Blind Joan (22) Is Executed

Joan Waste, a 22-year-old blind girl from Derby, was burned at the stake yesterday for refusing to convert to the Catholic faith.

Joan had been bought up as a Protestant and refused to give up her faith when Queen Mary came to the throne and England went back to the Catholic faith.

The execution took place at Windmill Pit in front of onlookers.

It was against the law for people to pray for her.

Joan Waste was burned to death in Derby yesterday (August 1, 1556).

The 22-year-old blind girl refused to give up her Protestant beliefs when Queen Mary came to the throne and England became a Catholic country once again.

She was well known around Derby for asking other people to read to her from the Bible.

Born blind in 1534, Joan had learned to knit by the age of 12. She could also turn ropes and was never idle and went to church each day.

After the death of her parents, Joan went to live with her twin brother Roger. She refused to change her beliefs and was brought before the Bishop to answer charges of heresy.

The jury said she was not only blind in her bodily eyes but also in the eyes of her soul and she should therefore be condemned physically and her soul should burn in hell forever.

It was declared unlawful for people to pray for her. Joan walked to the pit holding her brother's hand.

She asked other people to pray for her and said prayers herself, asking Christ to have mercy on her soul, as the flames took hold and she was burned to death.

A rope hanged her over the pit and as the rope burnt through her body dropped in the tar-fuelled flames.