Elizabeth Barton

Friar John Laurence of the Observant Friars of Greenwich gave evidence against Barton and against fellow Observants, Friars Hugh Rich and Richard Risby. Laurence then requested to be named to one of the posts left vacant by their imprisonment. She was condemned by a bill of attainder (25 Hen. 8. c. 12); an act of Parliament authorizing punishment without trial.

Barton was attainted for treason by act of Parliament, on the basis that she had maliciously opposed Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and had prophesied that the king would lose his kingdom. Although Barton claimed God had revealed to her that he no longer recognized Henry VIII's monarchy, the act of attainder argued that Barton was at the centre of a conspiracy against the King. Barton was viewed as a false prophet who was encouraged to profess fake revelations to persuade others to go against the monarchy.

On 20 April 1534 Elizabeth Barton was hanged at Tyburn for treason. She was 28 years old. Five of her chief supporters were executed alongside her:

*Edward Bocking, Benedictine monk of Christ Church, Canterbury *John Dering, Benedictine monk *Henry Gold, priest *Hugh Rich, Franciscan friar *Richard Risby, Franciscan friar

Barton was buried at Greyfriars Church in Newgate, but her head was put on a spike on London Bridge. She is the only woman in history to receive that dishonour. Provided by Wikipedia