Medieval Sanctuary? Flee to the Church!
Imagine you've just committed a crime in medieval England.
The sheriff is behind you. Half the village is shouting. Someone has probably brought a stick.
Your best chance isn't to run faster.
It's The nearest church door, obviously.
For centuries, English churches offered sanctuary to fugitives. Claim it, and the authorities couldn't simply drag you away.
That second option, known as abjuring the realm, meant giving up your possessions and heading for a designated port, traditionally carrying a wooden cross.
Even powerful men needed sanctuary. In 1232, Hubert de Burgh, once one of England's most powerful royal officials, fled to Merton Priory after falling from royal favour.
Sanctuary offered protection, not permanent escape. Eventually, you had to face the consequences or leave the country.
Still, if the sheriff was behind you and half the village was shouting, that church door must have looked rather inviting.
Sources
- Primary Source: Matthew Paris, Historia Anglorum, British Library, Royal MS 14 C VII, f. 119.
- Image: Wikimedia Commons (British Library).