There were a couple of sanctuary incidents relating to a 1450 popular uprising known as Jack Cade’s revolt – including one relating to a famous Southwark tavern (you can see the second one here). An anonymous chronicle recounts that a certain Richard Haywarden was beheaded during the revolt at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, having “come there from the sanctuary of St. Martin le Grand.” Was he joining the rebels or just caught in the crossfire?
The Tabard is now famous as the inn from which Chaucer’s pilgrims set out on their voyage to Canterbury. Was it famed in 1450 for the same reason? Did it have autographed headshots of the Prioress and the Summoner and Alisoun on its walls?
Sanctuary Seekers in England, 1394-1557 