that God maye spewe vs out of hys mouthe as vnsauerye morsels Apoc. 3. Saynge vnto vs as to the folysh vyrgynes Verelye I knowe yow not Mathei 25. Anne Askewe Then the Byshopp sayd I shuld be breÌ„te I answered that I had serched all the scriptures yet coulde I neuer fynde there that eyther Christ or hys Apostles put anye creature to deathe Well well sayd I God wyl laughe your threttenynges to scorne Psal. 2. Then was I coÌ„maunded to stande a syde Iohan Bale Amonge other sygnes that the holye scripture geueth vs to knowe an Antichrist by it sheweth that he shall be an aduersarye 2. Thes. 2. An vnsacyable dogge Esa. 56. A persuâ—nge enemy â–ª psa 4. An enemye in the sanctuarye Psal 73 A rauenynge wolfe Mat. 7. Luce 10. Ioan 10. Actâ— 20. And a most cruell murtherer Dani. 11. IoaÌ„ 16. Apoc. 13. Vnto soche sayth S. IohaÌ„ is it geueÌ„ to vexe meÌ„ with heate of fyre Apo. 16. The wyckednesse of prestes sayth Hiere shedeth innoceÌ„tes bleudâ— Yea saye they ye must â—e brent ye must dwell amonge the gentyles Trenâ— 4. Or be committed to pryson of the worldlye powers so put vnto deathe by them We maruele not therfor though these partes be played of proude Byshoppes CoÌ„syderynge the holye Ghost must be fouÌ„de true in hys fore iudgemeÌ„tes that some ther must be to do the feates But trulye ded thys woman coÌ„clude with the prophecye of Dauid Psalmer That God whych dwelleth in heauen shall haue their tyrannye in derysyon and bringe all their wycked counsels to naught in the clere openynge of hys worde haue they neuer so manye paynted colours of false ryght wysnesse Anne Askewe Then came mastre Pagett to me with manye gloryouse wordes and desyred me to speake my mynde to hym I myght he sayd denye it agayne if nede wâ—re I sayd that I wolde not denye the truthe He asked me how I coulde auoyde the verye wordes of Christ. Take care Thys is my bodye whych shall be broken for yow I answered that Christes meanynge was there as in these other places of the scripture I am the dore Ioan â–ª 10. I am the vyne Ioan. 15. Beholde the lambe of God Ioan. 1. The rocke stone was Christ. 1 Cor. 10. and soch other lyke Ye maye not here sayd I take Christ for the materyall thynge that he is sygnyfyed by For than ye wyll make hym a verye dore a vyne a lambe and a stone cleane coÌ„trarye to the holye Ghostes meanynge All these in dede do sygnyfye Christ lyke as the breade doth hys bodye in that place And though he ded saye there Take eate thys in remeÌ„braunce of me Yet ded he not byd them hange vp that breade in a boye and make it a God or bowe to it Iohan Bale Moche a do is here made and manye subtyle wayes are sought out to brynge thys woman into their corrupted and false beleue that the corruptyble creature made with handes myght stande in place of the eternall creator or maker God and man for the prestes aduauntage But all is in vayne In no case wolde he so accept it Nothyng lesse mynded Christ than to dwell in the breade or to become a feadynge for the bodye whan he sayd Take eate Thys is my bodye For a contrarye doctryne he taught hys dyscyples the yeare afore hys last supper as we haue in the vi chaptre of Iohan Where as he declareth hys flesh to be a spirytuall meate hys bloude a spirytuall drynke and both theÌ„ to be receyued in faythe the breade and the wyne remaynynge as sygnes of hys euer lastynge couenaunt Reason is it that he rather be iudged the receyuer whych lyueth in that refeccyon than he whych lyueth not therby Whych is the sowle and not the bodye What neaded Christ to haue geuen to those bodyes a newe body lye feadynge whych were suffycyentlye fed afore with the passe ouer lambe If he had not ment therin some other maner of thynge But he suffycyeÌ„tlye ynough declareth hys owne meanynge Luce 22. Where he coÌ„maundeth vs to do it in hys remeÌ„braunce and not to make hym agayne by blowynge vpon the breade Thys sacramentall eatynge and drynkynge in hys remeÌ„braunce S. Paule more largely declareth 1 Cor 11. So oft sayth he as ye shall eate of that breade and drynke of that cuppe ye shall shewe the lordes deathe tyll he come If ye ernestlye marke that lattre clause tyll he come ye shall wele perceyue that hys bodylye preseÌ„ce in the breade is vtterlye denyed there More ouer in the afore sayd xxij chaptre of Luke bycause we shuld not be to scrupulâ—se Christ sheweth what that wyne breade of hys supper were yea as he left theÌ„ there eueÌ„ iÌ„ these wordes I saye vnto yow sayth he that hens forth I shall not drynke of thys frute of the vyne or eate of thys frute of wheate tyll the kyngedome of God be come or tyll I drynke it newe with yow in my fathers kyngedome Math 26. Marci 14. Here calleth it he the iuse of the grape or frute of the vyne and not the bloude yssuynge from hys bodye Yet is that cuppe as S. Paule sayth the partakynge of Christes bloude and the breade that we breake there the partakynge of Christes bodye 1. Corint 10. But that is in faythe and sprete as aforâ—â—â—han Anne Askewe Then he compared it vnto the kynge and sayd that the more hys magestees honour is set forth the more commendable it is Then sayd I that it was an abhomynable shame vnto hym to make no better of the eternall worde of God than of hys slenderlye conceyued fantasye A farre other meanynge requyreth God therin than mannys ydell wytte can deuyse whose doctryne is but lyes without hys heauenlye veryte Then he asked me if I wolde commen with some wyser man That offer I sayd I wolde not refuse Then he tolde the counsell And so weÌ„t I to my laydes agayne Iohan Bale 〈…〉 first Patrone S. Frances as we fynde in the hystorye of hys ydolatrouse feast and also in the boke of conformytees of FraÌ„ces to Christ written by an Italysh fryre called Bartholomeus Pisanus In Frances they saye is expressed the full sygnifycacyon of Christ by reason of hys woundes And Pagett here compareth Christes presence in the sacrament to the kynges presence I wote not where And as great pleasure I thynke he doth the kynge therin as though he threwe dust in hys face or salte in hys eyes but that soch flatterynge Gnatoes must do their feates though they be most blasphemouse Neyther heade norÌ„tayle hath thys wytlesse comparyson of hys to make good hys enterpryse with thys woman And moch doubt it is whether he maketh here Christ a shaddowe to the kynge or the kynge a shaddowe to Christ. But he shulde seme rather to take Christ for the shaddowe O gracelesse papystes whan wyll ye be
Wynstane of Euesham whych are the best of the Englysh martyrs to the touche stone of Gods worde ye shall fynhe their martyrdomes and causes full vnlyke to theirs whom the Byshoppes murther now apace in Englande In all these Englysh martyrs reherced here afore ye shall fynde verye fewe coloures or yet tokens that Christ sayd hys martyrs shuld be knowne by vnlesse ye take pylgrymages poÌ„pes rellyckes women battels huÌ„tynges ydelnesse moÌ„keryes moneye treasure worldlye kyngedomes conteÌ„pt of marryage superstycyoÌ„s soch other vanytees for theÌ„ And than wyll I saye not lye in it that ye are moch better ouerseane thaÌ„ lerned in the scriptures of God as your olde blynde blâ—dderynge predecessours hath bene Ye wyll axe me here if I reckeÌ„ EnglaÌ„de thaÌ„ all barreÌ„ of ChristeÌ„ martyrs Naye marry do I not For I knowe it hath had good store seÌ„s the popes faythe came first into Englande to the Gospels obscuracyoÌ„ though their names be not knowne to all meÌ„ Great tyraÌ„nye was shewed by the heythnysh emprours kynges at the first preachynge of theÌ„ Gospell in the prymatyue churche of the Brytaynes by the cruell callynge on of the pagane prestes But nothynge lyke to that hath bene shewed seÌ„s in the Englysh churche by the spirytuall tyranÌ„t of Rome hys mytred termagauÌ„tes at the prouocacyoÌ„ of ther oyled swylbolles blynd Balaamytes For they most cruellye breÌ„t those innoceÌ„tes whych ded but only reade the testameÌ„t of God in their mother tunge do not yet repent them of that myschefe but contynewe therin If ye marke wele these ij examynacyons of Anne Askewe ye shall fynde in her and in her other â—ij companyons besydes other whoÌ„ the Byshoppes in our tyme and afore hath brent the expresse tokens that Christ sealeth hys martyrs with They apered as shepe amonge wolues They were throwne in stronge preson They were brought forth into counsels and synagoges Their answers were out of Gods sprete as her in apereth and not out of their owne They were reuyled mocked stocked racked execrated condempned and murthered as is sayd afore By a spirytualte also as he promysed they shuld be Math. 23. and 24 Yea those spirytuall tyrauntes besydes their mortall malyce vpon the innocent bodyes haue most blasphemouslye vttered in their spyghtfull sermons and writynges that their sowles are dampned as is to be seaâ—e in the bokes of wynchestre and Peryn But lete them be ware least they dampne not their owne wretched sowles For full sure we are by Christes stronge promes Luce 12. That their sowles they can not harme with all their popes blacke câ—rses Full swetelye rese they now in the peace of God where their slaunderouse and malycyon se iudgementes can not â—urte them at all â—api 3. Lete those Epycures pygges dampne them with as manye blasphemouse lyes as they can ymagyne for other armour they haue noâ— â—nd we shall on the other syde canâ—nyse them agayne with the myghtye wordes and promyses of Christ whych they shall neuer be â—able to resist The father of our lorde Iesus Christ graunt the lyght of hys worde so to sprede the worlde ouer that the darke mystes of Sathan maye clerelye be expelled to the specyall confort of hys redemed churche and glorye of hys eternall name Amen The lattre examinacion of the worthye seruaunt of God mastres Anne Askewe the yoÌ„ger doughter of Sir Wyllyam Askewe knyght of Lyncolne shyre latelye martyred in Smithfelde by the wycked Synagoge of Antichrist The censure or iudgemeÌ„t of Iohan Bale therupon after the sacred Scriptures and Chronycles CHrist wylled hys most dere Apostle and secretarye Gaynt IohaÌ„ the Euangelist to sygnyfye by writynge to the euer fear or preacher of the congregacyon of Pergamos that there onlye are hys faythfull meÌ„bers murthered where SathaÌ„ inhabyteth or holdeth resydence And for exaÌ„ple he bryngeth forth hys constaunt witnesse Antipas whych was there most cruellye slayne of that Synagoge of hys for confessynge the veryte Apoca. 