Date |
Name |
Reason for imprisonment |
Details |
1100 |
FLAMBARD Ralph de |
Extortion under William II. Imprisoned on orders of Henry I on 15 August 1100. |
Escaped by rope on 2 Feb 1101 from the White Tower and fled to Normandy. |
1106 |
ROBERT Duke of Normandy |
Prisoner of War. |
Died in prison at Devizes. |
1106 |
ROBERT Earl of Mortain |
Prisoner of War |
Released by a miracle of the Holy Rood. Became a monk of Bermondsey. |
1150 |
CONSTANCE of France |
On orders of Geoffrey de Mandeville. |
Released. |
1196 |
FITZOSBERT William |
Protesting against the taxation levied for the rescue of Richard I. |
Hanged in chains. |
1199 |
COURCY Sir John de |
Rebellion in Ireland. |
Released after serving as English champion in a dispute over Duchy of Normandy. |
1214 |
FITZWALTER Maud or Matilda |
Repulsing the advances of King John. |
Held in NE turret of the White Tower and poisoned by an egg sent in to her by the King. |
1221 |
SEVEN CARTLOADS OF PRISONERS |
Captured at the surrendered castle of Bilham. |
Killed |
1223 |
ISABELLA Princess |
Held pending her wedding to Emperor Frederick II. |
Released to marry. Became Empress in 1235. |
1226 |
HERLISUN John |
Murder of Lambert Leglis |
Pardoned by Henry III |
.
1232 |
BURGH Hubert de Earl of Kent |
Fell from Royal favour and spent some time bound in chains. |
Transferred to Castle of Devizes but returned to favour in 1234. |
1282 |
JEWS (600) |
'Clipping and adulterating the King's coin'. |
Some died in the cellar of the White Tower, many were hanged and the rest were banished the realm if they would not accept Christian baptism. |
1288 |
WEILAND or WEYLAND |
Inciting his esquires to commit murders. |
Banished the realm at his own choice in preference to perpetual imprisonment. |
1289 |
LITHBURY Robert de |
Criminal partiality in the discharge of high office. |
Released on payment of a heavy fine. |
1289 |
HENGHAM Ralph de |
Corruption. |
Deprived of office, fined and then released. |
1290 |
BURNETON William de |
A prisoner on 8 Feb 1290 when granted allowances. |
Not known. |
1291 |
SHETTISHAM Brother John |
Trespass of venison |
Delivered from the Tower to his abbot on 30 Nov 1291. |
1296 |
ATHOL John Earl of Athol |
Captured at Battle of Dunbar. |
Freed on giving a hostage and serving with English Army against France. |
1296 |
BALIOL de John King of Scotland |
Surrendered after Battle of Dunbar. |
Released after three years on intercession of the Pope. Banished to France. |
1296 |
COMYN John |
Prisoner of War after Battle of Dunbar. |
Released. |
1296 |
MENTIETH Sir John de |
Prisoner of War after Battle of Dunbar. |
Released. Created Earl of Lennox for help in the capture of Wallace. |
1305 |
BOSGO Thomas de |
Suspicion of involvement in stealing Crown Jewels. |
Delivered from Edinburgh 12 April 1305. |
1305 |
RIKEBON |
Debt of 1,000 marks. |
Released after a deal had been struck. |
1305 |
WALLACE Sir William |
Betrayed by Sir John Mentieth. |
Committed on 22 August, Hanged at Tyburn on 24 August 1305. Disembowelled and quartered. Quarters were displayed at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Berwick, Stirling and Perth. Head on London Bridge. |
1306 |
ATHOL John Earl of |
Second confinement in Tower. |
"Hanged cruelly" 7 Nov 1306. |
1306 |
FRASER Sir Simon |
Captured at St John's Town |
Hanged, drawn and quartered. Head was displayed on London Bridge alongside that of Wallace 7 Sept 1306. |
1306 |
SETON Sir Christopher |
Captured at St John's Town. |
Hanged, cut down and beheaded. |
1306 |
MORHAM Sir Herbert |
Supporting the Scots Cause. |
Beheaded 'at the Tower' 7 September 1306. |
1306 |
LE BOYS Thomas |
Supporting the Scots Cause. |
Beheaded 'at the Tower' 7 September 1306. |
1307 |
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR |
Robbery, murder and "shocking habits". |
Order dissolved. Goods assigned to Knights of St John of Jerusalem. All members sent to other monasteries. |
1309 |
ACTON Roger de |
Not known. |
Died a prisoner. |
1378 |
HAULEY Robert & SHAKELL John |
Having captured the Count of Dene at the Battle of Najara, they were given the son of the Count as a hostage while he returned to collect the ransom money. The Count died in his errand but the two men holding the son still expected a handsome reward for his safe return and raised objections against handing over their hostage, for which they were cast into the Tower. |
