Biography of James Tyrrell 1455-1502
Paternal Family Tree: Tyrrell
Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Darcy 1425-1525
On 29 Mar 1422 [his grandmother] Alice Eleanor Coggeshall (age 40) died.
On 02 Apr 1437 [his grandfather] John Tyrrell (age 55) died at Heron Hall, Essex.
On 03 Sep 1448 [his grandfather] Robert Darcy (age 72) died.
In 1452 [his father] William Tyrrell (age 44) and [his mother] Margaret Darcy (age 27) were married. They were third cousin once removed.
Around 1455 James Tyrrell was born to William Tyrrell (age 47) and Margaret Darcy (age 30).
In 1469 James Tyrrell (age 14) and Anne Arundell were married.
On 04 May 1471 King Edward IV of England (age 29) was victorious at the Battle of Tewkesbury. His brother Richard (age 18), Richard Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp Powick (age 36), John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 46), George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Bergavenny (age 31), John Savage (age 49), John Savage (age 27), Thomas St Leger (age 31), John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet (age 45), Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough (age 40) fought. William Brandon (age 46), George Browne (age 31), Ralph Hastings, Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby (age 38), James Tyrrell (age 16), Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley (age 38) were knighted. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 40) commanded.
Margaret of Anjou (age 41) was captured. Her son Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales (age 17) was killed. He was the last of the Lancastrian line excluding the illegitmate Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester (age 11) whose line continues to the present.
John Courtenay 15th Earl Devon (age 36) was killed and attainted. Earl Devon, Baron Courtenay forfeit. Some sources refer to these titles as being abeyant?
John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 71) was killed. Baron Wenlock extinct.
John Delves (age 49), John Beaufort (age 30), William Vaux of Harrowden (age 35) and Robert Whittingham (age 42) were killed.
Edmund Beaufort 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 32), Humphrey Tuchet (age 37) and Hugh Courtenay (age 44) were captured.
Henry Roos fought and escaped to Tewkesbury Abbey [Map] where he sought sanctuary. He was subsequently pardoned.
Close Rolls Edward IV Edward V Richard III 1476-1485. On 05 Nov 1483 King Richard III of England (age 31). Bridport, Dorset [Map]. Commission of array in Wales to the king's kinsman William, Earl of Huntingdon (age 32), and James Tyrrell (age 28), knight, for the resistance of the rebels. By K. by word of mouth.
The like to James Tyrell, knight.
Patent Rolls Richard III 1484. 15 Dec 1484. Grant in mortmain by John Huddelston, knight, James Tyrell (age 29), knight, Thomas Barowe, clerk, keeper of the rolls of Chancery, William Tunstall, esquire, Richard Batclyff, knight, Richard Middelton, esquire, Geoffrey Fraunke, esquire, and Robert Brakenbury, esquire, feoffees of the king of the lordship or manor of Medilham, co. York [Map], by precept of the king and by writing indented dated 20 November, 2 Richard III, to John, the abbot, and the convent of St. Mary, Coverham, co. York, of a vaccary or place called Slapegill alias Coverhede in Coverdale, co. York, late parcel of the said lordship or manor, abutting on the water called Cover by le Huntynghalle and so to the north up by Mirkegill to a dyke called Roosedike and so to the north end of the same dyke which is the division between the said vaccary and another vaccary called le Wolddale and so from le Northest ende of the same dyke from le Midmosse as the water called Hevynwater runs between the said vaccary and another called Waldeyn and so from a stone called 'a rase of stonys' on le Coweholes and so from the said stone to the height of le Willingsett at another stone called 'a rase of stonys' and so to le longstone abutting on the height as the water called Hevynwater rans from le Rounde Hill on the moor between the said vaccary and Longstraght and hence descending to two little stones lying on the dyke called Teedike abutting on Scaleparkewall towards Northwestcorner which is the true division between the said vaccary and Sterbotton and from le Scaleparke to a way called Redegate to the west end of a cell called Whermside extending to the height of le Midmosse and so as the water called Hevynwater runs between the said vaccary and Nidderdale to the west end of Whermside by Lordgilcroke and descending by Bruntgill to the said water of Cover, in exchange for 68 acres of arable land and a waste containing about 8 acres now enclosed in the king*s park called Cotiscugh by Middelham [Map], co. York. By p.s. and for £50. paid in the hanaper.
