In 1448, a prisoner named Thomas Brodeley escaped from pre-trial custody in Wakefield, Yorkshire and made his way to the (impressively large) parish church of Wakefield to take sanctuary. The sheriff of Yorkshire seized him from the churchyard and took him to the presumably more secure prison in York castle. The archbishop of York promptlyContinue reading “Henry VI: Defender of sanctuaries”
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Jack Cade’s Revolt and Sanctuary: Beheading at the Tabard Inn
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, havingContinue reading “Jack Cade’s Revolt and Sanctuary: Beheading at the Tabard Inn”
Jack Cade’s Revolt and Sanctuary: Could traitors seek sanctuary?
Another Jack Cade’s Revolt story (see the first one here), this time a challenging one for Henry VI, as one of the rebels who sought to overthrow him sought shelter in a sanctuary. Over recent entries from the 1440s, we’ve seen Henry VI as protector of sanctuary, part of his exercise of royal mercy andContinue reading “Jack Cade’s Revolt and Sanctuary: Could traitors seek sanctuary?”
Sanctuary and coups d’état
The issue of traitors in the sanctuary arose again in 1451, when on 23 November of that year Sir William Oldhall, speaker of the House of Commons, took refuge in St Martin le Grand. He knew perfectly well what he was doing. Oldhall was not only speaker but also chamberlain to the duke of York;Continue reading “Sanctuary and coups d’état”
Bagpipes and cheese: an unsuccessful burglary
Who amongst us has not had the urge to steal a set of bagpipes and eight large cheeses? Basic party kit, as presumably John Esteneys, a weaver from Southwark, thought when he broke into two houses in Walton on Thames in 1451 to steal those items. The party apparently went wrong, however, and on 28Continue reading “Bagpipes and cheese: an unsuccessful burglary”
“The violence of the sea”: logistical problems of exile
Abjuring the realm – specifically the part about finding a ship to take overseas – was not always a straightforward affair. In late October 1452, labourer Thomas Kendale was indicted for murder and fled to the church in Norton, Hertfordshire, to escape arrest. He confessed the homicide to the coroner, abjured the realm, and madeContinue reading ““The violence of the sea”: logistical problems of exile”
Fake your own death, run to sanctuary
One day in 1452 William Bowre, pre-trial prisoner in Cambridge castle, fell mortally ill and called for a priest to hear his last confession. The castle’s keeper, believing Bowre was living his last hours allowed him to go out to the castle garden with the priest to confess in privacy. Bowre was, of course, fakingContinue reading “Fake your own death, run to sanctuary”
The Saga of Henry Holland: Sanctuary and the Wars of the Roses
A Game of Thrones-ready storyline for a seeker who went into sanctuary twice to escape his royal in-laws. (Casting: more Reek than Rob Stark…) In the crisis years of the mid-1450s and through the next half century of civil war, sanctuary served many times as a refuge for those fleeing opponents in the dynastic struggles.Continue reading “The Saga of Henry Holland: Sanctuary and the Wars of the Roses”
Seizing property from debtors in sanctuary
The second half of the 15th century saw many high-status participants in the civil wars running to sanctuary at each regime change, but more ordinary people continued also to use sanctuary for their ordinary problems, including debt. Although debtors could avoid an uncomfortable stay in prison by taking refuge in an ecclesiastical liberty – aContinue reading “Seizing property from debtors in sanctuary”
Abjuration in the Channel Islands
One day in the mid-1450s, as mariner John de Nermont of Guernsey later recounted, gentleman Simon le Cauf le younger came to him demanding money; John refused, and Simon attacked him. John responded in self-defence, killing Simon. John ran to sanctuary in St. Mary’s church in the king’s castle (Ste-Marie-de-Castel?), and there “he abjured theContinue reading “Abjuration in the Channel Islands”
Sanctuary Seekers in England, 1394-1557 