Her execution on this day 487 years ago is one worth discussion. Just what did the "Nun of Kent" do to inspire such anger in the king?
In truth, she had fallen ill around that time, and as a result claimed to have been given the gift of divine sight. She was eighteen, working for an Aldington farmer named Thomas Cobb, when this occurred. All of a sudden, she was able to predict events - such as the death of an infant in the household. She began instructing those around her to pray for the Virgin Mary's intercession, and to make holy pilgrimages. Over a short period of time, her name became recognizable as her visions and divine instruction spread to more and more people. Holy men, such as Archbishop William Warham and Bishop John Fisher, attested to her piety and devotion to her Catholic faith. In short, she became a woman revered for her deeply religious convictions, and her close, gifted relationship with the Divine. Soon, she was received into the Benedictine St. Sepulchre's Priory in Canterbury, and became known as the "Nun of Kent".
She took on a rather public life after this - giving miraculous healings to those in need, prophesying in the streets, and spreading messages from God to everyone who clambered to listen to her. In 1527 (just two years after her first recorded vision), she had gained such popularity that a book was published about her many miracles and prophesies, titled A Marueilous Woorke of Late Done at Court of Streete in Kent.
Her work even gained her the notice of religious men at the center of King Henry VIII's court - and by 1528, Elizabeth was holding meetings with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was apparently impressed by her. Soon after, she met with the king himself, as well as Thomas More. Her prophesies at this time supported the king very much - warning against heretics (Lutherans). Remember, this is still a few years before Henry even considered breaking with Rome.
Due to her popularity, however, she was not instantly arrested. Thomas More, who had questioned the validity and accuracy of her "sight" before, perhaps managed to convince the king that she was very likely incorrect anyway, and maybe didn't pose a real threat to him. Instead of actively convicting her, agents of the king spread word around London that the "Mad Maid of Kent" was mentally disturbed, and further undermined her credibility by alleging that she engaged in sexual activity with priests.
A year later, though, the fear that Elizabeth's prophesies might encourage Catholic dissidents to rise against the king and his new Queen Anne, caused the Crown to take matters further. Her reputation had been sufficiently smeared so as not to inspire too much public opposition when she was arrested in 1533. The historical record tells us that Elizabeth then confessed to falsifying her many divine visions... however, it's important to note that these records come from Thomas Cromwell - and it was certainly in his best interest (as Henry's right-hand man) to record any "confessions" exactly as he and the king would like them. We can't know for certain if she truly recanted or confessed to anything. Friars were brought in to testify against her, and she was ultimately condemned by an Act of Attainder passed by Parliament, which allowed for punishment without a proper trial.
Convicted of treason against His Majesty with no hope of escape, Elizabeth was taken to Tyburn on 20 April 1534, and there hanged along with five of her chief supporters, who were priests, friars, and monks: Edward Bocking, John Dering, Henry Gold, Hugh Rich, and Richard Risby.
In a very interesting twist, Elizabeth's head was removed from her body and set upon a pike on London Bridge - the usual warning against traitors. She was the first woman at the time, and indeed, the ONLY woman in history to have had her severed head displayed on London Bridge. (Not exactly a club you want to join, but she did.)
The rest of her body was buried at Greyfriars Church in Newgate.