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All About History Books
The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
In 1506 Elizabeth "Holy Maid of Kent" Barton was born in Aldington, Kent.
Around March 1525, around Easter, Elizabeth "Holy Maid of Kent" Barton (age 19), while working as a domestic servant in the household of Thomas Cobb, a farmer of Aldington, Barton suffered from a severe illness and claimed to have received divine revelations that predicted events, such as the death of a child living in her household or, more frequently, pleas for people to remain in the Catholic Church.
In 1528 Elizabeth "Holy Maid of Kent" Barton (age 22) held a private meeting with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (age 54) and with King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 36) thereafter. She also subsequently met with Thomas More (age 49). Thereafter, with the advent of Henry's having his marriage annulled and his supporting religious reform Barton prophesised that if Henry remarried, he would die within a few months.
Around 1533 Archbishop William Warham requested Edward Bocking access the credibility of Elizabeth "Holy Maid of Kent" Barton (age 27) and her alleged divine revelations.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 23rd November 1533. This yeare, on St. Clements day, the 23rd of November, beinge Sunday, the Holie Maide of Kent (age 27) and two monckes, two freeres observants, a priest, and two laymen,e were brought from the Tower of London to Paules Crosse [Map], and there stood on a skaffolde all the sermon tyme, where was declared by him that preached the abuse of a miracle done on the saide Holye Mayde at our Ladie of Courte Upstreet,f in Kent, by the craft of the sayde monckes, freeres, and priest.
Note e. The abettors of Elizabeth Barton, called the Holy Maid of Kent, were Richard Master, priest, parson of Aldington, co. Kent, Edward Bockyng, D.D. monk of Canterbury, Richard Deryng, also monk of Canterbury, Edward Thwaites, gentleman, Thomas Lanrence, registrar to the Archdeacon of Canterbnzy, Henry Gold, BJ). parson of Aldermary (Alderbniy?), Hugh Biche, friar obserrant, Richarde Bisby, and Thomas Gold, gentlemen.
Note f. Coort-at-Street, a hamlet in the parish of Lympne.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 20th April 1534. This yeare, the 20th day of Aprill, beinge Mundaye, 1534, the Holie Maide of Kent (age 28), beinge a nun of Canterburie,b two munckes of Canterburie of Christes Churche, one of them called Doctor Bockinge, two gray freeres observantes, and a priest, were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiburn, and there hanged,c and after cutt downe and their heades smitten of, and two of their heades were sett on London Bridge, and the other fower at diverse gates of the cittie.
Note b. In the priory of St Sepulchre.
Note c. The persons executed were Elizabeth Barton, Richard Master, parson of Aldington, Dr. Bocking, Richard Dering, Henry Gold, a London minister, and Richard Risby.
On 20th April 1534 Elizabeth "Holy Maid of Kent" Barton (age 28) was hanged for treason at Tyburn [Map]. Five of her supporters were hanged 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
Treason of Elizabeth Barton 1533 Act 25 Hen c12. Statutes made at Westminster, Anno 25 Hen VIII. and Anno Dom 1533. Elizabeth Barton of Kent, and others attainted of High Treason, for that under Colour of Hypocrisy, Revelations, and false Miracles practised by the said Elizabeth, they conspired to impugn and slander the Divorce between the King and Queen, his first Wife, the last Marriage between him and Queen Anne, his second Wife, to destroy the King, and to deprive him of his Crown.