Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/119

Rh bishop of Rochester, and the queen's adherents throughout the kingdom, whose boldness and zeal incensed the king, who had hitherto despised her menaces, to order that, in November 1533, Elizabeth her accomplices should be brought to the Star-chamber.

Upon their examination, they all, without any rack or torture, confessed the whole to be a contrivance and imposture, and were first sentenced to stand at St. Paul's cross, on a scaffold built for the purpose, all sermon time; and afterwards the king's officers were to give every one of them their bill of confession, to be openly and publicly read by each, before the people, which was done the Sunday after; the bishop of Bangor preaching, and giving an account of their treasonable practices. From thence they were carried to the Tower, where they lay till the meeting of the parliament, during which time some of their accomplices sent messages to the nun, to encourage her to deny all she had said.

The thing being considered in parliament, it was judged a conspiracy against the king's life and crown. Elizabeth, Masters, Bocking, Deering, Bisby and Gold, were attainted of high treason; and Fisher, bishop of Rochester, and some others, among whom was Sir Thomas More, who had simply had the curiosity to go and see her, of misprision of treason, to forfeit their goods and chattels to the king, and be imprisoned during his pleasure. But all others, who had been corrupted in their allegiance by these impostors, were, at the intercession of the new queen, pardoned.

On the 21st of April, 1534, Elizabeth and her accomplices were drawn to Tyburn, where she made a speech, acknowledged her crime, and the justice of her