Perotine Massey
Perotine Massey was the wife of a Calvinist minister who had fled their home of St Peter Port, Guernsey to live in London, possibly in fear of persecution. Perotine, her sister Guillemine Gilbert, and their mother, Katharine Cawches were brought in for questioning over a stolen silver goblet. They were found to be innocent of any involvement in the theft; some sources cite it was Perotine herself who informed the authorities about the suspicious nature of the goblet seller during the transaction between them. However during the questioning it came to light that the three women had not been attending church. After a rigorous examination all three were charged with heresy. During their trial, in early July of 1556 they claimed they were acting according to the religious policies of the late King Edward VI. Many of their neighbours were called and testified to the fact that the three women had been unwilling to comply with the new religious orders imposed by the current monarch Mary I. Th...