Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About The Tudors

In 1598, playwright Ben Jonson (rival and friend of Shakespeare) faced actor Gabriel Spencer in a duel at Hoxton Fields. Spencer was killed, and Jonson landed in prison, facing execution for murder. He escaped the noose through a loophole in Tudor law known as benefit of clergy and walked free, branded but alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.