Margery Kempe was born
in Norfolk in about 1373. Married with fourteen children, Margery
became a wandering preacher. She travelled all over Europe and eventually
arrived in the Holy Land. Later, Margery who was illiterate, dictated
her life story to a scribe. The result was The
Book of Margery Kempe, the first autobiography to appear
in
the English language. Margery died in about 1438.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
(1)
Margery Kempe described in her autobiography how she was arrested
in Leicester for preaching, (c. 1430)
The Mayor
of Leicester said Margery was "a Lollard, and a false deceiver
of the people, and I shall put you in prison." Margery answered:
"I am as ready, sir, to go to prison for God's love, as you are
ready to go to church."
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