- The murder of Davy Seignory by a group of 10 men from Settrington took place in Malton in march 1536. A re-enactment was performed in 1988 as follows:
The re-enactment will necessitate two groups of horsemen from Settrington in the same way as Richarde Forde outlined in his evidence to Thomas Cromwell. The actual deed will then be re-enacted on the steps of the Town Hall.
What follows is the historical evidence taken from the official letters and papers of the time. - The examination of Richarde Forde, servant to Sir Francis Bygod, this Our Lady Day, in the 27th year of King Henry VIII, (1536). He says that on the 4th March last he waited on Ralph Bygod brother to Sir. Francis, from Mowgrave (Mulgrave) castle, after they had dined with the bailiff to Pickering, 16 miles off; there bated their horses, and rode to Settryington, eight miles further, where they arrived at 7p.m. At the house of Sir, Francis, where they supped. At supper, some one brought word that Nich Percival Worme, John Bygod, Chr, Williamson, Wm. Cornforthe, Harryson, Wm. Dobson, Simon Arrundell, Edw. Fleccher, Wylfryde Fulthorpe and Geo. (blank) had ridden to Malton, two miles off, to murder one Davy Seignory, servant to Mr. Ewers. On this Rauf Bigod ordered their horses, that they might prevent the act; but before they came to Richard Reysyng's house, where the murder was done,they met Percival Worme and his company, who informed them that they had done it, (Letters and Paper Henry VIII 1536. No.553.)
- It is perhaps more than obvious who George (blank) might have been when again from the official letters and papers of the time we read :- George Dawkins (Dakins) of Settrington York's alias of London, yeoman. Pardon for having 4th March (Henry VIII) at the house of Richard Rasin at New Malton assaulted and killed David Sendry.
- After the murder Worme and his gang rode to Scotland which at that time of course was a another country. Sometime later they were known to be within the Bishopric of Durham all of which was sanctuary.
- Thomas Cromwell, on behalf of the King, tried to persuade Sir. Francis Bigod that though the King could not remover them from the Bishopric he could. At which Sir. Francis, though agreeing that they had committed a dreadful crime, told Cromwell that northern traditions of sanctuary were more important and he would not assist bringing the Settrington murders to trial.
The Eures, Malton's leading family, complained to the King as to the attitude of Francis Bigod but also about the part played of George Dakins. Ralph Eure accused Dakins of assisting in the murder and getting off scot free because of his influence in high places. As a servant of Richard Cromwell, the nephew of Henry VIII's Vicar General, it cannot be doubted that Dakins did have influence. It also cannot be doubted that in Cromwell's record of the event that recording of the first name George then the leaving of the surname blank events is a rather crude attempt to hide or at least not to official record the obvious truth. - Sir Francis Bigod, a year after the murder, was hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for his part in the Pilgrimage of Grace; a northern revolt against the policies both religious and financial of Henry VIII. Dakins prospered and was to be granted the lease of Settrington. Worme came back to live in Settrington, living the life of a yeoman farmer and surviving to old age. The fate of the others is unknown.
- It has to be remembered that these events took place a year before the Pilgrimage of Grace.
- The Eures backed Henry VIII's policy of dissolving the Monasteries. Sir Francis Bigod wanted them reforming. As important however is that Sir. Francis Bogid was in debt. In particular he owed the Lord Chancellor, Thomas Cromwell, money and was being pressed to pay up. Bigod's Settrington was mortgagued and the Eures aspired to stretch there land holdings over the Derwent and include Settrington. The murderers of Seignory appear to have been the better off tenant farmers of Settrington who may well have feared a Eure take over.
- In the reign of HENRY 8th (1509-47), the CLIFFORD'S and CONYERS had New Malton in partitions, but the EURES or EVERS, had possession of the whole lordship of Old Malton.
- In Lelands Itinerary at the time of Henry VIII. (1590-47) as follows:- The Castle of Malton hath been larg as it apperithe by the tuine. There is at this tyme no habitation yn it, but a mene house for a farmer.
- Dissolution of monastery to become Parish Church for Malton
Go To The Next Article: 1543 to 1569- Old Malton Priory Founded