Both managed to escape from the Tower on 11 August 1378 and fled to sanctuary in Westminster Abbey. They were besieged by soldiers and, in the fray which ensured, Hauley was killed. Hauley was buried in the Abbey and Shakell returned to the Tower. Soon afterwards, Shakell was paid 500 marks as ransom by the King and granted 100 marks per annum for life. He died in 1396 and was buried near Hauley in the Abbey. |
1380 |
BORDES Sir William de |
A French prisoner. |
Arrangements negotiated on 30 August for payment of 30,000 francs ransom. |
1381 |
APPLETON William |
The King's Confessor who was in the Tower at the time of the Peasants' Revolt for his own safety. |
Seized from safe refuge by the Rebels of Kent on 14th June 1381 and dragged out to face mock trial before being beheaded and hacked to pieces by the mob. |
1381 |
LEGG John |
The King's Sergeant who was in the Tower at the time of the Peasants' Revolt for this own safety. |
Seized from safe refuge by the Rebels of Kent on 14th June 1381 and dragged out to face mock trial before being beheaded and hacked to pieces by the mob. |
1381 |
HALES Sir Robert |
The King's Treasurer who was in the Tower at the time of the Peasants' Revolt for this own safety. |
Seized from safe refuge by the Rebels of Kent on 14th June 1381 and dragged out to face mock trial before being beheaded and hacked to pieces by the mob. |
1381 |
SUDBURY Simon Archbishop of Canterbury |
Chancellor who was in the Tower at the time of the Peasants' Revolt for his own safety. |
Seized from safe refuge by the Rebels of Kent on 14th June 1381 and dragged out to face mock trial before being beheaded and hacked to pieces by the mob. |
1381 |
SOMENOUR Richard |
Unknown |
Was also dealt the same rough justice on Tower Hill on 14 June 1381 but it has not been possible to ascertain whether he had been in safe refuge in the Tower beforehand. |
1415 |
DOUGALE Lord Randolph |
Norman Prisoner of War after the Battle of Agincourt. |
Held 18 December 1415 to 26 June 1417. |
1415 |
DERNEVILLE Lord Guy |
Norman Prisoner of War after the Battle of Agincourt. |
Held 18 December 1415 to 26 June 1417. |
1415 |
DESQUENES Lord Gardoci |
Norman Prisoner of War after the Battle of Agincourt. |
Held 18 December 1415 to 14 December 1415. |
1415 |
TURGEVILLE Lord John |
Norman Prisoner of War after the Battle of Agincourt. |
Held 18 December 1415 to 30 September 1418. |
1417 |
COBHAM Lady Joan |
Committed to the Tower (wife of Lord Cobham - Oldcastle). |
Released after her husband's death. |
1417 |
OLDCASTLE Sir John |
On recapture, charged with same heresy and treasonable offences and sentence. |
Taken to St. Giles Field hanged by a chain around his waist, fire kindled beneath him and burned to death on 14 or 15 December 1417. |
1419 |
RANDULPH Friar John |
Compassing the death of Henry V. |
Slain by the parson of St Peter ad Vincula. |
1422 |
CESSE Guycharde de |
Captured by Henry V at surrender of Meaux. |
Spent many years confined to the Tower. |
1422 |
JAMES Prince |
For the fourth time, brought to the Tower on the death of Henry V. |
Release negotiated, he married a cousin of Henry 'VI in 1424 and was crowned King of Scotland. |
1422 |
MAUNE Oliver de |
Surrender at Falaise. |
Not known. |
1422 |
FLISCO Marcellimus de |
Prisoner of War. |
Escaped but recaptured. |
1470 |
TIPTOFT John Earl of Worcester Past constable of the Tower |
Extreme cruelty in Ireland. |
Beheaded on Tower Hill at three strokes of the axe at his own request on 18 October 1470 |
1471 |
HENRY VI King |
In 1470 Edward IV was deposed and Henry VI became King again. In 1471 Edward returned, deposed Henry and recommitted him to the Tower. |
Committed to Wakefield Tower on 1 April and murdered therein on 21 May 1471. The Ceremony of Lilies and Roses is in commemoration of this tragedy. |
1471 |
NEVILLE George Archbishop of York |
Sent to the Tower on Edward IV's recovery of the throne. |
Released after 2 months but was secretly arrested, his lands forfeited and he was sent to the Castle of Guynes. He died there in 1476. |
1477 |
BURDETT Thomas |
Making an incautious jest against the king whilst on a hunting expedition. |
Hanged at Tyburn on 20 May 1477. |
1477 |
STACEY John |
A dependant of the Duke of Clarence. Charged with the imputation of necromancy. |
Put to death at Tyburn on 20 May 1477. |
1478 |
GEORGE Duke of Clarence |
Compassing the death of the King by necromancy. |
