Henry VIII Crime and Punishment Timeline

To gain popularity and to show the people that he would be a different ruler to his father Henry imprisoned his father’s financial advisers, Edmund Dudley, Richard Empson and Henry Stafford for imposing a tyranny of taxation on England.

As was the custom on the accession of new monarchs, Henry VIII freed all prisoners except those accused of serious crimes or murder.

Edmund Dudley was tried for treason at the Guildhall in London. He put up a good defence stating that he had only acted on the orders of his king but he was found guilty and sentenced to be hung drawn and quartered. He was returned to the Tower of London to await his execution.

Richard Empson was tried for treason at Northampton. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hung drawn and quartered.

After Edmund Dudley made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from the Tower of London, Henry ordered that the sentence passed on both Dudley and Richard Empson be carried out. Both men were executed by beheading.

A group of Lollards (protestors against overindulgences in the Catholic Church) were found guilty of heresy by Archbishop William Warham. Five were executed by burning at the stake.

The English soldiers stranded in Spain, returned to England. Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset was put on trial for refusing to follow orders but was acquitted.

Around 280 people were were tried on a charge of treason for their part in the May Day riots. They were released after Catherine of Aragon pleaded for their release. John Lincoln and 12 others identified as leaders of the riots were found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.

John Lincoln, who had been identified as the instigator of the May Day riots, was executed by being hung, drawn and quartered.