Thomas Burdett

Haven't heard this version before though I'm sure some here have::

"This Thomas," says Dugdale, "having in 17 Ed. IV. incurred the King's displeasure for his good affection to the Duke of Clarence, so strict were the eyes and ears that were set over him, that an advantage was soon taken to cut off his Head; for, hearing that the King had killed a white Buck in his Parke at Arewe" (Arrow), "which Buck he set much store by, passionately wishing the Homes in his Belly that moved the King so to do: being arraigned and convicted of high Treason for these Words, upon inference made that the meaning was mischievous to the King himself, he lost his life for the same, his Body being buried in the Chapell of All Saints within the Grey Friers Church near Newgate, with this memoriall in their Martyrologie, viz. that he was valens Armiger Dominii Georgii Ducis Clarenciae." Stowe, in his Annals, states that poor Thomas was attainted "for Poysoning, Sorcery, and Inchantment; which agreeth with what Mr. Trussel saith, that 17 Ed. IV. Richard Duke of Gloucester, in order to attaining the Crown after his Brother Ed. IV., began to withdraw the King's Affections from his Brother George Duke of Clarence, and to that purpose whispered unto him that some of Clarence's followers were Sorcerers and Necromancers." It seems plain that the heedless words "spoken and so wrested were but the colour of his death, for the true cause was the hard conceit and opinion which the King had of him, for that he had ever been a faithful friend and true counsellor to George Duke of Clarence his brother, between whom there had been bitter enmity."Burton. He was beheaded at Tyburn, "

The interesting bit is the 'eyes and ears set over him'. One wonders whether Edward was watching him because of Clarence or because of his Hungerford connections and someone took the opportunity to make it look like Clarence?

Eileen, the 'naughty' Burdett was his grandson, who murdered Thomas Cokayne in Polesworth Churchyard. H