Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (11)Beaulieu
sanctuary
criminal
Beaulieu from its pleasant Situation. It was famous before the Dissolution, for its being an inviolable Sanctuary, and safe Refuge for all Criminals; for in those superstitious Ages it was though a most unpardonable Sin to take from thence the most bloody Murderers or Traitors, that fled thither for Protection: But in this our Ancestors outdid the true Platform of such Temples of Mercy, as they called them, the Jewish Cities of Refuge, and imitated the Roman Asyla; for Moses commanded that such as were guilty of willful Murder should be taken from the Altars and put to Death, and only those have the Benefit of them, who had slain a Person unwillingly. Exod. XXI. 13.
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