God for their most specyall treasure and haue hym in soch intiere loue that they had moch leuer to lose themselues than hym The wicked desperates haue the voluptuouse pleasures of thys vayne worlde so dere that they hade 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 lefte her in thys paynefull conflycte for his 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 dyd Manye men sore wondre now a daies that Wrisleye whiche was in my lorde Cromwels tyme so ernest a doer against the pope is now becomen agayne for his red larye wares so myghtye a captaine But they remembre not the common adage that honour chaungeth maners and lucre iudgementes These great ynne kepers they saye hadde leuer to haue one good horse man to hooste than vi men on fote specyally if they weare veluet whodes or fyne rochettes What els foloweth Chryst but beggery and sorowes whyche are verye hatefull to the worde Where fatnesse is cawse of euerye mannys laboure there is yet sum what to be loked for If hys chrysten zele be soch that he wyll haue no she heretykes vnponnyshed lete hym do fyrste of all as we reade of dyuerse ryghtfull gouerners amonge the heythen Lete hym serch hys owne howse wele Parauenture he maye fynde aboute my ladye hys wyfe a rellycke of no lytle vertue a practyse of Pythagoras or an olde midwyues blessyng which she carryeth closelye on her for preseruacyoÌ„ of her honoure Her opinyoÌ„ is folke saye that so loÌ„ge as she hath that vpoÌ„ her her worldlye worship can neuer decaye I praye God this prouysyon in short space deceyueth her not as it hath done pope Siluester the seconde and as it dyd of late yeares Thomas wolsye our late Cardynall This heresye goeth neyther to the racke nor to 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 paynefull bones as euer had pacyente Iob I thanke my lorde God therof Then my lorde Chauncellour sente me worde if I wold leaue my opynioÌ„ I shuld waÌ„t nothinge If I wold not I shuld fourth to Newgate so be burned I sente him agayne worde that I wold rather die thaÌ„ to breake my faythe Thus the lorde open the eyes of their blinde 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 signes of a christeÌ„ martyr and faythfull witnesse of God besydes that went afore She allegeth not in all thys longe processe lienge legendes popyshe fables nor yet olde wiues parables but the most liuelie autoritees and examples of the sacred Byble Se 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 flatteringe promyses nor yet ouer coÌ„men with terryble threttenynges of deathe Neyther doubted she the stynke of Newgate nor yet the burnynge fyre in Smythfelde But coueted rather deathe of her bodye for the syncere doctryne of Christe than lyfe of the same vndre the ydolatrouse doctrine 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 litle what shuld moue yow to iudge in me so slendre a faythe as to feare deathe whiche 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 woulde but knowe of them which are common readers of chronycles and Sayntes lyues where they euer redde of a more feruente and lyuelye faythe than was in thys godlye yonge woman As lyght a matter estemed she deathe as dyd Eleazarus that auncyent senyour or yet the vii Machabees with their most worthie mother ii Mach. vi vii For she sayde that it was but the ende of al sorowes She reckened not with the couetouse man the remembraunce therof bytter Eccle. xiiii But with the righteouse she thought it a mooste redie swyfte passage vnto lyfe Ioan. v. The feare of deathe iudged she great wickednesse in a Christen beleuer was in full hope that God wold not suffer her to be troubled therwith For whye deathe loâ—seth vs no life but bringeth it in vnto vs lyke as the harde winter bringeth in the most pleasauÌ„t somer Who can thynke whaÌ„ the sunne goeth downe that it vtterly so perysheth Death vnto the righteouse beleuer is as a profitable haruest which after sweate labour bringeth in moste dylectable frutes None otherwyse thought it Anne Askewe than a verye entrauÌ„ce of lyfe whaÌ„ she had it thus in desyre faithfullie trusted with Paule that God wolde fynyshe in her that he than begonne to hys owne glorye Philippen i. 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 nowe that they dyd there was but to feare me Wherby I perceyue they are ashamed of their vncomelye doynges and feare moch least the kynges mageste shuld haue informacion therof Wherfore they woulde no man to noyse it Well their crueltye God forgeue them Your hart in Christe Iesu. Farewele and praye Iohan Bale Hypocrites and tyrauntes wolde neuer be gladly knowne abroade for that they are in dyde But for that they are not they loke alwayes to be gloryouslye noysed Wrisleye Ryche woulde yet be iudged of the worlde ii sober wyse men and verye sage counsellers But this tyâ—â—nnouse 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 ignomynyt and shame So is he wonte to rewarde all cruell Apostataes as he rewarded Iulianus for their wylfull coÌ„tempt of his verite The martyr of Christ for her pacyent sufferaunce shall leaue here behinde her a gloryouse report whereas these forworne enemyes and pursuers of his worde haue purchased themseluâ—â— a perpetuall infamy by their cruelte and myschef In excuse of their madnes they saye they dyd it only to feare her Is it not
for non other myracle but that onelye they perseuer faythfull to the ende Mathe. x. And neuer denye his verite afore men Luce. xii For that worthye vyctorye of the synnefull worlde standethe in the inuyncyblenesse of fayth and not in myracles and wonders as those waueringe wittes suppose i. Ioan. v. Ryght wonderfullye wyl this apere in the. ii myghtye conflyctes here after folowynge whych the faytfull seruaunt of Iesu Anne Askewe a gentylwoman verye yonge dayntye and tender had with that outragynge Synagoge in her ii examynacions about the xxv yeare of her age whom she sent abroade by her owne hand writynge The handelynges of her other iii. companyons shall be shewed in other seuerall treatyses at layser For the glorye and greate power of the lorde so manifestlye aperynge in hys elect vessels maye not nowe perysh at al handes be vnthankefullye neglected but be spred the worlde ouer as we le in Latyne as English to the perpetuall in famye of so willfully cruel and spyghtfull tyrauntes Nothynge at all shall it terryfye vs nor yet in anie point lete vs of our purpose that our bokes are nowe in Englande condempned and brente by the Byshoppes and prestes with their frantick affinite the great Antichristes vpholders whyche seke by all practises possyble to turne ouer the kynges most noble and godlye interpryse But it wyll from hens forth occasyon vs to set fourth in the Latine also that afore we wrote onlie in the English and so make theyr spirytuall wyckednesse and treason knowne moche farther of What auayled it Ioakim to burne Hieremies proyhecye by the vngracyouse counsell of his prelates Hiere xxxvi Either yet Antiochus to set fyre on the other scriptures i. Macha i. After the Apostles were brought afore the counsell and strayghtlye cōmaunded to cease from preachynge they preached moch more thā afore Acto iiii In most terrible persecucions of the primatiue churche were the examynacions answers tormentes and deathes of the constaunt martyrs written and sente abroade all the whole worlde ouer as testyfyeth Eusebius Cesariensis in his ecclesyastyck hystorye Their coppyes haboūde yet euery where Great slaughter burnynge hath bene here in Englande for Iohan wycleues bokes euer sens the yeare of our lorde M. CCC LXXXII Yet haue not one of them throughlye perysheth I haue at thys houre the tytles of a C. and XLIIII of them which are many more in nombre For some of thē vndre one title comprehendeth ii bokes some iii. some iiii Yea one of them contayneth xii I thinke not the contrary but ere the worlde be at a full ende God wyll so gloryfye that twentye tymes condempned heretyke execrated cursed spitted and spatled at that al your popish writers before hys tyme and after wyll be reckned but vyle swyne heardes to hym for the good fauer he bare to Chrystes holye Gospell A very madnesse is it to stryue agaynst God whā he wyll haue the longe hydden inyquytees knowne As the godlye wyse man Gamaliel sayd Acto v. If this enterpryse that is now taken agaynst yow be of God ye shal neuer be able with all your tirannouse practyses to dyssolue it Now concernynge that