2. That Behemorh sayth Iob that Leuyathan that Sathan regneth as a most myghtye kynge ouer all the spirytuall chyldren of pryde Iob 42. A murtherer sayth Christ to the spirytualâ—e of the Iewes and a blasphemouse lyar is that father of yours hath bene from the worldes begynnynge Ioan. 8. These maners hath he not yet left but contynueth them styll in hys wycked posteryte Iu the prymatyue churche as restyfyeth Bedas they persecuted the heares of Christes head whych were so pure as the whyte wâ—lle that is apte to receyue all colours Apoca 1. They slewe those true beleuers whych hys worde sprete had depured from all false worshyppynges and made fytt for all trybulacyons to be suffered for hys names sake In these lattre dayes they meddele with his fete whych are lyke vnto brasse burynge as it were in an whote furnace Apo. 1. For they that beleue now agreably to hys worde and not after ther corrupted and cursed customes are consumed in the fyre As here after wyll apere by thys godlye woman Anne Askewe whych with other more was brent at London in the yeare of our lorde a M.D.XLVI For the faythfull testymonye of Iesu agaynst Antichrist Whose lattre handelynge here foloweth in course lyke as I receyued it in coppye by serten duche merchauntes coÌ„mynge froÌ„ thens whych had bene at their burnynge and beholden the tyrannouse vyolence there shewed First out of the preson she wrote vnto a secrete frynde of hers after thys maâ—er folowynge Anne Askewe I do perceyue dere frynde in the lorde that thu art not yet persuaded throughlye in the truthe concernynge the lordes supper bycause Christ sayd vnto hys Apostles Take eate Thys is my bodye whych is geuen for yow In geuynge forth the breade as an outwarde sygne or token to be receyued at the mouche he mynded them in a perfyght beleue to receyue that bodye of hys whych shuld dye for the people or to thynke the deathe therof the onlye hâ—lthe and saluacyon of their sowles The breade and the wyne were left vs for a sacramentall communyon or a mutuall pertycypacyon of the inestymable benefyghtes of hys most precyouse deathe and bloud shedynge And that we shuld in the ende therof be thankefull togyther for that most necessarye grace of our redempcyon For in the closynge vp therof he sayd thus Thys do ye in remeÌ„braunce of me Yea so oft as ye shall eate it or drynke it Luce 22. and 1. Corinth 11. â—ls shuld we haue bene forgetfull of that we ought to haue in daylye remembraunce also bene altogyther vnthankefull for it Iohan Bale Agreable to thys womaÌ„nis doctryne here are the scriptures of both testameÌ„ice Wherin these wordes Edere Bibere to eate to drynke are oft tymes spirytuallye taken for Credere to beleue or receyue in faythe The poore sayth Dauid shall eate and he satisfyd All that seke to please the
instaunt laboure anâ— sute Anne Askewe Then my lorde chauncellour asked me of my opynyon in the sacrament My answere was thys I beleue that so oft as I in a Christen congregacyon do receyue the breade in remembraunce of Christes deathe with thankes geuynge accordynge to hys holye instytucyoÌ„ I receyne therwith the frutes also of hys most gloryouse passyon The Byshopp of wynchestre bad me make a dyrect answere I sayd I wolde not synge a newe songe to the lorde in a straunge lande Iohan Bale Dyrect ynough was thys answere after Christes syngle doctryne but not after the popes double and couetouse meanynge for hys â—yled queresters aduauntage And here was at hande hys generall aduocate or stewarde to loke vpon the matter that nothynge shuld perysh perteynynge to the mayntenaunce of hys superstycyouse vayne glorye if anye craâ—tye polycye myght helpe it What offended thys godlye Christen woman here eyther in opynyon or faythe ye cruell aâ—d vengeable tyraunies But that ye must as Dauid sayth temper your tunges with venemouse wordes to destroye that innocent Psal. 63. Coulde yow haue brought in agaynst her a matter of more daunger concernynge your lawes to depryue her of lyfe ye wolde haue done it soch is your gostlye charyte But be sure of it as hawtye as ye are now the harde plage therof wyll â—e yours whan the great vengeaunce shall fall for shedynge of innocentes bloude Matheâ— 23. Anne Askewe Then the Byshopp sayd I spake in parables I answered it was best for hym For if I shewe the open truthe quoth I ye wyll not accept it TheÌ„ he sayd I was a paratte I tolde hym agayne I was ready to suffre all thynges at hys haÌ„des Not onlye hys rebukes but all that shuld folowe besydes yea and that gladlye Then had I dyuerse rebukes of the counsell bycause I wolde not expresse my mynde in all thynges as they wolde haue me But they were not in the meane tyme vnanswered for all that whych now to rehearce were to moche For I was with them there aboue fyue houres Then the clerke of the counsell conueyed me from thens to my ladye Garnyshe Iohan Bale Most coÌ„monlye Christ vsed to speake in darke symylytudes and parables whaÌ„ he perceyued hys audyence rather geuon to the hearynge of pharysaycall constytucyons and customes than to hys heauenlye veryte Math. 13. Mar. 4. Luce 7. Whych rule thys woman beynge hys true dyscyple forgote not here in coÌ„menynge with thys proude Byshopp whoÌ„ she knewe to be alwayes a most obstynate withstander of that wholsom veryte of hys And as concernynge mockes and scornefull reâ—ylynges they haue bene euer in that generacyon of scorners more plenteouse than good counsels to the ryghtwyse And therfor as a name after their condycyons it is vnto them appropryate of the holye Ghost in manye places of the scriptures In the lattre dayes sayth Iudas the apostle shall come mockers walkynge in vngodlynesse all after their owne lustes These are they whych separate themselues froÌ„ the common sort by a name of spirytualtie beynge in conuersacyon beastlye and hauynge no sprete that is godlye But derelye beloued sayth he grounde your selues surelye vpon our most holye faythe c. Anne Askewe The next daye I was brought agayne before the counsell Then wolde they nedes knowe of me what I sayd to the sacrament I answered that I alredye had sayd that I coulde saye Then after diuerse wordes â–ª they bad me go by Then came my lorde Lyle my lorde of Essexe and the Byshopp of wynchestre requyrynge me ernestlye that I shuld confesse the sacrament to be fleshe bloude and bone Then sayd I to my lorde Paraâ—d my lorde Lyle that it was great shame for them to counsell contrarye to their knowlege Wherunto in fewe wordes they ded saye that they wolde gladlye all thynges were wele Iohan Bale Alwayes haue the worldelye gouernours shewed more gentylnesse and fauer to the worde of God than the consecrate prestes and prelates As we haue for example in the olde lawe â–ª that Ezechias the kynge of Iuda wolde in no case at their callynge on put Micheas the true prophete vnto deathe whan he had prophecyed the destructyon of Samaria for their ydolatrye and for the tyrannye of their prynces and false prophetes Miche 1. and 3. Neyther wolde the prynces at the prestes headye exclamacyons murther Hieremye for the lordes veryte preachynge but mercyfullye delyuered hym out of their malycyouse handes Hieremye 26. Pylate in lyke case concernynge the newe Iawe pleaâ—ed with the Iewes spirytualte to haue saued Christ froÌ„ the deathe Math. 27. Ioan. 18. So ded the captayne Claudius Lisias delyuer Paule from their mortall malyce after that the hygh prest Ananias had commaunded hym to be smytten and hys retynewe coÌ„spyred hys deathe Acto 23. At the prestes onlye prouocacyon was it that the heythnysh emprours so greuouslye vexed and tormented the Christen beleuers in the prymatyue churche as testyfyeth Egesyppus Clemens Alexandrinus Eusebius aâ—d other olde hystoryanes Anne Askew Then the Byshopp sayd he wolde speake withme famylyarlye I sayd so ded Iudas whan he vnfryndelye betrayed Christ Then desyered the Byshopp to speake with me alone But that I refused He asked me whye I sayd that in the mouthe of two or thre wytnesses euerye matter shuld stande after Christes Paules doctryne Math. 18. and 2. Cor. 13. Iohan Bale Ded she not thynke yow hytt the nayle on the head â–ª in thus tauntynge thys Byshopp yeas For as great offence doth he to Christ that geueth one of hys beleuynge members vnto deathe as ded he that betrayed first hys owne bodye That ye haue done vnto those lyttle ones shall he saye at the lattre daye whych haue beleued in me ye haue done vnto myne owne persone Math. 25. Who so toucheth them sayth Zacharye shall touche the apple of the lordes owne eye Zacha. â— But thys beleueth not that peruerse generacyon Anne Askewe Then my lorde chauncellour begaÌ„ne to examyne me agayne of the sacrament Then I axed hym how longe he wolde halte on both sydes Then wolde he nedes knowe where I founde that I sayd in the scripture 3. Reg. 18. TheÌ„ he weÌ„t hys waye Iohan Bale Of Helias the prophete were these wordes spoken to the people of Israel soch tyme as they halted betwyne ij opynyoÌ„s or walked vnryghtlye betwyne the true lyuynge God the false God Baal as we do now in EnglaÌ„de betwyne Christes Gospell and the popes olde rotten customes We slenderlye consydre with S. Paule that Christ wyll haue no felyshypp or concorde with Belial lyght with darkenesse ryghtwysnesse with vnryghtwysnesse the temple of God with ymages or the true beleuers with the infydels 2. Corinth 6. For all our newo Gospell yet wyll we styll beare the strauÌ„gersyoke with the vnbeleuers and so be come neyther whote nor colde
Englande and Duchelande also O that woman that woman O those men those men If the popes generacyon and wycked remnaunt make manye more soch martyrs they are lyke to marre all their whole market in Englande It were best for them now a dayes to lete men be at lyberte for their holye fathers gaâ—dy she ceremonyes as they are for beare baytynges cocke fyghtynges tennys playe tables tombelynge daunsynge or huÌ„tynge who lyst who maye For as lyttle haue those tradycyoÌ„s of hys of the worde of God in their prowdest outshewe as they haue Here wyll some tender stomakes be greued and report that in our headye hastynesse we refuse to suffre with our weake bretherne accordynge to the doctryne of Paule But I saye vnto them what so euer they be whych are so scrupulouse wanderers that they most execrablye erre in so bestowynge the scriptures For abhomynable is that tolleraunce of our brethernes weakenesse where God is by ydolatrouse superstycyons dysobeyed dyshonoured and blasphemed A playne practyse were thys of Sathan in hypocresye to vpholde all deuylyshnesse On the other syde was there an other sort at the deathe of these blessyd martyrs and they iudged of thys alteracyon of the ayre and thonder clappe as ded the Iewysh Byshoppes with their peruerted multytude Whych waggynge their heades rayled reuyled iangled iested scorned cursed mocked and mowed at Christes precyouse sufferynges on the crosse Math. 27. and Luce 23. These were the ydle wytted prestes at London and their beastlye ygnoraunt broodes with olde superstycyouse bawdes and brethels the popes blynde cattell These cryed there lyke madde modye bedlemes as they hearde the thonder They are dampned they are dampned their wyse preachers outasynge the same at Paules crosse In dede full nobylle are they ouerscane in the Byble that iudge the thonders to sygnyfye daÌ„pnacyon Thonder sayth the scripture is the voyce of God Eccle. 