The only victim of distinction was John Tibetot, earl of
Worcester. This accomplished person, born in an age and nation where
the nobility valued themselves on ignorance as their privilege, and
left learning to monks and schoolmasters, for whom indeed the spurious
erudition that prevailed was best fitted, had been struck with the
first rays of true science, which began to penetrate from the south,
and had been zealous, by his exhortation and example, to propagate the
love of letters among his unpolished countrymen.
It is pretended, that knowledge had not produced on this nobleman
himself the effect which naturally attends it, of humanizing the
temper and softening the heart and that he had enraged the
Lancastrians against him by the severities which he exercised upon
them during the prevalence of his own party.
He endeavored to conceal himself after the flight of Edward, but was
caught on the top of a tree in the forest of Weybridge, was conducted
to London, tried before the earl of Oxford, condemned, and
executed.