The Birmingham family lose their manor
| This document shows Henry VIII taking the manor of Birmingham from
the Birmingham family in lieu of debts owed to him and in consideration
of felonies committed by Edward Birmingham. The felony charge may
have been trumped up, since Edward's neighbour and rival Lord Dudley
brought the initial charge to the attention of Cardinal Wolsey. From
this position of weakness, Edward Birmingham did very badly in his
deal with the king. In exchange for his land, Edward is pardoned and
he and his wife are allowed by 'the king's highness of his blessed
disposition and benign goodness' only £20 a year in rents from
their former land. By the time of his release, Edward had spent 180
weeks as a prisoner in the Tower of London. Catalogue reference: C 65/146, no. 23 (on or after 8 June 1536) |
Transcript
|
