700-Year-Old London Murder Mystery Solved: Revenge, Intrigue, and Medieval Justice

A 700-Year-Old London Mystery Solved: The Murder of John Ford and the Punishment of Ela Fitzpayne. In 1337 London, the murder of priest John Ford shocked the city. Seven centuries later, a criminologist from Cambridge University has solved the case. The investigation, documented in meticulously preserved Latin judicial records, reveals a complex web of relationships, revenge, and justice. The documents detail the extensive investigation, involving an unusually high number of 33 jurors, including a rosary maker and a hatter. Behind the crime was Ela Fitzpayne, an aristocrat and former lover of the murdered priest. Fitzpayne, accused in 1332 by the Archbishop of Canterbury of having relationships with multiple men, including clergy, was found guilty of ordering the priest's assassination. Her punishment was severe: fines, charitable donations, and a public penance of walking barefoot with a two-kilogram candle every autumn for seven years. The case offers a fascinating glimpse into medieval London's legal system and social dynamics. The discovery highlights the power of historical records in uncovering long-forgotten truths.