[MR] Wikipedia: "Mad Maid of Kent"

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today marks the execution of English Cardinal John Fisher for treason
against Henry VIII. Fisher opposed Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon
and his later naked grabs of power over the Church:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fisher .

Reading about Fisher led me to an interesting sidelight of Henry's war
against the Church--Elizabeth Barton, known variously as the "Nun of Kent",
the "Holy Maid of Kent", or the "Mad Maid of Kent" by her detractors.

Barton was a domestic servant who began having prophetic visions during an
illness in 1525. When she began to develop a following, Church authorities
popped her into a Benedictine house. Her early visions mainly dealt with
pilgrimage and prayers to the Virgin Mary. So far, so good, and all quite
orthodox as far as the Church and Henry were concerned.

As Henry became more desperate for a male heir and planned to divorce Queen
Catherine in favor of Ann Boleyn, Barton began to make prophesies against
him, and even predicted the king's death and afterlife in Hell. Barton had
become a very dangerous person indeed. In 1533 she was arrested by Cromwell
and forced to confess that she had fabricated her visions. Barton was
attained by Parliament (convicted by a bill and condemned without trial),
and was hanged and beheaded on 20 April 1534. Her head was piked on London
Bridge, the only woman ever to have been given this dubious honor. A number
of churchmen who had supported Barton were also executed with her.

John Fisher was also attained as a Barton supporter, but was given a
reprieve. His quarrel with Henry went far deeper than the "Mad Maid of
Kent", and eventually he too went to the block for treason.

Elizabeth Barton is venerated in some Anglican Catholic churches. Fisher
was eventually canonized as a saint.

More about Elizabeth Barton can be found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Barton and
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/elizabeth-barton-the-nun-of-kent/ .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