A Yorkshire Tragedy
 
There are two entries in church burial registers of 1605 that mark one of the most notorious murders in the early 17th century.

 
The murders caused immediate interest throughout the country and within the year had become the basis for a play credited to William Shakespeare - although modern scholars argue about the playwright responsible.
The actual tragedy had all the ingredients so beloved of the modern-day tabloid press - sex, violence, money, aristocracy and religion.
The scene of the crime was Calverley Hall, a small estate sandwiched between Leeds and Bradford.
The Calverley family had come to Yorkshire, from Scotland, in about 1100 and then, through a series of fortunate marriages, had risen to a family of status and importance.
In 1576, William Calverley married Katherine Thornholme of Haysthorpe near Burton Agnes in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Five years after the marriage William became one of the earliest victims of a new law designed to rid the country of Catholicism and popery. He was fined eighty pounds for four months absence from the church. The fine was followed by periods of imprisonments in Hull, York and London and further large fines.
In 1589, William's father wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury pleading for his sons release from Marshalsea prison in London.. ' his backwardness in Religeon… proceedeth rather from some form of fantasticall humour and weakness of witt and braine than anie other reason or perswacion…. He hathe bene of long tyme subject to lunacie'.
Religious difficulties continued for William and Katherine with fines being imposed every year. In February 1596 William was arrested in London accused of making 'very undutifull and disloyal speeches'. It was stated that 'the same persons that testified against him did also affirm that he was lunatick at the time of the uttering of those speeches'.
William received a fine, was bound over, and released from custody.
The following month William's father, also called William, died and six months later William followed him, aged only thirty-nine. No doubt worn down by the constant persecution.
 Aside: genealogists please note - nearly all the sons in the Calverley family are called either Walter or William. Research this line and ' weakness of witt and braine ' will surely follow!
Walter, the eldest son of William (the lunatick one) was just seventeen at the time of his father's death. The estate was placed into the hands of his mother and his great uncle William pending Walters 'coming of age' at twenty-one years.
Walter stood to inherit his family estates and consequently was considered a very eligible bachelor. In the summer of 1599 Walter married Phillipa Brooke. She was part of London's high society and her family were very much a part of the aristocratic and royal circles. The marriage surprised many as they couple were from such different social backgrounds.
The marriage appears to have run into difficulties within a year. In a letter from Lady Brooke, the mother-in-law, to her nephew, Sir Robert Cecil, Walter is referred to as 'one Mr Calverley her Maiesties warde who hath married my daughter, an unstayed younge man'. By 'unstayed' she presumably meant 'unstable'.
In June 1600 Cecil received another letter from his aunt with the news that Walter was in prison for his debts and dangerously ill. The letter contained an unexpected request… ' I besheece your honnor in the respect of my daughters necessitie if he now should die that you would stand your honorable good friende soe much as to bestowe the wardshippe of his brother upon my daughter'. Her ladyship seems to have had scant regard for her son-in-law's welfare but was anxious to preserve the Calverley wealth for her daughter.
Walter did not die, but following his release from prison appears never to have fully recovered his health.
Walter and Phillipa had their first child, William, in early 1601. Financial problems marred the joy of the new arrival. In early 1601 Walter was selling off plots of land in Pudsey, Burley, Menston, Calverley and the East Riding.

As Walter was engaged in selling his lands, his mother, Katherine, was acquiring other land, cottages and even the Manor of Haysthorpe, in her family's village near Burton Agnes. A large part of those properties would have come to her under her original marriage settlement. Katherine's decision not to pass on to Walter her own inheritance must have caused much bitterness in Calverley Hall.

