1213: Peter of Pontefract, oracle

ExecutedToday.com ^ | May 28, 2014 | Headsman

[CheshireTheCat]

On this date in 1213, the hermit Peter of Pontefract (or Peter of Wakefield) was hanged by King John.

Reluctant Magna Carta signer and ridiculous Robin Hood villain, John has never been the most highly regarded sovereign. (A recent BBC poll saluted him as the 13th century’s very worst Briton.)

The papacy ranked among John’s many irritants. A 1205 dispute with Pope Innocent III over the successor to the late Archbishop of Canterbury — John wanted control of ecclesiastical appointments in his own realm, a little preview of coming attractions in English history — extended so far as Innocent’s excommunicating John, and laying England under a papal interdict prohibiting administration of any sacraments save baptism and last rites. There’s no bargaining chip quite like “do what I say or everyone goes to hell.”

John didn’t sweat the eternal damnation stuff much but in 1212 the specter of war with France — gleefully justified by Philip II on grounds of the English king’s impiety — started twisting the screws a little. Philip had already seized English holdings in Normandy; now, he was gathering forces to invade across the English Channel.

With discontent already afoot among the domestic nobility, some of whom were extending feelers to King Philip, the Yorkshire hermit Peter ran out a prophecy that John’s crown would pass to other hands by the next Ascension Day — which happened to be Thursday, May 23, 1213.

Peter’s prophecy gained no little folk following, prompting John to take him into custody.....

[sauropod]

bkmk

[plain talk]

“... dragged from Corfe to Wareham ... and hanged ...”

That’s 4 miles. Ouch!

[Red Badger]

AFAIK, there has never been another King of England named John.

As soon as he signed the Magna Carta, he immediately began to ignore it..................

[AnAmericanMother]

"King John was not a good man;
He had his little ways,
And sometimes no-one spoke to him
For days and days and days . . . . "

[HartleyMBaldwin]

We’ve seen the last of good King Richard
Ring out the past, his name lives on and on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to good King John

— Steely Dan, “Kings”