blessed woman Anne Askewe which latelye suffered the tyrannye of this world for right wisnesse sake In Lyncolneshyre was she borne of a verye auncyent and noble stocke Sir William Askewe a worthy knyght beynge her father But no worthynesse in the fleshe neyther yet anye worldlye noblenesse auaileth to god warde afore whome is no acceptacyon of persone Actorum x. Onlye is it faythe with his true loue and feare which maketh vs the accepte noble and worthye chyldren vnto God Ioan. i. Whereof by hys gyfte she had wonderfull habundaunce Soch a wone was she as was Lydia the purple sellar whose harte the lorde opened by the godlye preachynge of Paule at Thiatira Acto xvi For dylygent hede gaue she to his worde whan it was ones taught wythoute supersticion would no lōgar be a false worshipper or ydolatour after the wicked scole of Antichrist But became frō thens forth a true worshipper worshipping her lorde God whych is a sprete not breade in sprete in veryte accordinge to the worde of his Ioan. iiii The Gospell of Christ bare she in her harte as ded the holye mayde Cecilia neuer after ceased frō the study therof nor frō godlye cōmunycacion prayer tyll she was clerlie by most cruel tormentes taken from thys wretched worlde By her do I here dere fryndes in the Lord as ded the faithfull Bretherne in Fraunce at the cities of Lions and Vicuna by a lyke faythfull yonge woman called Blandina Whyche was there put to deathe with iii. myghtye companyons more amonge other as thys was for her Christē beleue about the yeare of our lorde C. and. lxx in the primatiue sprynge of their Christyanyte They wrote vnto their Bretherne in the landes of Asia Phrygia verye farre of her mightie stronge sufferinges for Christes faith which the knewe nothing of afore I write here vnto yow in Englād the double processe of this noble woman wherof ye are not ignoraunt for so moch as it was there so manyfestly done amonge yow Coupled I haue these ii examples togither bycause I fynde them in so manye pointes agree Blandina was yonge and tender So was Anne Askewe also But that which was fraile of nature in thē both Christ made most stronge by hys grace Blandina had iii. ernest companions in Christ. Maturus Sanctes and Attalus so feruently faythfull as her selfe So had Anne Askewe iii. fyre fellowes a gentylman called Iohan Lassels her instructour a preste and a tayler called Iohan Adlam men in Chrystes veryte vnto the ende most cōstaunt With Blādina were in preson to the nombre of x. whych denyed the truthe and were clerelie forsakē of God for it How manye fell frō Christ besydes Crome Shaxton whan Anne Askewe stode faste by hym I am vncerteyne But I counsell them as saynte Iohan counselled the Laodycyanes in the myserable estate they are now in to hye them through tryed golde of Christ least they perysh all togither Apoca. iii. If they had not styll remayned in that chauncell whome Christe commaunded Iohan in no wyse to measure Apoc. ii They had neuer so shamefullye blasphemed lyke as Bedas also toucheth in hys former prophecye Prompt was Blandina and of most lustye corage in renderynge her lyfe for the lyberte of her faythe No lesse lyuelye and quyck was Anne Askewe in all her enprisoninges and tormētes Great was the loue Blandina had to Christ. No lesse was the loue of Anne Askewe Blandina neuer faynted in torment No more ded Anne Askewe in sprete whan she was so terrybly racked of the chaūceller and Ryche that the strynges of her armes and eyes were peryshed Blādina deryded the cruelte of the tyrauntes So ded Anne Askewe
permyt her to be ouercommen of the flatteryng worlde neyther yet to geue place to his enemyes And I doubt it not but these are mooste euydent sygnes that she was hys faythful seruaunt I know certaynly that all the power of hell can not preuayle agaynst so earnest a faythe Math xvi For he hathe so spoken it there whiche can not lye Luc. xxi and. i. Petri. ii In thys lattre part she sheweth the nature of Christes lyuelye membre and of a perfyghte christen martyr in .ii. poyntes first she desyreth god to forgeue her enemyes as Christe desyred hym in the tyme of hys passyon Luc. xxiii And as holy Steuen also did for the tyme of his death Actorum vii Secondlye she desyreth theyr hartes to be opened that thei maye trulye beleue and be saued Actorum xvi Thys supernaturall affecte of charyte hadde she onelye of the sprete of Christe whyche wylleth not the deathe of a frowarde synner but rather that he be from hys wyckednes turned and so lyue Ezech. xxxiii Thus is she a Saynt canonysed in Christes bloud though she neuer haue other canonysacyon of pope preste nor Byshoppe The destroyer shall be destroyed without bandes Daniel viii The Balade which Anne Askewe made and sange whā she was in Newgate LYke as the armed knyght Appoynted to the fielde With this worlde wyl I fyght And fayth shal be my shyelde Fayth is that weapon stronge Whych wyl not fayle at nede My foes therfore amonge Therwyth wyll I procede As it is had in strengthe And force of Christes waye It wyll preuayle at lengthe Though all the deuyls saye naye Fayth in the fathers olde Obtayned ryghtwysnes Whych make me verye bolde To feare no worldes dystresse I nowe reioce in harte And hope byd me do so For Christ wyll take my part And ease me of my wo. Thou sayst lorde who so knocke To them wylt thou attende Vndo therfore the locke And thy stronge power sende More enemyes now I haue Than heere 's vpon my head Let them not me depraue But fyght thou in my steade On the my care I cast For all theyr cruell spyght I set not by theyr hast For thou art my delyght I am not she that lyst My anker to let fall For euerye drystynge myst My shyppe substancyall Not oft vse I to wryght In prose nor yet in tyme Yet wyll I shewe our syght That I sawe in my tyme. I sawe a tyall trone Where Iustyce shulde haue sytte But in her stede was one Of modye cruell wytte Absorpt was tyghtwysnesse As of the ragynge floude Sathan in hys excesse Suete vp the gyltelesse bloude Then thought I Iesus lorde Whan thou shalte iudge vs all Harde is it to recorde On these men what wyl fall Yet lorde I the desyre For that they do to me Let them not tast the hyre Of theyr inyquyte God saue the kynge God hath chosē the weake thynges of the world to confounde thynges which are myghty Yea thynges of no reputaciō for to bryng to nought thynges of reputacion that no fleshe shulde presume in his syght 1. Corin. 1. The Conclusyon THus hast thou dylygente reader the ende of these ii examynaciōs and answers of the moost christen martyr Anne Askewe with other addycyons besydes Marke in thē the horryble mad furye of Antychrist and the deuyll how they worke in thys age by their tyrannous mēbres to brynge the last vengeaunce swyftlye vpon thē Afore tyme hath not bene seane soch frantyck outrage as is now the iudges wythout all sober dyscressyon ronnynyge to the racke toggynge halynge and pullynge therat lyke tormentours in a playe Compare me here Pylate wythe Wrisleye the hyghe chauncellour of Englande wyth Riche and wyth other whych wyl be counted no small moates And se howe moch the pagane Iudge excelleth in vertue and wisdom the false christened iudge yea rather prodygyouse tyraunte Whan Pylate had enquired what accusacyon the Iewes clergye had agaynste Christ he perceyued they dyd all of malyce and refused to meddle therin Ioan xviii In Wrisleye and Ryche is no suche equite But they rather seke occasyon to accomplyshe the full malyce of Antychriste Pylate shewed the accused all fauer possyble He examyned hym pryuatelye he gaue hym fryndelye wordes he had hym not feare to speake he hearde hym wyth gentylnesse he counselled wyth hym that he myght the more frelye suppresse theyr madde furye and he promysed they shulde do hym no wrong in case he wolde vtter his ful mynd Ioā xviii Farre contrarye to this were Wrisleye and Ryche whych not all ignoraunt of the Byshoppes beastlye errours malycyouslye wythout all feare of God and shame of the worlde executed vpon this godly woman moste terryble tyrannye Pylate spake for the innocent excused hym defended hym layed fourth the lawe pleated for hym sharpelye required them to shewe mercye alleged for hym theyr custome declared him an innocent sought by all meanes to delyuer hym Mat xxvii These periured magistrates Wrisleye Ryche not onlye examyned thys innocent woman with rigour but also hated her scorned her reuyled her condempned