Mabel Brigge facts for kids

Mabel Brigge (died 1538) was a woman from Yorkshire, England. She faced serious punishment for a special kind of fasting called a black fast. People believed she did this fast to cause harm to the king, Henry VIII, and a powerful leader, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. In those times, wishing harm to the king was seen as a very serious crime against the country.

Mabel's Early Life

Mabel Brigge was born around the year 1506. She worked as a servant in different homes. One of her employers, William Fisher, said she often fasted. He let her go because he suspected her of taking things. Later, she worked for a person named Nelson. Nelson then sent her to work for John Lokkar at Reysome Grange in Holmpton, East Riding of Yorkshire. Mabel arrived there with her two children. Nelson had even sent a note saying he would pay for her costs.

The Special Fast

In the summer of 1537, Mabel Brigge was asked by another woman, Isobel Buck, to perform a black fast. This fast was also known as a St. Trinian's fast. A black fast meant not eating meat or drinking milk for three days. It was a way to focus deeply on prayer, often asking a specific saint for help to achieve a goal.

Mabel did this fast on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday around a special day called Lammas in 1537. She told the Lokkar family that she was doing a "charitable fast," meaning a fast for a good cause.

Isobel Buck offered Mabel some wheat and linen for doing the fast. Buck said she wanted the fast to help her get back some money she had lost. A local priest, Sir Thomas Marshall, approved the fast. He allowed Mabel to do it for Isobel, as Isobel was not strong enough to do it herself.

The Investigation

In January 1538, John Lokkar and his wife, Agnes, made a serious claim. They said Mabel was actually doing the fast to harm King Henry VIII and the Duke of Norfolk. Because of this, they made Mabel leave their home and told the authorities. Agnes Lokkar also said that Mabel had claimed to try a similar fast before, which supposedly caused a man to break his neck. Mabel later said that Lokkar had offered her money to support this story, which would have made things worse for the Bucks.

Sir Ralph Ellerker led the investigation into these claims. On March 11, 1538, everyone involved was taken to York for a trial.

The Outcome

Both Mabel Brigge and Isobel Buck were found guilty. However, Isobel Buck was later pardoned, meaning she was forgiven. Isobel's husband, William Buck, and his father were also found guilty. They had tried to interfere with the investigation by offering money.

Mabel Brigge was put to death in York on April 7, 1538, because of her actions.