Sir William Lisle, Lord of Felton

https://familypedia.wikia.org/wiki/William_De_Lisle_(1485-1528)

Society, Politics and Culture By Mervyn Evans James, gives an account of William's surrender to the Earl of Northumberland:

In a letter to the king from Henry Percy,6th Earl of Northumberland.

"On Sunday late in January 1528, as the young sixth earl of Northumberland, only lately appointed warden of the East and Middle Marches, made his was from mass along the Canongate at Alnwick to the great fourteenth-century gatehouse of the castle, he was encountered by a melancholy little group of suppliants, lightly clad, and shivering in the cold wind. They wore only white shirts, and there were halters about their necks, symbols of abasement and repentance. Kneeling in the mud, all fifteen of them made unconditional submission to the king's authority and were immediately committed to the castle prison. Amongst them were gentlemen of worship in Northumberland, particularly Sir William Lisle, lord of Felton near Alnwick, and Humphrey his young heir; but also John Ogle, William Shaftoe, and Thomas Fenwick. All were bandits, who since the previous summer, when Lisle had escaped from imprisonment at Newcastle, had kept the Marches in an uproar."

Within a few days after this remarkable surrender, Brian Tukewrites to Wolsey on behalf of the youth Humphrey Lisle: — "One of the surrendered prisoners is an unoffending lad, not past twelve or thirteen, son of Sir William, simply out with his father, " peradven-ture fearing lest he should lack bread at home." " Whether it be of fatherly compassion, for I have children of mine own, and one much of that age, vel nescio quo spiritu ductus, the remembrance of this innocent hath caused me that in my bed this night I could not forbear to water my plants, having in fresh remembrance what I knew in king Henry the VIIs days, as considered and alleged touching the difference between the king's laws and an instinct or law that is in nature, when Sir James Tirel and Sir John Wyndham were put to death, and their sons upon that consideration pardoned. I thought convenient to advertise your grace what was showed me of the younger son, most humbly beseeching the same to pardon me of my boldness and simple pity." - Humphrey was spared, and probably his younger brother. The rest were hanged and quartered, and their remains publicly exhibited in Newcastle and elsewhere, as appears by a letter from the earl of Northumberland to Wolsey, dated the 2nd April : — " For the more terrible and dreadful example of all the inhabitants in these parts, William Lisle, Humphrey Lisle his son,John Ogle, William Shaftowe, and Thomas Fenwick, gentlemen of name, chief leaders and most heinous offenders of all the said rebels,were, according to their demerits, attainted of high treason, and by me had judgment given to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. The execution whereof was accomplished upon them accordingly, only reserving Humphrey Lisle, whom, according to the pleasure of the king's highness and your grace, I have sent by this bearer, John Norton, my servant, to be further ordered as shall stand with your gracious pleasure, notwithstanding he had judgment among the other. And the other young son of the said William Lisle I detain here with me, to such time as I shall be advertised of the further mind and pleasure of the king's highness and your grace's concerning the said young Lisle. And the heads and quarters of them that were so executed for high treason I have caused to be set up upon the 'dongeon ' of the castle of Newcastle, and in sundry other eminent and open places, most apparent to the view and sight of the people, to the high contentation of all the true inhabitants of these parts, and extreme terror of all other semblable offenders. The residue of the said rebels been also attainted for march treasons and put to execution. and have also . . . executed and put to death six thieves of Tynedale, who of late time were reported the most notorious and heinous offenders of that country. After which execution so done, the 2nd day of this instant month of April, at this town of Newcastlc-upon-Tyne, in presence of the most part of the gentlemen and freeholders of Northumberland ; the Tynedale men in great numbers submitted themselves, according to the king's most gracious pleasure, in most humble wise, upon their bare knees, beseeching his highness of grace and pardon for their offences past," etc. [J. C.]"

Humphrey Lisle made a confession in June of the offences which his father and himself, with their adherents, had committed, as follows : —

1. About twelve months ago he and his father, with about forty persons, Scots and English (of whom all the English have been executed) attacked Newcastle, compelled the keepers of the castle to surrender the keys, and delivered nine prisoners.

2. Shortly afterwards came to Widdrington, intending to have taken or slain Sir William Ellerker, if he had issued out of the town, and took away twenty horses from the fields.

3. With about 140 persons, chiefly Scots, spoiled and burned Holmeshaigh.

4. Attacked Widdrington a second time, and took prisoner and ransomed Michael Vynell.

5. In returning to Scotland took prisoners four of my lord of Northumberland's company, three of whom they liberated without ransom.

6. Burned three or four houses in Thropell, and took three prisoners.

7. Burned Lynton, a farmhouse of Sir William Ellerker's, and drove away forty-three cattle.

8. He himself and four servants burned the house of Roger Heron in Eshed.

9. Drove away sixty head of cattle from Togston.

10. He and his servant, John Ogle, disguised as beggars, robbed two men of Staumford on horseback of their horses and spears.

11. He and four servants plundered a house in Wooddon of household stuff value 465. 8d.

12. He took two horses from Anthony Lilburn.

13. Took fourteen head of cattle from Whittell and eight from Henry Lex of Thurston ; took prisoners three or four men between Alnwick and Warkworth, and two between Warkworth and Chibburn ; robbed the shop of Henry Sanderson in Alnwick of 4/. worth of goods, and the house of Thomas Dryden in Alemouth of four marks' worth.

14. When about thirteen years old was present when Roger Jowsye killed a canon of Brinkburn.

15. At Gosforth, a mile from Newcastle, took prisoners twenty- seven persons passing by in the high street, of whom he had 26s. Sd., and ransomed all but seven, whom he kept for a while in servitude in Scotland.

16. Returning to Scotland, met his father, and took two prisoners on the Tyne on the highway between Newcastle and Chollerford, and robbed them of horses and weapons.

17. In the highway between Lesburyand Warkworth he and three servants robbed two fishermen of four marks and an ambling mare. Signed — " By me, Umfra Lysle."

Young Lisle appears to have rendered service in return for his pardon. On the 27th December 1531 the earl of Northumberland wrote to the king commending " Humphrey Lisle for the apprehension of Hob Elwold, who was put to execution when the writer was at Dilston, which is a great quietness to the king's subjects on the Tyne." Then we have in July of 1535 the following entry: July 28. At a warden court held in Newcastle, Sir Humphrey Lisle of Felton, knight, and Alexander Shafto of Scremerston, were indicted for divers march treasons committed by them on the east and middle marches. Hearing of the indictments the accused fled, and the earl of Northumberland issued a proclamation against them.