43. Thonder is the helpynge power of the lorde Iob 26. and no dampnacyon Christ called Iohan and Iames the sonnes of thonder Marci 3. Whych betokened that they shuld be ernest preachers and no chyldren of dampnacyon The lorde by thonder sheweth hys inscrutable workynge Iob 38. Moses receyued the lawe Helyas the sprete of prophecye the Apostles the holye Ghost all in thonder What wycked fole wyll saye they receyued so dampnacyon As the lambe had opened the first seale of the boke the voyce that went forth was as it had bene thonder Apoca. 6. whych is no dampnacyon but a sharpe callynge of people to Godwarde The thonderynges that apered whan the Angell fylled hys censer Apoca. 8. were no dampnacyons but Gods ernest wordes rebukynge the worlde for synne The best interpretours do call those â–ª thoÌ„derynges whych came from the trone of God Apocal. 4. soche verytees of the scripture as terryfyeth synners and no dampnacyons Neyther were the vij thonderynges whych gaue their voyces Apoc. 10. anye other than mysteryes at their tymes to be opened Eucherius Lugdunensis other moralysers call thonders in the scripture the voyces of the Gospell and their lyghtenynges the clere openynges of the same If thoÌ„der be a threttenynge or a fearfull iudgement of God as in Psal. 103. it is to them that abyde here and not to them that depart froÌ„ hens A token is it also that the horryble tyrauntes shall be as the meledust that the wynde taketh awaye sodenlye Esaie 29. If plage do folowe of thonder as it ded in Egypt whan Moses stretched forth hys rodde Exodi 9. It shall lyght vpon them whych hath shewed the tyraÌ„nouse vyolence on the people of God as it ded vpon pharao and hys cruell mynysters At the myghtye voyce whych was both sensyblye hearde and vnderstanded of the Apostles from heauen that the father was wolde be gloryfyed by Christ the people sayd notthynge bâ—t It thondereth Ioan. 12. For nothynge els they vnderstode therof What Anne Askewe and her companyons both hearde and sâ— in thys thonder to their sowles consolacyon in their paynefull sufferynges no mortall vnderstandynge can dyscerne Onlye was it Steuen and parauenture a fewe dyscyples that se the heauens open whan he suffered and not the cruell multytude whych ranne vpon hym with stones Acto 7. Lete beastlye blynde babbyllers and bawdes with their charmynge chaplaynes than prate at large out of their malycyouse sprete and ydle braynes We haue in habundaunce the veryte of Gods worde and promes to proue them both saued and gloryfyed in Christ. For God euer preserueth them whych trust in hym Psal. 16. All that call vpon hys holye name are saued Iohel 2. What reasonable man wyll thynke that they can be lost whych haue their lorde God more dere than their owne lyues No man shall be hable sayth Christ to plucke myshepe out of my handes but I wyll geue theÌ„ eternall yfe Ioan. 10. Beleue sayth Paule to the iayler at Philippos on the lorde Iesus Christ and thu shall be saued and thy whole howsholde Acto 16. They that seme in the syght of the vnwyse to go into destruccyon do rest in the peace of God and are replenyshed with immortalyte Sapien. 3. With other innumerable scriptures to the prayse of God whose name be gloryfyed worlde without ende Amen FINIS God saue the kynge Thus endeth the lattre conflict of Anne Askewe latelye done to deathe by the Romysh popes malycyouse remnaunt now canonysed in the precyouse bloude of the lorde Iesus Christ Imprented at Marpurg in the lande of Hessen 16 â–ª die Ianuarij anno 1. 5. 4. 7. A table compendyouse of thys lattre boke ANne Askewe a martyr 6. 54. 55 Anne Askewes sufferynges 45. 49. 62. 67 Antichristes badges 20. 53. 56. Antichrist where he dwelleth 26 Augustyne a bloud sheder 4 BOnuer Bysh. of London 52 Breade is no God 21. 34. 56. Brittayne churche 3. 8 CEremonyes at lyberte 67 Christ what meate he is 30 Christ wherfor condempned 31 Chronycle writers â— Consecracyon of prestes 55 Constancye of Anne Askewe 27. 35. 46 DEathe not feared 27. 35 Dyfference of martyrs 4. 5 Doctryne of the supper 12 Edere what it is 12. 33 Enemyes iij. ghostlye 38 Englysh churche 4. 8 Eucherius Lugdunensis 69 FAythe plentuouse 28 50. 55 Frances aboue Christ 23 Frutes of faythe 54. 55 Fryndes and enemyes 45. 61 GOdlynes of Anne Askewe 27 Gouernours worldlye â—8 Graye fryres Christ 23 HEresye dyffyned 37 Hewaldes whyte blacke 6 Howse of merchaundyse 25 IDolatrye of Breade 21. 24. 59 Idolaters of ij sortes 34 Incoâ—staunt Chrystyanes 28. 39 Iohan wycleâ—es tyme 6 Iohan lassels brent 49. 67 Iuthwara a martyr 6 Kilianus hys fellawes 7 Ryme a gentylman 15 LAdyes sought to deathe 40. 6â— Ladye chauncellour 48 Lanfrancus and walden 37 MArryage of Anne Askewe 14 Martyrs of Englande 3. 4 Masse is ydolatrye 26. 44. 59 Masse with hys receytes 59 Masse with hys frutes 60 Masses who do them 26 Masse
Who so euer lyâ—eth and beleueth in me shall neuer dye Ioan. 11. He that heareth my wordes and beleueth on hym that sent me hath euerlastynge lyfe and shall not come into dampnacyon but passe from deathe vnto lyfe Ioan. 5. The lattre examinacyon of Anne Askewe latelye martyred in Smythfelde by the wycked Synagoge of Antichrist with the Elucydacyon of Iohan Bale Anne Askewe stode fast by thys veryte of God to the ende Psalme 116. The veryte of the lorde endureth foreuer I wyll poure out my sprete vpoÌ„ all flesh sayth God your sonnes and your doughters shall prophecye And who so euer call on the name of the lorde shall be saued Iohel ij Iohan Bale to the Christen Readers IN the prymatyne churche as the horryble peâ—secucyoÌ„s increased manye dylygeÌ„t wryters collected the godlye answers and tryumphanÌ„t sufferynges of the mattyrs as necessarye examples of Christen constancye to be folowed of other Of thys noÌ„bre was Lucas whych wrote the Apostles actes Sowere after hym Linus Marcellus Egesippus Meliton 〈◊〉 Abdias Babylonius Iosephus Antiochenus Clemens Alexandrinus Antherus Phileas Eusebius â—icephorus a great sort more Fabianus not a chayre Byshopp but a pulpet Byshopp of Rome ordayned in hys tyme for that onlye offyce vij deacoÌ„s so manye notayres aboute the yeare of our lorde CC.XXXVI that they shuld faythfullye regestre ther martyrdomes to holde theÌ„ in contynuall remembraunce as witnesseth Platina Polydorus Masseus soch other chronyclers No lesse necessarye is that offyce now though fewe meÌ„ attempt it nor no lesse profytable to the christeÌ„ coÌ„moÌ„welth than it was in those terryble dayes For now are persecucyoÌ„s all Christendome ouer so wele as were than Now are the true Christyanes vexed of the syttynge Byshoppes for their Christen beleue so wele as than Now are they reuyled ponnyshed imprysoned haue all euyll spoken agaynst them for Christes verytees sake Math. 5. so wele as than And what can be more confortable to the sufferers than to knowe the ernest constancye of their troubled companyons in that kyngedome of pacyeÌ„ce Apo. 1. or to marke in them the stronge workynge of faythe beholde the myghtye mageste of God in their agonyes what though they were afore synners of the worlde Saynt Bernarde sayth in hys homelyes vpon Salomons cantycles that the godlye sufferaunce of martyrs hath geuen as good erudycyon to the christen churche as euer ded the doctryne of the sayntes Than is it mete that some be sterynge and not that all men in these dayes be ydell concernynge that godlye offyce Manye haue suffered in thys realme of late years by the bolde callynge on of Antichristes furyouse aduocates whose lattre confessyons causes and answers are a great deale more notable godlye if they be ryghtlye wayed than euer were the confessyons causes and answers of the olde canonysed martyrs whych in the popes Englysh churche haue had so manye solempnytees seruyces and sensynges Manye haue also most desperatlye recanted through their most wycked persuasyons and threttenynges in whose vayne recantacyons are both to be seane their blasphemyes agaynst God and manyfest treasons agaynst their kynge Now in conferrynge these martyrs the olde with the newe and the popes with Christes I seclude first of all the Brytayne churche or the prymatyue churche of thys realme whych neuer had autoryte of the Romysh pope Her martyrs in dede were agreable to that Christ spake afore in the Gospell concernynge hys martyrs wherby we shuld knowe theÌ„ as we euydentlye fynde in the lyues of Emerita kynge Lucyes syster Amphibalus Albanus Aaron Iulius â—iâ—nothus soch other I â—ende yow forth sayth he as shepe amonge wolâ—es MeÌ„ shall delyuer ye vp in their counsels and synagoges Ye shall be brought before rulers and kynges and be hated of all men in a maner for my names sake Mathei 10. Cast not afore in your myndes what answere to make For I in that houre shall geue ye both vtteraunce and wysdome whych all your aduersaryes shall not be hable to withstande Luce 21. They shall excommunycate yow or condeÌ„pne yow for heretykes Yea they shall brynge yow in soche hate of the world that who so euer kylleth yow wyll thynke he doth God great good seruyce And thys shall they do bycause they knowe ryghtlye neyther the father nor yet me Ioan. 16. Manye other lyke senteÌ„ces left the forde Iesê° Christ in hys holye Gospell that we shuld alwayes by theÌ„ dyscerne hys true martyrs froÌ„ the popes Mahomeâ—es conÌ„terfeâ—t martyrs In EnglaÌ„d here sens the first plaÌ„tacyon of the popes Englysh churche by Augustyne other Romysh monkes of Benettes superstycyoÌ„ ij kyndes of martyrs hath bene â—ne of monasterye buylders and chaunterye founders whom the temporall prynces secular magistrates haue dyuersiye done to deathe sumtyme for dysobedyence sumtyme for manyfest treason as we haue of Wallenus of Crowlande Thomas of LaÌ„castre Rycharde Scrope Becket soch other The ymages of these haue bene setâ— vp in their teÌ„ples lyke the olde goddes of the paganes haue had ther vygyls holye dayes ryngynges sacryfysynges caÌ„dels offerynges feastynges moch a do besydes as they had The other sort were preachers of the Gospell or poore teachers therof iÌ„ corners whaÌ„ the persecucyoÌ„ was soche that it myght not be taught abroade And these poore sowles or true seruauntes of God were put to deathe by the holye spirytuall fathers Byshoppes prestes monkes chanons fryers for heresye Iollerye they saye These Christen martyrs were neuer soleÌ„pnysed of theÌ„ No they had not so moch â—s a penye dyrge or a grote masse of Requâ—em nomore than had Iohan Baptyst and Steuen amonge the Iewes But they haue bene holden for condempned heretykes euer sens Who euer hearde anye goodnesse yet reported of Dionothus with hys M. CC. companyons whom Augustyne caused to be slayne at Westchestre in hys churches begynnynge bycause they wolde not preache as he ded apoynt them nor baptyse after the Romysh maner neyther yet hallowe the eastre feast as they ded Manye a blessed creature both men womeÌ„ haue bene breÌ„t sens IohaÌ„ Wyclenes tyme afore for onlye dysclosynge the pharysees yokes teachynge the Gospels lyberte And theÌ„ haue that bawdye bloudye Synagoge of SathaÌ„ dyffamed blasphemed condeÌ„pned execrated cursed to hell as most detestable heretykes and dogges Where as if they were of Christ they ought in case they were their haters or enemyes to suffre theÌ„ to saye wele of them to do them good to praye for them Math. 5. Luce 6. and not thus to vse more tyrannye ouer them than euer ded Saracene Turke Tyraâ—Ì„t or deuyll A great dyfference is there of the martyrs whom they make from the martyrs whom they canonyse Of them whom they dampne from them whom they worshypp Yea so great a dyfference or dyuersyte betwyn them if ye marke them wele as is betwixt golde and