her for an heretike with vnspeakable tormentes sought to enforce her to brynge by accusacion other noble women and men to death More ouer Pylate wolde shede no innocent bloud but laboured to mytigate the Byshoppes furye instaūted them as they were relygiouse to shew godlye fauer concludynge that he coulde by no lawe of iustice iudge him worthie to die Marci xv These vengeable tyrauntes Wrisleye and Riche insaciably thirsted not onlie the innocēt bloud of this faithfull seruaunt of God but also the bloud of the noble duchesse of Sothfolke the bloud of the worthye countesse of Hertforde and of the vertuouse countesse of Suffexe the bloude of the faythfull ladye Dennye of the good lady Fizwilliams and of other godlye women more soche widowes and wiues as Paule Peter and Iohan commendeth in their epistles besydes the bloude of serten noblemen of the kynges hygh counsell And all at the spyghtfull callynge on of the Byshoppes Slacke eare gaue Pilate to the prestes he regarded not ther dyspleasure he detected their proternouse madnesse by delayes he dyfferred the sentence and fynallye washed hys handes as one that was clere from their tyrannie Luce. xxiii Swyft eare gaue Wrisleye Ryche with their wycked affynyte to the puffed vp porkelynges of the pope Gardiner Bonner soch other they folowed their reuell counsell they enprysoned her iudged her condempned her racked her at the laste with their owne poluted bloudie tormentours hādes till the vaynes and synnowes brast If ye marke the scriptures wele ye shall easelye perceyue that Pylate was not in fawte of Chrystes bufferynges bearynges scornynges face spyttynges crownynge with thorne and soch other extreme handelynges But the malycyouse Byshoppes prestes which waged Iudas to betraye hym hyred false wytnesse to accuse hym monyed the
neuer teach soche fylthye lernynge More of this shall I wryte God willing in the answere of their bokes Anne Askewe Then the Byshoppes chaunceller rebuked me and sayde that I was moche to blame for vtterynge the scryptures For S. Paule he sayde forbode women to speake or to talke of the worde of God I answered hym that I knewe Paules meanynge so well as he whyche is i. Corintheorum xiiii that a woman oughte not to speake in the congregacyon by the waye of teachynge And then I asked hym how manye women he hadde seane go into the pulpette preache He sayde he neuer sawe none TheÌ„ I said he oughte to fynd no faute in poore women excepte they had offended the lawe Iohan Bale PleÌ„teouse ynough is her answer here vnto this quarellinge and as apereth vnlerned chancelloure Manye godlye women both in the olde lawe the newe were lerned in the scriptures and made vtterauÌ„ce of theÌ„ to the glorie of god As we reade of Helisabeth Mary and Anna the wydowe Lu. i. ii yet were they not rebuked for it yea Marye Christes mother retained all that was afterwarde wrytten of hym Luc. ii yet was it not imputed vnto her an offence Christ blamed not the woman that cryed whyls he was in preachynge happye is the wombe that beat the Luce. xi The women which gaue knowlege to his discyples that he was rysen from death to lyfe discomfited not he but solaced them with hys most gloriouse aperauÌ„ce Mat. xxviii Io. xx In the primatyue churche specially in Saint Hieromes time was it a great praise vnto womeÌ„ to be lerned in the scriptures Great commendacioÌ„s geueth our Englysh Cronicles to Helena Vrsula and Hilda womeÌ„ of our nacyon for beynge lerned also in the scriptures Soch a woman was the seid Hilda as openlye disputed in them against the superstycyons of certen byshoppes But thys chancellour by like chaunced vpon that blynde popysh worke whych Walter Hunte a whyte fryre wrot iiii score yeares ago Contra doctrices mulieres against scole women or els some other lyke blynde Romysh beggeryes Anne askewe Then my Lorde Mayre commaunded me to warde I asked him if suertees woulde not serue me And he made me short answer that he wold take non Then was I had to the Counter and there remayned xii dayes no frynde admytted to speake with me Iohan Bale Here is Christ yet troden on the hele by that wycked serpent whych tempted Eua. Gene. iii. His faithful membre for beleuyng in him is here throwne in preson And no maruel for it was his owne ê“mes ye shall be brought before rulers debitees saith he for my truthes sake Mat. x. ye shal be betraied of your owne nacyon and kindred so throwne in presoÌ„ Luc. xxi If they haue persecuted methinke not but they wyll also persecute yow Io. v. This serpent is agayne becomeÌ„ the prince of this world holdeth the gouerners therof captyue Io. xiiii Suertees wold haue ben takeÌ„ for a thefe or a mourtherer but not for Chrystes meÌ„ber the bishoppes chauÌ„cellour being at hande nor yet her fryndes permitted to confort her Anne Askewe But in the meane tyme there was a prest sent to me whiche sayd that he was comaunded of the byshopp to examyne me and to geue me good counsell which he dyd not But fyrst he asked me for what cause I was put in the CouÌ„ter And I tolde hym I coulde not tell Then he sayde it was great pitie that I shulde be there with out cause and concluded that he was verye sorye for me Iohan Bale O temptacion of Sathan Christ beinge in the solitarie wildernesse alone was after thys flattering sort assaulted first of his enemye Matt. iiii This Iudas was sente afore to geue a frindelie kisse the more depelie to trappe the innoceÌ„t in snare But Gods wisdom made her to perceiue what he was A false prophete is sone knowne by hys frutes amonge theÌ„ that are godlye wyse Mat. vii She coÌ„sidered with Salomon that more to profyght are the strypes of a frinde thaÌ„ the fraudâ—lent kysses of a deceitful enemye Prouerb xxxvii Anne Askewe Secondly he sayd it was tolde hym that I shuld denye the sacrament of the aultre And I answered hym agayne that that I had sayd I had sayd Iohan Bale In this brefe answere she remeÌ„bred SalomoÌ„s couÌ„sell Answer not a fole all after his folishnesse Beware of theÌ„ saith Christ which come in shepes clothinge for inwardlye they are most rauenynge wolues Mat. vii God destroieth the craftes of the wicked sayth Iob so that they are not hable to perfourme that they take in hande Iob. v. Anne Askewe Thirdly he asked me yf I were shryuen I tolde hym no. Then he sayde he wolde brynge one to me for to shryue me And I tolde hym so that I myghte haue one of these iii. that is to saye doctor Crome syr Gyllam or Huntyngton I was contented bycause I knewe them to be men of wysedome As for yow or anye other I wyll not dysprayse bycause I knowe ye not Then he sayde I woulde not haue yow thynke but that I or an other that shall be broughte yow shall be as honest as they For yf we were not ye may be sure the king wolde not suffer vs to preache Then I answered by the saynge of Salomon By commonynge with the wise I maye lerne wysedome but by talkynge with a fole I shall take skath Prou. i. Iohan Bale Se how thys aduersary coÌ„paseth lyke a rauenyng lyon to deuoure this lambe i. Pet. v. Now temptethhe her with CoÌ„fession which hath bene such a bayte of theirs as hath broughte into theyr nettes and snares the myghtiest prynces of the worlde both kynges and emprours Se here yf they leaue anye subtylte vnsought to obtaine theyr praie He reckened by this to winne his purpose which waye so euer he had taken Yf she hadde bene confessed to hym he had knowen whyche waye she had bene bente If she had vtterlye refused confessyon he had more matter to accuse her of O subtyle sede of the serpeÌ„t This part plaied your olde generacion the Pharisees and prestes with Christ to bring him in dauÌ„ger of the lawe Mat. xxii Ioha viii No ChristeÌ„ erudicioÌ„ bringeth this prest nor yet good counsels of scripture But as Esay sayth The hypocryte ymagyneth abhomynacion agaynst God to famysh the hungry and witholde drinke from the thirstye Yet shall not the eyes of the seynge be dymme nor the eares of the hearyng be deffe Esa. xxxii Yf the king admit soch preachers as I can not thinke it a sore plage remaineth both to him and to his people Anne Askewe Forthly he asked me yf the hoste shulde fall and a beaste dyd eate it whether the beaste dyd receyue God or no I answered Seynge ye haue taken the paynes to aske thys questyon I desyre yow also to take so moche payne
