Adam Moleyns was the Bishop of Chichester and Lord Privy Seal he rose to prominence under the Beaufort family at the time when Henry VI was a minor. He was murdered on the 9th January in 1450, the very day that he had arrived in the Hampshire town of Portsmouth.
Moleyns was dragged from what is now the Garrison Church onto the beach where the square tower now stands and killed.
There are those who like to link Moleyns murder to Richard, Duke of York, suggesting that he paid local sailors to kill him because of his part in the loss of the French territories of Maine and Anjou. These lands formed part of the marriage contract of Henry VI to Margaret of Anjou that had been arranged by William de la Pole, the Duke of Suffolk. Moleyns, it is said, made some attempt to save his life by accusing William de la Pole of being solely responsible for their loss. Pole was forced to deny the ensuing rumours in Parliament.
How convenient for those who hated the Duke of York to use these rumours to their advantage? Indeed, some five months later, William de la Pole was found murdered on a beach near Dover!
How convenient for those who hated the Duke of York to use these rumours to their advantage? Indeed, some five months later, William de la Pole was found murdered on a beach near Dover!
So why was Molyens killed?
What is more likely is that he was killed by sailors, not on the order of the Duke of York, but when they discovered that he, as Keeper of the Privy Seal, was in town to make reduced payments to the sailors due to their behaviour during church services.
Following this incident, inhabitants of Portsmouth were excommunicated for fifty years.
What is more likely is that he was killed by sailors, not on the order of the Duke of York, but when they discovered that he, as Keeper of the Privy Seal, was in town to make reduced payments to the sailors due to their behaviour during church services.
Following this incident, inhabitants of Portsmouth were excommunicated for fifty years.
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