Throughout the Tudor period and in particular the reign of King Henry VIII, many people
lost their lives on the execution scaffolds across England.
Many of these people were priests and bishops, and people who lived holy lives devoted to
their faith but ultimately they could not accept the changes that the notorious king
made to religion.
One of those was Bishop John Fisher, who today is known as a saint and he refused to accept
the King as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Because of this defiance, Henry VIII saw him as a troublemaker and because of this he was
taken on the 22nd June 1535 at the age of 65 to Tower Hill, where his head was taken
clean off by an executioner.
He was a man described by Erasmus as, ‘one man at this time who is incomparable for uprightness
of life, for learning and for greatness of soul.’
But what is the story of his execution?
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John Fisher studied at Cambridge University, and whilst here he attracted a degree of attention
and was considered a man who would go far in the church.
He would then become a vicar, and he was then appointed as the confessor and priest to Margaret
Beaufort, the mother of the King Henry VII.
He continued to rise throughout educational spheres in the Tudor period, but then on the
14th October 1504, John Fisher was made a Bishop, and specifically the Bishop of Rochester
after Henry VII insisted to the Vatican that this must happen.
Rochester was a poor diocese, and Fisher was sent there and he was a passionate priest
who was very well liked.
He had a brilliant reputation, and he preached the funeral oration for Henry VII and Lady
Margaret, who both died in 1509.
He also mixed with other critical thinkers including Erasmus, and he became very famous
across the country for his skill.
But despite this, he then came into conflict with King Henry VIII.
He continued to defend the church against Protestantism and the ideas of Martin Luther,
but he would then also defend Henry VIII first wife.
At the time the King’s eye was captured by Anne Boleyn, who would become his second
wife, and he was trying to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
Fisher then became one of Queen Catherine’s biggest supporters, and he appeared on her
behalf at court appearances, and he openly criticised the King which was very dangerous.
The King learned of this, and he was furious and Henry would never forgive him.
The King then began to attack the Catholic Church to force through his annulment, and
with this Fisher warned Parliament that the Catholic Church in England would be destroyed.
Many complained to the King about Fisher’s statements in Parliament, and he was summoned
to the King to explain himself.
But as the King continued with his assault of the church, Fisher appealed to Rome to
help.
It was around this time when John Fisher’s household was struck by a poisoning plot as
his cook had placed something in the porridge which was eaten by many of his household.
Two people died in this, but Fisher was fasting and avoided possible death, but some alluded
to the fact that the King was behind the poisoning plot, and that he wanted to deal with Fisher
once and for all.
This resulted in Fisher’s cook Richard Roose being boiled alive in front of a crowd.
Fisher it’s believed did embark in secret conversations to overthrow Henry VIII, and
he would talk with foreign diplomats about this, and he encouraged the Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V to try and invade England and to depose the Tudor King.
But things got worse.
Following the King’s great matter, with the King wanting to divorce Catheirne, Sir
Thomas More Fisher’s friend resigned as Chancellor.
Henry would marry Anne Boleyn in secret, and Fisher was then arrested.
IT’s believed that this happened as they were worried about him opposing and speaking
out about the coronation of Anne Boleyn.
He was released, and no charges were brought against him, but the net was closing in for
Bishop John Fisher.
A bill of attainder was passed against him for being involved in the Nun of Kent case
in which Elizabeth Barton predicted the death of the King.
He was pardoned and was later forced to pay a fine of £300.
But there were many attempts to get John Fisher to sign the Act of Succession, recognising
Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, and also to accept Anne Boleyn
as the rightful Queen.
Fisher refused to accept this and was imprisoned inside of the Tower of London on the 26th
April 1534.
There were many attempts made to get him to submit to the will of the King, but because
he refused he was indicted of treason.
He was held at the Tower for over a year, and was allowed food and drink sent by friends
but was refused a priest.
He was held in very tough conditions, but Fisher believed that the King could not be
the Supreme Head of the Church in England.
But he fell into a trap set for him as Richard Rich had been sent to get evidence against
Fisher.
Fisher repeated his true opinion, and this would be used as evidence.
But then to try and save Fisher, Pope Paul III offered to make Fisher a Cardinal, hoping
that the King would not execute him.
But Henry said that if the cardinals hat ever came to England, he would send Fisher’s
head in return to the Vatican.
But then a special commission for Fisher’s trial was issued, and this took place at Westminster
Hall in front of his enemies, including Thomas Cromwell and even Anne Boleyn’s father.
Fisher had been charged with reason, and he had been stripped of his position as Bishop,
and he was treated like a commoner and was tried by jury.
He was found guilty of treason, and was then condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered
at Tyburn.
But the Londoner’s were furious, and they compared Fisher’s life to John the Baptist,
who was executed in similar circumstances.
The King then commuted Fisher’s death sentence by beheaded, and he was taken to Tower Hill
on the 22nd June 1535.
He was taken from his cell in the Tower of London and was flanked by a number of guards
who accompanied him on his journey to Tower Hill.
He walked amongst the crowds, and as he arrived at Tower Hill he was helped up the steps of
the scaffold.
He was meeting his death with dignity and calmness, and before the execution he made
a short speech.
He said, ‘"I thank God, hitherto my stomach hath served me very well thereunto, so that
yet I have not feared death; wherefore I desire you all to help and assist with your prayers,
that, at the very point and instant of death's stroke, I may in that very moment stand steadfast
without fainting in any one point of the catholic faith, free from any fear."
He impressed many of those who were there to witness his execution, and it was said,
‘“[W]hen they reached the scaffold, the rough men of his escort offered to help him
up the ladder.
But he smiled at them: ‘Nay, … ye shall see me go up to my death well enough myself;
without help’.
And forthwith he began to climb, almost nimbly.
As he reached the top the sun appeared from behind the clouds, and its light shone upon
his face.
He was heard to murmur some words from Psalm 33 … .
The masked headsman knelt … to ask his pardon.
And again the cardinal’s manliness dictated every word of his answer: ‘I forgive thee
with all my heart, and I trust on Our Lord Thou shalt see me die even lustily’.
Then they stripped him … and … a gasp of pity went up at the sight of his … body,
nothing … but skin and bones … the flesh clean wasted away; and a very image
of death … . He was offered a final chance to save his life by acknowledging the royal
supremacy, but … turned to the crowd, and … spoke these words: ‘Christian
people, I am come hither to die for the faith of Christ’s Catholic Church, and I thank
God hitherto my courage hath served me well … , so that … I have not feared death;
wherefore I desire you help me … with your prayers, that at the very … instant of
my death’s stroke, … I then faint not in … fear; and I pray God save the king
and the realm, and … send the king a good counsel’.
The … courage of his spirit triumphing over the obvious weakness of his body, amazed
them all, and a murmur of admiration was still rustling the crowd when they saw him go down
on his knees and begin to pray.
… Then he … put his wasted neck upon the low block”.
The executioner then struck with his axe, and Fisher’s head was taken clean off.
His head was taken to London Bridge and it was then dipped in tar and was placed on a
pike above the bridge.
But his body was then stripped and was left on the scaffold for hours as an act of disgrace
until he was then buried in a rough grave.
But his body was then moved inside the Chapel within the walls of the Tower of London.
His head it was said looked lifelike, and it disturbed those who passed underneath it,
and then it was replaced by Sir Thomas More’s head.
Bishop John Fisher was a man who dared to cross the King Henry VIII, and he stuck true
to his beliefs and ideas until the end of his life.
This would lead to him going to his death on Tower Hill, and the crowd were shocked
that day as the very peaceful man was treated brutally in his final seconds.
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