Blood, Guts and Haircuts

By Donna Trefry

Cousin Hugh loses at Charing Cross

This story is about my cousin Hugh whom I met more than 300 years after he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and was eventually taken to Charing Cross where on Oct. 16, 1660 he was hung, drawn and quartered by King Charles II of England. 

It was a horrid way to die and was the same fate Guy Fawkes had suffered earlier as a result of his involvement in the "Gun Powder Plot" to assassinate King James I. 

Bloody Execution

This grizzly method of execution was in the style of the day. They would put you on the scaffold, "half" hang you so when you were removed from the gallows you were still conscious. Then they'd cut off your private parts and burn them in front of you! Next, they would slit open your belly from navel to nether then cut out your intestines and add them to the fire. All while the victim watched. Finally, your torso was hacked into four quarters and your head skewered onto a pike, later to be displayed and rot on London Bridge! (is anyone still yearning for the "good old days"?) Hopefully Cousin Hugh died quickly. 

What did he do to deserve this fate?

If he had stayed in Massachusetts and hadn't returned to England at the outbreak of England's Civil War, he probably would have died an old man and be resting peacefully, buried in Salem, Peabody, or Cambridge, Massachusetts.

You've probably guessed that the matter runs deeper than a simple visit to his homeland. 

The English Civil Wars of course!

At that time in history, my family were wealthy land owners and merchants in the County of Cornwall in the tiny village of Fowey. (None of the wealth was passed down to me.) Cousin Hugh was the son of my great-and many greats more-aunt. Her Treffry relatives, my multi great-uncles and cousins, were up to their hips in politics. Many were members of parliament, high sheriffs and other roles of high-status. As in most families, political thoughts often fell on either side of an issue and this is the crux of my story.

Cousin Hugh was born less than a quarter mile from the Treffry place. ("Place" in Cornish means "palace" and it looks like a fortified castle! Some "place"!). His house was down the hill from the Trefry's and was at the shore of Fowey Harbor, sitting upon the town quay (wharf). For centuries, the town of Fowey was known for its smugglers and pirates along with legitimate shipping and fishing businesses. From Hugh's house he could see all the boats and ships plying the River Fowey, sailing in from, and out to, the English Channel and points beyond. He could walk up to the cliff and view the Channel and its activities and as a child, he was captured by all this hustle and bustle and would dream of sailing away some day to yet unknown destinations.

The Family's Church and Politics

The family church sat between Hugh's home and Treffry's place. Many Treffry's had been baptized, married and eulogized here and many had been its pastors. The church and the family were to play an active part in the history of England and its Civil Wars.

Cousin Hugh was born during the waning years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1598). He lived through the reigns of James I and Charles I... but I'm getting ahead of my story.

Rabble Rouser

Cousin Hugh became a Radical Puritan minister after he got his religious education from Trinity College at Cambridge University. He was deep into politics too and became a staunch supporter of Oliver Cromwell's political philosophy. 

Divine Right of Kings questioned

These anti-Royalty or "parliamentarian" supporters were the Puritans, also nicknamed "Roundheads", some say, because their haircuts gave them that appearance. Their opponents were the "Cavaliers" or "Royalists" and were the fancy-dressed, feather and lace wearing "gentlemen" and merchants - yes, just like the Treffrys. Recent historians are of the mind that both sides had an equal amount of poor and wealthy and therefore you really wouldn't have been able to tell one side from the other by its appearance or the cut of their hair. It is my contention that the Roundheads were placed in the avant garde of the Parliamentarians and the fancy aristocrats hung out in the back lines and therefore weren't seen enough to be part of the army's "description".

No Taxation Without Representation! (I think I've heard that before)

Cousin Hugh was born into money as were his cousins the Treffry's but he carried a different political banner than most his family. He played a vocally active part in swaying the public's opinion in favor of abolishing the Divine Right of the King and advising that Parliament have more say in the government - especially in the collection of taxes. His radical sermons were very persuasive. On the other hand, King Charles ruled without Parliament for eleven years and set up a court that had arbitrary powers to suppress political and religious opposition to his personal rule.

Most Treffrys were Royalists

The medallion shown was worn by families who supported King Charles I and opposed the Cromwellian politics. It pictures the king. I dug one up during my 1996 trip to England. It was solid silver with a thick gold plating. This photo is a complete medallion I photographed at the Museum of London. My find is missing the bezel and is quite deteriorated. You can see the actual recovered medallion at my website.

