Historic%20Yorkshire

92
THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE.
suffered were hung about the Castle and city. Theheart
was held aloft by the executioner,the entrails drawn out
and sometimescut up andthrown amongstthe spectators,
while the trunk and thighs were sliced and hacked to
increasein every way the repulsive horrors of the exhibition,which
took place before thousands of spectators,who
inits barbarityrecognisedbut a showand an amusement.
There are various instances of the reckless conduct of
prisoners at the York Tyburn. Thomas Wilson, alias
Mountain, who, in 1570, killed the Abbot of St. Mary's,
and stabbed the Archbishop of York, was adjudged to
die. He occupied a considerable time in addressing the
crowd, and called out twice " God save the Queen."
Another,William Borwick, whowilfullymurderedhis wife,
told the executioner that he hoped the rope was strong
enough,asif it were to breakwith the strain of his weight,
he mightbe a cripplefor life.
Among other notableaccounts of prisoners of York are
several which offer the not uncommon instances of omission
to hang the culprits properly. Perhaps the most
extraordinary case is that of John Bartendale, who, on
the 27th March, 1634, was hangedupon the gallowsnear
Knavesmire, at York, for felony. He had hung at the
gallows for the space of three-quartersof an hour, when
he was cut downand buried near the foot of the tree. The
officials and spectatorsleaving the place, a Vavasour,of
Hesslewood, ridingthat way withhis servant, thought he
saw a movement of the earth,and soon had the ex-corpse
dug up "all alive." Drunken Barnaby's doggerel has
the circumstancerelated: —
Here is a piper apprehended,
Was found guilty and suspended.
Beingled to fatal gallows,
Boys did say, " Where is thy bellows ?
Ever must thou cease thy tuning."
Answeredhe, " For all your cunning
You mayfail in your prediction."
Which didhappen without fiction;