In February 1486, a coroner’s inquest was convened over the body of John Lowthe of London, gentleman, found dead in the parish of St Nicholas Olave.
The jurors reported to the coroner that Nicholas Wagstaff, a yeoman of London, had lain in wait to assault Lowthe. He stabbed him with a dagger and Lowthe died.
Wagstaff then fled to sanctuary at St Martin le Grand. He avoided facing trial for homicide, either staying at St Martin’s long-term or running off into the night when the coast was clear. He was outlawed in 1488.
TNA, KB9/373, mm 15-17; KB 29/117, m 17.
top image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Pieter_Bruegel_d._%C3%84._037.jpg
Sanctuary Seekers in England, 1394-1557 
