Sunday, March 27, 2011

Question from Guy - Violent behavior at court

I have read that Henry VIII used to hit Cromwell, and that the Duke of Northumberland once slapped Bishop Gardiner in a Privy Council meeting. Was this kind of behaviour common, and what were the consequences for the courtiers involved?

1 comment:

shtove said...

No idea how common this behaviour was, but here's a similar incident from Ireland:

"Perrot also interfered in Richard Bingham's government of Connaught, and in May 1587 be actually struck Sir Nicholas Bagenal, the elderly knight marshal, in the council chamber, an incident his enemies blamed on his drunkenness."

The most notorious incident was in 1598, when Elizabeth I punched the Earl of Essex on the ear. The earl then reached for his sword. Serious lese majeste.