Historic%20Yorkshire

BEVERLEY SANCTUARY. 141
uponhis abjuration so to do. But if he went out of the
sanctuary, unless discharged by the King's pardon, and
committed murder or felony, he was liable to be brought
to trial for his offence, and was excludedfrom the right of
sanctuary. At a later date an Act was passed excluding
from the privilege of sanctuaryallpersons accused ofhigh
treason. According to a lawmadein this King's reignall
sanctuary persons were to wear a badge or cognisance, to
be assignedand appointed by the governorof every sanctuary,openlyupon
their upper garment, of the compass
in length and breadthoften inches,under painof forfeiting
all the privilegesof sanctuary. They were prevented
from carrying any sword or any other weapon, except
their meat knives, and those only at their meals. They
werenot to leave their lodgings between sunrise and sunset,
under penalty of forfeiting their sanctuary for the
third such offence. The same King greatlyrestricted the
number of privilegedplaces.
In the reign of the next King, viz.,Edward VI., the
right of sanctuary was further restrained; and at length,
by the statute of James I., this ancient usage receivedits
death-blow, and shortly afterwards was totallyabolished.
We have so far collated notes respecting the general
history ofthe sanctuary. We next desire to direct attention
to one of the most historically interesting places of
refuge— that of Beverley.
According to Oliver,inhis " History ofBeverley," published
in 1829, we find that the right of sanctuary was
granted to the Church of St. John
ofBeverleybythe pious
munificence of Athelstane; and a Fridstol, or chair of
peace, was placed in a conspicuous situation near the
altar, as an emblem of protection to the refugee. The
limitsof the sanctuary,called Legua,werecomprehended
within the circumference of a circle,of which the church
was the centre, and whose radius was about a mile. It
was defined by four crosses, which were placed on the
four principal roads leadingto the town. One was called
Molescroft Cross, and stood near Leckonfield Park ;