Francis Mitchell
Francis Mitchell (c. 1556 – died in or after 1628) was the last English
Political career
Mitchell was probably of an Essex family. He matriculated at
Impeachment and degradation
While
Mitchell and Giles Mompesson had been granted monopolies over the licensing of inns. This monopoly aroused particularly bad feeling. They were called before the Commons, where Mitchell was sentenced, without a hearing, for his "grievous exactions" in the first impeachment for 162 years. (The previous impeachment was that of Lord Stanley in 1459, for not sending his troops to the Battle of Blore Heath.)
After the sentencing had taken place, doubt as to the legality of the impeachment was raised, as the Commons did not have jurisdiction over areas that did not concern their privileges. Having failed to find a precedent for their actions, the Commons were forced to refer the matter to the
Mitchell's degradation at Westminster Hall took the form of his spurs being broken and thrown away, his belt cut and his sword broken over his head. Finally, he was pronounced to be "no longer a Knight but Knave". After the ceremony, he was made to march through the streets to the Tower of London where he was imprisoned. Mompesson was also sentenced to degradation but fled to France to avoid punishment.[5]
References
- ^ "Honours". The Monarchy Today. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008.
- ^ Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, Charles I, vol. xxi. No. 105
- ^ Godfrey Davies. "The Early Stuarts, 1603 to 1660". p. 13. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
- Chronological Tables of the Private and Personal Acts. Digitised copy from Legislation.gov.uk. Accessdate 4 May 2012. See note 4.
- ^ Lee, Sidney and Sean Kelsy (2004). "Giles Mompesson". The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography vol. 38. London: Oxford University Press. pp. 569–572.