Hawise Mone facts for kids

Hawise Mone lived in England during the early 1400s. She was known for being a Lollard in Norfolk. Lollards were people who held different religious beliefs than the main church of their time. Hawise faced legal action because she organized special meetings. These gatherings sometimes included William White, a well-known Lollard leader.

Who Were the Lollards?

Hawise Mone lived in Loddon, a town in Norfolk, England. She lived with her husband, who was a shoemaker. They had a house and her husband even had apprentices. Hawise was a strong follower of William White. Another Lollard, Margery Baxter, admired Hawise. Margery said that Hawise understood William White's teachings very well.

Lollards believed that both men and women could preach about their faith. They also thought that the official church did not need to be involved in marriages. Hawise Mone was an important leader in her local Lollard group. She seemed to have more influence than her husband.

Hawise's Secret Meetings

Hawise organized what were called "schools of heresy" at her home. These were secret meetings where people discussed Lollard ideas. Her daughter and three men who worked with her husband attended these meetings. Important Lollard leaders, like William White, also led some of these gatherings.

William White was a Lollard who was executed in 1428. Two other Lollards, Hugh Pye and John Waddon, were also executed with him.

Facing the Court

In April 1429, John Burrel, who worked for Hawise's husband, went to court. He faced charges of holding different religious beliefs. He appeared before a bishop and his religious advisors. John Burrel told the court about others involved, including his sister-in-law Matilda and his brother Thomas. He also mentioned his employer, Hawise Mone.

This trial was one of sixty trials recorded by a clerk named John of Exeter. The clerk's job was to write down what people said. This helped the court decide if their beliefs were against the church's rules. The clerk would list all the different beliefs so the person could later change their mind.

Hawise's Independence

Usually, Lollard women who faced charges were treated more gently. Their specific beliefs were not always listed in detail. However, Hawise Mone was different. She specifically asked for a detailed list of the beliefs she was accused of holding.

One accusation against Hawise was that she purposely broke the fast of Lent. Lent is a time when some Christians avoid certain foods. Hawise was accused of organizing a meal with pork on the day before Easter Sunday. Her husband was not home when this meal happened. This showed that Hawise was quite independent in her actions and beliefs.