A second son, Walter, of course!, was born at Calverley Hall in October 1602. A third son, Henry, was born almost exactly a year later.
If life in London had been unsettling for Walter then life in Yorkshire must have been equally unsettling for Phillipa. When in London Phillipa had lived at Durham House on the Strand. The house was the property of the Queen Elizabeth and was let to ambassadors and her favourites. There had been tenants such as Sir Robert Dudley, The Earl of Essex and, when lady Brooke was there, Sir Walter Raleigh.
Calverley Hall was a splendid building but was no match for Durham House. To add to Phillipa's uneasiness religious tensions were to the fore in the village, and indeed the country. Other members of the Calverley family who lived in the village were constantly being fined and imprisoned for their refusal to deny the Catholic Church. Phillipa must also have been aware of the turmoil in the village, in March 1605, caused by a case of witchcraft. Four local people had been reported to the Assizes for having, over a period of twenty years, '… been vehemently suspected to be witches and thereby to have practised and done much hurt and mischief to their neighbours.' Although only a select few knew, the plans for the Gunpowder Plot had already been drawn up. That scheme would explode into public knowledge later in the year.
In April 1605 Walter Calverley was suddenly overwhelmed by what he saw as the hopelessly bleak outlook for his family and resolved to do away with his wife and children. It is possible that he intended to include his own death in his plan, if so, he was only partially successful. It was to be in August 1605 that he would die.

To discover what really happened in Calverley Hall that April is quite difficult. The contemporary press differ in many aspects of the story and dwell on scandal and sensationalism. Many of the legal documents from the trial have vanished. It has been suggested that the powerful Brooke family had a hand in suppressing an unsavoury story that involved a member of the family. The play, 'A Yorkshire Tragedy', took most of the details from a pamphlet that was published within six weeks of the tragedy. Both publications stress the change in character that Walter showed following his marriage. It was understood that the Devil was at work in him - today he would probably have been diagnosed as having some form of mental illness.

To understand what happened it is necessary to refer to the play and pamphlet.

 The masks show where I have cut the dialogue.

 
 Scene 1.
A serving man arrives from London. He brings news that his master (Walter) has married a girl who he now beats and insults and that he is wasteful in spending his fortune and pawning his lands.
 SERVING MAN
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Why, did you not know that till now?
Why, he's married, beats his wife, and has two or three children by her: for you must note that any woman bears the more when she is beaten.

And I think she was blest in her cradle, that he never came in her bed. Why, he has consumed all, pawned his lands, and made his university brother stand in wax for him.
  
 Scene 2.
The Calverleys at home. Walter has changed in character. His wife complains bitterly of his gambling and debts. He, in turn, blames his wife as the cause of his misfortune and orders her to go to London and sell the lands that were her dowry. In reality, the lands had been sold five years previously.
When she asks Walter to think of their three sons he accuses her of infidelity. As Walter continues to revile her, a gentleman remonstrates with him whereupon Walter calls him his wife's lover.
 WIFE
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 What will become of us? All will away.
My husband never ceases in expense,
Both to consume his credit and his house.
And 'tis set down by Heaven's just decree,
That riot's child must needs be beggary.
Are these the virtues that his youth did promise:
Dice, and voluptuous meetings, midnight revels,
Taking his bed with surfeits, ill-beseeming
The ancient honour of his house and name?
And this not all: but that which kills me most,
When he recounts his losses and false fortunes,
The weakness of his state so much dejected,
Not as a man repentant, but half mad.
His fortunes cannot answer his expense.
He sits and sullenly locks up his arms,
Forgetting Heaven looks downward, which makes him
Appear so dreadful, that he frights my heart;		  
 HUSBAND
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pox o' th' last throw, it made
Five hundred angels vanish from my sight! (angel = a gold coin)
I'm damn'd, I'm damn'd: the angels have forsook me!
Nay, 'tis certainly true, for he that has no coin
Is damn'd in this world: he's gone, he's gone.

 
 
 WIFE
     
 Good sir, by all our vows I do beseech you,
Show me the true cause of your discontent.		  
 HUSBAND
     
     
     
 Money, money, money, and thou must supply me!
     
 
 WIFE
     
     
     
 Alas, I am the [least] cause of your discontent;
Yet what is mine, either in rings or jewels,
Use to your own desire. But I beseech you,
As y'are a gentleman by many bloods,
Though I myself be out of your respect,
Think on the state of these three lovely boys
You have been father to.		  
 HUSBAND
     
     
     
     
Puh! Bastards, bastards,
Bastards, begot in tricks, begot in tricks!
     