dyrt or lyght and darkenesse The martyrs whose deathes they haue procured by all ages of their bloudthurstye church harkened vnto Christ he alde of ryghtousnesse sought their lorde God in sprete Esa. 51. but the martyrs for the most part whom they haue with so manye latyne wawlynges torches candell burnynges magnyfyed in their temples harkened to the pope healde of hys vnryghtousnesse sought out hys superstycyouse ydolatryes In the conferrynge of their olde canonysed martyrs with our newlye condempned martyrs here Anne Askewe and her other iij. companyons with soch lyke their dyfference wyll be moch more easelye perceyued First lete vs begynne with Thomas Becket whych was so gloryouse a martyr and precyouse aduocate of theirs that they made hys bloude equall with Christes bloude and desyred to clyme to heauen therby Manye wonderfull myracles coulde that mytred patrone of theirs do in those dayes whan the monkes had fryre Bakons bokes and knewe the bestowynge of fryre â—oÌ„â—ayes mystes but now he can do non at all Thys Becket in all hys floryshynge doynges harkened to the pope defended hys pomponse kyngedome supported hys churches excesse wretchedlye dyed for the synnefullly bertees of the same Anne Askewe her sort gaue dylygeÌ„t hede to their lorde Iesus Christ sought the kyngedome of heauen in daylye repentaunce myghtelye detested all ydolatrouse worshyppynges in conclusyon suffered most tryumphaunt deathe for the same CoÌ„cernynge other martyrs As Wene fryd otherwyse called Bonyface an Englysh moÌ„ke archebyshopp of Magunce was flayne coÌ„firmynge neophytes orprofessyng hys newlye baptysed brode to the Romysh popes obedyeÌ„ce There was fouÌ„de aboute hym a casket full of rellyckes or dead meÌ„nys bones whaÌ„ he was put to deathe in the yeare of our lorde 755. Anne Askewe her felyshypp had non other rellyckes aboute theÌ„ whaÌ„ they stode at the stake to be brent in Smyth felde but a bundell of the sacred scriptures enclosed in ther hartes and redye to be vttered agaynst Antichristes ydolatryes Saynâ— Clarâ— of Orchestre contemnynge lawfull marryage made hym selfe an ydell prest was byheaded in hys owne gardene by procuremeÌ„t of a woman S. Elytanke of Southwales was in lyke case stabbed in with a dagger bycause a yonge mayden loued hym The onlye true honoure of God was it no wordlye cause that Anne Askewe her companye dyed for Saynt Edwyne beynge weleanned was slayne in battayle at â—at felde in the North and S. Edwardery dynge a Huntynge in the forest of Warham in the weast was kylled vpon hys horse in drynkynge a cuppe of wyne And all thys was done for the kyngedomes of thys worlde The martyrdome of Anne Askewe and her Bretherne was neyther in battelynge nor huntynge rydynge nor drykynge but in that ryght course whych Christ prescrybed vnto hys dyscyples vndre the cruell Byshoppes for hys onlye glorye Saynce Cadock of Cowbridge a Byshopp was pearced through with a speare as he stode at hys Masse at one of the clocke at after none bycause he wolde be of the order of martyrs Saynt Elphege archebyshopp of Caunterburye was stoned to deathe of the Danes bycause he wolde not paye them thre M. Marke in the yeare of our lorde M. and xij Of soch martyrs moch doubted Lanfrancus whych succeded hym in that offyce about a iiij score years after and dysputed therof with Anselmus The cause of Anne Askewe and her companyons was neyther madnesse noâ— moneye but the onlye sekynge of their lorde God a ryght As Saynt Indract with other deuoute pylgrymes of Rome laye in bed in their inne at Shapwyck by Glastenbury their throtes were cut in the nyght for moneye whych was reckened to be in their pylgrymes scryppes Saynt Iuthware a vyrgyne was by headed also for layenge fresh chese or cruddes whether ye wyll to her brestes The cause of Anne Askewe and her other fellawes conferred with Christes sriptures semeth a farre other matter Hewalde the blacke and Hewalde the whyght ij Englysh moÌ„kes goynge froÌ„ place to place with cruettes chalyce and superaltare to do their daylye sacryfyces were done to deathe in Frislande by the bowers of the cuntraye for teachynge a straâ—nge relygyon and are worshypped at Coleyne for martyrs For bearynge about Christes testament whych is most heauenlye treasure and for spredynge the wholsom doctryne therof was Anne Askewe and her sort brent by the prestes procurement yet axe they no honour for it Osytha runnynge awaye from her husbande by the intysement of ij monkes bycame a professed nonne and was murthered of the Danes Wenefryda by counsell of a prest dysdaynouslye refusynge the marryage of a prynce christened lost her head for it Maxentia also played a part not all vnlyke to thys Soch pylde popysh martyrdomes compared to the martyrdome of Anne Askewe and her faythfull cumpanye is as is rustye yron compared to pure syluer S. Wyllyam of Rochestre a Scotte leauynge both wyfe and howsholde ydellye to trudge on pylgrymage was strycken in the head with an axâ— of hys owne companyon by the waye Saynt Thomas of Douer a monke was soch a wone as was slayne of the frenche men for hydynge the churcâ—e 〈◊〉 crosses â—â—â—lyces cepes No soch lyght corruptyble vanyrees were they that Anne Askewe her constaunt bretherne dyed for but for the precyouse veryte of God Yonge S. Wyllyam of Norwych yonge S. Robert of Burye yonge S. Hugh of Lyncolne yoÌ„ge S. Melor of Cornewayle yoÌ„g S. Renelme of Glocestre yoÌ„ge S. Eldrede of RaÌ„saye hys brother with soch other lyke were but verye babes they saye were martyred of the Iewes of other enemyes Wherfor their martyrdomes shall be but babysh in comparyson of these the veryte hauynge by them so small furtheraunce Foillanus hys iij. bretherne goynge homeward in the nyght after they had wele bankered with S. Gertrude her nonnes were kylled in a wood of one murtherer and their horses solde in the next market rowne Iustinanus S. Dauyes ghostlye father in Wales was slayne in a gardene of hys iij. monkes bycause he compelled them to do more laboure than he wolde do hys selfe After Rilianus was come home from Rome he was murthered in hys selle with other holye pylgrymes by a woman as they laye there a slâ—pâ— in the nyght Saynt Vrsula also and her she pylgrymes with their chaplaynes nurses and suckynge babes were but homelye handeled at Coleynâ— of the hunnes and pycâ—â—s if that legende be true as they were commynge homewardes from Rome Compare me Anne Askewe and her condempned cumpanye with these clowâ—ed canonysed solempnysed sensed mattensed and massed martyrs and tell me by the Gospels tryall whych of them seme most Christenlyke martyrs Yea brynge saynt Edmonde of Burye S. FremuÌ„de of Dunstable S. Ethelbert of Herforde S. Oswalde of Glocestre S. Oswyne of Tynmoth and Saynt
godlye wyse Thus to your owne dampâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Anne Askewe TheÌ„ came to me doctor Coxe and doctor Robynson In conclusyon we coulde not agree Then they made me a byll of the sacrament wyllynge me to set my hande therunto but I wolde not Then on the sondaye I was sore sycke thynkynge no lesse than to dye Therfor I desyred to speake with â—atymer it wolde no be Then was I sent to Newgate in my extremyte of syckenesse For in all my lyfe afore was I neuer in soch payne Thus the lorde strengthen yow in the truthe Praye praye praye Iohan Bale What an hurlye burlye is here for thys newe beleue that Christ shuld dwelle in the breade whych is maÌ„nys creature not gods Christ is the lyuynge breade whych came froÌ„ heaueÌ„ Ioan. 6. But that is not suffycyeÌ„t saye the prestes vnlesse ye beleue also that he is that dead breade whych came froÌ„ the waffer bakers And theruÌ„to must ye set your owne haÌ„de writynge els wyll it not be allowed in the spirytuall courte For he that speaketh great thynges and blasphemyes whych is Antichrist makynge warre with the sayntes wyll haue it so Apo. 13 In the Apostles tyme manye yeares after it was ynough for a christeÌ„ maÌ„nys ryghtwysnesse to beleue with the hart that Iesus is the lorde that God raysed hym vp froÌ„ the dead Roma 10. But now we must beleue that he coÌ„meth downe agayn at the wyll of the prestes to be inpaned or inbreaded for their bellyes common welthe lyke as he afore came downe at the wyll of hys heauenlye father to be incarnated or infleshed for our vnyuersall sowles helth And vnto thys we must set our hande writynge that we maye be knowne for Antichristes cattell Els shall we to stynkynge Newgate by their spirytuall appoyntment be we neuer so sycke and within a whyle after to the fyre in Smythfelde For Christes membre must tast with hym both esell and gall Anne Askewe The confessyon of me Anne Askewe for the tyme I was in Newgate coÌ„cernynge my beleue I fynde in the Scriptures sayth she that Christ toke the breade and gaue it to hys dyscyples saynge Eate Thys is my bodye whych shall be broken for yow meanynge in substaunce hys owne verye bodye the breade beynge therof an onlye sygne or sacrament For after lyke maner of speakynge he sayd he wolde breake downe the temple in iij. dayes buylde it vp agayne sygnyfyenge hys owne bodye by the temple as S. Iohan declareth it IoaÌ„ 2. And not the stonye temple it selfe So that the breade is but a remembraunce of hys death or a sacrameÌ„t of thankes geuynge for it wherhy we are knytt vnto hym by a communyon of Christen loue Although there be manye that can not perceyue the true meanynge therof for the vayle that Moses put ouer hys face before the chyldren of Israel that they shuld not se the clerenesse therof Exo. 34. 