called the Sanctuary, because any person who came within these
limits was entitled to the privilege of sanctuary--that is, he was
not liable to be apprehended by any officers of justice.

This privilege, it is said, was first granted to the abbey by
Sebert, king of the East Saxons, increased by King Edgar, and
confirmed by Edward the Confessor, by the following charter:-

"Edward, by the grace of God, king of Englishmen; I make it to be
known to all generations of the world after me, that, by special
commandment of our holy father Pope Leo, I have renewed and honoured
the holy church of the blessed apostle St. Peter of Westminster; and
I order and establish for ever, that what person, of what condition
or estate soever he be, from whencesoever he come, or for what
offence or cause it be, either for his refuge in the said holy
place, he is assured of his life, liberty, and limbs: and over
this, I forbid, under pain of everlasting damnation, that no
minister of mine, or any of my successors, intermeddle with any of
the goods, lands, and possessions of the said persons taking the
said sanctuary: for I have taken their goods and livelode into my
special protection. And therefore I grant to every, each of them,
in as much as my terrestrial power may suffice, all manner of
freedom of joyous liberty. And whosoever presumes, or doth contrary
to this my grant, I will he lose his name, worship, dignity, and
power; and that with the great traitor Judas that betrayed our
Saviour, he be in the everlasting fire of hell. And I will and
ordain, that this my grant endure as long as there remaineth in
England either love or dread of Christian name."

This privilege of sanctuary, as far as it related to traitors,