Elizabeth Lutton

Elizabeth Lutton or Elizabeth Sutton or "Mrs Thomas Scaseby" (1498–before 1553) was an English Benedictine nun (and potential heiress) who became pregnant. She was abducted and married. The marriage was "contrary to the laws of God", and she was returned to Yedingham Priory.

Life Lutton was born about 1498. Her father was Stephen Lutton, and her grandfather, William Lutton, owned land in Knapton. About 1512, when she was fourteen years old, she became a Benedictine nun at Yedingham Priory in North Yorkshire. She later complained that she had become a nun contrary to her wishes.

In 1526 Agnes Brayerdricke succeeded Dame Elizabeth White as head of Yedingham Priory and Brayerdricke soon discovered that Elizabeth Lutton was pregnant. Brayerdricke had her separated from the other nuns until the child was born. Lutton was then allowed to resume her place.

Result Lutton's uncle took the resulting dispute to the Star Chamber. He had inherited Lutton's grandfather's lands, and Constable had seized them, citing Lutton's marriage. The priory was suppressed in August 1539, and the eight or nine nuns were pensioned off. One of these was Elizabeth Sutton, and this is presumed to be Lutton who received 26 shillings and eight pence. A later record in February 1553 listed the nuns who were still receiving a pension, but she was not included in that list.