Paying for your own imprisonment

On 31 January 1438 a charge made by French nobles, to the English, for the upkeep of an English Knight who they held captive. This was a relatively common practice during the Hundred Years War, with Prisoners of War being held as assets by both sides: and with expectations on both sides that upkeep would be paid for by the imprisoned man, or his kin. 

The value of Prisoners in the Hundred Years War

In normal circumstances it was in everybody’s interests to try and avoid any man of rank from being killed, or executed, in or after a battle in the Hundred Years War. The codes of chivalry frowned upon it. Such killing was likely to result in revenge attacks. Perhaps most pertinent in the heat of the moment though was the financial value of any man of rank.

Noble prisoners as a source of income

It was customary to take into custody any of the ranking soldiers. The French saw a King captured and imprisoned by the English. The English saw men such as William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, imprisoned for a period. The reasoning was straightforward. The highest ranked men could be used as bargaining chips in negotiations. So too could they and men ranked as knights, or even yeomen, be the source of income.

Prisoners of War could be ransomed. This saw huge amounts of money exchanged for the release of the most prominent prisoners of the Hundred Years War: King John II of France, La Hire and Bertrand du Guesclin being 3 notable examples.

‘Freedom’ of Prisoners

The prisoners were often allowed a reasonable amount of freedom. Escape was not considered honourable, so rarely took place. Indeed, most men who were held were maintained at a level based on their rank and normal lifestyles. This came at a cost. And it was the prisoner who was responsible for paying that cost.

The example of 31 January 1438 is a French request for the equivalent of £1 a month to provide for the custody of the Englishman Thomas Cusack. This is towards the lower end of the scale. In his book ‘Prisoners of War in the Hundred Years War: Ransom Culture in the Late Middle Ages’ Rémy Ambuhl provides a range of examples of the charges made for maintaining men during their imprisonment[i].

Fees for being imprisoned

These include £144 per annum for the Captain of Meuse’s time in captivity down to figures such as those charged for Cusack’s time in French custody. Paying for your own provisions whilst imprisoned was the norm at this time. Inmates at London prisons had fees starting at 2 shillings a week, rising based on rank and dependant upon which gaol they were held in. Upon release the freed man would also need to pay for his safe conduct, if required, and any transport.

[i] Ambuhl, R. Prisoners of War in the Hundred Years War. Ransom Culture in the Late Middle Ages. Page 138 [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WVYgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA124&dq=31+January+Hundred+Years+War&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh0YiBmr_wAhUWi1wKHeQkCdgQ6AEwBHoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q&f=false]

Featured Image

Prisoner of War in the Hundred Years War: BNF Français 20029 fol. 13v. Via Medievalists.net