Description:John Woodward of Wigginton was accused of heresy, the sin of deviating from Christian beliefs as set out by the Church. The Bishop of Lichfield’s register describes Woodward’s trial, how he repented and did public penance in Tamworth church and Lichfield Cathedral, wearing only a linen gown and carrying a faggot on his shoulder. Heresy was punishable by death (burning at the stake) for such sins as having a copy of the bible in English or questioning the Church’s great wealth.
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