Clyst Heath
Encyclopedia
Clyst Heath is a suburb to the south east of Exeter
, Devon
, to the east of Rydon Lane.
On 5 August 1549 Clyst Heath was the site of one of the worst atrocities in British history during the Prayer Book Rebellion
when troops loyal to the King under the command of John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
murdered nine hundred Cornish
prisoners. Previously that evening Russell had pitched camp on Clyst Heath and was concerned about the burden of the large number of prisoners he had captured from previous encounters at Fenny Bridges, Woodbury Common
and Clyst St Mary
. Russell discussed the situation with Lord William Grey
who was in charge of a thousand German mercenary
landsknecht
s and it was Grey who gave the order for the lanzknechts to carry out the massacre. It took them just ten minutes to slit the throats of all nine hundred bound and gagged prisoners, a number that derives from John Hayward
, Edward VI's own chronicler.
In the 1990s English Heritage
refused requests for an archaeological excavation to be carried out at the site prior to the construction of the Tesco
Exeter Vale supermarket.
made for Clyst Heath, some getting there before dawn. Others soon arrived and surrounded the heath where Russell and Grey's army was camped. The Battle of Clyst Heath was the bloodiest yet of the Prayer Book Rebellion, with the battle lasting the entire day, with heavy losses on both sides. Lord Russell's troops were finally victorious but Lord Grey was later to comment that he had "never seen the like, nor taken part in such a murderous fray". As he had led the charge against the Scots in the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
, this was a telling statement.
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, to the east of Rydon Lane.
On 5 August 1549 Clyst Heath was the site of one of the worst atrocities in British history during the Prayer Book Rebellion
Prayer Book Rebellion
The Prayer Book Rebellion, Prayer Book Revolt, Prayer Book Rising, Western Rising or Western Rebellion was a popular revolt in Cornwall and Devon, in 1549. In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer, presenting the theology of the English Reformation, was introduced...
when troops loyal to the King under the command of John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, KG, PC, JP was an English royal minister in the Tudor era. He served variously as Lord High Admiral and Lord Privy Seal....
murdered nine hundred Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
prisoners. Previously that evening Russell had pitched camp on Clyst Heath and was concerned about the burden of the large number of prisoners he had captured from previous encounters at Fenny Bridges, Woodbury Common
Woodbury Common
Woodbury Common may refer to:* Woodbury Common, Devon, an area of common land near Woodbury, Devon* Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, an outlet center near Central Valley, New York...
and Clyst St Mary
Clyst St Mary
Clyst St Mary is a small village and civil parish east of Exeter on the main roads to Exmouth and Sidmouth in East Devon. The name comes from the Celtic word clyst meaning 'clear stream'.-Description:...
. Russell discussed the situation with Lord William Grey
William Grey, 13th Baron Grey de Wilton
William Grey, 13th Baron Grey de Wilton KG, was an English baron and military commander serving in France in the 1540s and 1550s, and in the Scottish wars of the 1540s.He was the thirteenth Baron Grey de Wilton....
who was in charge of a thousand German mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
landsknecht
Landsknecht
Landsknechte were European, predominantly German mercenary pikemen and supporting foot soldiers from the late 15th to the late 16th century, and achieved the reputation for being the universal mercenary of Early modern Europe.-Etymology:The term is from German, Land "land, country" + Knecht...
s and it was Grey who gave the order for the lanzknechts to carry out the massacre. It took them just ten minutes to slit the throats of all nine hundred bound and gagged prisoners, a number that derives from John Hayward
John Hayward
Sir John Hayward , English historian, was born at or near Felixstowe, Suffolk, where he was educated, and afterwards proceeded to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he took the degrees of B.A., M.A. and LL.D....
, Edward VI's own chronicler.
In the 1990s English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
refused requests for an archaeological excavation to be carried out at the site prior to the construction of the Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
Exeter Vale supermarket.
Battle of Clyst Heath
When news of the massacre broke on 6 August 1549 some 2,000 CornishmenCornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
made for Clyst Heath, some getting there before dawn. Others soon arrived and surrounded the heath where Russell and Grey's army was camped. The Battle of Clyst Heath was the bloodiest yet of the Prayer Book Rebellion, with the battle lasting the entire day, with heavy losses on both sides. Lord Russell's troops were finally victorious but Lord Grey was later to comment that he had "never seen the like, nor taken part in such a murderous fray". As he had led the charge against the Scots in the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles...
, this was a telling statement.