How to Get Away with Murder

On the eve of his 21st birthday in 1594, the earl of Southampton gave shelter to his two friends, Sir Charles and Sir Henry Danvers. They had killed a man in an argument and had ridden all night to escape justice. In a few days they were able to organise their escape to France and were eventually pardoned I n 1598. The Danvers brothers were wealthy men of rank and privilege and were thus able to escape the fate of lesser murderers. It is said that this event inspired William Shakespeare to create his play Romeo and Juliet, which appeared in 1596