Sentenced to be executed but murdered by drowning in a butt of Malmsey wine in the Bowyer Tower before the sentence could be carried out. |
1483 |
BROWNE Sir George |
Favouring the Earl of Richmond's cause. |
Beheaded on Tower Hill 4 December 1484. |
1483 |
CLIFFORD Sir Robert |
Favouring the Earl of Richmond's cause. |
Beheaded on Tower Hill 4 December 1484. |
1532 |
FRITH John |
A Protestant Martyr accused of heresy. |
Burned at the stake at Smithfield on 4 July 1533. |
1533 |
BOCKING Dr Edward |
Compassing the King's death. |
Hanged and beheaded 21 April 1534. |
1533 |
BARKER Father |
Concealing knowledge of Elizabeth BARTON. |
Not known. |
1533 |
DALYVELL Robert |
Sedition. |
Racked on suspicion of being a spy. both ears cut off and then released. |
1534 |
LAWRENCE Robert Prior of Belval |
Refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII's Supremacy. |
Hanged, beheaded and quartered at Tyburn on 4 May 1534. Canonised 1970. |
1534 |
WEBSTER Augustine Prior of Axholme |
Refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII's Supremacy. |
Hanged, beheaded and quartered at Tyburn on 4 May 1534. Canonised 1970. |
1534 |
REYNOLDS Richard Prior of Sion Hospital |
Refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII's Supremacy. |
Hanged, beheaded and quartered at Tyburn on 4 May 1534. Canonised 1970. |
1534 |
HALE John Vicar of Isleworth |
Refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII's Supremacy. |
Hanged, beheaded and quartered at Tyburn on 4 May 1534. Canonised 1970. |
1534 |
HOUGHTON John Prior of Charterhouse |
Refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII's Supremacy. |
Hanged, beheaded and quartered at Tyburn on 4 May 1534. Canonised 1970. |
1534 |
FISHER John Bishop of Rochester |
Refusing the Oath of Supremacy. |
Beheaded on Tower Hill 22 June 1535; canonised 1935. |
1540 |
GREY Lord Leonard Viscount Grane |
High treason in Ireland. |
Beheaded on Tower Hill in 1541. |
1540 |
HUNGERFORD Walter 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury |
Procuring a person to conjure how long the King would live. |
Executed with Thomas Cromwell on Tower Hill 28 June 1540. |
1540 |
PLANTAGENET Arthur Viscount Lisle |
Suspicion of favour to a design to betray Calais to the French. |
Died of joy on hearing verdict of innocent. |
1540 |
WYATT Sir Thomas |
Engaging in negotiations with Charles V of France. |
Released 1541. |
1541 |
CULPEPPER Thomas |
Accused of staying all night with his cousin, queen Catherine Howard. |
Hanged at Tyburn 10 December 1541. |
1541 |
BRIDGEWATER Countess of |
Concealing the Queen's offences. |
Pardoned and released. |
1541 |
DEREHAM Francis |
Having a friendship with Catherine Howard before she wed Henry VIII. |
Hanged on Tower Hill 10 December 1541. |
1541 |
HOWARD Lord William |
Catherine's uncle, accused of misprision of Treason for concealing knowledge of Catherine's pre-marital affairs. |
Pardoned. |
1541 |
LASELS or LASCELLES John* |
Told Cranmer all details of Queen's levity. |
Committed to the Tower to keep him silent until her execution. Was then possibly released. *A man of this name was executed with Anne ASKEW in 1545. |
1586 |
BABINGTON Anthony |
Involvement in the Plot to murder the Queen and proclaim May, Queen of Scots. |
Hanged, drawn and quartered at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 20 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
TUCHINER or TUCHINOR Anthony |
Suspected of implication in the Babington Plot (see Beauchamp Tower inscription nos 13, 50). |
Tortured 25 December. Released 1589. Left the country and was ordained by the Pope's authority. |
1586 |
ABINGTON Thomas |
Babington conspirator. |
Released. |
1586 |
ABINGTON Edward |
Babington conspirator. |
Hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
BALLARD John |
Babington conspirator. |
Hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
BARNWALL Robert |
Babington conspirator |
Hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
SAVAGE John |
Babington conspirator. |
hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
TICHBURNE Chidiock |
Babington conspirator |
Hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
TILNEY Charles |
Babington conspirator. |
Hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 Sept 1586. (There was so much public outcry about the barbarity of the above seven executions at Lincoln's Inn Fields that, when seven others were due for the same punishment next day, it was agreed that they would only be hanged; no further mutilations followed). |
