William Sawtrey (died March 1401) was an English priest and follower of John Wycliffe. He was the first Lollard martyr. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Events The Lollards, a religious sect taught by John Wycliffe, were persecuted for their beliefs. ... The English are an ethnic group originating in the lowlands of Great Britain and are descendent primarily from the Anglo-Saxons, the Celts with minor influences from the Scandanavians and other groups. ... John Wycliffe (also Wyclif, Wycliff, or Wickliffe) (c. ... Lollardy or Lollardry was the political and religious movement of the Lollards in late 14th century and early 15th century England. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for their convictions or religious faith, such as during the persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire. ...

Sawtrey was born in Bishop's Lynn, Norfolk, and was rector of St Margaret's in the town. Like many others at the time he was receptive to the message of reformation of the church and its practices, which were seen as obscuring the message of Christianity. He said, "Instead of adoring the cross on which Christ suffered, I adore Christ who suffered on it." Kings Lynn is a town and port in the English county of Norfolk. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Catholicism. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ...

In 1399 the Bishop of Norwich questioned Sawtrey over his beliefs and consequently had him arrested and imprisoned on charges of heresy. After a time he recanted his beliefs and was released, though he felt as if he had betrayed Christ. Events September 30 - Accession of Henry IV of England October 13 - Coronation of Henry IV of England November 1 - Accession of John VI, Duke of Brittany Births William Canynge, English merchant (approximate date; died 1474) Zara Yaqob, Emperor of Ethiopia (died 1468) Deaths January 4 - Nicolau Aymerich, Catalan theologian and... Arms of the Bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. ...

Later he moved to London and preached Lollardism at St Osyth's, eventually attracting the attention of church authorities. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... Lollardy or Lollardry was the political and religious movement of the Lollards in late 14th century and early 15th century England. ...

Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, summoned Sawtrey to appear at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 1401-02-12 to be questioned once again over his beliefs. His views on a number of issues (including transubstantiation and adoration of the cross) were found to be contrary to the position of the church, and he was indicted on eight counts of heresy. Arundel tried to persuade him to changes his views, but Sawtrey defended his position with scripture and refused to be swayed. Thomas Arundel (1353-1414) was Archbishop of Canterbury in 1397 and from 1399 until his death, an outspoken opponent of the Lollards. ... Arms of the see of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior clergyman of the established Church of England and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... St Pauls Cathedral from the south St Pauls Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. ... Events The Lollards, a religious sect taught by John Wycliffe, were persecuted for their beliefs. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Transubstantiation (from Latin transsubstantiatio) is the change of the substance of bread and wine into that of the body and blood of Christ, the change that according to the belief of the Roman Catholic Church occurs in the Eucharist. ... Many religions and spiritual movements hold certain written texts (or series of spoken legends not traditionally written down) to be sacred. ...

On 1401-02-26, Sawtrey was condemned as a relapsed heretic, the punishment was death by burning. He was degraded (stripped) of his priesthood and given over for exceution. He appealed to the King and Parliament but both appeals were denied. Events The Lollards, a religious sect taught by John Wycliffe, were persecuted for their beliefs. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in orange and red—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, and the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ...

In March he was burnt at the stake before a crowd at Smithfield, London. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Smithfield meat market from the south Smithfield is an area in the north-west part of the City of London (which is itself the historic core of a much larger London). ...