William Tailboys

Who is William Tailboys?

William Tailboys, de jure 7th Baron Kyme was a wealthy Lincolnshire squire and adherent of the Lancastrian cause during the Wars of the Roses.

He was born in Kyme, Lincolnshire the son of Sir Walter Tailboys and his first wife. Sir Walter had inherited considerable estates in Northumberland and Lincolnshire, and had been High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1423. William gained a reputation as a troublemaker, continually disputing with his neighbours, particularly Lord Cromwell, the ex-Treasurer.

He was Justice of the Peace for Lincolnshire and for Northumberland from 1441 and in 1445 became Knight of the Shire for Lincolnshire. However his unruly character led to his temporary imprisonment in the Marshalsea, London in 1448 for a series of murders and trespasses. He was also accused of having attempted to murder Lord Cromwell in the Star Chamber in 1449.

He espoused the Lancastrian cause and was knighted at the Second Battle of St Albans in 1461. He also fought at the Battle of Towton in 1461, escaped and was declared a rebel and had his property confiscated by King Edward IV.