Arizona republican., 1914-07-05
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Great Trials
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History.
TRIAL OF
"NUN OF KENT"

When Henry VIII found an ex-
Cuse for divorcing his first wife,
Catherine Of Aragon. and marrying
Anne Boleyn. he did not find that
tranquility of mind that he had ex-
pected, for visions of his sin fire.
quently tormented his mind and he
was haunted with superstitions so
prevalent at that period. Cranmer
and Cromwell tried their best to
ease his peace of mind, and while
they succeeded to a certain extent,
they were not able entirely to expel
his fright.
At the time of the divorce there
lived at Arlington, in Kent, a peas
ant girl of the name Elizabeth Bar
ton, who was subject to an affection
of the nerves, which her neighbors
attributed to some supernatural in
fluence- This young woman was
favored in her attacks with visions,
and during these ecstasies, which
lasted for hours. she had the gift of
prophecy. Her predictions, which
were carefully recorded as she gave
utterance to them, were written in a
poetic strain, and sometimes in
thyme, which caused them to be
much circulated among the peas
antry.
Finally copies of these predictions
reached the hands of the king and
he showed them to Sir Thomas More
The Latter smiled at the incoherent
phrases, and Richard Masters, rec
tor of Arlington, was selected to ex-
anime into her state, and advised
her to enter the convent of st. Sep
ulchre, at Cambridge. Elizabeth
obeyed, and here she became known
at the Nun of Kent"
Sir Thomas More visited her here,
and after lengthy interview he
presented her with two ducats, rec
ommending himself to her prayers,
and not endeavoring TO conceal from
the bystanders his admiration for
the wonderful things he had heard.
Among other things Elizabeth said
that one night God appeared to her
in a dream, holding three swords in
His hand which he gave to His ser
want Wolsey; the first as to the le-
gate and spiritual minister of Eng
land after the pope; the second, as
to the lord high chancellor, the tenn
poral master of the kingdom after
the king the third. as to the sove-
reign judge of the trial between
Henry and Catherine.
Another prophecy was yet more
apparent, which was to the effect
that if Henry divorced Catherine he
| would die at the end of one month
and that Mary would ascend the
throne. The month had elapsed and
| Henry was still living.
Henry wished to prove that Eliza :
beth was Il demoniac. Crammer and
afterwards Cromwell were ordered to
examine the holy maid of Kent. She
was taken from her convent, brought
before her judges, and there, says
Burnet. she willingly renowned the
character of an inspired person
which she h21 been compelled to
of fraud, and attributed her esstacies
to a desire of worldly praise.
The examination took place with
out witnesses. a few monks. denounc-
ed as her accomplices were arrested
and appeared before the star cham :
Der; on being examined with the tor
ture before their eyes, they con-
fessed their guilt, and threw them
selves on the royal clemency.
1t is probable they were more culp-
able in the eyes of Henry than in
that of God. and they were taken
one Sunday. in the month of Novem-
Der, 1884, with halters around their
necks, as far as st. Paul's Cross and
there heard sermon from one of
the royal chaplGins, and wer3 after
wards reconducted to prison.
1t was generally believed that
Henry. after having exposed the
monks to the riducule of the popu-
lace, would have granted them their
lives. and thus Wanted his clemency.
Cranmer had however, discovered
high treason, and bill of attainder
was accordingly brought into the
House of Peers against Elizabeth
Burton. and six of her accomplices.
No further trial was necessary, for
the Peers had before them as evil
dence their confessions wrenched
from them by threat of the torture
On the second reading Of the bill
several of the Peers, urged by re
morse of conscience, had sufficient
courage to pray the king to allow
the accused to be examined person.
ally. The state archives have not
reserved Henrys reply but shortly
afterwards Elizabeth and her ac-
ccmplices suffered death at Tyburn.
Before her execution. the religieuse
acknowledged the justice of her SEN
tence, but that she had only been
an instrument in the hands of the
clergy, who would follow her into
eternity
Tomorrow-Trial Of Captain How