Adam the Leper
Encyclopedia
Adam the Leper was the leader of a fourteenth-century robber band, operating in the south west of England
in the 1330s and 1340s. Like the north Midlands
bandits Eustace Folville
and James Cotterel, he and his gang specialised in theft
and kidnap. Unlike these contemporaries, he seems to have concentrated mainly on urban centres. His men would apparently enter a town while a fair was in progress and the place would be conveniently filled with “strangers.” They would commit widespread robbery
and abduction
before setting fire to houses, and retreating as townsfolk battled the flames. Adam is also distinguished by his particularly brutal treatment of prisoners. His hostages invariably suffered “horrible mutilation” whether their ransoms were paid or not.
Adam’s most audacious crime was staged in 1347, when he and his men seized the port of Bristol
, then the third largest town in England. As Carolly Erickson writes, Adam installed himself as the “robber king” of the town, and made this “kingdom” into a playground for his men, “commandeering ships and issuing proclamations while pillaging and murdering with impunity.” This burlesque of royal power was accompanied by a direct attack on the king. Among the ships Adam ransacked were several commissioned by Edward III. One even contained jewellery belonging to Queen Philippa
. Edward despatched a group of officers to impose order, headed by Lord Thomas Berkeley
. After a protracted battle, Adam was eventually captured. He was tried at Winchester
court, but owing to intimidation by his gang, it was ultimately decided that “the authorities prefer not to pursue the matter.”
Adam appears to have died in the early 1360s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 1330s and 1340s. Like the north Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
bandits Eustace Folville
Eustace Folville
]Eustace Folville was the leader of a robber band active in Leicestershire and Derbyshire in the first half of the 14th century. With four of his younger brothers, he was responsible for two of the most notorious crimes of early 14th century England: no mean achievement, considering the same...
and James Cotterel, he and his gang specialised in theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
and kidnap. Unlike these contemporaries, he seems to have concentrated mainly on urban centres. His men would apparently enter a town while a fair was in progress and the place would be conveniently filled with “strangers.” They would commit widespread robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and abduction
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
before setting fire to houses, and retreating as townsfolk battled the flames. Adam is also distinguished by his particularly brutal treatment of prisoners. His hostages invariably suffered “horrible mutilation” whether their ransoms were paid or not.
Adam’s most audacious crime was staged in 1347, when he and his men seized the port of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, then the third largest town in England. As Carolly Erickson writes, Adam installed himself as the “robber king” of the town, and made this “kingdom” into a playground for his men, “commandeering ships and issuing proclamations while pillaging and murdering with impunity.” This burlesque of royal power was accompanied by a direct attack on the king. Among the ships Adam ransacked were several commissioned by Edward III. One even contained jewellery belonging to Queen Philippa
Philippa of Hainault
Philippa of Hainault, or, Philippe de Hainaut was the Queen consort of King Edward III of England. Edward, Duke of Guyenne, her future husband, promised in 1326 to marry her within the following two years...
. Edward despatched a group of officers to impose order, headed by Lord Thomas Berkeley
Baron Berkeley
The title Baron Berkeley originated as a feudal title and was subsequently created twice in the Peerage of England by writ. It was first granted by writ to Thomas II de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley, 6th feudal Baron Berkeley, in 1295, but the title of that creation became extinct at the death of...
. After a protracted battle, Adam was eventually captured. He was tried at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
court, but owing to intimidation by his gang, it was ultimately decided that “the authorities prefer not to pursue the matter.”
Adam appears to have died in the early 1360s.