more as to assoyle it youre selfe For I wyll not do it bycause I perceyue ye come to tempte me And he sayde it was agaynste the ordre of scoles that he whiche asked the question shuld answer it I told him I was but a woman knewe not the course of scoles Iohan Bale Beastlye was that question and of a more beastlye brayne propouned to this womā Lytle nede shall other men haue to manyfest theyr blasphemous folyes whā they do it so playnely theyr selues Who euer hearde afore that their hoste was a God and myght fall and be eaten of a beaste tyl they now so beastelye tolde the tale Thoughe Saynt Paule where as it is ryghtlye mynistred doth call it the bodye of the Lord. i Corin. xi Yet doth he not call it a God Thoughe Christ sayth This is my bodye Math. xxvi Mar. xiiii Luc. xxii yet saythe he not this is a God For God is a sprete no bodye Ioan. iiii Where God is eaten it is of the sprete and neyther of mouse nor ratte as wynchestre and Peryn wyth other lyke popyshe heretikes haue taught now of late by their owne hande wrytynges Oure God is in heauen and cannot fall nor yet be eaten of beastes Yf they haue soche a God as maye both fall and so be eaten as thys prest here confessethe it is some false or counterfet god of theyr owne makyng If he maye putryfye or be consumed of wormes moule rust beast or fyre Baruch sayth it is an Idoll no God Baruch vi These witles ydolators haue no grace in thys age to hyde theyr olde legerdemaynes They fare lyke those dronkē Gossypes whych tel more than al whā their heades be full of well gyngerdeale The proude crowne of the dronken Ephraemytes sayth Esaye shal be troden vnder fote The prestes and the prophetes do stacker they are so ouerseane wyth wyne Esa xxviii They stomble in the stretes haue stained thēselues with bloud Tren iiii Al the dwellers of Iuda sayth the lorde shal I fyl with drōckennesse both the kynges and the prestes I wyl neyther pardone them spare them nor yet haue pytie on them Hier. xiii And where as that dronckennes is sayth Salomō there is no coūsel kept Pro. xiii In the ende this hipocrite ful lyke him selfe allegeth to this woman a manner vsed of his olde predecessours in the scholes of falshed But frome the scole of truth he bryngeth nothynge to the confort of her conscience He declareth ful workemanly in this what he his generacion seketh by such their spyritual and iustyfyenge workes ex opere operato Anne askewe Fyftly he asked me yf I intended to receyue the sacramente at Easter or no I answered that els I were no Christen woman and that I dyd reioyce that the tyme was so nere at hande And thā he departed thens with manye fayre wordes Iohan Bale This hongrye wolfe practiseth by all crafty wayes possible to sucke the bloude of this innocent lambe Is not that thynke yow an holye congregacyon whych is thus spyrytuallye occupyed Some Godlye menne wyll wondre that they be not ashamed But maruele not of it For the holy Gost saith in his fore iudgemētes that the same holy mother which hath hatched thē vpin oyles in shauynges is an vnshamefast whore Apo. xvii Dan. viii Thā of veri nature must her whelpes be shameles chyldren Suche shameles dogges are they saythe Esaye as be neuer satysfyed Es. lvi whā they kyl you saith Christ they shall thynke they do God good seruyce Io xvi so greatly haue their malice blinded them Sap. ii which is partly the dronkennesse afore spoken of Anne Askewe And the. xxiii daye of Marche my cosyne Brittayne came into the Counter to me and asked there whether I myghte be put to bayle or no Then wente he immedyatlye vnto my Lorde Mayre desyerynge of hym to be so good Lorde vnto me that I myght be bayled My lorde answered hym and sayde that he wolde be glad to do the bests that in him laye Howbeit he coulde not bayle me without the consent of a spyrytuall offycer So requyrynge hym to go and speake wyth the chauncelloure of London For he sayde lyke as he coulde not commytte me to prysone without the consent of a spirytuall offycer no more could he bayle me wythout consente of the same Iohan Bale True is it here that is written of S. Iohan in the Apocalyppes that Antychrist is worshipped of the potentates kynges of the earth Apo. xiii The mayre of London which is the kynges liefe tenaunt and representeth there hys owne persone standeth here lyke a dead Idol or lyke suche a seruaunt slaue as can do nothynge wythin hys owne cytye concernynge theyr matters Who is lyke the Beaste sayth Saynte Iohan who is able to warre wyth hym He hathe brought al lādes and theyr kyngdomes in feare saith Esaye the strengthe of their cytyes hath he taken awaye and restrayned the deliueraunce of theyr presoners Esai xiiii The parētes of hym that was borne blynde feared this spyritual tirannye or captyuyte of theirs such time as they were examined of the byshoppes for the sight of their sonne Io vi Such as beleued in Christ amonge the chefe rulers of the Iewes wolde not be acknowne therof for feare of lyke vyolence Io. xii No newe thyng is it than in that spirituall generacyon but a custome of old antyquite Both Christ and his Apostles haue suffered like tyrannie vnder them But neuer dyd they yet ministre it to anye creature after theyr example Anne Askewe So vpon that he wente to the chauncellour requyrynge of him as he dyd afore of my lord Mayre He answered hym that the matter was so haynouse that he durste not of hymselfe do it withoute my Lorde of London were made preuye therunto But he sayde he wolde speake vnto my Lorde in it And bad hym repare vnto hym the next morowe and he shulde wele knowne my lordes pleasure Iohan Bale Ryghtwysnesse iudge they synne synne rightwisnesse Es. v. so vnperfight is their syght Io. xii in that God hath geuen thē vp to their owne lustes Rom. i. What an haynouse matter is it holden here to beleue in Christ after the scriptures not after their supersticiouse maner For non other cause could they laye to thys woman as ye haue heard here afore and as ye shall here after perceiue more largelie What so euer it be to offēde God or man their offence maye be no lesse than prison and deathe The Turke is not more vēgeable thā is thys spightfull spirituall generaciō Yet boast they Christes religion and the holye mother churche Anne Askewe And vpon the morowe after he came thydre and spake both with the chauncellour and wyth my lorde byshopp of Londō My lorde declared vnto hym that he was verye wele contented that I shulde come forthe to a communycacyon
whoredome sodometrie wyth other moste deuylysh vyces reckeneth he not to hurte the minystracyon of a prest yet iudgeth it he an heresye no lesse worthye then deathe to beleue that Christes fleshe and bloude is receyued in faythe and spret What though it be Christes most ernest doctrine Ioan. vi what a saynge sayth this Bishopp is thys In sprete I wyll not take yow at the worste sayth he As though it were a most haynous heresye But mooste dyscrete and godlye was the womannes answere declaringe her a ryghte membre of Christ where as those prestes whō he here defendeth are vnworthye receyuers and membres of the deuyl Ioan. xiii i. Corin xi This is an Antichrist here knowne by hys frutes For he vttereth blasphemyes agaynst god Daniel vii Apoc xiii he calleth euyll Good and Good euyll Esa. v. Prouerbiorum iii. Anne Askewe Then he layed vnto me that I shoulde saye that the sacramēt remaynynge in the pixte was but breade I answered that I neuer sayde so But in dede the quest asked me soche a question whereunto I wold not answere I said tyll soche tyme as they hadde assoyled me this question of myne Wherfore Steuen was stoned to deathe They sayde they knewe not Then sayd I agayne no more wolde I tell them what it was Iohan Bale O Idolouse shepehearde sayth zach thou sekest not to heale the wounded but to eate the fleshe of the fatte zach xi The watche men of Israel sayth the lorde are verye blynde beastes and shamelesse dogges They haue no vnderstandinge but folowe their owne beastly wayes for couetousnesse Esaie lvi Who euer redde in the scripture or autorysed Chronycle that breade in a boxe shulde be Christes bodye Wher or whā commaunded he his moste holye bodye so to be bestowed What haue ye to laye for thys doctrine of yours Are ye not yet ashamed of your vnreuerent and blasphemouse beastlynesse will ye still plucke our Christen beleue from the right hand of God the eternall father and sende it to a boxe of your braynyshe deuysynge The first boxer of it was pope Honorius the thyrde in the yeare of our lorde M.CC.XVI after the many folde reuelacyons of dyuerse