 
 GENTLEMAN
     
 But of all the worst:
Thy virtuous wife, right honourably allied,
Thou hast proclaimed a strumpet.		  
 HUSBAND
     
Nay, then, I know thee:
Thou art her champion, thou, her private friend,
The party you wot on. (wot = knows)		  
 Scene 3.
Mrs Calverley returns from London. She has not sold any lands but has approached her uncle who, aware of the family's difficulties, has offered Walter a place at court with an assured income. Walter is furious. The row is interrupted when a visitor arrives.
 HUSBAND
     
Now, are you come? Where's the money, let's see the money. Is the rubbish sold, those wiseacres, your lands? Why, when!
The money, where is't? Pour't down, down with it, down with it! I say, pour't o' th' ground; let's see't, let's see't!		  
 WIFE
     
Good sir, keep but in patience, and I hope
My words shall like you well. I bring you better
Comfort than the sale of my dowry.		  
 HUSBAND  Hah? What's that?  
 WIFE
     
     
Pray, do not fright me, sir, but vouchsafe me hearing. My uncle, glad of your kindness to me and mild usage--
For so I made it to him--has in pity
Of your declining fortunes, provided
A place for you at court of worth and credit,
Which so much overjoyed me.		  
 HUSBAND
     
     
     
     
Out on thee, filth!
Over and overjoyed, when I'm in torments?
     
 
  [The Husband draws his dagger.] Enter a servant very hastily. [The Husband speaks] to his man.  
 HUSBAND What the devil? How now? Thy hasty news?  
 SERVANT [ in a fear]  May it please you, sir.  
 HUSBAND What? May I not look upon my dagger? Speak, villain, or I will execute the point on thee: quick, short!  
 SERVANT Why, sir, a gentleman from the university stays below to speak with you.  
 Scene 4.
In the play, the visitor is a master from the University with news that Walter's brother is in prison. It is claimed that the brother had earlier given a bond as surety for Walter's debts. Research has shown that Walter did not have a brother at university at the time. The master can be taken for a dramatic device representing the debt collectors that Walter seemed to be attracting increasingly.
The visitor is the final straw and Walter cracks. Whilst wondering what to do Walter's eldest son comes into the room with his whip and top. Crying that he will not see his children reduced to beggars Walter stabs him and carries him to a nearby room where his wife is resting.
SON
     
     
     

What ails you, father? Are you not well? I cannot scourge my top as long as you stand so: you take up all the room with your wide legs. Puh, you cannot make me afear'd with this; I fear no vizards, nor bugbears.

( vizard = mask. The son mistakes his father's face for playacting )

  
  Husband takes up the child by the skirts of his long coat in one hand and draws his dagger with th' other.  
 HUSBAND Up, sir, for here thou hast no inheritance left!  
 SON Oh, what will you do, father? I am your white boy.  
 HUSBAND Thou shalt be my red boy; take that!  
   Strikes him.  
 SON Oh, you hurt me, father!  
 HUSBAND
     
My eldest beggar, thou shalt not live to ask an usurer bread, to cry at a great man's gate, or follow "Good your honour!" by a coach; no, nor your brother. 'Tis charity to brain you.  
 SON How shall I learn now my head's broke?  
   [The Husband] stabs him.  
 Scene 5.
When Walter enters his wife's rest room, she is asleep and a maid is tending to the second son. Walter puts down his eldest son and struggles with the maid for his son. Mrs Calverley awakes, and in a vain attempt to protect her son grabs him, Walter stabs them both. She falls wounded near to the body of her second son. The eldest son struggles to his feet, staggers to the top of the stairs, and tumbles to the bottom - dead.
A manservant tries to restrain Walter but he struggles free and dashes off to seek his youngest son who is away with a wet nurse.
 MAID
     
     
     
Sleep, sweet babe: sorrow makes thy mother sleep.
It bodes small good when [Heaven] falls so deep.
Hush, pretty boy, thy hopes might have been better;
'Tis lost at dice what ancient honours won,
Hard when the father plays away the son;
Nothing but misery serves in this house.
Ruin and desolation, oh!		  
   Enter Husband with the boy bleeding.  
 HUSBAND  Whore, give me that boy!  
   Strives with her for the child.  
 MAID  Oh, help, help! Out, alas! Murder, murder!  
 

 
  
 WIFE Ha, who's that cried? Oh me, my children!
Both, both, both bloody, bloody!		  
   Catches up the youngest.  
 HUSBAND Strumpet, let go the boy, let go the beggar!  
 WIFE Oh, what will you do, dear husband?  
 HUSBAND Give me the bastard!  
 

