Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury Raid: Puddlicott Execution Nov. 28, 1304

Summary: Richard Puddlicott was hanged Nov. 28, 1304, and skinned for the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid of Chapter House Crypt jewels April 30-May 3, 1303.

Richard Puddlicott was wheelbarrowed to his public execution at the Elms, Smithfield (upper center; inserted blue arrow); W.R. Shepherd's Historical Atlas (1926), page 75; Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Richard Puddlicott admitted to the Westminster Abbey refectory raid of November 1302 and the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid April 30-May 3, 1303, perhaps because he anticipated avoiding hanging as a cleric.

Puddlicott's confession bore no date even though historical preservation brought it as an attachment of the Rippinghale confession Dec. 3, 1303, to National Archives in Kew. John Bakewell, John de Drokensford, Ralph de Sandwich, Roger de Southcote and Walter of Gloucester caused Puddlicott's capture June 16-18, 1303, with £2,200 in crown jewels. They described "Ge hanaps de mazer et XXXII quilers d'argent furent emblez en abbaye de Westminster hors du freytour e furent trovee od mesme celi Rici."

Commissioners extracted "basket of mazers and 32 silver spoons with Abbey arms from the refectory and they were found in the possession of the said Richard."

King Richard I (June 17, 1239-July 7, 1307) formed four four-member commissions to find felons and royal treasures filched from the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid.

The commission by Edward's writ June 16, 1303, got Puddlicott from London Sheriff Hugh le Pourte's five-day custody, out of one-day sanctuary and into the Tower. Paul Doherty, in The Great Crown Jewels Robbery of 1303 for Carroll & Graf Publishers, Sept. 26, 2005, has the next two commissions concerned with monks. The commission Nov. 14, 1303, unlike those Aug. 14 and Oct. 10, indicated that "Ad negocium illud audiendum et terminandum secundum legem et consuetudinem nostri regni."

Edward judged that William Bereford, Roger de Brabazon, Ralph de Sandwich and Walter of Gloucester hear and end that business per our kingdom's laws and customs."

The fourth commission kick-started the second inquiry Jan. 9, and 13-14, 1304, in the Tower, just as the first kindled inquiries July 4-6, 1303, in London.

Edward listed verdicts by juries of "the Knights and other upright and lawful men of London and the countries of Middlesex and Surrey" under well-known leaders. Jurors made two indictments against goldsmith John of Newmarket and three each against Westminster Abbey monks Thomas de Dene, Alexander de Newport and Alexander de Pershore. They named Edelina, William Palmer's mistress, and sacristy page Adam the Skinner each thrice and John de Lenton, Gillelma's husband and Long Ditch landowner, five times.

Jurors observed six indictments each against Abbey servant John Ramage/le Riche and excommunicated, outlawed ex-priest John de Rippinghale and seven against mason John of St. Albans.

Jurors presented eight Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid indictments each against Palmer, Fleet Prison deputy Keeper and Keeper of Westminster Palace; Puddlicott; sacristan Adam de Warfield.

Jury indictments qualified Palmer definitely, and likely Lenton, Newmarket, Rippinghale and St. Albans, March 5, 1304, for hanging from the Smithfield elms near St. Bartholomew's Priory. Edward's order March 25, 1304, released 10 monks April 3, 1304, regarding their rights as clergy even though Puddlicott, despite clerical status, remained in the Tower. Doherty suggests that Benedictines sabotaged Puddlicott's claim because it was untrue, despite two centuries of Puddlicott family support to Benedictines, or because they needed a scapegoat.

Edward triumphed by retaking Stirling from the Scots, retrieving his treasure and terrifying the English with six executions, including Puddlicott's hanging Nov. 28, 1304, and skinning.

drawing of Richard Puddlicott as sole plunderer of Westminster Abbey Crypt, Cottonian Manuscripts, "nero," D. II, f. 192d (The British Library): History Things ‏@history_things via Twitter tweet Jan. 11, 2017

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Richard Puddlicott was wheelbarrowed to his public execution at the Elms, Smithfield (upper center; inserted blue arrow); W.R. Shepherd's Historical Atlas (1926), page 75; Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin @ https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/london_plan_1300.jpg

drawing of Richard Puddlicott as sole plunderer of Westminster Abbey Crypt, Cottonian Manuscripts, "nero," D. II, f. 192d (The British Library): History Things ‏@history_things via Twitter tweet Jan. 11, 2017, @ https://twitter.com/history_things/status/819424724166017024

For further information:

Doherty, Paul. 2005. The Great Crown Jewels Robbery of 1303. New York NY: Carroll & Graf Publisher.

Harvey, Barbara F., ed. 1965. Documents Illustrating the Rule of Walter de Wenlok, Abbot of Westminster 1283-1307. Vol. II. Camden Fourth Series. London, England: Offices of the Royal Historical Society.

Keay, Anna. 2011. The Crown Jewels. London UK: Thames & Hudson Ltd.

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/richard-puddlicott-and-westminster.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 4 May 2018. "Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury Raid in April and May 1303 in England." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/05/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/05/mysteries-of-april-may-1303-westminster.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/king-edward-is-letter-on-westminster.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_8.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_22.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_29.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/07/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/08/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/08/edward-is-second-letter-on-westminster.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/09/westminster-abbey-refectory-raid-and.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/edward-is-third-letter-on-westminster.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/appellants-not-involved-in-westminster.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_26.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_9.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_16.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/westminster-abbey-royal-treasury-raid_23.html

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