relygyouse women Neyther was there anye great honour geuen vnto it of the common people till a sorye solytarye syster or Ankorasse in the lande of Leodiū or Luke called Eua after certen visions had procured of pope Vrbanus the forth in the yeare of our Lorde M.CC.LXIIII the feaste of Corpus Christi to be holdē solempne all Christendome ouer As testifieth Arnoldus Bostius Epist vi ad Ioannem Paleonydorum In al the. xii hondred yeares afore that was it neyther boxed nor pixed honoured nor sensed vnyuersally And se what an horrible worke here is now for the boxinge therof and what a great heresie it is to beleue that Christ dwell not therin contrary both to hys owne to hys Apostles doctryne Marke also how this Gods creature is handeled here for it and how subtyllye she is betraied of the Bishoppes begles and lymmes of the deuyll Anne Askewe Then layde it my Lorde vnto me that I hade alleged a certen text of the scripture I answered that I alleged none other but Saynte Paules owne saynge to the Athenianes in the. xvii chapter of the Apostles actes That God dwelleth not in temples made wyth handes Then asked he me whate my faythe and beleue was in that matter I answered hym I beleue as the scripture doth teache me Then enquyred he of me what yf the scripture dothe saye that it is the bodye of Chryste I beleue sayde I lyke as the scrypture doth teache me Then asked he agayne what yf the scrypture dothe saye that it is not the bodye of Christ My answere was styll I beleue as the scrypture infourmeth me And vpon thys argumente he taryed a greate whyle to haue dryuen me to make him an answer to his minde Howe be it I wolde not but concluded thus with hym that I beleued therin and in all othere thynges as Christ and hys holy Apostles dyd leaue them Iohan Bale Se what an horryble synne here was She alleged the scripture for her beleue whyche is a sore and a daungerouse matter For it is agaynste the popes canon lawes and agaynst the olde customes of holie churche Sens kynge Henryes dayes the fourth hath it ben a burnynge matter onlye to reade it in the Englyshe tunge and was called wycleues lernyng tyll now of late years And it wyll not be wele with holye churche tyll it be brought to that point agayne For it maketh manye heretykes agaynst holye churche O insipyent papystes These are your corrupted practyses and abhomynable studyes to dryue the symple from God and yet ye thynke he seyth yow not Psalme xiii S. Paule sayth Roma xv what so euer thynges are wrytten in the scriptures are written for our lernynge that we through pacyence and cōfort in them myght haue hope and ye wyll robbe vs therof Christ commaunded all peoples both men and women Iohan. v. to serche the scryptures yf they thynke to haue euerlastynge lyfe for that lyfe is no where but in thē Yet wyll yow in payne of deathe kepe them kyll from them For ye take vpon ye to sytte in Gods stede and thynke by that vsurped offyce that ye maye turne ouer all ii Thes. ii But Christ bad vs to be ware both of yow and your chaplaines whā he said There shall aryse false Christes and false prophetes workynge many great wōders and saynge Lo here is Christ and there is Christ. Beleue them not Matt. xxiiii And therfore alleged this womā vnto your qwestmongers the dogges that Christ warned vs of Mathei vii and now vnto yow that saing of S. Paule Acto xvii That God dwelleth not in tēples made with handes which also were the wordes both of Salomon longe afore iii. Reg. viii of Steuen Act vii in his tyme. That scripture somoch offēded yow that ye wolde nedes knowe therof the vnderstādynge For soche textes as agre not with the cloynynges of youre cōiurers and the conueiaunces of your sorcerers must nedes be seasoned with Aristotles Phisickes and fawced with Iohan Donses subtyltees Here make ye a wonderfull turmoylynge to wrynge out of this Womānes beliue in that matter that she might eyther become a creature of your olde God the pope or els be burned yet haue she not ones remoued her fote from the harde foundacyon or sauynge rocke Ihesus Chryst. i. Corinth xi Blessed be hys holye name for it Anne Askewe Then he asked me whye I had so fewe wordes And I answered God hath geuen me the gyfte of knowlege but not of vtteraunce And Salomō sayth that a womā of fewe wordes is a gifte of God Prouer. xix Iohan Bale Whā Christ stode before Cayphas he asked him moche after thys sort wherfore he had so few wordes Thou answerest not
Ezech. xxiiii Anne Askewe My beleue whyche I wrote to the counsell was thys That the sacramentall breade was left vs to be receyued with thankes geuynge in remembraunce of Chrystes deathe the onlye remedye of our sowles recouer And that therby we also receyue the whole benefyghtes and frutes of hys mooste gloryouse passyon Iohan Bale We reade not in the Gospell that the materyall breade at Christes holye supper was anye other wise taken of the Apostles thā thus Neither yet that Chryste 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 high matters were The discyples axed here neyther how nor what as doubtlesse they woulde haue done if he hade mynded them to haue taken the breade for him They thought it ynough to take it in hys remembraunce lyke as he than playnelye taught them Luce xxii The eating of his fleshe and drynkynge of hys bloude therin to the releuynge of their sowles thyrst and hunger they knewe to perteyne vnto fayth accordynge to hys instruccyons in the vi of Iohan. What haue thys godlye woman than offended whyche 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 bothe Anne Askewe Then wolde they nedes knowe whether the bred in the boxe were God or no I sayde God is a sprete and wyll be worshypped in sprete and truthe Ioan. iiii Then they demaunded Wyl yow playnlye denye Christ to be in the sacrament I answered that I beleued faythfullye the eternall sonne of God not to dwell there In witnes wher of I recyted agayne the hystorye of Bel and the. ix chaptre of Daniel ye. vii and the. xvii of the Actes and the. xxiiii of Mathew concludynge thus I neyther wyshe death nor yet feare his myghte God haue the prayse therof with thankes Iohan Bale Amonge the olde ydolaters some toke the sūne some the mone some the fyre some the water with soch other lyke for their Godes as witnesseth Dioderus Siculus Herodotus Plynius Lactantius dyuerse autours more Now come our dottinge papistes here wadinge yet more deper in ydolatrye and they must haue breade for theyr God yea a waffer cake whyche is scarse worthy to be called bread In what sorowful case are Christen people nowe a dayes that they maye worshypp their lorde and redemer Ihesus Christe in no shappe that hys heauenly father hath set hym forth in but in such a shappe only as the waffer baker hath ymagined by his slendre wyt Gods creatures were they whom the ydolaters toke for theyr Gods 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 worshyp soche a God either yet to haue himself honoured in such a symylytude No thynge is here spoken agaynst the moste holye table of the lord but agaynst that abhomynable ydol of the prestes which hath moste detestablye blemyshed that most godlye and wholsom communyon A gloryouse wytnesse of the lorde dyd this blessed woman sheweth her selfe in the answere makynge to thys blasphemous beggerye whā she sayde that god was a sprete and no waffer cake woulde be worshypped in sprete and veryte not in superstycyon and inglynge of the ydoll prestes Godlye was she to denye Christes presence in that execrable ydol but moch more godly to geue her lyfe for it Her alleged scriptures proue that God dwelleth not in tēples but a fowle abhomynacyon in hys stede as is shewed afore In that she feareth not the power of deathe she declareth her selfe a most constaunt martyr praysynge her Lorde God for hys gyfte She called to remembraunce the promyses of her lorde Ihesus Christ that they shulde se no deathe whych obserued hys worde Ioan viii Agayn they that beleued on him shuld ioyfully passe through from deathe vnto lyfe Iohan. v. And vpon these promises she most strōgely trusted She considered also with Peter that Christ had swallowed vp deathe to make vs the heyres of euerlastynge lyfe i. Petri iii. More ouer that he had ouerthrowne hym whych sumtyme hadde the rule of death Hebreorum ii And also taken awaye the sharpe stynge of the deathe it selfe Osee. xiii Anne Askewe My lettre sent to the lorde Chauncellour The Lorde God by whom