2. Cor. 3. I perceyue the same vayle remayneth to thys daye But whan God shall take it awaye than shall these blynde men se. Iohan Bale Ye wyll saye paraueuture that the symylytudes here of breade and of the teÌ„ple are not lyke For he blessyd the breade with thankes geuynge So wyll ye saye an other tyme for your pleasure and aduauntage that he blessyd the temple also and called it both the howse of hys father and also the howse of prayer I praye ye be as good here to your market place as ye are to your sale wares therin for your onlye bellyes sake For the one wyll not do wele to your commodâ—te in ydelnesse without the other But take good hede of it if ye lyst For Christ hath alredye called one of them an howse of merchaundyse and a denne of theues by reason of your vnlawfull occupyenge therin Ioan. 2. and Luce 19. Be hath also promysed to ouerthrowe it Math. 24. and not to leaue one stone therof standynge vpon another Marci 13. Bycause ye haue not regarded the tyme of your vysytacyon or not accepted hys eternall worde of helthe A warnynge myght the turnynge ouer of your monasteryes haue bene vnto yow if ye were not as ye are altogyther blynde I cannot thynke the contrarye but he calleth the other also as ye handle it now a dayes in the popes olde toyes of conueyaunce the abhomynacyon of desolacyon or soch an abhomynable ydoll as subuertynge Christes true relygyon wyll be your fynall destruccyon both here and in the worlde to come For ydolles are called abhomynacyon all the Scriptures ouer Yet shall it endure sayth Daniel sumwhere vnto the ende of all Daniel 9. Wherby ye maye weâ—e perceyue that it comprehendeth not onlye the tryumphauut stremers of Tyberius or golden ymages of Caligula whych both preuented the subuersyon of Hierusalem but some other â—doll els whych shuld contynewe And it foloweth in the Gospell texte that he shuld sytt in the holye place for the tyme of hys contynuaunce Mathei 24. And not in the paganes temples Tell me if your Masses be done anye where els than in your hallowed sanctuaryes vpon your sanctyfyed aulters and in your holye ornamentes and consecrate cuppes Neyther maye anye do theÌ„ vnlesse they be anâ—ynted therunto of your Byshoppes and sorcerers Not without the holye place sayth Christ is that abomynacyon but in it Math. 24. Antichrist sayth S. Paule shall sytt not without but within the verye temple of God â— Thessalon 2. The papacye is not without but within the verye churche of Christ what though it be no part therof Apoca. 11. Thefor it shall be mete that we be ware and separate our selues from them at the admonyshmentes of hys holye doctryne least we be partakers with yow in their promysed dampnacyoÌ„ Apoca 18. By the vayle ouer Moses face she meaneth the blynde confydence that manye men yet haue in olde Iewysh ceremonyes and beggerlye tradycyons of men as S. Paule doth call them Gala. 4. Wherby the veryte of God is soreble myshed The spirytuall knowlege whych cometh by the clere doctryne of the Gospell mynystreth no soch impedymentes of darkenesse But all thynges are clereâ—lye sâ—ane to them whych are endued theâ— with They can be deceyued by non oâ— Sathans subtyle conuayers but perceyueth all thynges whych haue obtayneâ— the pure eyes of faythe Anne Askewe For it is playnelye expressed in the hystorye of Bel in thâ— Bible that God dwelleth in nâ—thynge materyall I kynge sayth Daniel be not deceyued Daniel 14. For God wyll be in nothynge that is made with haÌ„des of men Acto 7. Oh what styffnecked people are these that wyll alwayes resyst the holye Ghost But as their fathers haue done so do they bycause they haue stonye hartes Written by me Anne Askewe that neyther wyshe deathe nor yet feare hys myght and as merye as one that is bowne towardes heaueÌ„ Truthe is layed in pryson Luâ—ce
by that whych foloweth Wherin he ernestlye chargeth hys faythfâ—ll folowers not to beleue it callynge the teachers of soch doctryne false anoynted deceyuable prophetes and sorcerouse workemen Marci 13. Anne Askewe The summe of the condempnacyon of me Anne Askewe at yelde hawle They sayd to me there that I was an heretyke and condempned by the lawe if I wolde staÌ„de in my opynyon I answered that I was no heretyke neyther yet deserued I anye deathe by the lawe of God But as concernynge the faythe whych I vttered and wrote to the couÌ„sell I wolde not I sayd denye it bycause I knew it true TheÌ„ wolde they nedes knowe if I wolde denye the sacrament to be Christes bodye and bloude I sayd yea For the same sonne of God that was borne of the vyrgyne Marie â–ª is now gloriouse in heauen and wyll come agayne from thens at the lattre daye lyke as he went vp Acto 1. And as for that ye call your God is but a pece of breadeâ— For a more profe therof marke it whan ye lyst lete it lye in the boxe but iij. monthes and it wyll be moulde and so turne to nothyge that is good Wherupon I am persuaded that it can not be God Iohan Bale Christ Iesus the eternall sonne of God was condempned of thys generacyon for a sedicyouse heretyke a breaker of their sabbath a subuerter of their people a defyler of their lawes and a destroyer of their temple or holye churche Ioan. 7. Luce 23. Mathei 26. Marci 14. and suffered deathe for it at ther procurement by the lawe than vsed Is it than anye maruele if hys inferiour subiect here and faythfull membre do the same at the cruell callynge on and vyolent vengeaunce of their posteryte No no the seruaunt must folowe her mastre the fote her heade and maye be founde in that poynte no frear thaÌ„ he Ioan. 13. Saynt Augustyne dyffynyngâ— a sacrament calleth it in one place a sygne of an holye thynge In an other place a vysyble shappe of an inuysyble grace Whose offyce is to instructe anymate and strengthen our faythe towardes God and not to take it to it self and so depryue hym therof Christes bodye and bloude are neyther sygnes nor shaddowes but the verye effectuall thynges indede sygnyfyed by those fygures of breade and wyne But how that drye and corruptyble cake of theirs shuld become a God manye men wondre now a dayes in the lyght of the Gospell lyke as they haue done afore tyme also And specyallye whye the wyne shuld not be accepted and set vp for a God also so wele as the breade consyderynge that Christ made so moche of the one as of the other Anne Askewe After that they wylled me to haue a prest And than I smyled Then they asked me if it were not good I sayd I wolde confesse my fawtes to God for I was sure that he wolde heare me with fauer And so we were condempned without a quest Iohan Bale Prestes of godlye knowlege she ded not refuse For she knewe that they are the massengers of the lorde that hys holye wordes are to be sought at ther mouthes Mala .2 Of them she instaunt lye desyred to be instructed and it was denyed her as is written afore What shuld she than els do but returne vnto her lorde God in whome she knewe to be habundaunce of mercye for all them whych do from the hart repent Deutro .30 As for the other sort of prestes she ded not amys to laugh both them and their maynteners to scorne For so doth God also Psalme 2. And curseth both their absolueyons blessynges Mala .2 A thefe or a murtherer shuld not haue bene condempned without a quest by the lawes of Englande But the faythfull members of Iesus Christ for the spyght and hate that thys worlde hath to hys veryte must haue an other kynde of tyrannye added therunto besydes the vnryghtouse bestowynge of that lawe Wo be vnto yow sayth the eternall God of heauen by hys prophete or dampnacyon be ouer your heades that make wycked lawes and deuyse cruell thynges for the poore oppressed innocentes Esaie 10. Wo vnto hym that buyldeth Babylon with bloude and maynteyneth that wycked cytie styll in vnryghtwysnesse Abacuch 2. Nahum 3. Ezech. 24. Anne Askewe My beleue whych I wrote to the counsell was thys That the sacramentall breade was left vs to be receyned with thaÌ„kes geuynge in remembrauÌ„ce of Christes deathe the onlye remedye of our sowles recouer And that therby we also receyue the whole henefyghtes and frutes of hys most gloryouse passion Iohan Bale We reade not in the Gospell that the materyall breade at Christes holye supper â–ª was anye otherwyse taken of the Apostles thaÌ„ thus Neyther yet that Christ our mastre sauer requyred anye other takynge of them If so manye straunge doubtes had bene therin and so hygh dyffycultees as be moued and are in controuersye amonge men now a dayes both papystes and other they coulde no more haue bene left vndyscussed of hym than other hygh matters were The dyscyples axed here neyther how nor what as doubtlesse they wolde haue done if he had mynded them to haue taken the breade for hym They thought it ynough to take it in hys remembraunce lyke as he than playnelye taught them Luce 22. The eatynge of hys fleshe and drynkynge of hys bloude therin to the releuynge of their sowles thirst and hunger they knewe to perteyne vnto faythe accordynge to hys instruccyons in the vj. of Iohan. What haue thys godlye woman than offended whych neyther haue denyed hys incarnacyon nor deathe in thys her confessyon of faythe but most firmelye and groundedlye trusted to receyue the frutes of them both Anne Askewe Then wolde they nedes knowe whether the breade in the boxe were God or no I sayd God is a sprete and wyll be worshypped in sprete and truthe Ioan. 4. Then they demauÌ„ded Wyll yov planelye denye Christ to be in the sacrament I answered that I beleued faythfullye the eternall soÌ„ne of God not to dwell there In witnes wherof I recyted agayne the hystorye of Bel the ix chaptre of Daniel the vij and xvij of the Actes and the xxiiij of Mathew concludynge thus I neyther wyshe deathe nor yet feare hys myght God haue the prayse therof with thankes Iohan Bale Amonge the olde ydolaters some toke the suÌ„ne some the mone some the fyre some the water with soch other lyke for their Goddes as witnesseth Diodorus Siculus Herodotus Plynius Lacrantius dyuerse autours more Now come our dottynge papystes here wadynge yet more deper in ydolatrye and they must haue breade for their God yea a waffer cake whych is scarse worthye to be called breade In what sorowfull case are ChristeÌ„ people now a dayes that they maye worshypp their lorde and redemer Ihesus Christ in no shappe that hys heauenlye father hath