1586 |
BELLAMIE Jerome |
Babington conspirator. |
Hanged on 21 Sept 1586. |
1586 |
CHARNOCK John |
Babington conspirator. |
Hanged on 21 Sept 1586. |
1603 |
WATSON William |
Complicity in the Lady Arabella Stuart conspiracy. |
Hanged at Winchester in November 1603. |
1603 |
KEMYS Lawrence |
Complicity in the Lady Arabella Stuart conspiracy. |
Committed with Raleigh and released with him in 1616. Committed suicide on failure of expedition 1617. |
1604 |
CONSTABLE Henry |
A poet who embraced Roman Catholicism. |
Released, went to Liege where he died in 1613. |
1605 |
ABINGTON Thomas |
(3rd imprisonment). Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Released. (The letter warning of the Plot is said to be written by his wife). |
1605 |
BATES Thomas |
Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Hanged, drawn and quartered at the West Side of St Paul's churchyard on 30 January 1606. |
1605 |
DIGBY Sir Everard |
Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Hanged, drawn and quartered at the West Side of St Paul's churchyard on 30 January 1606. |
1605 |
FAWKES Guy |
Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Hanged, disembowelled, beheaded and quartered at Old Palace Yard, Westminster on 31 January 1606. |
1605 |
GARNETT Henry |
Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Hanged, St Paul's churchyard 3 May 1606. |
1605 |
GARNETT Thomas |
Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Banished for life in 1606. Returned in 1608, so was hanged at Worcester. Canonised 1970. |
1605 |
KEYES Robert |
Involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. |
Hanged at Old Palace Yard with Guy Fawkes. |
1615 |
TURNER Mrs Anne |
Supplying poison to those responsible for Overbury's death. |
As she had invented yellow-starch for ruffs, she was hanged at Tyburn in November 1615 wearing a yellow ruff and cuffs. The hangman was also wearing yellow-starched clothing and as a result, yellow starch then went out of fashion. |
1615 |
WESTON Richard |
Administering poison to Overbury. |
Made a full confession and was hanged at Tyburn. |
1616 |
CARR Robert Earl of Somerset |
A favourite of James I, he married the Countess of Essex. The King accused him of complicity in the murder of Overbury. |
Remained a prisoner until his release in January 1622. Died in poverty 1645. |
1616 |
HOWARD Frances Countess of Somerset |
The instigator of Overbury's committal to the Tower, she had objected to his interference to her affair with Robert Carr. |
Released 1622. Died in poverty 1632. (NB. The release of this couple caused public outrage - some even implying that the King was involved in Overbury's murder). |
1617 |
CLIFTON Lord Gervase |
Threatening to kill the Lord Keeper. |
Committed suicide 1618 by plunging two knives into his body. |
1618 |
RALEIGH Sir Walter |
Failure of his Ghanian expedition and insistence of Spain for entering their territorial waters, caused his third confinement to the Tower. Without sufficient evidence, he was arraigned on the former charge of High Treason. |
Beheaded in Old Palace Yard, Westminster on 29 October 1618. On the scaffold he felt the edge of the axe and exclaimed, "Tis a sharp remedy, but a sure cure for all ills". Held in Wardrobe Tower before trial and Brick Tower afterwards. |
1669 |
SAVILE Henry |
The messenger who carried Coventry's challenge to Buckingham. He was committed to the Gatehouse Prison, Westminster. |
From the Gatehouse, he petitioned for transfer to the Tower and was granted his request. Probably released with Coventry. |
1670 |
FARRINGTON William |
Not known. |
Released 29 December 1670. |
1670 |
HARTLIBB Samuel |
Not known. |
Allowed the use of pen, ink and paper in order to write his petition to the King and not otherwise. |
1671 |
OVERSKELDT Daniel van |
Suspected Dutch Spy. |
An exchange prisoner in 1674. |
1671 |
ROGERS Robert |
Servant of Overskeldt |
|
1671 |
PERROT Robert |
Not known. |
Not known but a man of this name was executed at Taunton as a rebel in 1685. |
1671 |
BLOOD Colonel Thomas |
Attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Martin Tower. |
Discharged. |
1671 |
PARROT Edward |
Attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Martin Tower. |
Discharged. |
1671 |
HUNT Thomas |
Attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Martin Tower. |
Discharged. |