all creatures have theyr beynge blesse yow wyth the lyghte of hys knowledge Amen My dutye to your lordshyppe remembred c. It myghte please yow to accepte thys my bolde sute as the sute of one whyche vpon due consyderacions is moued to the same and hopethe to obtayne My requeste to youre lordeshyppe is only that it may please the same to be a meane for me to the kynges magestye that hys grace maye be certyfyed of these fewe lynes whiche I haue wrytten concernynge my beleue Whyche whan it shall be trulye conferred wyth the harde iudgement geuen me for the same I thynke hys grace shall well perceyue me to be wayed in an vneuen payer of balaunces But I remyt my matter cause to almyghtye God whyche ryghtlye iudgeth al secretes And thus I commende youre lordeshyppe to the gouernance of him and felyshipp of all sayntes Amen By youre handemayde Anne Askewe Iohan Bale In this byl to the chauncellour apereth it playne all frowarde affeccyōs sequestred what this womā was She is not here defected with the desperat for vnryghteouse handelynge mournynge cursynge and sorowyng as they do commōlye But stādynge vp strongely in the lorde most gentyllye she obeyeth the powers she blesseth her vexers persuers and wysheth them the lyghte of Goddes necessarye knowledge Luce. vi She consydereth the powers to be ordayned of God Romanorum xiii And though theyr autoryte be sore abused yet wyth Christe and hys Apostles she humblye submytteth herselfe to them thynkynge to suffer vnder them as no yll doer but as Christes true seruaunte i. Peter iiii Notwithstandyng she layeth forth here both before chauncelloure kynge the matter wherupon she is condempned to deathe that they accordynge to theyr bounde dewtye myghte more ryghtlye waye it iii. Regu x. Not that she coueted therby to auoyde the deathe but to put them in remembraunce of theyr offyce concernynge the swerd which they ought not vaynely to ministre Roman xiii and that they shulde also be wythout excuse of ignoraunce in the greate daye of reckenynge for permitting soch vyolēce to be done Roma ii In the ende yet to make all sure she commytteth her cause and quarell to God wherein she declareth her onlye hope to be in hym and no man Psalme cxlv Anne
a daies for that wretched blynde kyngdome of the Romysh pope But trust vpon it trulye ye terryble termagantes of hell There is no practise there is no wisdome there is no counsell that can agaynst the lorde preuaile Prouerb xxi Ye loke to be obeyed in all deuilyshnesse But ye considre not that where God is dishonoured by your obedyence there belongeth none to yow Acto v. Ye haue moch ado here with sectes as though it were a great heresye rightlye to beleue in our lorde Iesus Christ after the Gospell not after your Romysh father But where was euer yet a more pestylent and deuilish secte than is that Sodomytyshe secte whom ye here so ernestlye maynteyne with tyrannye and mischefe How gredilye seke yow the slaughter of Gods true seruauntes ye bloud thurstye wolues as the holye Ghost doth call yow Psal. xxv If the vertuouse ladies most noble women whose liues ye cruellye seke in your madde ragynge furye as rauishynge lyons in the darke Psal. ix haue throwne of their shulders for Christes easye and gentill burden Mathey xi the popes vneasye and importable yoke Luce xi Happye are they that euer they were borne For therby haue they procured a greate quietnesse and helthe to their sowles For Christes worde is quicke and bringeth nothinge els to the sowle but life Hebreo iiii The popes olde tradicyons and customes beinge but the wisdome of the fleshe are verie poyson and deathe Roma viii Anne Askewe Then sayde they vnto me that the kynge was infourmed that I coulde name if I wolde a great nomber of my secte Thē I answered that the kynge was as wele deceyued in that behalfe as dissembled with in other matters Iohan Bale Great Assuerus kinge of the Perseanes Medes was infourmed also that the seruaunt of God Mardocheus was a traitour which neuerthelesse had discouered ii traytours a lyttle afore and so saued the kynges lyfe Hester iii. But Haman that false coūseller which so infourmed the kinge was in the ende proued a traitour in dede as I doubt it not but some of these wyll be founde after this and was worthelie hanged for it so fallinge into the snare that his selfe had prepared for other Psal. vii Albertus Pyghius Cochleus Eckius soch other pestilent papistes haue fylled all Christendome with railings bokes of our kinge for renouncinge the Romish popes obedience but therof ye infourme not his grace No neither excuse ye nor yet defende ye his godlie acte in that behalfe But ye are as apereth very well contented that he be yl spoken of for it It is not a yeare ago sens out wynchestre was at Vtrecht in hollād where as the sayd Pighius dwelt was for hys papistrye in great autoryte I know certaynlye the mā there was moch more easye to please in that cause than in another sleuelesse matter of hys owne cōcernynge Martyne Bucer Hys gallaūtes also warraūted there I knowe to whome that the Romysh pope by the Emprours good helpe shuld withī fewe yeares haue in Englāde as great autoryte as euer he had afore I doubt not but sūwhat they knewe of theyr masters good cōueyaūce but of this is not the kinge infourmed I coulde write here of manye other mysteryes cōcernynge the obseruaunt fryres other raūgynge Rome ronners what newes they receyue wekelye out of Englāde frō the papystes there in what hope they are put of their returne thydre agayne For I haue seane ther braggynge letters therof sent frō Emeryck to Frystāde frō the cōtraie of Coleyne into Westphalie Of this and soch other cōueyaūces the kinge is not yet infourmed but I trust he shall be Anne Askewe Then cōmaunded they me to shewe howe I was maynteyned in the Counter and who wylled me to stycke by my opynyon I sayd that there was no creature that therein dyd strengthen me And as for the helpe that I had in the counter it was by the meanes of my mayd For as she went abroad in the stretes she made to the prentyses and they by her dyd sende me moneye But who they were I neuer knewe Iohan Bale Ioseph was in pryson vndre Pharao the fearce kynge of Egypte yet was he fauourably handeled and no man forbidden to confort him Gen. xxxix Whā Iohan Baptist was in stronge duraunce vnder Herode the tyraunt of Galile hys discyples dyd frely vysyt hym and were not rebuked for it Mat. xi Paule beynge emprysoned and in cheynes at Rome vnder the most furyouse tyraunt Nero was neuer blamed for sendynge his seruaunt Onesimus abroad nor yet for writynge by hym to hys fryndes for socour Philem. i. Neither yet was Philemon troubled for releuyng hym there by the sayd Onesimus nor yet hys olde frynd Onesipherus for personally there vysytynge hym and supportyng hym wyth hys moneye lyke as he had done afore also at Ephesus Nowe conferre these storyes and soche other lyke with the present handelynge of Anne Askewe and ye shal well perceyue our Englyshe rulers and iudges in theyr newe Chrystyanyte of renouncynge the pope to excede all other tyrauntes in all cruelty spyght and vengeaunce But loke to haue it no otherwyse so longe as mytyred prelates are of counsell Be ashamed cruell beastes be ashamed for all Chrystendome wondereth on youre madnesse aboue all Anne Askewe Then they sayde that there were dyuerse gentylwomen that gaue me moneye But I knewe not theyr names Then they sayd that there were dyuerse Ladyes whyche hadde sente me moneye I answered that there was a man in a blewe coate whyche delyuered me x. shyllynges and sayde that my ladye of Hertforde sente it me And an other in a vyolette coate dyd geue me viii shyllynges and sayde that my lady Dennye sēt it me Whether it were true or no I cannot tell For I am not suer who sent it me but as the men dyd saye Iohan Bale In the tyme of Christes preachynge what thoughe the holye clergye were thā not pleased therwith but iudged it as they do styll to this daye most horryble heresye yet certen noble women is Marye Magdalene Iohan the wyfe of Chusa Herodes hygh stewarde Susanna manye other folowed hym frō Galile mynystred vnto hym of theyr substaūce cōcernynge his bodylye nedes Luce. viii These with other more after he was by the said clergye done to most cruell death for the veryte preachyng both prepared oyntementes and spyces to anoynte his bodye Luce. xxiiii also proclamed abroad hys gloryouse resurreccyon to his Apostles and other Ioā xx contrarye to the Byshoppes inhybycion Act. iii. Yet reade we not that anye man or womā was racked for the accusement of them A woman amōge the Macedonyanes dwellynge in the cytie of Thyatira called Lydia by name a purple seller verye rytche in marchaundyse receyued Paule Sylas and Timothe wyth other suspected brethrene into her