Hugh's cousin John Trefry was a staunch supporter of Charles I and even hosted the King's stay at the family home, Place, in Fowey. 

Are you beginning to get the idea that this is not too different from conflicting loyalties in families during the American Civil War?

Hugh and the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Cousin Hugh was directly involved with the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which, by the way, was a New World haven for those in search of religious freedom - something King James and King Charles didn't want to give their English subjects. Therefore it wasn't long after that Cousin Hugh sailed to the colonies to join them. However, not before he got more deeply into the support of Oliver Cromwell and his parliamentarian ideas to rid England of a Divine Monarchy and enhance it with a parliamentary government.

Do-gooder and Troublemaker

In October 1635, Cousin Hugh arrived in Massachusetts, built a home and began his ministry at Salem. He spent much of his own money to support many colonial projects and even was instrumental in establishing the plans for a New England college. In addition, he immediately began making trouble by complaining about Governor Winthrop, then set up a self-appointed kangaroo court to render a verdict on Winthrop's style of government. These actions resulted in a conflict between Cromwell and the New England group of colonists. It seems that Cousin Hugh was a rabble-rouser on both sides of the pond!

While Colony Struggles, Hugh Called Back To England

The colonies were struggling to carry on but England, with her own problems, was not helping. So in 1641 Cromwell called for Cousin Hugh to return to England and plead for relief. 

Cousin Hugh left his congregation at Salem, Massachusetts and via Newfoundland, returned to England. He eventually become chief chaplain in Cromwell's army and the staunch opponent of Archbishop Laud at King Charles' trial. In 1650 he was appointed Chaplain to the Council of State. This position was comparable to the previous post of Archbishop of Canterbury.

Not two years after Cousin Hugh's return to his homeland, Civil War began. (1642-51) The first war ended with the arrest of King Charles, his internment in the Tower of London and eventual trial and execution.

Let's Be Brief

OK, this is getting to be too much history for a short article so I'll outline the rest in order to get to another point.

The deposed King Charles lost not only the trial but his life. He was beheaded before a large but silent crowd in front of Banqueting House in Whitehall on January 30, 1649.

His head
is also missing
from this
Charles I
hammered copper
farthing!

End of Civil War?

Beginning of The Commonwealth

With King Charles dead, Cromwell started his Parliamentarian government. This lasts for 11 years. A Council of State is set up with Cromwell as its Chairman. During these years, his army fought and defeated the Irish Royalists, then took on the Scottish Royalists who, during the second battle, were led by Charles son (Charles II). When Charles II's army is defeated, Charles flees into exile in Holland. The next year Cromwell took on and defeated the Dutch! During this war, Cromwell pronounced himself "Lord Protector of England" - virtually a King minus a crown! After a few more years of causing trouble, Cromwell dies. (1658)

The Restoration of the Monarchy (Charles II: 1660-1685)

Charles II restored to the throne. However not a complete victory in that he now Rules in combination with Parliament. His reign is wracked with religious problems, troubles with Nonconformists, wars with Holland, the Plague and Great Fire that strikes London and the fabricated "Popish Plot" which carried rumor of a Catholic plot to murder the King. Ain't that just a Merrie Olde England? 

The Glorious Revolution - 1688

Upon Charles II's (natural) death, James II succeeded to the throne but after three years he abdicates and flees into exile and William of Orange takes the throne. This date is considered by many as the REAL end of the English Civil Wars - and almost the end of my story, as I am sure some of you have read more than you ever wanted about England's Civil Wars!

What about Cousin Hugh?

Poor Hugh. All he did was follow the wrong leader. It was because of his participation in the trial of Charles I that the son, Charles II condemned Hugh to death. But remember those "good" things about him I told you earlier? He actually never got much credit for that.

Death by hanging, drawing and quartering. What a terrible testimonial to the man who was instrumental in the founding of Harvard University! (I suppose Yalies won't be too unhappy) Cousin Hugh is none other than Hugh Peter(s) who was the first to plan for a New England college in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

Well Done Hugh!

Today, Cousin Hugh's legacy of good is commemorated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Somewhere on the grounds of Harvard, a plaque dedicated to Hugh Peter adorns one of its gates and Hugh is given his due. Also, in Devon, England, his name can be found on The New World Tapestry, claimed to be the biggest embroidery in the world. He is listed among the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

How does all this affect me?
Why wasn't Harvard named "Peter College"?

It seems that John Harvard bequeathed his library and half his estate to the college. Money talks. Hugh talked too much. That's about all I inherited from my ancient family!

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