Richard of Pudlicott

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Richard of Pudlicott (died 1305), also known as Richard de Podelicote (or Pudlicote, or Dick Puddlecote), was an English wool merchant who, down on his luck, became an infamous burglar of King Edward I's Wardrobe treasury at Westminster Abbey in April of 1303. Richard, along with high-ranked accomplices primarily consisting of the monks of Westminster Abbey, stole a large portion of the king's treasury of gems, antique gold and coins, estimated at over 100,000 pounds, or about equal to a year's tax revenue for the Kingdom of England. When priceless objects began flooding pawn shops, houses of prostitution and even fishing nets in the River Thames, the king and his ministers, away at war in Scotland, were alerted. King Edward began his investigation into the incident in June of 1303, which revealed the possible involvement of over 40 monks. [1] Many dozens of people were rounded up and jailed in a wide and indiscriminate net and eventually brought to one of the biggest trials of the High Middle Ages in England. Ultimately most of the loot was recovered and a dozen or so were hanged, including Richard, but most escaped the executioner. Richard gave a false confession that he was the only one involved, saving the clergy—his inside accomplices—from being condemned. After his hanging, his body was flayed, and legend said his skin was nailed to the door of Westminster Abbey as a warning to other would-be criminals. A 2005 study of the door, dating back to the reign of King Edward I (making it the oldest door in England) revealed the legend to be false. The fragments of hide found under the door's lone surviving iron strap turned out to be from an animal hide which once covered the door. [2] [3]

Contents

Richard's Confession

In late 1303, Richard of Pudlicott confessed to his robbery of the treasury. However, the legitimacy of this confession is disputed due to his claim that he committed the crime on his own. According to the confession, Richard, a traveling merchant of various goods, was arrested in Flanders due to an outstanding debt in Brussels, and removed of his wool by the British. Soon after, Richard sought financial compensation for this wool and took it to court in Westminster. During his time in Westminster, Richard would watch Serjeants move valuables in and out of Westminster Abbey. Poor from his prior arrest, Richard planned to steal these valuables. Beginning in August 1302, he studied the abbey, and once King Edward had left for Scotland, Richard planned to sneak into the building. Having found a latter positioned against a nearby building, he placed it alongside a chapter house to a window, which he pried open with a knife. He then entered the building and found various silver treasures, which he stole and sold. Having studied the premises of Westminster Abbey, Richard started his plan to rob the treasury. Richard began tunneling into the Abbey on December 17th of 1302 and dug until late April of 1303. He waited until it became dark on April 24th and he entered the treasury for the first time. He remained inside the treasury, rearranging the goods he wished to steal throughout the entire next day, and left late that next night. A day later, he left with all the treasures he wished to keep and buried them beneath a cemetery gate behind the Church of St Margaret. [4]

Legacy

Pudlicott is featured in a BBC TV movie titled Heist (2008) made about the events of 1303. His character was played by Kris Marshall.

Further reading

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References

  1. ↑ Hardy, Thomas Duffus (1869). Syllabus of the Documents Relating to England and Other Kingdoms Contained in the Collection known as “Rhymer’s Foedera”. London: Longman. p. 612. ISBN   9781276532198.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ↑ "Paul Doherty". Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  3. ↑ "Westminster Abbey » the Oldest Door". Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Hall, Hubert (1891). Antiquities and Curiosities of the Exchequer. England: Elliot Stock. p. 47. ISBN   9781020059094.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)


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