house habundantly releued theÌ„ there Acto xvi yet was she not troubled for it In lyke maner at Thessalonica a great noÌ„bre of the Grekes and manye noble women amonge theÌ„ beleued Paules forbydden doctryne and resorted boldelye both to hym and to Sylas Act. xvii yet were they not cruellye handeled for it Be ashamed than ye tyrauntes of EnglaÌ„d that your horryble tyraÌ„nyes shuld exeede all other Iewes or Gentyles turkes or ydolaters More noble were these womeÌ„ here rehersed for thus releuynge Christ and hys membres than for anye other acte eyther yet degre of nobylyte For where as al other haue peryshed these shal neuer perysh but be conserued in the mooste noble and worthye scriptures of God the tyrannouse Byshoppes and prestes with theyr tyrannouse maynteners there condempned A through ChristeÌ„ charite is not lyghtlye terrifyed wyth the tempestes of worldlye affliccyons no more than true fayth is chauÌ„ged in men that be Christenly coÌ„staunte Soch can not chose but considre that it is both gloryouse to be afflicted for Christ. i. Pet. iii. and also moost merytoryouse to releue them here in theyr afflyccyons Mat. xxv Vnto that Christen offyce hath Christ promysed the life euerlastynge at the lattre daye wher as Masse hearyng is lyke to remayne without rewarde except it be in belle for ydolatrye and blasphemye Not vnto them that in pryson vysyteth murtherers and theues yf ye marke well the texte is this reward promysed For they are not there allowed for Christes dere meÌ„bers but vnto them that releue the afflycted for his verytees sake Anne Askewe Then they sayde there were of the counsayle that dydde maynteyne me And I sayde no. Then they dyd put me on the racke bycause I coÌ„fessed no ladyes nor geÌ„tylwomen to be of my opynyon theron they kepte me a longe time And bycause I laye styll and dyd not crye the Chauncelloure and maystre Ryche toke paynes to racke me theyr owne handes tyll I was nygh dead Iohan Bale Nicodemus one of the hyghe counsell was sore rebuked amonge the senyours of the Iewes for defeÌ„ding Christes innoceÌ„cye whaÌ„ they went aboute to flee hym IoaÌ„ vii And therfore it is no new thynge that Christes doctryne hath supportacyon amonge the counsels of thys worlde All men be not of one corrupted appetyte nor yet of one vngracyous diete Christ promysed his dyscyples that they in one how sholde shuld fynde both his enemyes and fryndes I am come sayth he to sette man at varyaunce agaynst hys father and the doughter agaynst her mother and the doughter in lawe agaynste the mother in lawe He that louethe his father or mother hys sonne or doughter his prynce or gouernour aboue me he is not mete for me Math x. I feare me thys wyll be iudged hygh treason But no matter So longe as it is Christes worde he shal be also vndre the same iudgemeÌ„te of treasoÌ„ Let no man care to be condeÌ„pned wyth hym for he in the ende shall be hable to rectyfye all wronges Marke here an example most wonderfull and se how madlye in theyr ragynge furies men forget themselues and lose theyr ryghte wyttes nowe a dayes A kynges hyghe counseller a Iudge ouer lyfe and deathe yea a lorde Chauncellour of a most noble realme is now become a most vyle slaue for Antychrist and a most cruell tormentoure Without al dyscresyon honestye or manhode he casteth of hys gowne and take the here vpon him the most vyle offyce of an hangeman and pulleth at the racke most vyllanouslye O Chaunceller and Riche ii false christianes and blaphemouse apostataes from God What chaplayne of the pope hath inchaunted yow or what deuyll of hell bewytched yow to execute vpon a poore condempned woman so ê“dygyouse a kynde of tyrannye Euen the very Mammon of iniquyte and that insaciable hunger of auarice whyche compelled Iudas to betray vnto death hys most louynge master IoaÌ„ xii The wynnynges were not small that ye reckened vpon whan ye toke on ye that cruell enterprise and woulde haue had so many great men and womeÌ„ accused But what els haue ye wonne in the ende than perpetuall shame and confusion God hath suffered yow so to dyscouer youre owne myscheues that ye shal no more be fogotteÌ„ of the world than are now Adomsedech Saul Hieroboam Manasses Olophernes Haman Tryphon Herode Neto Traianus and soche other horryble tyrauntes And as concernynge the innocent woman whom you so cruellye tormented Where coulde be seane a more clere and open experyment of Christes dere membre than in her myghty sufferynges lyke a lambe she laye styll wythout noyse of cryenge and suffered your vttermost vyolence tyl the sinnowes of her armes were broken and the strynges of her eis peryshed in her head Ryght farre doth it passe the strength of a yonge tendre weake and sicke woman as she was at that tyme to your more confusion to abyde so vyolent handelynge yea or yet of the strongest man that lyueth Thynk not therfore but that Christ hathe suffered in her and so myghtelye shewed hys power that in her weakenes he hath laughed your mad enterpryses to scorne Psalm ii Where was the feare of God ye tyraÌ„tes Where was your chrysten professyon ye helle houndes Where was your othe and promes to do true iustice ye abhominable periures whan ye went aboute these cursed feates More fytte are ye for swyne kepynge than to be of a prynces counsell or yet to gouerne a Chrysten commen welthe Yf Christ haue sayde vnto them whiche do but offende hys lytle ones that beleue in hym that it were better they had a milstone tied aboute their neckes and were so thrown into the bottom of the see Luce xvii What wyll he saye to them that so villaynouslye pull at the racke in ther myscheuouse malice These are but warnynges take hede if ye lyft 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 ii longe houres reasonynge with my lorde Chauncellour vpon the bare floore where as he with manye ftatterynge wordes persuaded me to leaue my opynyon But my lorde God I thanke hys euerlastinge goodnesse gaue me grace to perseuer and wyll do I hope to the verye ende Iohan Bale Euer more haue the olde modye tirauntes vsed thys practyse of deuilyshnesse As they haue perceyued themselues not to preuayle by extreme handelinges they haue sought to proue masteries by the contrarye With gaye glosynge wordes and fayre flatteryng promises they haue craftelye coÌ„passed the seruauntes of God to cause them consente to their wickednesse And in this temptynge occupacyon are Wrisleye and Riche very conninge Notwithstandinge they shal neuer fynde the chosen of God all one with the forsaken reprouates The elect vessels holde the eternall
stones Acto vii Lete beastlie blinde babbyllers and bawdes with their charmynge chaplaynes than prate at large out of theyr malycyouse sprete and ydle braynes We haue in habundaunce the veryte of Gods worde and promes to proue them both saued and gloryfyed in Christe For God euer preserueth them which trust in him Psal. xvi All that call vpon hys holye name are saued Iobel ii What reasonable man will thynke that they can be loste whyche haue their lorde God more dere than their owne lyues No man shall be hable sayth Christ to plucke my shepe out of my handes but I wyll geue theÌ„ eternall lyfe Ioan. x. Beleue sayth Paule to the iayler at Philippos on the lorde Iesus Christ and thou shall be saued thy whole howsholde Acto xvi They that seme in the sight of the vnwyse to go into destruccyon do rest in the peace of God and are replenished with immortalite Sapien. iii. With other in numerable scriptures to the praise of God whose name be glorified 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 and now canonysed in the preciouse bloude of the lorde Iesus Chryste Imprynted at Marpurg in the lande of Hessen 16 die Ianuary anno 1.5.4.7 Bedes prophecy 2. sortes 2. sygnes Israelytes preachers Tyndale Barnes The fathers Martyrs Christen martyrs Breade myracles rochettes Steuen Legendes Forest. Fysher More Writers Christen martirs Anne Askewe Goddes power Bokes coÌ„dempned Latyne God wyll be knowne Iohan Wlcleues bokes Canonise Gamaliel Anne Askewe True nobylyte Lydia Cecilia Blandina Anne Askewe