ABSTRACT
The fatal train was lit by Elizabeth Barton, a poor servant-girl afflicted with epilepsy and visions, who from about 1525 began to
attract attention by her trances and prophecies. She was taken up by Dr Ed,,~ard Backing, a monk of Canterbury, and acquired a reputation for holiness throughout the county, being named the Holy Maid or Nun of Kent. Unfortunately for himself and his protegee, Backing, who stage-managed her ravings, conceived the notion of using the Nun against the king's policy. She began to prophesy against the second marriage, alleging that the king would. not survive for six months after putting away Catherine, and she actually forced her ,vay into the royal presence to admonish Henry on his way of life. This was dangerous stuff to put about, especially as the Nun had many adherents among the simple folk of Kent (a shire notoriously volatile) and was in touch \vith the papal representatives. It is hardly to be wondered at that the government could not ignore her activities. She and the accomplices in her tragic farce \yere arrested and made to confess their impostures publicly in November 1533; in the February session of parliament that follo\ved they were attainted; and in April the deluded woman was executed together ,","ith four of the men who had thought to use her for political ends. One's pity must be reserved for Elizabeth Barton; Dr Bocking and friends deserved their fate, and the government cannot be blamed for taking action against such treasonable talk.
