Sanctuary

A place privileged for the safeguard of offenders' lives, being founded upon the law of mercy, and the great reverence and devotion which the prince bears to the place whereunto he grants such privilege. Sanctuaries were first granted by King Lucius to our churclies and their precincts; and, among all other nations, our ancient kings of England seem to have attributed most to those sanctuaries, permitting them to slielter such as had committed both felonies and treasons, so as within forty days they acknowledged their fault, and submitted themselves to banishment; during which space, if any layman expelled them, he was excommunicated; and if a clerk, he was made irregular. The immunity of these privileged places was very much abridged by the Stat. 27 Hen.