Thomas Barrie
Encyclopedia
Thomas Barrie was an English almoner
who, in 1538 was found guilty of spreading rumours about the death of Henry VIII and was pilloried in the market square at Newbury
. It was reported that he died from shock
as a result of his punishment.
, living in one of the institution's almshouse
s.
In 1538, he was accused of spreading seditious rumours about the death of Henry VIII. This was around the time of the King's excommunication from the Catholic Church, with Henry not due to die for a further 9 years. However, Barrie's rumours were supposedly well-sourced. This was irrelevant, however, as foretelling of the monarch's death was counted as treason
. This was shown two years later in 1540, when Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury
was charged of the crime and, along with breaking the new Buggery Act
, was beheaded
on Tower Hill
.
on market day. The location of Newbury's pillory was the market square, where – for further ridicule – Barrie was sentenced to be cropped
. This punishment (also given to John Bastwick
100 years later) involved having his ears nailed to the pillory's frame either side of the head hole. At the end of the trading day, he was released from the pillory by having his ears cut off.
Barrie is said to have died of fright following his punishment. His earless ghost
reportedly haunts the market place, moaning in agony.
Almoner
An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing cash to the deserving poor.Historically, almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income in charity to...
who, in 1538 was found guilty of spreading rumours about the death of Henry VIII and was pilloried in the market square at Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
. It was reported that he died from shock
Acute stress reaction
Acute stress reaction is a psychological condition arising in response to a terrifying or traumatic event...
as a result of his punishment.
Biography
Barrie worked as an almsman at Donnington HospitalDonnington Hospital
Donnington Hospital is a series of almshouses at Donnington in the English county of Berkshire, run by the Donnington Hospital Trust.It was established in 1393 by Sir Richard Abberbury the Elder. The original site on the Oxford Road is now occupied by almshouses built in 1602. A further complex was...
, living in one of the institution's almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s.
In 1538, he was accused of spreading seditious rumours about the death of Henry VIII. This was around the time of the King's excommunication from the Catholic Church, with Henry not due to die for a further 9 years. However, Barrie's rumours were supposedly well-sourced. This was irrelevant, however, as foretelling of the monarch's death was counted as treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. This was shown two years later in 1540, when Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury
Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury
Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury , created Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury in 1536, was the son and heir of Sir Edward Hungerford, and his first wife, Jane de la Zouche...
was charged of the crime and, along with breaking the new Buggery Act
Buggery Act 1533
The Buggery Act 1533, formally An Acte for the punysshement of the vice of Buggerie , was an Act of the Parliament of England that was passed during the reign of Henry VIII...
, was beheaded
Beheaded
Beheaded is a Death metal band from Malta. They were formed in 1991, by singer Marcel Scalpello, guitarist David Bugeja, and drummer Chris Brincat...
on Tower Hill
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...
.
Punishment and death
Barrie's punishment, however, was to stand in the pilloryPillory
The pillory was a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse, sometimes lethal...
on market day. The location of Newbury's pillory was the market square, where – for further ridicule – Barrie was sentenced to be cropped
Cropping (punishment)
Cropping is the removal of a person's ears as an act of physical punishment. It was performed along with the pillorying or immobilisation in the stocks, and sometimes alongside punishments such as branding or fines...
. This punishment (also given to John Bastwick
John Bastwick
John Bastwick was an English Puritan physician and controversial writer.-Life:He was born at Writtle, Essex. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, on 19 May 1614, but remained there only a very short time, and left the university without a degree. He travelled and served for a time as a soldier,...
100 years later) involved having his ears nailed to the pillory's frame either side of the head hole. At the end of the trading day, he was released from the pillory by having his ears cut off.
Barrie is said to have died of fright following his punishment. His earless ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
reportedly haunts the market place, moaning in agony.