set hym forth in but in soch a shappe onlye as the waffer baker hath ymagyned by hys slendre wytte Gods creatures were they whom the ydolaters toke for their Goddes but thys cake is onlye the bakers creature for he alone made it breade if it be breade And so moch is it a more vnworthye God than the other Farre was it from Christ to teache hys dyscyples to worshypp soch a God eyther yet to haue hymself honoured in soch a symylytude Nothynge is here spoken agaynst the most holye table of the lorde but agaynst that abhomynable ydoll of the prestes whych hath most detestablye blemyshed that most godlye and wholsom communyon A gloryouse witnesse of the lorde ded thys blessyd woman shewe her self in the answere makynge to thys blasphemouse beggerye whaÌ„ she sayd that god was a sprete and no waffer cake wolde be worshipped in sprete and veryte not in superstycyon and iuglynge of the ydoll prestes Godlye was she to denye Christes presence in that execrable ydoll but moch more godlye to geue her lyfe for it Her alleged scriptures proue that God dwelleth not in teÌ„ples but a fowle abhomynacyon in hys stede as is shewed afore In that she feareth not the power of deathe she declareth her self a most constaunt martyr praysynge her lorde God for hys gyft She called to remembraunce the promyses of her lorde Ihesus Christ that they shuld se no deathe whych obserued hys worde Ioan 8. Agayne they that beleued on hym shuld ioyfullye passe through from deathe vnto lyfe Ioan. 5. And vpon these promyses she most stroÌ„gelye trusted She consydered also with Peter that Christ had swallowed vp deathe to make vs the heyres of euerlastynge lyke 1. Petri 3. More ouer that he had ouerthrowne hym whych sumtyme had the rule of deathe Hebre. 2. And also taken awaye the sharpe stynge of the deathe it self â—see 13. Anne Askewe My lettre sent to the lorde Chauncellour The lorde God by whome all creatures haue their beynge blesse yow with the lyght of hys knowlege amen My dutye to â–ª your lordshyppe remeÌ„bred c. It myght please yow to accepte thys my bolde sute as the sute of one whych vpoÌ„ due coÌ„syderacyons is moued to the same and hopeth to obtayne My request to your lordeshypp is only that it may please the same to be ameane for me to the kynges magestie that hys grace maye be certifyed of these fewe lynes whych I haue writteÌ„ coÌ„cernynge my beleue Whych whan it shall be trulye coÌ„ferred with the harde iudgemeÌ„t geueÌ„ me for the same I thynke hys grace shall wele perceyue me to be wayed in an vneuenpayer of balauÌ„ces But I remytt my matter and cause to almyghtye god whych ryghtlye iudgeth all secretes And thus I commende your lordeshypp to the gouernaunce of hym and felyshypp of all sayntes Amen By your handemayde Anne Askewe Iohan Bale In thys byll to the chauncellour apereth it playne all frowarde affeccyoÌ„s sequestred what thys womaÌ„ was She is not here deiected with the desperate for vnryghtouse handelynge mournynge cursynge and sorowynge as they do commoÌ„lye But staÌ„dynge vp stroÌ„gelye in the lorde most gentyllye she obeyeth the powers she blesseth her vexers persuers wysheth them the lyght of Gods necessarye knowlege Luce 6. She consydereth the powers to be ordayned of God Romanorum 13. And though their autoryte be sore abused yet with Christ and hys Apostles she humblye submytteth herself to them thynkynge to suffer vndre them as no yll doer but as Christes true seruaunt 1. Pet. 4. Notwithstandynge she layeth forth here both before chauÌ„cellour kynge the matter wherupon she is condempned to deathe that they accordynge to their bâ—unde dewtye myght more ryghtlye waye it 3. Regum 10. Not that she coâ—â—ted therby to auoyde the deathe but to put them in remembyaunce of their offyce concernynge the swerde whych they ought not vaynelye to mynystre Roma 13. and that they shuld also be without excuse of ignoraunce in the great daye of reckenynge for permittynge soch vyoleÌ„ce to be done Roma 2. In the ende yet to make all sure she commytteth her cause and quarell to God wherin she declareth her onlye hope to be in hym and no man Psalm 145. Anne Askewe My faythe breuelye written to the kynges grace I Anne Askewe of good memorie although God hath geueÌ„ me the breade of aduersyte and the water of trouble yet not so moch as my synnes haue deserued desyre thys to be knowne to your grace That for as moch as I am by the lawe coÌ„deÌ„pned for an euyll doer Here I take heauen and earthe to recorde that I shall dye in my innocencye And accordynge to that I haue sayd first and wyll saye last I vtterlye abhorre and detest all heresyes And as coÌ„cernynge the supper of the lorde I beleue so moch as Christ hath sayd therin whych he confirmed wyth hys most blessyd bloude I beleue also so moch as he wylled me to folowe beleue and so moch as the catholyck churche of hym doth teache For I wyll not forsake the commaundemeÌ„t of hys holye lyppes But loke what God hath charged me with hys mouthe that haue I shutte vp iÌ„ my harte And thus breuelye I ende for lacke of lernynge Anne Askewe Iohan Bale In thys she dyschargeth her self to the worlde agaynst all wrongefull accusacyons iudgemeÌ„tes of heresye what though it be not accepted to that blynde worlde vnto whome the lorde sayd by hysprophete Your thoughtes are not my thoughtes neyther yet are your wayes my wayes But so farre as the heauens are hyer than the earthe so farre do my wayes excede yours my thoughtes yours Esa. 55. Heresye is not to dyssent froÌ„ the churche of Rome in the doctryne of faythe as LaÌ„fraÌ„cus in hys boke de Eucharistia aduersus BerengariuÌ„ Thomas waldeÌ„ in hys worke of sermoÌ„s Ser .21 Dyffyneth it But heresye is a voluntarye dysseÌ„tynge froÌ„ the veryte of the scriptures of God and also a blasphemouse deprauyuge of them for the wretched bellyes sake to maynteyne the pompes of thys worlde Thus is it dyffyned of S. Hierome in coÌ„mâ—ntarâ—â—â— Hiere S. Augustyne and Isidorus a greynge to the same CoÌ„sydre thaÌ„ whether he be the these that sytteth vpoÌ„ the beÌ„che or he that standeth at the barre The popysh clergye that condempneth or the innocent that is condempned Athanasius in hys boke defuga aduersus Arrianos calleth them the heretykes whych seketh to haue the Christen beleuers murthered as ded the seyd Arryanes Thys godlye womau hyr innocencye to clere laboureth not here to an inferyour membre of the realme but to the head therof the kynges owne persone Whome she beleueth to be the hygh mynyster of God the father of the lande and vpholder of the people Sapi. 6. that he myght faythfullye and ryghtlye iudge her cause But who can thynke that euer it
hys father or mother hys sonne or doughter hys prynce or gouernour aboue me he is not mete for me Math. 10. I feare me thys wyll be iudged hygh treason But no matter So soÌ„ge as it is Christes worde he shall be also vâ—dre the same iudgement of treason Lete no man care to be condeÌ„pned with hym for he in the ende shall be hable to rectyfye all wronges Marke here an example most woÌ„derfull and se how madlye in their ragynge furyes men forget themselues and lose their ryght wittes now a dayes A kynges hygh counseller a Iudge ouer lyfe and deathe yea a lorde Chauncellour of a most noble realme is now become a most vyle slaue for Antichrist and a most cruell tormentoure Without all dyscressyon honestye or manhode he casteth of hys gowne and taketh here vpoÌ„ hym the most vyle offyce of an haÌ„gemaÌ„ and pulleth at the racke most vyllanouslye O Wrisleye and Riche ij false christianes blasphemouse apostaraâ—s froÌ„ God What chaplayne of the pope hath inchauÌ„ted yow or what deuyll of helle bewytched yow â–ª to execute vpoÌ„ a poore coÌ„deÌ„pned womaÌ„ so prodygyouse a kynde of tyraÌ„nye Euen the verye MaÌ„mon of inyquyte that insacyable hunger of auarice whych coÌ„pelled Iudas to betray vnto deathe hys most louynge master IoaÌ„ 12. The wynnynges were not small that ye reckened vpon whaÌ„ ye toke on ye that cruell enterpryse wolde haue had so many great men and women accused But what els haue ye wonne in the ende than perpetuall shame and confusyon God hath suffered yow so to dyscouer your owne myscheues that ye shall nomore be forgotten of the worlde than are now Adonisedech Saul Hieroboam Manasses Olophernes Haman Tryphon Herode Nero Traianus and soche other horryble tyrauntes And as concernynge the innoceÌ„t womaÌ„ whoÌ„ yow so cruellye tormeÌ„ted Where coulde be seane a more clere and open experyment of Christes dere membre than in her myghtye sufferynges lyke a lambe she laye styll without noyse of cryenge and suffered your vttermost vyolence tyll the synnowes of her armes were broken and the strynges of her eys peryshed in her heade Ryght farre doth it passe the strength of a yonge tendre weake and sycke woman as she was at that tyme to your more confusyon to abyde so vyolent handelynge yea or yet of the strongest man that lyueth Thynke not therfor but that Christ hath suffered in her and so myghtelye shewed hys power that in her weakenesse he hath laughed your madde enterpryses to scorne Psalm 2. Where was the feare of God ye tyrauntes Where was your christen professyon ye helle houndes Where was your othe and promes to do true iustyce ye abhomynable periures whan ye went aboute these cursed feates More fytt are ye for swyne kepynge than to be of a prynces counsell or yet to gouerne a Christen commen welthe If Christ haue sayd vnto them whych do but offende hys lytle ones that beleue in hym that it were better they had a mylstone tyed aboute thyir neckes and were so throwne into the bottom of the see Luce 17. What wyll he saye to them that so vyllaynouslye pull at the racke in ther myscheuouse malyce These are but warnynges take hede if ye lyst for a full sorowfull plage wyll folowe here after Anne Askewe Then the lyefetenaunt caused me to be loused from the racke Incontynentlye I swounded and then they recouered me agayne After that I sate ij longe houres reasonynge with my lorde Chauncellour vpon the bare floore where as he with manye flatterynge wordes persuaded me to leaue my opynyon But my lorde God I thanke hys euerlastynge goodnesse gaue me grace to perseuer and wyll do I hope to the verye ende Iohan Bale Euermore haue the olde modye tyrauntes vsed thys practyse of deuylyshnesse As they haue perceyued themselues not to preuayle by extreme handelynges they haue sought to proue masteryes by the contrarye With gaye glosynge wordes and fayre flatterynge promyses they haue craftelye â—nÌ„passed the seruauntes of God to cause them consent to their wyckednesse And in thys temptynge occupacyon are Wrisleye Riche verye câ—nnynge Notwithstandynge they shall neuer fynde the chosen of God all one with the forsaken reprobates The electe vessels holde the eternall God for their most specyall treasure and haue hym in soch inteire loue that they had moch Iener to lose themselues than hym The wicked desperates haue the voluptuouse pleasures of thys vayne worlde so dere that they had leuer to forsake God and all hys workes than to be sequestred from them Thys godlye yonge woman referreth prayse vnto her lorde God that he hath not left her in thys paynefull conflycte for hys verytees sake but perseuered stronge with her beynge in hope that he wolde so styll contynewe with her to the verye ende as without fayle he ded Manye men sore wondre now a dayes that â—risleye whych was in my lorde Cromwels