The Sanctuary of St Martin Le Grand
The Sanctuary of St Martin Le Grand
Even by the late 15th century the Church was still offering sanctuary and a haven for political refugees and victims of injustice. When Warwick the Kingmaker approached London in October 1470, forcing King Edward to flee to exile in the Low Countries, numerous die-hard Lancastrians and Neville supporters emerged from their Church protection, to be immediately replaced by their fearful Yorkist opponents. Even Edward's Queen, heavy in childbirth, abandoned her rooms at the Tower and took herself off to the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey where she gave birth to her first son, later Edward V.
Every Church was by old custom, Papal bull and Royal charter a sanctuary, but certain ones gained a notoriety as a haven for criminals A criminal, hotly pursued, would head for the nearest sanctuary, race up the nave and throw himself upon the altar. In theory he was then safe for forty days although in reality men sometimes spent far longer there. All that the Officers of the Law or his enemies could do was to besiege the church so that the felon would not escape. The criminal then had no option but to confess his crime, after which he would emerge clad in shirt and breeches only, holding a candle. The Constable was then supposed to escort the felon to the nearest port where he would be made to stand in the water up to his knees (sometimes his neck) begging passing ships to carry him away to foreign exile. Naturally not all made it this far. Although it was an offence to molest a King's felon in at least one account it is reported that a murderer of a widow woman, who had taken sanctuary in the Church of St George in Southwick was marched through the parish where he had committed his foul deed. There the local wives threw much filth upon him and then slew him in the street.
Londons most famous sanctuary was that of the Church of St Martin le Grand near the top of Cheapside. It was here that Sir Roger Clifford, condemned to beheading for his part in Buckinghams abortive revolt of 1483 escaped his escort, but was recaptured before he could reach the Church door. At the same church in 1452 a band of Lancastrians came at night and abducted with great violence Sir William Oldhall, a supporter of the Duke of York, then in sanctuary there. The Dean outraged by this affront to the Church privilege hastened to complain directly to the King, who had no option but to procure the immediate release of Sir William back to the protection of his Church sanctuary.
Sanctuary was not just a prerogative a Political refugees. During the 1450s, Londoners had become increasing exasperated by the numbers of irresponsible debtors laughing at their creditors from behind the gates of St. Martin le Grand. Also, that Church was known to be protecting a notorious band of criminals that would sortie out at night to rob honest citizens, before returning to their safe haven by the morning light. An angry mob, one night, attacked the sanctuary and waged an all night battle with the robbers Two of the citizens and one of the criminals being killed in the fighting.
This sort of event was naturally considered bad publicity for other more conscientious churchmen. The town of Rye quietly resolved that their church would no longer offer protection from arrest by the Law. It is not known what the King's Bishops thought of this idea, but no doubt, with growing demands for Church reform many would have quietly have turned a blind eye to the affair. Church Sanctuary persisted through until 1623 for Criminal offenders and to 1723 for civil offenders.
Even by the late 15th century the Church was still offering sanctuary and a haven for political refugees and victims of injustice. When Warwick the Kingmaker approached London in October 1470, forcing King Edward to flee to exile in the Low Countries, numerous die-hard Lancastrians and Neville supporters emerged from their Church protection, to be immediately replaced by their fearful Yorkist opponents. Even Edward's Queen, heavy in childbirth, abandoned her rooms at the Tower and took herself off to the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey where she gave birth to her first son, later Edward V.
Every Church was by old custom, Papal bull and Royal charter a sanctuary, but certain ones gained a notoriety as a haven for criminals A criminal, hotly pursued, would head for the nearest sanctuary, race up the nave and throw himself upon the altar. In theory he was then safe for forty days although in reality men sometimes spent far longer there. All that the Officers of the Law or his enemies could do was to besiege the church so that the felon would not escape. The criminal then had no option but to confess his crime, after which he would emerge clad in shirt and breeches only, holding a candle. The Constable was then supposed to escort the felon to the nearest port where he would be made to stand in the water up to his knees (sometimes his neck) begging passing ships to carry him away to foreign exile. Naturally not all made it this far. Although it was an offence to molest a King's felon in at least one account it is reported that a murderer of a widow woman, who had taken sanctuary in the Church of St George in Southwick was marched through the parish where he had committed his foul deed. There the local wives threw much filth upon him and then slew him in the street.
Londons most famous sanctuary was that of the Church of St Martin le Grand near the top of Cheapside. It was here that Sir Roger Clifford, condemned to beheading for his part in Buckinghams abortive revolt of 1483 escaped his escort, but was recaptured before he could reach the Church door. At the same church in 1452 a band of Lancastrians came at night and abducted with great violence Sir William Oldhall, a supporter of the Duke of York, then in sanctuary there. The Dean outraged by this affront to the Church privilege hastened to complain directly to the King, who had no option but to procure the immediate release of Sir William back to the protection of his Church sanctuary.
Sanctuary was not just a prerogative a Political refugees. During the 1450s, Londoners had become increasing exasperated by the numbers of irresponsible debtors laughing at their creditors from behind the gates of St. Martin le Grand. Also, that Church was known to be protecting a notorious band of criminals that would sortie out at night to rob honest citizens, before returning to their safe haven by the morning light. An angry mob, one night, attacked the sanctuary and waged an all night battle with the robbers Two of the citizens and one of the criminals being killed in the fighting.
This sort of event was naturally considered bad publicity for other more conscientious churchmen. The town of Rye quietly resolved that their church would no longer offer protection from arrest by the Law. It is not known what the King's Bishops thought of this idea, but no doubt, with growing demands for Church reform many would have quietly have turned a blind eye to the affair. Church Sanctuary persisted through until 1623 for Criminal offenders and to 1723 for civil offenders.
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Article added: 2005-12-17 @ 4:17 am | Last Modified: 2006-06-27 @ 5:30 am
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