In 1496, seven men submitted a petition to the chancellor complaining that City of Bristol officials had arrested them within the sanctuary precinct of St Augustine’s monastery, just outside the civic bounds. When I first dug into this case, a striking thing emerged: though this and one other case are the only I’ve found inContinue reading “Dominic Arthur and St Augustine’s, Bristol”
Tag Archives: Trespass
A “certificate of persons within St Martin’s sanctuary,” 1525
In 1525 – probably as a result of a fact-finding mission directed by the king’s right-hand man Cardinal Wolsey – a “certificate” of the “persons within St Martin’s sanctuary” was drawn up. This is a fascinating snapshot of 1520s sanctuary seekers. There were 12 people listed, 11 men, 1 woman. In another post I lookedContinue reading “A “certificate of persons within St Martin’s sanctuary,” 1525″
The tragedy of the Watsons: domestic violence and corruption in London, 1527
In February 1527 London brewer John Watson stabbed his pregnant wife Isabel in a quarrel. When she fell apparently lifeless to the floor, he first tried to hang himself but failed, then ran to Westminster sanctuary. In the months that followed, Isabel languished between life and death while her husband and her brother-in-law tussled overContinue reading “The tragedy of the Watsons: domestic violence and corruption in London, 1527”
Bull and Roo: Affirmation of sanctuary at King’s Bench
Two burglars manipulated sanctuary in the early 1530s and the result was something of a surprise: the justices at King’s Bench affirmed the right of felons to take sanctuary – even when they were trying to cheat the system. In May 1530, Maurice Bull & Nicholas Roo, both yeomen of Westminster, appeared before the courtContinue reading “Bull and Roo: Affirmation of sanctuary at King’s Bench”
Sanctuary Seekers in England, 1394-1557 