Before 1501 [his son-in-law] Richard Wentworth 5th Baron Despencer (age 20) and [his daughter] Anne Tyrrell Baroness Despencer were married. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 02 May 1502 James Tyrrell (age 47) confessd to the murder of the Princes in the Tower at Guildhall [Map] during the Trial of James Tyrrell attended by King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 45) and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England (age 36).
On 06 May 1502 James Tyrrell (age 47) was executed.
After 06 May 1502 James Tyrrell (deceased) was buried at Austin Friars.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. The Prince, as soon as the Protector had left that name and took himself as King, had it showed unto him he should not reign, but his uncle should have the crown. At which word the Prince, sore abashed, began to sigh and said: "Alas, I would my uncle would let me have my life yet, though I lose my kingdom." Then he that told him the tale, spoke to him with good words and put him in the best comfort he could. But forthwith were the Prince and his brother both shut up, and all others removed from them, only one, called Black Will or William Slaughter, set to serve them and see them safe. After which time the Prince never tied his laces, nor took care of himself, but with that young babe, his brother, lingered in thought and heaviness till this traitorous death delivered them of that wretchedness.
For Sir James Tyrell devised that they should be murdered in their beds. To the execution whereof, he appointed Miles Forest, one of the four that kept them, a fellow hardened in murder before that time. To him he joined one John Dighton, his own housekeeper, a big, broad, square strong knave. Then all the others being removed from them, this Miles Forest and John Dighton about midnight (the innocent children lying in their beds) came into the chamber, and suddenly lapped them up among the bedclothes-so bewrapped them and entangled them, keeping down by force the featherbed and pillows hard unto their mouths, that within a while, smothered and stifled, their breath failing, they gave up to God their innocent souls into the joys of heaven, leaving to the tormentors their bodies dead in the bed.
Which after that the wretches perceived, first by the struggling with the pains of death, and after long lying still, to be thoroughly dead, they laid their bodies naked out upon the bed, and fetched Sir James to see them. Who, upon the sight of them, caused those murderers to bury them at the stair-foot, suitably deep in the ground, under a great heap of stones.
Then rode Sir James in great haste to King Richard and showed him all the manner of the murder, who gave him great thanks and, as some say, there made him knight. But he allowed not, as I have heard, the burying in so vile a corner, saying that he would have them buried in a better place because they were a king's sons. Lo, the honorable nature of a king! Whereupon they say that a priest of Sir Robert Brakenbury took up the bodies again and secretly buried them in a place that only he knew and that, by the occasion of his death, could never since come to light.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. Wherewith he took such displeasure and thought, that the same night, he said unto a secret page of his: "Ah, whom shall a man trust? Those that I have brought up myself, those that I had thought would most surely serve me, even those fail me and at my commandment will do nothing for me."
"Sir," said his page, "there lies one outside in your bedchambers who, I dare well say, to do your Grace pleasure, the thing were right hard that he would refuse," meaning by this Sir James Tyrell, who was a man of right goodly personage and for nature's gifts, worthy to have served a much better prince, if he had well served God and by grace obtained as much truth and good will as he had strength and wit.
The man had a high heart and sore longed upward, not rising yet so fast as he had hoped, being hindered and kept under by the means of Sir Richard Radcliff and Sir William Catesby, who, longing for no more partners of the Prince's favor, and namely, none for him, whose pride they knew would bear no peer, kept him by secret plans out of all secret trust. Which thing this page well had marked and known. Because this occasion offered very special friendship with the King, the page took this time to put him forward and, by such a way, do him such good that all the enemies he had, except the devil, could never have done him so much harm.
