A BOOK detailing murders in the Tudor era has revealed fascinating insights into killings in North Yorkshire that have been shrouded in mystery for centuries.

The Tudor Murder Files reveals theories about how King Henry VII may have been behind the death of Henry Percy, the fourth Earl of Northumberland, near Thirsk in 1489 and how an Archbishop of York was murdered by another priest in 1514.

The book, which has been written by journalist James Moore, sets out to highlight little-known tales and mysteries surrounding them.

He said: “While murder was not as rife as it had been in medieval times, research by historians suggests that the chance of becoming the victim of a violent death in Tudor England was much higher than it is today.”

Mr Moore found while Henry VII could have been responsible for killing the princes in the tower in 1483, he may also have ordered the killing of Henry Percy, the fourth Earl of Northumberland, at a property called Cock Lodge.

He describes how after being jailed in the Tower of London, the earl worked his way back into favour and was given key posts in the North, including responsibility for enforcing tax collection.

The book relates how a “simple fellow” called John a Chambre led rebels opposing the tax, which gathered in the area around Thirsk in 1489. Contemporary documents state when the earl met the rebels at Cock Lodge the rebels set upon the earl and “furiouslye and cruelly murthered bothe hym and dyvers of hys housholde servaunts”.

Mr Moore said the murder of an earl at the hands of commoners shocked the nation, and questioned whether someone had ordered the earl’s armed retinue to hold back. John a Chambre was later hanged. Mr Moore added: “The result of the whole episode really could not have been better for the king.”

He said an examination of the backgrounds of the key men in the rebellion had revealed King Henry VII had granted both posts or land. He writes: “Northumberland had been left to the mercy of the mob and his death was, at the very least, suspiciously convenient.”

Other murders related in the book include that of one-time Bishop of Durham, Archbishop of York Christopher Bainbridge, whose family hailed from Wensleydale.

While researching Tudor murder methods he found the archbishop had been killed by his chaplain, Rinaldo de Modena, who laced his soup with poison and claimed the Bishop of Worcester had instigated the plot.

The book has been published by Pen and Sword, and costs £14.99.