tyme so ernest a doer agaynst the pope is now becomen agayne for hys pedlarye wares so myghtye a captayne But they remembre not the common adage that honour changeth maners and luâ—re iudgementes These great ynne kepers they saye had leuer to haue one good horse man to hoste than vâ— men on fote specyallye if they weare veluet whodes or fyne rochettes What els foloweth Christ but beggerye and sorowes whych are verye harefull to the worlde Where fatnesse is cawte of euerye mannys laboure there is yet sumwhat to be loked for If hys christeÌ„ zele be soch that he wyll haue no she heretykes vnponnyshed lete hym do first of all as we reade of dyuerse ryghtfull gouerners amonge the heythen Lete hym serche hys owne howse wele Paranenture â–ª he maye fynde aboute my ladye hys wyfe a rellyck of no lyttle vertu a practyse of Pythagoras or an olde midwyues blessynge whych she carryeth closelye on her for preseruacyon of her honoure Her opynyoÌ„ is folke saye that so loÌ„ge as she hath that vpoÌ„ her her worldlye worshyp can neuer decaye I praye God thys prouysyon in short space deceyueth her not as it hath done pope Siluester the seconde and as it ded of late years Thomas Swolsye our late Cardynall Thys heresye goeth neyther to the racke nor the fyre to Newgate nor yet Smythfelde as contynuallye doth the pore Gospell Anne Askewe Then was I brought to an howse and layed in a bed with as werye and payneful bones as euer had pacyeÌ„t Iob I thaÌ„ke my lorde God therof Then my lorde Chauncellour sent me worde if I wolde leaue my opynyon I shuld want nothynge If I wolde not I shuld fourth to Newgate and so be burned I sent hym agayne worde that I wolde rather dye thaÌ„ to breake my faythe Thus the lorde open the eyes of their blynde hartes that the truthe maye take place Fare wele dere frynde and praye praye praye Iohan Bale Beholde in
thys last parcell most euydeÌ„t sygnes of a ChristeÌ„ martyr and faythfull witnesse of God besydes that went afore She allegeth not in all thys longe processe lyenge legendes popysh fables nor yet olde wyues parables but the most lyuelye autorytees and examples of the sacred Byble She putteth her selfe here in remembraunce not of desperate Cayne nor yet of sorowfull Iudas but of most pacyent Iob for example of godlye sufferaunce For Anguysh and payne of her broken ioyntes and broused armes and eyes she curseth not the tyme that euer she was borne as the maner of the vnfaythfull is But she hyghlye magnyfyeth and prayseth God for it Neyther was she peruerted with flatterynge promyses nor yet ouercommen with terryble threttenynges of deathe Neyther doubted she the stynke of Newgate nor yet the burnynge fyer in Smythfelde But coueted rather deathe of her bodye for the syncere doctryne of Christ than lyfe of the same vndre the ydolatrouse doctryne of the Romysh pope She desyred God to take mercye of her enemyes and exhorted all Christen people instauntlye to praye for them If these be not the frutes of a true beleuer what other frutes els can we axe Anne Askewes answere vnto Iohan Lassels letter Oh frynde most derelye beloued in God I maruele not a lyttle what shuld moue yow to iudge in me so sleÌ„dre a faythe as to feare deathe whych is the ende of all myserye In the lorde I desyre yow not to beleue of me soch wyckednesse For I doubt it not but God wyll perfourme hys worke in me lyke as he hath begonne Iohan Bale I wolde but knowe of them whych are common readers of chronycles and Sayntes lyues where they euer redde of a more seruent and lyuelye faythe than was in thys godlye yonge woman As lyght a matter estemed she deathe as ded Eleazarus that auÌ„cyent senyour or yet the vij Machabees with their most worthye mother 2. Mach. 6. 7. For she sayd that it was but the ende of all sorowes She reckened not with the couetouse man the remembraunce therof bytter Eccle. 14. But with the ryghteouse she thought it a most redye swyfte passage vntolyfe Ioan. 5. The feare of deathe iudged she great wyckednesse in a ChristeÌ„ beleuer was in full hope that God wolde not suffre her to be troubled therwith For whye deathe loseth vs no lyfe but bryngeth it in vnto vs lyke as the harde wynter bryngeth in the most plesauÌ„t somer Who caÌ„ thynke whaÌ„ the sunne goeth downe that it vtterlye so perysheth Death vnto the ryghteouse beleuer is as a profytable haruest whych after fweate labour bryngeth in most dylectable frutes NoÌ„ otherwyse thought it Anne Askewe than a verye entraunce of lyfe whan she had it thus in desyre and faythfullye trusted with Paule that God wolde fynysh in her that he than begonne to hys owne glorye Philippen 1. Anne Askewe I vnderstande the counsell is not a lyttle dyspleased that it shulde be reported abroade that I was racked in the towre They saye now that they ded there was but to fear me Wherby I perceyue they are ashamed of their vncomelye doynges and feare moch least the kynges mageste shulde haue in fourmacyon therof Wherfor they wolde no man to noyse it Well their crueltye God forgeue them Your hart in Christ Iesu. Fare wele and praye Iohan Bale Hypocrytes and tyrauntes wolde neuer be gladlye knowne abroade for that they are in dede But for that they are not they loke alwayes to be gloryouslye noysed Wrisleye Ryche wolde yet be iudged of the worlde ij sober wysemen and verye sage counsellers But thys tyrannouse example of theirs maketh a most manyfest shewe of the contrarye Yea and the God of heauen wyll haue it so knowne to the vnyuersall worlde to their ignomynye and shame So is he wonte to rewarde all cruell Apostataes as he rewarded Iulianus for their wylfull contempt of hys veryte The martyr of Christ for her pacyent sufferaunce shall leaue here behynde her a gloryouse report where as these forsworne enemyes and pursuers of hys worde haue purchased themselues a perpetuall infamye by their cruelte and myschefe In excuse of their madnesse they saye they ded it only to feare her Is it not thynke yow a propre frayenge playe whaÌ„ our armes and eyes are compelled to leaue their naturall holdes Ye ment no lyght dallyaunce whan ye wolde haue had so manye gret women accused toke the hangemannys offyce vpon your owne precyouse personnes O tormentours and tyrauntes abhomynable Ye feare least your temporall and mortall kynge shuld knowe your madde frenesyes But of the eternall kynge whych wyll ryghtlye ponnysh yow for it with the deuyll hys angels vnlesse ye sore repent it ye haue no feare at all It is so honest a part ye haue played that ye wyll not haue it noysed But I promyse yow so to dyâ—â—lgâ— thys vnsemelye facte of yours in the latyne that all christendome ouer it shall be knowne what ye are Anne Askewe I haue redde the processe whych is reported of them that knowe not the truthe to be my recaÌ„tacyon But as sure as the lorde lyueth I neuer meÌ„t thynge lesse than to recaÌ„t Notwithstandynge thys I confesse that in my first troubles I was examyned of the Byshopp of London aboute the sacrament Yet had they no graunte of my mouth but thys That I beleued therin as the worde of God ded bynde me to beleue More had they neuer of me Iohan Bale In the ende of her first examynacyon â–ª is thys matter treated of more at large Here do she repete it agayne onlye to be knowne for Christes stedefast membre and not Antichristes To the voyce of hym she faythfullye obeyed but the voyce of that Romysh monstre and other straungers she regarded not Ioan. 10. As she perceyued whan she was before the Byshopp of London that all passed styll after their olde tyrannye and nothynge after the rules of scripture she suspected their doctryne more than afore and thought them non other than Christ warned hys dyscyples to be ware of Luce 12. Wherupon she throughlye couenaunted with her self neuer to denye hys veryte afore men at their callynge on least he shuld agayne denye her before hys eternall father Mathei 10. For if the confessynge therof bryngeth saluacyon as saynt Paule sayth it doth Roman 10. The denyenge therof on the other syde must nedes brynge in dampnacyon Anne Askewe TheÌ„ he made a coppye whych is now in prynt requyred me to seâ—t therunto my hande But I refused it Then my ij suertyes ded wyll me in no wyse to stycke therat For it was no great matter they sayd Then with moch a do at the last I wrote thus I Anne Askewe do beleue thys if Gods worde do agre to the same the true catholick churche Iohan Bale Commonlye is it spoken of popysh prestes
that in doynge their false feates they sytt in Gods stede Thys poynt folowed the bludderynge Byshopp of London here whych for their olde fantasyed superstycyon laboured in thys woman to dysplace the syncere veryte of the lorde But so surelye was she buylded vpon the harde rocke that neyther for enmyte nor fryndeshypp wâ—lde she ones remoue her foâ—e Mathei 7. Neyther anguyshe trouble torment nor fyre coulde separate her from that loue of her lorde God Roma 8. Though she were for hys sake rebuked and vexed and also appoynted as a shepe to be slayne Psal. 43. Yet ded she strongelye through hym ouercome and haue I doubt it not obtayned the crowne of lyfe Apoca. 2. Anne Askewe Then the Byshopp beynge in great dyspleasure with me bycause I made doubtes in my writynge commaunded me to pryson Where I was a whyle But afterwardes by the meanes of fryndes I came out agayne Here is the truthe of that matter And as concernynge the thynge that ye couere most to knowe Resort to the vj. of Iohan be ruled alwayes therby Thus fare ye wele Quoth Anne Askewe Iohan Bale In all the scriptures we reade not that eyther Christ or yet hys Apostles commaunded anye man or woman to pryson for their faythe as thys tyraunt Byshopp ded here But in dede we fynde that Christes holye Apostles were ofttymes cruellye commaunded to pryson of the same spyghtfullye spirytuall generacyon Acto 4. 5. 12. 16. Christ wylled hys true beleuers to loke for non other at their spirytuall handes than enprysonmentes and deathe Mathei 10. Ioan. 16. And therfor sayd Peter vnto hym I am redye to go with the lorde both into pryson and to deathe Luce 22. Paule greatlye complayneth of hys enprysonmentes and scourgynges by them 2. Corinth 11. Dyuerse in the congregacyon of Smyrna were enprysoned by that fearce synagoge of Sathan Apoca. 2. Esaye prophecyenge the condycyons of the spirytuall Antichrist sayth amonge other that he shulde holde men captyue in preson Esaie 14. Ezechiel reporteth that he shuld churlyshlye checke and in cruelte rule Ezechie 34. Zacharye sheweth that he shuld eate vp the fleshe of the fattest Zacharie 11. Daniel declareth that he shuld persecute with swerde and fyre Daniel 11. And saynt Iohan verefyeth that he shuld be all dronke with the bloude of the witnesses of Iesu Apoca. 