James Tyrrell
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James Tyrrell (c. 1450 – May 6, 1502) was an English knight, a trusted servant of King Richard III of England. His main claim to fame is that he is supposed to have confessed to murdering the Princes in the Tower on Richard's orders. He did this whilst being tortured so this may not be true
Tyrrell was the eldest son of Sir William Tyrrell (c. 1415-February 22, 1461) and Margaret Darcy (c. 1425), married in 1444. Like his father before him, a loyal Yorkist, James was knighted in 1471. He married Anne Arundell on March 9, 1483. They would later have a son also named James Tyrrell.
James was in France in 1485 and played no part in the Battle of Bosworth Field which signalled the start of the Tudor's reign.
In the following year, he returned to England and was pardoned by King Henry VII, who reappointed him governor of Guisnes (in the English possession of Calais). However, in 1501, Tyrrell lent his support to Edmund de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, now the leading Yorkist claimant to the English throne, who was in voluntary exile. When Henry heard of this, Tyrrell was recalled, accused of treason, and tortured. Thomas More wrote that, during his examination, Tyrrell made his confession, implicating two other men, but, despite further questioning, was unable to say where the bodies were -- he claimed that they had been moved. He was beheaded on May 6, 1502.
[edit] Legend
He is a participiant in the legend of the Horndon Worm from East Horndon which he slew using highly polished armour. Because of this he has made an appearance in the 2000AD story called London Falling. In this he is brutally killed by the character Black Shuck.
