The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
Court Gossip of Interesting
Epents on Two Continents

Teacher" CKansas City, asks for an
explanation as to when sanctuary" of
the church terminated in England for
fugitives fleeing from the Kings wrath
and persecution or from the vengeance
of the law, who by finding shelter within
the scored precincts of church cloister or
abbey became immune. in some cases al
together, in others merely for the time
being.
II an indirect reply will satisfy my
Kansas City reader he is welcome to
know when a most fragrant breach Of
sanctuary" protection had to be re-
corded:
1t was in the days of John of Gaunt
(GhenO, Duke of Lancaster Q344-lSs9).
fourth son of King Edward III. AS a
two-year-oH child, he was created Earl
of Richmond. He married his cousin
Blanche. a daughter of Duke Henry OF
Lancaster. When the latter and his eld-
est daughter Maud, Duchess of Bavaria,
died John of Gaunt inherited the title and
possessions OF the Lancasters. His Sec
ond wife was the only child of Pedro the
Cruel, King of CASTLE, and on that ac-
count John Of Gaunt presumed to call
himself king of Castile." He was
brutal. grim. and tyrannical. usurped the
supreme power upon the death Q3T0 of
his brother Edward. the "Black Prince, "
but with the accession of Richard II be-
came so extremely unpopular that during
his absence on one of his periodical in
vasions OF France the people destroyed
his palace (the Savoy. The only redeem
ing quality in John OF Gaunt was friend
ship for wycliff, the famous Liberal
churchman, and for Chaucer, the poet.
In the battle of Najerre CNavarrete),
in 1867, there was taken as prisoner, a
Grandee OF Dragon, Alfonso, Duke Of
Gandea, Count of Denia. He was cap
tured by two esQuires OF Sir John Chan
dos, attache-to John OF Gaunt's forces,
John Shabkl and Robert Msuley, whose
property, according to the rules Of me
dieval warfare he became. Being of
royal blood "a son of the Infante Don
Pedro and grandson of Jayne II OF Dra-
gon), this Spanish nobleman appealed
to the Black Prince. who decided that
the Count should not be taken prisoner
to England, but should leave his Son
as hostage in the hands of the two
esquires. his ransom being fixed at 5000
FORMS
Things not progressing well with the
imperious and unpopular Duke, John of
Lancaster, he kept his eve more and
more upon his Spanish Inheritance, but
found that it was this young hostage
who stood between him and the throne.
He therefore tried his best to get the
Spanish nobleman into his own hands.
But the two 'squires, who, in the mean
time had settled upon a small farm in
Lincolnshire, were too wary for his emis-
saries.
Beset by emissaries and the Dukes
spies, yet unwilling to part with their
hostage and to lose the expectation of
5000 forms, a great fortune in those
days, the two 'squires took their charge
to London, as the safest hiding place
Discovered at last, they were thrown into
London Tower with no one but their
servant permitted to approach them.
One August day, in 1873. this young SER
want was seen to enter the tower Of the
lion gate, carrying a basket of food to
his masters. Shortly afterward this valet
returned with the empty basket The
keeper at the lion gate was alone, de-
vouring his dinner at a table in the
guard room. At that moment, a sign
from the young servant. the two impris-
oned 'squires, ShakyI and Hauley,
sprang into the room with swords drawn.
In a minute the keeper lay prone upon
the floor, with a gag in his mouth.
The two 'squires, followed by their ser
want, quickly ran along the causeway.
headed for Westminster. They had been
confined a year in the tower, declining
to give up their hostage and standing
out obstinately against King and Par
Lament for their just ransom. Their
idea was that, once safe in sanctuary"
at Westminster Abbey, it would be pos
sible through the church. to extort their ]
ransom, and il was with the aid and by |