As I am currently in the throes of research for a paper for a conference on Peterborough abbey this summer, I'm coming across a lot of interesting accounts including this one.
In 1304, the coroner for the Peterborough area reported:
"On Thursday 30th January/6th August, 1304, a certain Robert Hod of Seytingdon and a certain Agnes of
Ardingthorn, at the time of Compline, broke the prison of Peterborough and placed themselves in the church of St Thomas the Martyr, at Peterborough. And the said Robert Hod acknowledged the breaking of the said prison and the commission of the theft of six pigs and other robberies; and the said Agnes of Hardingethorn
acknowledged the breaking of the said prison and the theft of six fleeces of wool, worth 2 shillings; for which
robberies and felonies, they abjured the realm of England before H[ugh] Daundely with [a jury formed from]
four nearby towns, namely, Wittering, Thornhaugh, Newark with Eastfield, Eye, Carton with Dogsthorpe; And the port of Dover was assigned to the said Robert Hod and the port of Portsmouth to the said Agnes. Chattels of Robert Hod: one tunic, worth 2 d; 1 hood worth 1 d; shoes worth 1 d. The township of Peterborough shall answer for those. Chattels of the said Agnes: none."
What's interesting is that this is the fourth incident I've come across of this happening at Peterborough and I've only really begun going through the documents.
This is a rough plan of the modern day Peterborough Cathedral's entry precinct. The medieval prison is now the building south of the gatehouse and as you can see, the chapel to which the prisoners claimed sanctuary was only a short walk away.
Upon reading this extract, I immediately envisaged a series of Benny Hill like chases as the gaoler attempted to corral his escapee prisoners.
Notes
Plan - Harriet Mahood, 2014
Extract from the coroner's roll for Nassaburgh, Northamptonshire, 1304, PRO/JUST 2/107, membrane 4A, verso, Latin; transcribed and translated into English by T. Halliday
In 1304, the coroner for the Peterborough area reported:
"On Thursday 30th January/6th August, 1304, a certain Robert Hod of Seytingdon and a certain Agnes of
Ardingthorn, at the time of Compline, broke the prison of Peterborough and placed themselves in the church of St Thomas the Martyr, at Peterborough. And the said Robert Hod acknowledged the breaking of the said prison and the commission of the theft of six pigs and other robberies; and the said Agnes of Hardingethorn
acknowledged the breaking of the said prison and the theft of six fleeces of wool, worth 2 shillings; for which
robberies and felonies, they abjured the realm of England before H[ugh] Daundely with [a jury formed from]
four nearby towns, namely, Wittering, Thornhaugh, Newark with Eastfield, Eye, Carton with Dogsthorpe; And the port of Dover was assigned to the said Robert Hod and the port of Portsmouth to the said Agnes. Chattels of Robert Hod: one tunic, worth 2 d; 1 hood worth 1 d; shoes worth 1 d. The township of Peterborough shall answer for those. Chattels of the said Agnes: none."
What's interesting is that this is the fourth incident I've come across of this happening at Peterborough and I've only really begun going through the documents.
Upon reading this extract, I immediately envisaged a series of Benny Hill like chases as the gaoler attempted to corral his escapee prisoners.
Notes
Plan - Harriet Mahood, 2014
Extract from the coroner's roll for Nassaburgh, Northamptonshire, 1304, PRO/JUST 2/107, membrane 4A, verso, Latin; transcribed and translated into English by T. Halliday
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