On Thursday 27th June Bodmin OCS were keen participants in their annual Flamank Commemoration.
Thomas Flamank was a lawyer and MP from Bodmin, Cornwall. Together with Michael an Gof he led the Cornish Rebellion of 1497, a protest against taxes imposed by Henry VII of England. Henry VII was fighting a war in Scotland and needed money to pay for that war. He proposed to raise the money by imposing a tax on England and Cornwall. The Cornish protested that the Scots war was nothing to do with them and some refused to pay.
Thomas Flamank urged the people of Bodmin to protest against the tax and initiated a march to London. He was joined by Michael Joseph An Gof , a blacksmith from St Keverne. Along the way they gathered more supporters. During the march Thomas Flamank drafted a “declaration of their grievances” that the Cornish had with the English rule. They reached Blackheath in the South of London on 16th June 1497.
Henry led an army to attack the Cornish at the Battle of Deptford Bridge and overcame the Cornish, it is thought that up to 1000 Cornishmen were killed. Michael Joseph An Gof, Thomas Flamank & Lord Audley were captured and sentenced to death on June 27th 1497. MuThey were taken to Tyburn where they were hung, drawn and quartered.
On 27th June Michael Joseph An Gof and Thomas Flamank were taken to Tyburn where they were hung, drawn, quartered and decapitated. Lord Audley as a peer was beheaded at Tower Hill. An Gof before his execution is recorded to have said that he should have “a name perpetual and a fame permanent and immortal”
