york00orns

346 YORK.
sons. His estates were at once confiscated. From a
letter of the Duke of Alva to the King of Spain
(14th Feb., 1570), it appears that he had granted
pensions to them. His son Christopher suffered at
Tyburn in company with his uncle, Thomas. The
others were imprisoned for some time, but eventually
liberated, having probably compounded for their lives
by a money payment. The queen did not suffer her
desire of vengeance to overbear her frugal instincts.
The directions given by the Earl of Sussex to Sir
George Bowes as to the number of rebels to be
executed :— in North Yorkshire contains this special
proviso " Amongst whom you maye not execute
any that hathe freholds or noted welthye ; for so is
the Quene's Majestie's plesier, by her specyall
comandement."! But upon those "of the meaner
sorte," as they are called in one of the letters, the
hand of punishment fell heavily. The return of
those who had joined the rebels in Richmond and
Richmondshire amounted to 1,241, of whom 231
were executed. This is exclusive of 300 who suffered
in the Bishopric of Durham, neither does it include
many who were executed in other parts of North
Yorkshire. The lists of the latter are imperfect.
Her Majesty was determined, it is obvious, to strike
hard, and to render any future revolt against her
government all but impossible. It was a stern and
ruthless policy, but it was successful. No other rising
disturbed the peace of her reign.
The see of York had at this time been vacant
'
Sir Cuthbert Sharp's " Memorials of the Rebellion of
1569," p. 144.