Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury Raid: Goldsmiths Talk July 4, 1303

Summary: The London goldsmiths left Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid gems, jewelry and metals at the Guildhall July 4, 1303, and listed six suspects.

ca. 1868 oil on canvas portrait of goldsmith William Torel by Richard Burchett (1815-1875) for Kensington Valhalla mosaic in Victoria and Albert Museum: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One dozen goldsmiths in London accumulated precious metals, precious stones and royal jewelry through 24 transactions that affected 100 stolen treasures from the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid April 30-May 3, 1303.

Girdlers and goldsmiths brought Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid booty July 4, 1303, to the Guildhall, meeting place for the Corporation of the City of London. They came with emeralds and rubies, gold and silver to the commission that consisted of the city's Coroner, Mayor and Sheriffs and the king's appointed justices. They described purchases and sales for John Bakewell, Ralph de Sandwich, Roger de Southcote and Walter of Gloucester the king's four justices appointed June 6, 1303.

The goldsmiths explained in Norman French, for each purchase or sale, that they "did not know it was a crime" or that "it was a felony."

The goldsmiths found that "William of the Palace, Richard Puddlicott, and John of St. Albans the mason, arrested at Chertsey, were all guilty" of filching treasures.

Walter de Walpole got "three gold rings from Richard [Puddlicott] and sold the same to Robert Pipehurst, but he did not know it was a crime." Goldsmith William Torel had "two gold rings with rubies [from Puddlicott] and sold the ring to [goldsmith] Nicholas de Saint Botulpho and [goldsmith] William de Beaupho." He indicated selling Puddlicott's "two rubies to [goldsmith] Richard le Breun" even as goldsmith John de Bridgeford identified Puddlicott selling him "a brooch and a bracelet."

Puddlicott joined "fifteen small plates and sixteen great plates" for sale to Bridgeford, who sold them to Robert le Convers, who sold them to Adam Bentley.

Puddlicott kept from the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid "gold from broken rings" that William Keles's valet William purchased and in turn sold to goldsmith Bentley.

The goldsmith John Bonaventure listed buying from Puddlicott "twenty-eight precious plates" even as the goldsmith Geoffrey de Bradley likewise listed purchasing from Puddlicott "a silver plate." The goldsmith John de Bridgeport mentioned making an unknowing purchase, from Puddlicott's Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid carryout, of gold that he sold to Robert Pipehurst. The goldsmiths all noted that Abbey monks and servants, including the Sacristan Adam de Warfield and his page Adam [the Skinner] "were consenting to the robbery."

All the goldsmiths observed that goldsmith "John de Newmarket bought jewels and precious goods [from the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid] knowing it was a crime."

Thomas de Frowick purchased four emeralds and five rubies that Imania la/La Porteresse previously purchased from Newmarket and another nine rubies and 12 emeralds from her.

The 21 precious stones qualified as la/La Porteresse's previous purchase from Saint Botulpho "who bought such precious stuff" from Newmarket's Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid collection. Goldsmith William of York and Saint Botulpho respectively revealed purchasing from Newmarket "gold and jewels" and "a ruby which he [Nicholas] sold to John le Peret." King Edward I (June 17, 1239-July 7, 1307) said June 6, 1303, to sequester suspects "in our prison" and recoveries in "a safe and secure place."

The goldsmiths tightened their ranks, told on buyers and sellers, took no prison time and turned in Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid gems, jewelry and metals.

engraving of Queen Margaret, Edward I's second wife; Mary Howitt's Biographical Sketches of the Queens of Great Britain (1856): Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Internet Archive

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

ca. 1868 oil on canvas portrait of William Torel by Richard Burchett (1815-1875) for Kensington Valhalla mosaic in Victoria and Albert Museum: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Torrel_(1291–1303)_(design_for_a_mosaic_in_the_Victoria_and_Albert_Museum).jpg;
via Art UK @ https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/william-torrel-12911303-31257

engraving of Queen Margaret, Edward I's second wife; Mary Howitt's Biographical Sketches of the Queens of Great Britain (1856), opposite page 109: Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_TwgLAAAAYAAJ#page/n133/mode/1up

For further information:

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