Elizabeth Lutton facts for kids

Elizabeth Lutton (born 1498 – died before 1553) was an English nun from the Benedictine order. She is known for a series of unusual events that happened in her life. These included a situation that was against the rules for nuns, being taken away, and getting married. Her story led to a big legal case in England during the 1500s.

Elizabeth Lutton: A Nun's Story

Early Life and Becoming a Nun

Elizabeth Lutton was born around 1498. Her family, the Luttons, owned land in a place called Knapton. When Elizabeth was about 14 years old, in 1512, she became a Benedictine nun. She joined Yedingham Priory in North Yorkshire. Later, Elizabeth said that she had become a nun even though she didn't want to.

An Unexpected Situation

In 1526, a new leader, Agnes Brayerdricke, took charge of Yedingham Priory. Soon after, she found out that Elizabeth Lutton was expecting a child. This was not allowed for nuns. Elizabeth was kept separate from the other nuns until the child was born. After the birth, she was allowed to return to her place among the nuns.

A Forced Marriage

A local landowner named Robert Constable visited Yedingham Priory. He learned about Elizabeth Lutton and encouraged a man named Thomas Scaseby to take her away in 1531. Scaseby then married Elizabeth. This was a very serious action because Elizabeth was still a nun and had taken vows.

Robert Constable had a reason for getting involved. Elizabeth was a potential heiress, meaning she might inherit valuable land from her grandfather. Constable thought that if Elizabeth married, it would help him in his own arguments over land. Elizabeth, however, argued that she had been forced to become a nun. She believed this meant she was free to marry and inherit her family's lands. The head of the priory supported Elizabeth, but the other nuns did not.

The Court's Decision

Elizabeth's uncle took the disagreement to a special court called the Star Chamber. He had inherited Elizabeth's grandfather's lands. But Constable had taken them, saying Elizabeth's marriage made it legal.

In 1532, a judge from York came to talk to everyone involved. The judge decided that Elizabeth's marriage was "against the laws of God and Holy Church." The court ruled that the marriage was not valid. Elizabeth Lutton then returned to being a nun. Her uncle also got his lands back.

Robert Constable was later executed in 1537 for other serious actions. Yedingham Priory itself was closed down in 1539. The nuns who lived there, about eight or nine of them, were given money to live on. Elizabeth Sutton, who is believed to be Elizabeth Lutton, was one of these nuns. A record from 1553 shows which nuns were still getting money, and Elizabeth was not on that list.