Margery Baxter

Margery Baxter (fl. 1429) was an outspoken Lollard from Martham, England. She was brought to trial twice and flogged at church.

Life Baxter's early life is unknown. She lived in Martham in Norfolk where her husband William Baxter was a wright. Her husband had already been convicted of heresy before she came to trial. He had denounced corruption in the Catholic Church, which at the time held great power, and had sought to bring about reform. Wycliffe and the Lollards translated the Bible into English, and aimed to cleanse religion of corruption and excessive wealth, and to bring all Christians in to more direct contact with God. The Lollards were precursors of the Protestants in England, who flourished in following centuries. Wycliffite ideas were extremely controversial and politically dangerous, because the state and church were closely knit together.

Teachings

Influenced by John Wycliffe and William White, Baxter taught controversial Lollard doctrines. She was very critical of regimented church life and spoke out against multiple church practices from Sunday worship traditions to infant baptism and the image of the crucifix. As were many Lollards, Baxter was tried for heresy in October 1428

Accusations and trial

Johanna Clifland testified against her, claiming that Baxter had expressed a variety of unorthodox sentiments, speaking out against the traditions of sanctioned marriage, fasting for religious days, and the swearing of religious oaths. Echoing foundational Lollard beliefs, Baxter also opposed the wealth of Catholic clergymen

Six months after Johanna Clifland made her accusations, Margery Baxter confessed in October 1428, and she was sentenced to four Sunday floggings at her parish church. two at the local marketplace and then two recants at the cathedral. She had admitted that she had smuggled and hidden White's teachings at her home and that she believed six heresies: only people who keep God's commandments are Christian; confessions to God are not required (one can rely on God's mercy); pilgrimages are generally not required; killing of any type including capital punishment are wrong; any good person is a priest; oaths are only required in a court.

She was brought to trial again in April 1429 and although the charges were serious, she believed she would escape death because she was pregnant. This was not certain, but she was not sentenced to death, and this may be because she implicated another Lollard, John Pyry from Martham.