THE GHOST OF LADY HOBY

THE GHOST of LADY HOBY

BEATEN `TIL THE BLOOD RAN

sitting peacefully on the banks of the Thames near maidenhead is Bisham "Abbey" said to be the most haunted house in Berkshire.  Unlike many other mansions with similar titles, however, Bisham is only haunted by one ghost who appears rather a lot.  Her story, a tale of pride and selfishness, is a lesson to us all.

When the black monks of bisham were forcibly evicted from their beautiful Abbey on the banks of the Thames 1538, they did not go quietly.  On the contrary, Henry V111`s commisioners had to drag the Abbott kicking and screaming from the steps of the High Altar.  He could bear to see his Abbey fall into secular hands.  As he was bundled into the cart that was waiting to take him away, he turned and cursed any family who should ever live there :  " As God is my witness, this property shall ne`er be inherited by two direct successors, for its sons shall be hounded by misfortune."

Misfortune had indeed struck the sons of Bisham`s owners the Hobys with alarming regularity.  The first instance of a sudden death in the family of the Lord of the Manor was by far the most disturbing.  This is the tale of poor little William Hoby.

The boy William was the youngest son of Sir Thomas and Lady Elizabeth Hoby.  Like his bothers and sisters before him he was brought up at Bisham Abbey uinder the watchful eye of his mother, his father having died when his children were small.  Lady Hoby was a friend of Queen Elizabeth and was very proud and ambitious, some say even cold and hard.  Being one of the most educated woman of her age,  she was eager to ensure that her children had the rigorous teachings that she and her husband had recieved. She therefore oversaw all the childrens teaching , including Greek and Latin that she taught herself.  She expected perfect results and wielded a heavy ruler to ensure she got them.

Poor William was not as bright as his siblings.  He constantly stumbled over his lessons and copybooks, and his mother`s quick temper was often lost.  In her eyes he was a good for nothing.  A summerhouse had been constructed  for the children on the edge of the lawn where many of their classes were taken on sunny days.  The villagers on the towpath opposite were able to see the youngsters scribbling away, while lady hoby walked sternly between them.  One gossip even related , over a pint of beer, how he had once heard violent shouting coming from the bower.  On investigation, he clearly saw her Ladyship beating little William about the head until he collapsed and fell to the ground.  Blood streamed from his eyes, nose and mouth and onto the grass.

 

Sadly, this was to be poor William Hoby`s lot in life.  He was always slow and clumsy and couldn`t live up to his mother`s expectations. it was even rumoured amonst some of the locals that the little boy suffered from a brain tumour.

It happened one day that it was too cold for lessons in the summerhouse so Lady Hoby sent the children to the warmth of the Abbey`s tower room.  For the elder children the class passed smoothly and they were soon sent off to play; but poor william had got behind in his work and had to stay behind.  Lady Hoby was already annoyed with her son`s stupidity, but then..... Splat! William had pressed to hard on his quill again and ink surged from the pen and spread all over the page in front of him.  Lady Hoby was at once furious and raised her ruler high and brought it down hard on William`s head.  The boy wailed in pain as he fell to the floor.  Again his mother beat him till the blood ran once again. Then she halted, her hands covered in blood but still her anger had not been fully vented.  Fetching some rope she dragged poor William back to his chair and tied his legs and waist. She thrust the copybook into his face and told him he must re-write every word of the days lesson and it must be perfect in every way, or he knew what would happen if he did not. Then she left the room and locked the door behind her.

Still fired up from the morning`s events, Lady Hoby saddled a horse and and thundered into the woods.  The chase would vent her fury. Soon after a message arrived from the queen. She had been summoned at once to HerMajesty`s side.  DSo off she went with not a thought for packing or goodbyes.

Lady hoby revelled in Court life, the banquets, the balls, the handsome young men , the gossip and the envious eyes that poured over her friendship with the queen.  It was several days before she felt ready to return to her mundane life at Bisham Abbey, aand was not at all surprised to be met by all of her children apart from William.  He was probably cowering in his room.  The child had no backbone.  Then she asked after her youngest son.  The ashen- faced servant told her that they didn`t know but thought that he had gone with her to Court.

You can imagine how shocked Lady Hoby was to hear this and jumped from her horse and raced up to the Tower Room,  but she was far too late;  little William was dead.

Lady Hoby was filled with remorse for her wicked actions. If only she hadn`t been so selfish and vilent, he would still be alive.  She spent the rest of her life in sorrowful misery. Shorty after her death in 1609, her repentant ghjost was seen wandering through the house.  She has been seen many times since.  A miraculous fountain floats before her , and , not unlike the evil Lady Macbeth she is seen trying to wash the accusing bloodstains from her hands.  Shge is especially known for her appearence in the Tower Room  at the time of a Coronation, when she shows her guilt at choosing her monarch over her son.