Cases connected with the county of Northampton, are drawn from the original Coroner's and Assize rolls in the Public Record Office.

The most important source of information with regard to the various persons who took sanctuary in our Northamptonshire churches, and the causes which led them to do so, is the series of documents known as the Coroner's Rolls.

The office of Coroner is a very ancient one and appears to have come into existence during the twelfth century. Each county, as a rule had four Coroners. One would have expected to find the shires divided up into four parts, with a special Coroner for each, but this was not always the case, and the same Coroner is found holding inquests in all parts of the County.

When a man took sanctuary in a church, he was compelled to send for the coroner and confess his crime. The coroner then summoned a jury from the four nearest townships, that in which the fugitive had taken sanctuary being one of the four. Occasionally a second jury was also called together (representing the whole hundred), and the verdict was then said to have been found "by twelve sworn men, together with the next four vills."

A sanctuary man had always two courses open to him. He could "surrender himself to the king's peace," or in other words go to prison and stand his trial; or he could confess his crime before the coroner and jurors, and take an oath to quit the realm forever. In Northampton, if he chose the latter course, the following oath was administered to him:-

"Thus here Sir Crouner that I R.O., am a felon of our lorde the kyng, and felony I have done like as I have confessid to you, etc. Wherefore I forswere the realme of Englond, and that I shall hye me to the porte of Newcecastell upon Tyne, the which ye have geven me. And I shall not goo oute of the high weye, and yf I doo I will the I betakyn as a feloun of our seide lorde the kyng, and att the seide porte I shall aske passage. And I shall not abyde there, but a Flode and a Ebbe if I maye have passage. And if I may nott hafe passage I shall every day goo in to the see unto my knees asking passage. And if I may nottt hafe hit in XL dayes nexte I shall admitte me to the church agayne os a feloun of our seide lorde the kyng soo helpe me God and All Seyntys, etc.

Cold Higham
Geoffrey the miller of Pattishall took sanctuary in the church of Cold Higham on the feast of St. Margaret, 24 Edward I (20 July 1295). He confessed that he was a thief, and that he had broken into the house of Henry Hay (Heyh) of Grimscote, and into the house of the parson of Slapton. He abjured the realm before G. de Morton on Tuesday after the feast of St. Margaret (26 July), and the port of Dover was assigned to him. The fee of the Prior of Dunstable in the township of Grimscote was summoned, but did not come. The chattels of the said Geoffrey were a gambeson (a stuffed and quilted garment worn beneath the armour to prevent its chafing the body of the wearer.) worth 3/-, for which Grimscote will account.

Wootton
Henry Felip of Stoke Bruern was found dead at Courteenhall. Inquest was made and it was found that he had been attacked and murdered by certain thieves. His son, who was with him, escaped and raised the hue. Five of the robbers were captured, but one of them named John Ditchford escaped to the church of Wootton and took sanctuary there. On the same Wednesday (24 March 1321-2), before Richard Luvell (the Coroner) and the four nearest townships, he confessed that he was guilty of the above-mentioned felony, and abjured the realm of England. The port of Dover was assigned to him. His chattels were a sword. A knife and a courtepy appraised at 18d. ; for which Wootton will account.
On the following Friday (26 March) the said John of Ditchford was found beheaded in the fields of Collingtree. Inquest was made before R. Luvell (the Coroner) by oath of twelve men, and four townships, viz. , Collingtree-cum-Middleton, Courteenhall, Wootton and Rothersthorpe, who say that the said John on the preceding Wednesday abjured the realm of England, before the Coroner, and on the same day he abandoned the King's highway and the warrant of holy Church and fled towards the woods. Hue was raised against him, and he was pursed by the township of Wootton and others until he was beheaded while still fleeing. Hid head was carried by the four townships to the King's Castle at Northampton, by order of the said Coroner.

Paulerspury or West Pury
John Duffyn of Lowick took sanctuary in the church of St. James, West Pury, on Sunday after the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, 21 Edward III (20 Oct., 1347) and afterwards on Monday next before the feast of St Clement the Pope (19 Nov) he confessed before Andrew de Landwhat, the Coroner, that he was a thief and that he had stolen two oxen worth 20/-. Belonging to Richard Oliver of Geddington, in the county of Northampton; for which felony he abjured the realm of England on the same Monday, and the port of Dover was assigned to him. Inquest was made concerning the lands and chattels of the said John, before the Coroner and four nearest townships, viz., West Pury. Easton Neston, Alderton and Grafton, and by twelve jurors (not named) who say on their oath that the said John had no lands, but he had one axe worth 2d., for which West Pury would account.

Greens Norton
Robert Spalding of Prior's Marston fled to the church of Norton. When questioned by Wm. De Haldenby, the Coroner, for what reason he had done so, he confessed that he was a thief, and that on Monday next before the feast of St. Dionysius, 42 Edward III (2 Oct., 1368), he had stolen thirty-two sheep at Napton in the county of Warwick, of the value of 20d. apiece, and driven them to Towcester. He was there arrested by Richard Ters, the bailiff, of the said town, but suddenly escaped to the church aforesaid. There before the said Coroner he abjured the realm of England and the port of Southampton was assigned him. He had no chattels. The town of Towcester will account for the aforesaid sheep or the value of them, except two sheep for which the township of Norton will account.

Potterspury
David of Aberconway was pursed by the men of the county of Buckingham, for divers robberies which he had committed, through the midst of the township of Potterpury; and for fear of arrest he took sanctuary in the Church of St. Leonard at Potterpury. He there confessed that he was a thief and abjured the realm He had no chattels. And inasmuch as he passed through the midst of the town of Potterspury and the township did not arrest him, they are in mercy.

Potterspury
Adam Telbu of Eastpury killed Isabel, his wife, at Eastpury, 24 Edward I (1296), and afterwards took sanctuary in the Church of East Pury. He there confessed the said felony and abjured the realm. His chattels were worth 6s. 2½d. the jurors concealed the chattels aforesaid. therefore they are in mercy. The first finder is dead.

Potterspury
John Cursun of Stormesworth for fear of arrest took sanctuary in the Church of Potterspury. He confessed that he was a thief and abjured the realm. He had no chattels.

Ashton
Wm. of Barton for fear of arrest took sanctuary in the Church of Ashton and there confessed to many thefts abjured the realm. His chattels were worth 9d.

Note.
This Assize roll records no less than 363 cases of persons taking sanctuary in Northamptonshire Churches between the years 1275 and 1329. The following is an abstract of the crimes of which they were accused:-