The replica Sanctuary Knocker on Durham Cathedral’s north door, standing in for the twelfth-century original now kept securely under glass. The Cathedral’s records, of which author Temple Chevallier provided copious extracts, show that sanctuary was still being claimed quite frequently in the fifteenth century. St Cuthbert, for whom the Cathedral was built as a shrine, foresaw the kind of abuse that eventually brought the custom down, and warned his fellow-monks that, if they buried him on the mainland at Lindisfarne, his grave would attract ne’er-do-wells seeking sanctuary and cause trouble with the secular authorities. The monks promised that they would allow only deserving cases to put the monastery at loggerheads with the sheriff, and Cuthbert relented.
Part 1 of 2
AT Durham, [accused] persons who took refuge fled to the north door, and knocked for admission.* The large knocker still upon the north door, is believed to have been that which was used for the purpose.* There were two chambers over the north door in which men slept, for the purpose of admitting such fugitives at any hour of the night. As soon as any one was so admitted, the Galilee bell was immediately tolled, to give notice that some one had taken sanctuary. The offender was required to declare, before certain credible witnesses, the nature of his offence, and to toll a bell in token of his demanding the privilege of sanctuary.
Every one who had the privilege of Sanctuary was provided with a gown of black cloth, with a yellow cross, called St Cuthbert’s Cross,* upon the left shoulder. A grate was expressly provided near the south door of the Galilee,* for such offenders to sleep upon: and they had a sufficient quantity of provisions and bedding at the expense of the house for thirty-seven days.
* After a crime was reported, a posse made up of law officers and members of the public would set out, tasked with apprehending the criminal and bringing him before the courts. See Thomas Smith, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s diplomats, on raising the Hue and Cry. In the face of what too easily became vigilante justice, sanctuary was primarily intended as a way to ensure a fair trial once outraged feelings had cooled a little. It was especially appropriate for bewildered first offenders, the wrongly accused, and those who could demonstrate extenuating circumstances, though less deserving cases often presented themselves at the church door too.
* This was written in 1837. A replica was substituted in 1980, owing to wear and tear, and to repeated attempts to steal it; the twelfth-century original may still be viewed in the Cathedral’s museum in the old Prior’s Kitchen.
* St Cuthbert (?635-687) was a monk and briefly Bishop of Lindisfarne, a great miracle-worker both in his own lifetime and after. Durham Cathedral, which is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built around his shrine, keeping his feast day on March 20th. See posts tagged St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (33).
* At the far western end of the Cathedral (which like most churches is aligned east-west) stands the Galilee Chapel, burial place of St Bede (?672-735). It has two doors leading into the nave, one on the north side and one on the south.
Précis
From Anglo-Saxon times, criminals on the run were allowed to claim sanctuary at certain great churches. At Durham, the hunted man would rap on the north door and, after taking him in, the monks would toll a solemn bell before providing him with clothing (marked with a yellow cross), bed and board within the church for thirty-seven days. (58 / 60 words)
Part Two
Beverley Minster in North Yorkshire. As at Durham, it was not necessary actually to reach the church, let alone grab a knocker, to qualify for sanctuary. In Durham, the surrounding churchyard was enough; at Beverley, sanctuary extended to a mile all around. Sanctuary was for serious crimes such as murder, and a letter from Thomas Langley, twice Lord Chancellor (1405-1407, 1417-1424), acknowledged that even traitors had a right to St Cuthbert’s protection at Durham — where Langley was also Bishop from 1406 to 1437. But it was also for first offenders, or at kindly Beverley second offenders. After that, the wrongdoer’s best hope was to be walled up in a monastery for the rest of his natural life.
In the sanctuary at Beverley, offenders were treated apparently with still greater kindness.* They were received there with humanity, and during thirty days had their food provided in the Refectory, and, if they were persons of any distinction, had a lodging in the Dormitory, or in a house within the precincts. At the end of the time, their privilege protected them to the borders of the county: and they could claim the same security a second time under the like circumstances. But if any one’s life was saved a third time by the privilege of sanctuary, he became permanently a servant to the Church.
The general privilege of sanctuary was intended to be only temporary.* Within forty days after a felon or murderer had taken refuge, he was to appear before the coroner, clothed in sackcloth, and there confess his crime, and abjure the realm.* If an offender did not make this confession and abjuration within the forty days, and continued in the sanctuary, any person who furnished him with provisions was guilty of felony.
* The Minster at Beverley is the burial place of St John of Beverley (?-721), a contemporary of St Cuthbert who was also credited with several miracles. His feast day is May 7th. See posts tagged St John of Beverley (3).
* According to fishmonger and legal scholar Andrew Horn (?1275–1328), it was also intended for “offenders who, by mischance, fall into an offence mortal [i.e. liable to the death penalty] out of sanctuary, and for true repentance run to monasteries and commonly confess themselves sorrowful and repent.” On the other hand, “if he be a common thief, robber, murderer, night-walker, and be known for such a one”, or if he should break out of sanctuary to commit an offence, then he could be plucked from the church precincts without violating any legal or sacred principle. From the time of Richard II (r. 1377-1399) both London and Rome began to disqualify more classes of offender from claiming sanctuary, and under Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547) the scope was progressively narrowed further. James I (r. 1603-1625) abolished the privilege altogether in 1624.
* That is, he must promise to go into exile and never return. Returning to the country after claiming sanctuary for a capital offence was one of those crimes for which sanctuary could not be claimed a second time.
Précis
At Beverley Minster in North Yorkshire, the welcome for wanted criminals was even warmer than at Durham, for repeat offenders too. Even at Beverley, however, it was a case of ‘three strikes and out’, and nowhere could the wanted man simply hole up indefinitely: he must eventually face the courts, become a monk, or accept lifelong exile abroad. (58 / 60 words)
.jpg){kind=link}