[MR] Wikipedia: Execution of Elizabeth Barton

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1534, the seer and Catholic nun Elizabeth Barton was hanged
for treason against Henry VIII.

Elizabeth was known as the "Nun of Kent", the "Mad Maid of Kent", and
various other titles. In 1525 at the age of 19 she began having fits and
seizures. In these events she had vivid visions of the future. When some of
her prophecies came to pass, Elizabeth developed a reputation as a seer.
She also prophesied against Lutheranism and urged her growing collection of
followers to pray to the Virginia Mary and to go on pilgrimages.

Her fame and apparent piety brought Elizabeth to the attention of the
church, and after vetting by various religious authorities she became a
Benedictine nun. She also came to the attention of Sir Thomas More,
Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII himself, who personally met
her on at least two occasions.

By 1532, her acceptance by Henry changed. Elizabth prophesied against the
King's attempts to divorce Queen Catherine of Aragon, and even predicted
his death. That was treason. Elizabeth was arrested. Under "interrogation",
she confessed to having made false prophecies. Elizabeth  was condemned
without trial under a bill of attainder. On 20 April 1534, Elizabeth
Barton, and five of the churchmen who had supported her, were hanged at
Tyburn. Her head was then struck off and piked on London Bridge, the only
woman to ever receive this dubious honor.

Elizabeth Barton is venerated as a martyr by some in the Anglican Catholic
movement within the Anglican Church.

Your can find more about Elizabeth Barton on Wikipedia at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Barton, and with more details in
the Encyclopedia Britanica (1911) at
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Barton,_Elizabeth
.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.