In some 1539 cases, sanctuary seekers seized from church precincts on Thomas Cromwell’s orders had unhappy endings. Anthony Spencer was also unceremoniously grabbed from the Westminster sanctuary late that year, but the conclusion of his case was quite different. In mid-October 1539, Spencer, a “yeoman of London,” robbed and murdered one John Morres in Surrey.Continue reading “Lucky man”
Tag Archives: Westminster sanctuary
Off on a technicality
Something a bit funny happened with this case. A man committed murder but got off on a completely fictitious technicality. (He also took sanctuary, though that’s probably incidental to the fixing of his case.) In March 1541, Robert Whitfield, yeoman of Southwark, assaulted and killed another yeoman, Nicholas Grene of London. Afterwards, Whitfield fled toContinue reading “Off on a technicality”
Seeking sanctuary after 1540
Only about six* records survive of men seeking sanctuary under the new post-1540 system; of those, Westminster remained the most popular choice – three of six went there. One was a labourer from Cambridge, Robert Mere. He’d stolen a grey horse in the university town, but something evidently went wrong with his getaway plan asContinue reading “Seeking sanctuary after 1540”
Just like the old days
In Mary’s reign, something like the traditional privilege was exercised again at Westminster Abbey. The historian who’s written about this, David Loades, argues (sensibly) that this was a strategic demonstration of the abbey’s rights and immunities. So we see a few cases of debtors and a few accused of homicide in Westminster. There are aContinue reading “Just like the old days”
Escape from the Tower
On 29 July 1557 Henry Machyn wrote in his diary that the constable of the Tower of London went to Westminster sanctuary to take “one Waxham” into custody. Waxham, Machyn said, had earlier broken out of the Tower and run to sanctuary. Machyn’s diary entry matches with the minutes of the Privy Council regarding oneContinue reading “Escape from the Tower”
A bookseller’s slaying
On 6 November 1556, a coroner’s inquest convened over the body of John Obett of Westminster, accidentally killed in a silly quarrel with a schoolboy. Obett had a stall near Westminster Hall where he sold maps, charts, and books. At 11am a group of schoolboys came out from the “common school of the city ofContinue reading “A bookseller’s slaying”
Sanctuary Seekers in England, 1394-1557 