Glouceter (age 41) for the same treson she was juggyde by the spyrytualle lawe to iij sondyr or dyvers placys, that is to wete, on Mondaye, the xiij daye of Novembyr, to Powlys; and on the Wanysday i-sygnyd unto Crychyrche; and on the Fryday nexte folowyng to Synt Mychellys in Cornehylle.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 18th November 1441. And on the Satyrday next folowyng was Roger Bulbroke hanggyde, and drawe, and quarteryde at Tyburne.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. And a certain very famous cleric, one of those in the whole world in astronomy and the art of necromancy, Master Roger Bolingbroke, was arrested. He was publicly placed in the cemetery of St. Paul's with his necromantic garments and waxen images, and as many other necromantic instruments as possible, sitting on a high throne so that all could see his work. Later, he was drawn, hanged, and quartered [on 18th November 1441], and his head was placed upon London Bridge. This Master Roger was one of the most notable clerics in the whole world, and he was accused because of the aforementioned Lady Eleanor, for whom he was a counsellor in the magical arts. After her death, many lamented excessively.

Et quidam clericus famosissimus, unus illorum in toto mundo in astronomia et arte nigromantica, magister Rogerus Bolyngbroke, arrestatus fuit, et in cœmiterio Sancti Pauli publice cum indumentis suis nigromanticis et imaginibus cereis, et quam pluribus aliis instrumentis nigromaticis, sedebat in quodam alto solio, ut ab omnibus viderentur opera ejus; postea tractus, suspensus, et quartarizatus erat, et caput ejus super pontem Londonias positum. Iste magister Rogerus erat notabilissimus clericus unus illorum in toto mundo, et accusatus est propter prædictam dominam Elianoram, cui conciliarius erat in arte magica, post cujus mortem multi lamentabantur valde nimis.

An English Chronicle. [18th November 1441]. And the Satirday the xviij day of Nouembir next sewyng, maister Roger Boltyngbroke at Guyldehalle at Londoun befor the said lordis and justiceȝ was arreymed of the forsaid articleȝ of tresoun ayens the kyngis persone, and therof be xij men of Londoun he was founde gilty. Wherfore be the iugement of ser Johan Hody that tyme chief justice of the kyngis bench, he was drawe fro the tour of Londoun vnto Tyburne [Map]; and there he was hanged and leet doun half alive, and his bowellis take out and brent, and his hed smyte of and set on London brigge, and his body quartrid and sent to certayn tounes of Englond, that is to saye, Oxenford, Cambrigge, York and Hereforde. And whanne the said maister Roger sholde die, he confessid that he was nevir gilty of eny treson ayens the kyngis persone; but he presumed to fer in his konnyng, as he sayde, wherof he cride God mercy; and the justice that yaf on him iugement livid not longe aftir.

The Brut. [18th November 1441]. And the Seturday next, the xvij. day of Nouembre, Roger Bultyngbrok, Dame Alianore Cobhams Clerk of Nigromancy and sorcery, was brought to the Guyldhall of London, and there dampned for his fals treson, and for his fals tresoun, and sorcery and Nigromancy ayenst all holy Chirch; wherthurgh he was dampned to deth by landes lawe. And he was ledde to the Toure of London, and leyd vpon a hirdell, and drawen thurgh the Cite to Tybowrne galowes, and there hanged, and let downe ageyne all quyk, and his bowelles cutte out of his body, and brent afore hym. And then was his hede smyten of, and his body quartered; and oon sent to Oxenford, the secund sent to Cambrigge, the thridde to Bristowe, and the fourth to [ ]¹; and his hede was set vpon London Brigge: and fus he ended his life in this world.

Note 1. Blank space left in MS.

Chronicles of London Vitellius A XVI. [18th November 1441]. And aftyr Roger the clerk aforn sayd on the Setterday, that is to say the xviij day of nouembre, was brought to the yeld hall with Sir John horn, prest, and William Wodham, squyer; the wich Sir John and William had her charterys at that tyme; and the clerk whas dampned and the same day whas drawe ffro the Toure of london to Tybom, and ther hongid, hedid, and quartered; and the hed sett on london brygge, and his one quarter att hertford¹, a nother att Oxenford, a nother at York, and the iiij^te at Cambryg. And the lady [Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester (age 41)] put in prison and aftyr sent to the Ile of Man², ther to abyde while that sche levyd.

Note 1. Hereford, H.

Note 2. Chestre, H.