The Medieval Murder Maps project at Cambridge University’s Institute of Criminology has shed light on a unique case from 14th century England involving a revenge killing orchestrated by noblewoman Ela Fitzpayne. The project, led by Professor Manuel Eisner, catalogs unnatural deaths from that era.
The murder in question involves John Forde, who was slain in 1337 near St Paul’s Cathedral. Records indicate that Forde's death was a calculated act of vengeance initiated by Ela Fitzpayne. The motive traces back to an accusation made by the Archbishop of Canterbury against Fitzpayne for her alleged adultery with Forde and others. This accusation led to her public humiliation as penance.
Professor Eisner discovered a letter written five years before the murder where the Archbishop accused Ela Fitzpayne of multiple adulterous acts and demanded she perform public penance at Salisbury Cathedral. Around this time, records also show that Ela conspired with her husband and John Forde to raid a church priory.
While connections between these events remain unclear, it appears that Forde transitioned from being part of Ela’s crime gang to betraying her, eventually becoming her murder victim. His killers included Ela’s brother and two former servants.
Eisner comments on the brazen nature of the murder: “We are looking at a murder commissioned by a leading figure of the English aristocracy. It is planned and cold-blooded.” He suggests it was meant as a demonstration of power over clergy authority.
The coroner's report indicates that Forde was ambushed after vespers on May 3rd, 1337. A jury consisting of 33 men identified all assassins but feigned ignorance regarding their whereabouts. Only one perpetrator was eventually charged five years later.
Westcheap, where the crime occurred, was known as London’s medieval homicide hotspot due to its bustling trade environment which often escalated into violence.
Ela Fitzpayne had previously been indicted for raiding a priory alongside her husband and John Forde during heightened tensions between France and England under King Edward III's reign.
Despite evidence suggesting collusion between Fitzpayne and Forde in past crimes, it seems likely he betrayed her by confessing their affair to church authorities – leading to his eventual assassination as retribution for his perceived disloyalty.
Eisner remarks on the enduring impact of public humiliation: “Feeling humiliated motivates wars... here it's probably a motivation for assassination.”
Ela Fitzpayne outlived both Robert Fitzpayne (her husband) and other key figures involved without facing repercussions for her actions – reflecting class-based justice norms prevalent then.
Concluding his findings about this formidable historical figure, Eisner states: “A woman in 14th century England who raided priories... planned the assassination... Ela Fitzpayne appears to have been many things including an extraordinary person.”