Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury Raid: Margaret and the Barber Sisters

Summary: Would Alice and Castanea Barber have burned or hanged for the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid had Queen Margaret not intervened in November 1303?

Edward I expected harsh punishments for those involved in the 1303 Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid, but his second wife, Margaret (Marguerite) of France, displayed compassion in effecting the release of the two Barber sisters, Alice and Castanea, from fearsome Newgate Prison; Edward I and Margaret, as depicted in Villani's Cronica Nuova Figurata (1348), Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

The royal couple appeared to appreciate one another even though the king articulated anger against the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid suspects and the queen allowed herself to act compassionately toward sisters.

King Edward I (June 17, 1239-July 7, 1307) broached Chapter House Crypt suspects June 16, Aug. 14, Oct. 10, Nov. 10/14, 1303, and March 25, 1304. The king concentrated upon confining "malefactors," advisors, assistants, informants, purchasers, recipients and sellers and collecting the "great part of our treasure," calculated at £100,000, "carried elsewhere." He demanded that "all who are guilty of this deed, or have helped and advised in it, or received the said treasure, be arrested without delay."

Edward's second wife, Queen Margaret (1279-Feb. 14, 1318), from Paris, France, effectuated the extraction on bail of the Barber sisters, Alice and Castanea, from Newgate Prison.

Edward's first four royal writs respectively focused upon facilitating "a hasty remedy," feeling "more certain about the truth," fitting charge to crime and finalizing frightening punishments.

Edward's fourth royal writ Nov. 10/14, 1303, gave his appointed justices the order that "Ad negocium illud audiendum et terminandum secundum legem et consuetudinem nostri regni." William Bereford, Roger Brabazon, Roger de Hegham, Ralph de Sandwich and Walter of Gloucester headed "hearing and terminating that business per our kingdom's law and custom." Paul Doherty, in The Great Crown Jewels Robbery of 1303 for Carroll & Graf Publishers, Sept. 26, 2005, identifies Margaret as influenced by, not influencing, Londoners.

Margaret juggled roles as consort in England and Scotland, diplomat to niece and upcoming daughter-in-law, mother to children and stepchildren and queen of mercy to subjects.

Perhaps Margaret knew "pressure from fellow [London] citizens" while "busy with diplomatic matters" concerning Edward II (April 25, 1284-Sept. 21, 1327) marrying Isabella (1295-Aug. 22, 1358).

Sir Francis Palgrave's edited Kalendars and Inventories of the Exchequer listed, "Postea ad Mandatum Dominae Reginae predict Castanea et Alicia, soror ejus dismissive sunt per Mancaptores." He mentioned that "Afterwards [subsequent to Edward's writ Nov. 10/14, 1303], at the Queen's command, the said Castanea and her sister Alice were released on sureties."

Bread Street jurors July 3, 1303, noted that "Castanea Barber and Alice her sister were receivers [shelterers]" for John of Newmarket, William Palmer and Richard Puddlicott. Goldsmiths likewise observed at the Guildhall inquiry July 4, 1303, that the Barber sisters operated as fences for goldsmith John of Newmarket and merchant Richard Puddlicott.

Twenty-four London aldermen July 29, 1303, put the sisters in London's Fleet Prison precinct and Westminster with Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid participants May 3-5, 1303. A horseman, four "ribalds," John and William de Kynebaston, John de Uggele and the sisters queued daylong "eating and drinking before advancing with arms towards Westminster. In the morning they returned, they did this for two nights but, after that, they never returned" to "a certain house within" London's Fleet Prison precinct.

Indictments Jan. 9 and 13-14, 1304, showed "a passing reference" since no "proof positive,  hard evidence " suggested the sisters stealing, storing or streaming Edward's treasures. Perhaps Alice and Castanea Barber never turned up burned or hanged for the Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid because life took another tack through Margaret's compassion.

Findings by London's 24 aldermen that placed Alice and Castanea Barber in the vicinity of Fleet Prison and of Westminster with Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raiders sent the two sisters to frightful Newgate Prison, from which Queen Margaret of France, Edward I's second wife, mercifully freed them; Fleet Prison was rebuilt after Peasants' Revolt-caused destruction in 1381 and Gordon Riot-caused destruction in 1780 but was finally torn down in 1846; "Last Remains of the Fleet Prison," in Walter Thornbury's Old and New London, vol. II, page 408 (1878): Public Domain 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:

Findings by London's 24 aldermen that placed Alice and Castanea Barber in the vicinity of Fleet Prison and of Westminster with Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raiders sent the two sisters to frightful Newgate Prison, from which Queen Margaret of France, Edward I's second wife, mercifully freed them; Fleet Prison was rebuilt after Peasants' Revolt-caused destruction in 1381 and Gordon Riot-caused destruction in 1780 but was finally torn down in 1846; "Last Remains of the Fleet Prison," in Walter Thornbury's Old and New London, vol. II, page 408 (1878): Public Domain via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/stream/oldnewlondonnarr02thor#page/408/mode/1up

Edward I expected harsh punishments for those involved in the 1303 Westminster Abbey Royal Treasury raid, but his second wife, Margaret (Marguerite) of France, displayed compassion in effecting the release of the two Barber sisters, Alice and Castanea, from fearsome Newgate Prison; Edward I and Margaret, as depicted in Villani's Cronica Nuova Figurata (1348), Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EDuard_Marketa.jpg

For further information:

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