Archive · 17 Jun 2025
700-Year-Old Murder Case Reveals Priest's Killing Details
Imagine a mystery from a long, long time ago!
A priest named John Forde was killed almost 700 years ago.
The police were looking for clues and thought a woman named Ela Fitzpayne was behind it.
She and the priest were once lovers.
Ela got in trouble with the Church, being forced to do things in public as punishment.
The research suggests she may have plotted revenge after her public shaming by ordering men to murder the priest.
They found evidence from old records that the priest was a criminal and that Fitzpayne's brother, servants, and a chaplain may have helped commit the murder.
A nearly 700-year-old murder case of priest John Forde has been reopened.
Forde was murdered in 1337 near a church in London by a group of men.
Ela Fitzpayne, a powerful woman and former lover of Forde, was suspected of planning the murder.
Fitzpayne was previously punished with a "Walk of Shame" and other restrictions by the Church for adultery.
New research reveals details from old Latin records and a 1322 royal report, adding context to the crime.
- Who
- John Forde was killed by a group of men allegedly at the order of Ela Fitzpayne.
- What
- A priest named John Forde was murdered.
- When
- 1337
- Where
- Near a church in London.
- Why
- The murder may have been a result of revenge related to Forde's betrayal and Fitzpayne's public shaming.
- Victim
- John Forde, a priest
- Year of Murder
- 1337
- Location
- Near a church in London
- Suspect
- Ela Fitzpayne
- Punishment for Fitzpayne
- Walk of Shame, donations, restrictions