17. And therfor in these feates hys Byshoppes do but their kyndes Thus endeth the lattre examynacyon The confessyon of her faythe whych Anne Askewe made in Newgate afore she suffered I Anne Askewe of good me morye although my mercyfull father hath geuen me the breade of aduersyte the water of trouble yet not so moch as my synnes hath deserued confesse my selfe here a synner before the trone of hys heauenlye mageste desyerynge hys eternall mercye And for so moch as I am by the lawe vnryghtouslye condeÌ„pned for an euyll doer coÌ„cernynge opynyoÌ„s I take the same most mercyfull God of myn whych hath made hoth heauen and earthe to recorde that I holde no opynyons contrarye to hys most holye worde Iohan Bale What man of sober dyscressyon can iudge thys woman yll indyfferentlye but markynge thys her last confessyon Nor a fewe of most euydent argumentes are therin to proue her the true seruaunt of God Her wyttes were not ones dystracted for all her most tyraÌ„nouse handelynges She was styll of a perfyght memorye accountynge her emprysonmentes reâ—ylynges rackynges and other tormentes but the breade of aduersyte and the water of trouble as ded Dauid afore her Psalm 79. As the louynge chylde of God she receyued them without grudge and thought them deserued on her partye She toke them for hys hande of mercye and gaue most hygh thankes for them She mekelye confessed her selfe in hys syght a synner but not an haynouse heretyke as she was falselye iudged of the world In that matter she toke hym most stronglye to witnesse that though in faythe she were not agreable to the worldes wylde opynyon yet was she not therin contrarye to hys heauenlye truthe She had afore that proued their spretes conferrynge both their iudgementes 1. Ioan. 4. and perceyued them farre vnlyke Esaie 55. Anne Askewe And I trust in my mercyfull lorde whych is the geuer of all grace that he wyll gracyouslye assyst me agaynst all euyll opynyons whych are contrarye to hys blessyd veryte For I take hym to witnesse that I haue do and wyll do vnto my lyues ende vtterlye abhorre them to the vttermost of my power But thys is the heresye whych they report me to holde that after the prest hath spoken the wordes of consecracyon there remayneth breade styll Iohan Bale Consydre without frowarde parcyall or wylfull affeccyon the poyntes herin contayned and than iudge of what harte or conscyence they haue rysen The hope of thys woman was onlye in God Hym she confessed to be of all grace the geuer Alone in hys mercye she trusted She instauntlye desyred hym to defende her from all errours She abhorred all heresyes She detested mennys superstycyouse inuencyons And most firmelye cleaâ—ed to hys eternall worde If these with those that went afore be not frutes of true christyanyte or of a perfyght membre of Gods eleccyon what frutes wyll we demauÌ„de S. Paule fayth No man can confesse that Iesus is the lorde as she hath done here but in the holye Ghost 1. Corinth 12. Dauid also specifyeth that the lordeneuer forsaketh them whych call vpon hys name put their trust in hym Psal. 9. And as touchynge the prestes consecracyoÌ„ whych is soch a charme of inchauntemeÌ„t as maye noâ— be dâ—ne but by an oyled offycer of the popes generacyon she ded godlye to reiect it in that clowâ—ynge kynde For in all the Byble is it not that anye maÌ„ can make of a drye waffer cake a newe sauer a newe redemer a newe Christ or a newe God No though he shuld vtter all the wordes and scriptures therin Anne Askewe But they both saye and also reache it for a necessarye artycle of faythe that after those wordes be ones spoken there remayneth no breade but euen the selfe same bodye that hynge vpon the crosse on good frydaye both fleshe bloude and bone To thys beleue of theirs saye I naye For then were our commen Crede false whych sayth that he sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye and from thens shall come to iudge the quyck the dead Loo thys is the heresye that I holde and for it must suffer the deathe Iohan Bale Of Antichrist reade we in the scriptures that he hysoyled Apostles shuld do false myracles Math. 24. 2. Thes. 2. Apoca. 13. We fynde also in the same selfe places that he shuld exalte hymselfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshypped as God Who euer hearde of so great a wondre â–ª that a drye cake myght
21 The lawe is turned to wormewood Amos 6. And there caÌ„no ryght iudgement go forth Esaie 59. Iohan Bale Marke here how gracyouslye the lorde kepeth promyse with thys poor seruaâ—nt of hys He that beleueth on me sayth Christ out of hys bellye shall â—owe ryuers of lyuynge water Ioan. 7. Neyther lasheth thys woman out in her extreme troubles language of dispayre nor yet blasphemouse wordes agaynst God with the vnbeleuynge but vttereth the scriptures in wonderfull habundaunce to hys lawde and prayse She rebuketh here the most pestylent vyce of ydolatrye Not by olde narracyons and fables but by the most pare worde of God as ded Daniel Steuen And in the ende she sheweth the stronge stomacke of a most Christen martyr in that she is neyther desyerouse of the deathe neyther yet standeth in feare of the vyoleÌ„ce or extremyte therof What a constancye was thys of a womaÌ„ frayle teÌ„dre yonge and most delycyouslye brought vp But thâ—â— Christes sprete was myghtye in her who bad her be of good chere For though the tyrauntes of thys worlde haue power to slee the bodye yet haue they nopower ouer the sowle Mathei 20. Neyther haue they power in the ende to demynysh one heare of the heade Luce 21. She faynteth not in the myddes of the battayle 1. Cor. 9. But perseuereth stronge and stedefast to the verye ende Math. 10. Not doubtynge but to haue for her faythfull perseuerauÌ„ce the crowne of eternall lyfe Apoc. 2. So merye am I sayth she good creature in the myddes of Newgate as one that is bowne towardes heauen A voyce was thys of a most worthye and valcaunt witnesse in the paynefull kyngedome of pacyence Apoca. 1. She faythfullye reckened of her lorde God that he is not as men are fyckle Numeri 23. But most sure of worde and promyse Psalme 144. And that he wolde most faythfullye kepe couenaunt with her whan tyme shuld come Apoca. 2. She had it most grounded lye planted in her hart that though heauen and earthe ded passe yet coulde not hys wordes and promes passe by vnfulfylled Luc. 21. Ashamed maye these carnall Helchesytesbe whych haue not onlye denyed the veryte of their lorde God but also most shamefullye blasphemed dishonoured both it and themselues for the pleasure of a yeare or ij to dwell styll in thys fleshe They coÌ„sydre not that he with whome they mocke hath power to sende them to helle for their blasphemye Luce 12. They shall nor fynde it a matter lyght for their inconstancye to be â—ometed out of the mouthe of God as vnsauerye morsels Apoca. 3. Neyther shall they proue it a Christmas game to be denyed of Christ before hys heauenlye father and hys angels for denyenge here hys veryte Math. 10. Anne Askewe Oh forgeue vs all our synnes receyue vs gracyouslye As for the workes of our handes we wyll nomore call vpon theÌ„ For it is thu lorde that arte our God Thu shewest euer mercye vnto the fatherlesse Oh if they wolde do thys sayth the lorde I shuld heale theyr sores yea withall my harte wolde I loue them O Ephraim what haue I to do with ydolles anye more Who so is wyse shall vnderstaÌ„de thys And he that is ryghlye enstructed wyll regarde it For the wayes of the lorde are ryghteouse Soch as are godlye wyll walke in them And as for the wycked they wyll stomble at them Osee 14. Iohan Bale All these wordes alleged she out of the last chaptre of Useas the prophete where as he prophecyed the destruccyon of Samaria for the onlye vyce of ydolatrye In the worde of the lorde she declareth her selfe therin to detest and abhorre that vyce aboue all and to repent froÌ„ the hart that she hath at anye tyme worshypped the workes of mennys handes eyther stone wode breade wyne or anye soch lyke for the eternall lyuynge God Consequentlye she confessyth hym to be her onlye God and that she had at that tyme trust in non other els neyther for the remyssyon of her synnes nor yet sowles coÌ„fort at her nede And lyke soch a wone as is vnfaynedlye coÌ„uerted vnto the lorde she axeth of the spirytuall Ephraimytes in hys worde what she hath anye more to do with ydolles or whye they shuld so tyrannouslye enforce her to the worshypynge of them consyderynge that he so ernestlye abhorreth them Fynallye ij sortes of people she reckeneth to be in the worlde and sheweth the dyuerse maner of them The one in the sprete of Christ obeyeth the worde the other in the sprete of errour coÌ„tempneth it And lyke as S Paule doth saye To the one part is it the sauour of lyfe vnto lyfe and to the other the sauour of deathe vnto deathe 2. Corinth 2. Anne Askewe Salomon sayth S. Steuen buylded an howse for the God of Iacob Howbeyt the hyest of all dwelleth not in teÌ„ples made with haÌ„des As sayth the prophete Esa. 66. heaueÌ„ is my seate the earthe is my fote stole What howse wyll ye buylde for me sayth the lorde or what place is it that I shall rest in hath not my hande made all these thynges Acto 7. Woman beleue me sayth Christ to the Samarytane the tyme is at hande that ye shall neyther in thys mountayne nor yet at Hierusalem worshypp the father Ye worshypp ye wote not what but we knowe what we worshypp For saluacyon commeth of the Iewes But the houre coÌ„meth and now is wherin the true worshyppers shall worshypp the father in sprete veryte Ioan. 4. Laboure not sayth Christ for the meate that perysheth but for that endureth into the lyfe euerlastynge whych the soÌ„ne of maÌ„ shall geue yow For hymgod the father hath sealed Ioan. 6. Iohan Bale Here bringe she iii. stronge restymdnyes of the newe testament to confirme her owne Christen beleue therwith and also both to confute and condempne the most execrabyle heresye and false fylthye beleue of the papystes The first of them proueth that the eternall God of heaueÌ„ wyll neyther be wrapped vp in a clowâ—e nor yet shutte vp in a boxe The seconde declareth that in no place of the earthe is he to be sought neyther yet to be worshypped â–ª but within vs in sprete and veryte The thirde of them concludeth that Christ is a feadynge for the sowle and not for the bodye More ouer he is soch a meate as neyther corrupteth mouldeth nor perysheth neyther yet consumeth or wasteth awaye in the bellye Lete not the Romysh popes remnaunt in EnglaÌ„de thynke but in condempnynge the faythe of thys godlye womaâ— they also condempne the veryte of the lorde vnlesse they can discharge these iij. textes of the scripture with other iij. more effectuall As I thynke they shall not nisi ad Calendas Grecas If they allege for their part the saynge of Christ Math. 24. Lo here is Christ or there is Christ. They are confounded