 
  
 WIFE  Oh, my dear boy!  
   [The Husband] gets it from her.  
 HUSBAND Brat, thou shalt not live to shame thy house!  
 WIFE Oh Heaven!  
  She's hurt and sinks down.  
 HUSBAND And perish now, be gone!
There's whores enow, and want would make thee one!		  
 

 
  
   Enter a Servant.  
 SERVANT  Oh, sir, what deeds are these?  
 

 
  
 HUSBAND Base slave, my vassal,
Comest thou between my fury to question me?		  
 SERVANT Were you the devil, I would hold you, sir.  
 HUSBAND Hold me? Presumption, I'll undo thee for't!  
 SERVANT 'Sblood, you have undone us all, sir.  
 HUSBAND Tug at thy master?  
 SERVANT Tug at a monster!  
 

 
  
 HUSBAND Overcomes him [and kicks him with his spurs].  
 HUSBAND Set quick spurs to my vassal, bruise him, trample him!
So, I think thou wilt not follow me in haste.
My horse stands ready saddled; away, away!
Now to my brat at nurse, my sucking beggar:
Fates, I'll not leave you one to trample on!		  
 Scene 6.
The drama has the servant raising the alarm as Walter, nearing his destination, falls when his horse stumbles. Walter does not reach his youngest son and is taken into custody.
 SERVANT Follow; our murderous master has took horse
To kill his child at nurse! Oh, follow quickly!		  
 MASTER (College) I am the readiest; it shall be my charge
To raise the town upon him!		  
 SERVANT Good sir, do follow him.  
 

 
  
 HUSBAND Ha? I hear sounds of men, like hew and cry.
Up, up, and struggle to thy horse! Make on!
Dispatch that little beggar and all's done!		  
   [CRY WITHIN] Here, this way, this way!  
 HUSBAND
 
At my back? Oh,
What fate have I! My limbs deny me go.
My will is bated; beggary claims a part.
Oh, could I here reach to the infant's heart!		  
   Enter Master of the College, three Gentlemen, and others with halberds. [They] find him.  
 

 
  
 SECOND GENTLEMAN
 
Away with him; bear him along to the justice!
A gentleman of worship dwells at hand;
There shall his deeds be blaz'd		  
 HUSBAND
 
Why, all the better.
My glory 'tis to have my action known.
I grieve for nothing, but I miss'd of one.		  
 MASTER (College) There's little of a father in that grief. Bear him away.  
 Scene 7.
Walter is taken before the magistrates and committed to the new gaol at Wakefield. In normal circumstances he would have been taken to the gaol at York but the plague was rampant in the city. Records for St Mary's, Castlegate show an unusually high number of burials.
 MASTER
 
Oh kind wife, be comforted!
One joy is yet unmurdered:
You have a boy at nurse: your joy's in him.		  
 WIFE
 
 
Dearer than all is my poor husband's life.
Heaven give my body strength, which yet is faint
With much expense of blood, and I will kneel,
Sue for his life, number up all my friends
To plead for pardon my dear husband's life.		  
 MASTER (College)
 
 
Was it in man to wound so kind a creature?
I'll ever praise a woman for thy sake.
I must return with grief, my answer's set.
I shall bring news weighs heavier than the debt:
Two brothers, one in bond lies overthrown,
This on a deadlier execution.		  
The play, as does the pamphlet, ends at this point. The writers clearly rushed their works out to the public. Had the writers known of Walter's fate they would not have been able to resist showing the villain getting his reward and putting the moral of the tale into the production.
Walter was moved from Wakefield to York and held for the County Assizes. All records of the proceedings have been lost but it is known that Walter refused to enter a plea and was pressed to death on the 5th August and buried the same day in the churchyard of St Mary's.
Pressing to death was a particularly nasty form of execution. If a defendant refused to plead then the trial could not proceed. It was allowed in law to pressure the defendant. The prisoner would be stripped naked, laid down, and a board placed upon him. Stones were then laid on top of the board. This torture could continue for three days. On the third day a sharp stone was placed under the defendants back and the weight re-applied. The consequences were inevitable.

 
 Calverley Hall
 

Phillipa remarried four years after her husband's execution. She had three children in her second marriage - all girls. She died in 1613.
The 'brat at nurse', Henry, lived to have major financial problems of his own, dying in January 1652.

His eldest son, Walter, took some sound advice and married a rich girl.

 

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