Thomas Flamank Thomas Flamank ( executed 27 June 1497 ) was a lawyer from Cornwall who together with Michael An Gof led the Cornish Rebellion against taxes imposed in England in 1497 . He was the eldest son of Richard Flamank or Flammock of Boscarne , by Johanna or Jane , daughter of Thomas Lucombe of Bodmin . The family is of great antiquity at Bodmin , having held the manor of Nanstallon in uninterrupted succession from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century ( 1817 ) . In early times the name appeared as Flandrensis , Flemang , Flammank , and in other forms Thomas Flamank was the chief instigator of the Cornish rebellion of 1497 . At the time Henry VII was attempting to collect a subsidy in Cornwall for the despatch of an army to Scotland to punish James IV for supporting Perkin Warbeck . Flamank argued that it was the business of the barons of the north , and of no other of the king ' s subjects , to defend the Scottish border , and that the tax was illegal . Working with another popular agitator , Michael Joseph , a blacksmith , he suggested that the Cornishmen should march on London and present a petition to the king setting forth their grievances , and urging the punishment of Archbishop Morton and Sir Reginald Bray , and other advisers of the king who were held responsible for his action . Flamank and Joseph modestly consented to lead the throng until more eminent men took their place . Rudely armed with bills and bows and arrows , a vast mob followed Flamank to Taunton , where they made their first display of violence and slew ‘ the provost of Perin , ’ i . e . Penryn . At Wells , James Tuchet , 7th Baron Audley , joined them and undertook the leadership . They marched thence by way of Salisbury and Winchester to Blackheath . London was panic - stricken ; but the rebels had grown disheartened by the want of sympathy shown them in their long march . Giles Daubeny , 8th Baron Daubeny , was directed to take the field with the forces which had been summoned for service in Scotland . On Saturday , 22 June 1497 , Daubeny opened battle at Deptford Strand . At the first onset he was taken prisoner , but he was soon released , and the enemy , who had expected to be attacked on the Monday , and were thus taken by surprise , were soon thoroughly routed . Each side is said to have lost three hundred men , and fifteen hundred Cornishmen were taken prisoners . Audley , Flamank , and Joseph were among the latter . Audley was beheaded at Tower Hill . Flamank and Joseph were hanged , drawn and quartered at Tyburn ( 27 June ) , and their limbs exhibited in various parts of the city . Most of their followers were pardoned . Flamank married Elizabeth , daughter of John Trelawny of Menwynick , and had a daughter Joanna , wife of Peter Fauntleroy . An Gof before his execution is recorded to have said that he should have " a name perpetual and a fame permanent and immortal " . Thomas Flamank was quoted in 1497 as saying " Speak the truth and only then can you be free of your chains " . In 1997 , the five - hundredth anniversary of the Rebellion , a commemorative march ( " Keskerdh Kernow 500 " ) was held , retracing the route of the original march from St . Keverne in Cornwall to London . A statue depicting An Gof and Flamank was unveiled in St . Keverne and a commemorative plaque was unveiled on Blackheath Common , and another , en route , at Guildford at the location of a preliminary skirmish .