For upon this page's words King Richard arose (for this communication had he sitting on the stool, an appropriate court for such a council) and came out into the bedchambers, where he found in bed Sir James and Sir Thomas Tyrell, of person alike and brethren of blood, but nothing of kin in qualities. Then said the King merrily to them: "What, sirs, be you in bed so soon?" and calling up Sir James, revealed to him secretly his mind in this mischievous matter, in which he found him nothing unfriendly.
Wherefore on the morrow, he sent him to Brakenbury with a letter, by which he was commanded to deliver Sir James all the keys of the Tower for one night, to the end he might there accomplish the King's pleasure in such thing as he had given him commandment. After which letter was delivered and the keys received, Sir James appointed the next night to destroy them, devising before and preparing the means.
Calais in the Hands of the English. The castle of Guisnes was a post of the greatest importance, situated immediately on the French frontier; and its custody was conferred on persons of the first distinction. The title they bore was that of (the king's) lieutenant, but they were also sometimes styled captain.
Sir James Tyrrell was "capitaine" of Guisnes in 1489 (see note in p. 2).
Sir Nicholas Vaux was lieutenant of Guisnes in the year 1513 (see p. 12). The document which now follows contains the conditions upon which the office was conferred upon him.
Sir William Fitzwilliam was lieutenant of Guisnes in 1524.
William Lord Sandys was "captain" of Guisnes in 1527.
Sir John Wallop, K.G. held this office in 1541 (see the preceding page), and he died possessed of it in 1551 (see p. 211).
Sir Andrew Dudley, K.G. was his successor.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. Such things on every part well pondered, God never gave this world a more notable example, either in what insecurity stands this worldly state, or what mischief works the proud enterprise of a high heart, or finally, what wretched end ensues from such pitiless cruelty. For, first, to begin with the ministers: Miles Forest at Saint Martin's piecemeal rotted away; Dighton, indeed, walks on alive in good possibility to be hanged before he die; but Sir James Tyrell died at Tower Hill, beheaded for treason. King Richard himself, as you shall hereafter hear, slain in the field, hacked and hewed of his enemies' hands, dragged on horseback dead, his hair spitefully torn and tugged like a cur dog. And this mischief he received within less than three years of the mischief that he did.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. Very truth is it, and well known, that at such time as Sir James Tyrell was in the Tower-for treason committed against the most famous prince, King Henry the Seventh-both Dighton and he were examined and confessed the murder in manner above written, but to where the bodies were removed, they could nothing tell. And thus, as I have learned of them that much knew and little cause had to lie, were these two noble princes-these innocent, tender children, born of most royal blood, brought up in great wealth, likely long to live, to reign, and rule in the realm-by traitorous tyranny taken, deprived of their estate, swiftly shut up in prison, and privately slain and murdered, their bodies cast God knows where by the cruel ambition of their unnatural uncle and his merciless tormentors.
[his son] Thomas Tyrrell was born to James Tyrrell and Anne Arundell.
[his daughter] Anne Tyrrell Baroness Despencer was born to James Tyrrell and Anne Arundell.
[his son] William Tyrrell was born to James Tyrrell and Anne Arundell.
[his son] James Tyrrell was born to James Tyrrell and Anne Arundell.
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Tyrrell
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Tyrrell
Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Tyrrell
GrandFather: John Tyrrell
Great x 2 Grandfather: John or Edmund Flambard
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Flambard
Father: William Tyrrell
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Coggeshall
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Coggeshall
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Coggeshall
GrandMother: Alice Eleanor Coggeshall
Great x 4 Grandfather: Norman Darcy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Darcy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Darcy
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Darcy
GrandFather: Robert Darcy
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Tyrrell
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Tyrrell
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Tyrrell
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Tyrrell
Mother: Margaret Darcy