Companions RecaÌ„ters Tryed Golde The chauncell Corage Rakced Burned Beastes ShaxtoÌ„ Graces Sprete Hygh stomacke Mother Asshes Autors Not all deed Weakenesse Martyrs Example Sprites Christofer dare Reallye The boxe Temples Accusers Masses Goddes worde The prest Iudas Sacryfyces Thevi of Iohan. ConfessioÌ„ Prestes The kynges boke Pharysees The spyrite A prest mockers A serpent ryseth Masses pryuate Druydes For sowles The prestes receyuynge Mayre Bonner IgnorauÌ„ce Wynchester Peryn Diuisio Guimundus Waldenus Algerus Christus Fayth Nota. Women Scripture women Women Englyshe women Walter hunte Preson Christ troden on the hele A prest Iudas The sacramente Shrifte Prechers ConfessyoÌ„ Practise hypocryte preachers The hostâ— A fallynge God Wynchestre Peryn An Idolle Lyke olde Gossyppes Dronckennesse hypocrite Howsell Spirituallye A whore Dogges Baylynge antichryst The beast Examples A custome The chauÌ„celler Fayth in Christe Tyrannye Wylye Wylye Subtyle A wolfe Foxes A prest A thefe Iudas Herode A false lyar O traiter A tyraunt Murtherers Egles More laÌ„bes to deuoure Lyke the deuyll Archedeacon A lyar Iudas Iohan. Frith Bokes coÌ„dempned Bokes brent Her fryndes Cayphas Practise Sathan Tempter Cayphas Enemyes Surgerye Counsell A murtherer Botches Gathered store Sinon cast Bowgittes Antichrist a sore heresye Prestes Breade Steuen Beastes The boxe Honorius Eua reclusa Bostius Iudases Temples A teÌ„pter scripture practyses Christ. In Gods stede Temples Arystotle Dons Fewe wordes Sylence Bonner Priuate Masses Henrye Spenser Frires Masses Iohan Wycleue Pardons Druydes Perin Chaunceler StaÌ„dyshe Watchemen Vypers I tempter StaÌ„dyshe Doctor Swyne Accuser Dogges rhetoryck Quarellers Thre score prestes Prestes Lordshyp Hypocresi Wonders I prest Occupyenge Scripture Folowers Lordships possessioÌ„s Marryage He wryteth Worshyp thâ— beaste Holye lecherye papystyck Canonysed lecheri Priapystes Scripture Vnsuffycient The pope Fauer Falshede Flatterye catholyck â— woman Catholick FroÌ„ oyle Weston Layte Sodomytes Manye delayes Pharao Practyse Knauery spirituall With prestes TyrauÌ„tes Practyse Subtylte Byshoppes KyngedoÌ„ of God Popes kyngedom A change Polycye No felde â–ª Counsel Sylence Perryn take hede Germanes Peryns sermons Wynchestre modestie Oke groue CoÌ„scyeÌ„ce Hate them ExaÌ„ples Wycleue and huse Sprete Waues Pray and obeye Abhorre Wryters notaireye Martyrs Sufferers Bernardus Barnes other RecaÌ„ters Brytayne churche Christ. Byshoppes Englysh churche Martyrs Other martyrs No dyrge Augustine Wycleue Suffre Difference of martyrs Martyrs Compare Becket Miracles Ryght matyrs Bonifacius Anglê° Clarus Clitancus Edwinê° Edwardus Cadocus Lanfrancus Indractus Iuthwara Newaldy duo Anne Askewe Ositha Wenefrida MaxeÌ„tia Guilhelmus Thomas Yonge Sayntes Foillanê° Iustinanus Kilianus Vrsula Proue the ipretes EdmuÌ„dê° FremuÌ„dê° and other Tokens the autor Brytannyshe Englyshe Tokens Answers TyrauÌ„tes Winchostre Peryn Epycures pygges Lyght S. IohaÌ„ Sathan Christes heares Christes fete Fyre Coppye Christ. Breade RemeÌ„bre Edere Bibere Beleue Euangelystes Doctryne Faythe Christ. Communyon Loue. Letter Christe Foreheades Hartes A membre CoÌ„panyons Kyme Salomon Kyme An vse Marryed Exyled Dyuorcement A beast Sacrament Wynchestre Answere Tyraunt Daunger Parables Rebukes v. houres Parables Wynchestre Mockers Hypocrytes SacrameÌ„t Wynchester Godlye Prynces â–ª Micheas Hieremye Pylate Lisias Cesares Wynchester Treason Christes Sacrament Halte Englande Tepidi Brenne Antichrist To breÌ„ne Prestes God laugheth Christes meanyng Sygnyfye Remembraunce Idolatrye Not in breade The eater Remembraunce Tyll he come Frute of the vyne Partakynge Coxe and RobynsoÌ„ newgate In breade A waffer antychrist Inpaned newgate Breade Temple Moses vayle Blessed Temple warnynge The masse Idolles Tyberius Caligula Masses Antichrist Shurns them The vails Darkenesse Syght Daniel Strength Promes Faythe A martyre TyrauÌ„tes Stedefast Valcaunt Faythe Helchesytes In constaunt Prayer Ephraim Oseas Ydolatrie Ephraimytes ii sortes S. SteueÌ„ Temple Worshyp Meate 3. bulwerkes â—omystes Lo here Se there Heretyke Sacrament Moulde in the boxe Christ coÌ„dempned Membre Sacrament no sygnes the wyne Confesse Teachers Belles Prestes Tyranny Wycked lawes Remembraunce Apostles â–ª Eatynge The suÌ„mâ— of belefe O beastlye ydolaters O constaunt martyre Olde ydolaters Newe ydolaters A waffer The supper Answere An ydoll Death Promises To the Chauncellour The kyng To God Stronge ObedyeÌ„t Her matter Theyr offyce To God Trouble Heresyes Faythe Dyscharge Heresye What it is Who is the heretyke The kyng Ryche Shaxton Sathan 3. ghostlye enemyes Wynchestre spirytuall MammoÌ„ Shaxton Double Vnworthy Hypocrytes IudgemeÌ„t Ryche Christen ladyes Babylon Obedyence A secte Ladyes Helthe The kyng Mardocheus Haman Papystes Craftye Pyghius Bucer Obseruauntes Letters to accuse Ioseph Paule Onesymus Iudges Prelates Gentyllwomen Ladyes Christ. Noble women Lydia Noble women TyrauÌ„tes Prelates Faythe Masses hearynge The racke Nicodemus Fryndes Hygh treason Frenesye A tourmentour Chaunceller Riche MaÌ„mon wretches TyrauÌ„tes Tyrauntes A lambe TyrauÌ„tes Christe Periures A mylstoÌ„ Vnlosed Perseuer Practyse TeÌ„ptacioÌ„ â— sortes Prayse Wrisleye Ynne kepers Profyght My ladye Honour cardynall A tyraunt Swete woman A martyr Gods creature Christes seruaunt A verye Saynt Deathe Chronycles Deathe No feare Haruest Racked No noyse Wrisleye Ryche Iulianus In excuse TyrauÌ„tes No noise Of Cayphas Christes martyr Bonnee Wolues SaluacyoÌ„ Hande wrytynge Gods stede Buylded A lambe Eucharystys Pryson Pryson Chryst Smyrna Antichrist With fire Trouble Condempned Proue her â—â—ntâ—s of faythe ObedyeÌ„t to God No hereâ—yke Breade Proue yet Frutes of faythe Consecracyon Waffer Breade Shall come Antichrist Myracle No God Doctors Moulde in the boxes Godmakers The supper Scriptures Without Masse Idolatryes Mannes wysdome Scriptures Hope proue styll Frutes of faythe Her god A sure part Eucharystye masse an ydoll obidyeÌ„ce The Masse Ydolaters An ydoll Popes Monkes Vniuersytees The masse Profytable Necessaryes myracles of the masse Dead letter Sathan Wytches An ydoll Enemyes Hate theÌ„ Aduersaryes Haters Fryndes Fauorers Northfolke Prayer Swete woman Goddes true seruaunt Christes membre Charyte A Saynt Antichrist compassioÌ„ Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrysleye Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrisleye Ladyes Pylate Wrisleye Riche Pylate Prestes Pylate Wrysleye Pilate Wrisleye Brent Martyrs A sygne Gods haÌ„de Centurio Christianes Take hede Ceremonyes Tendrelynges Hypocresye Papystes Prestes Bawdes ThoÌ„ders Thonder Apocal. ThoÌ„ders Eucheryê° For tyrauntes North folke Markewele S. SteueÌ„ gods wordes Not lost
The first examinaciō of Anne Askewe latelye martired in Smythfelde by the Romyshe popes vpholders wyth the Elucydacyon of Iohan Bale Psame cxvi The veryte of the Lorde endureth for euer Anne Askewe stode fast by thys veryte of God to the ende ¶ Fauoure is disceytfull bewtye is a vayne thynge But a woman that feareth the Lorde is worthye to be praysed She openeth her mouthe to wysdome and in her language is the law of grace Prouerb xxxi Iohan Bale to the Chrysten readers AMonge other mooste syngular offyces dylygent reader which the lord hath appointed to be done in the ernest sprete of Helyas by the forerōners of hys lattre aperaunce this is one verye specyall to be noted They shall turne the hartes of their auncient elders into the chyldren Mala. iiii And the vnbeleuers of theyr tyme to the wysdome of those ryghteouse fathers as ded Iohan Baptyste afore hys fyrste commyng Luce. i. That is say the Bedas cap. lxviii de temporum ratione the fayth and feruent zele of the prophetes and Apostles shal they plant in their hartes whych shal in those dayes lyue and be among men conuersaunt than wyl breake fourth sayth he as a verye true prophete such horryble persecucyon as wyl fyrst of all take from the worlde those myghtye helyases by triumphaunt martyrdom to the terryfyenge of other in the same faythe of whom some shal becom through that occasion most gloryouse martyrs vnto Christ also some very wycked Apostataes forsaking his lyuely doctrine For by the seyd Bedas testymony in the begynnyng of the same chaptre two most certayne sygnes shall we thā haue that the lattre iudgement daye is at hande The returne of Israels remnaunt vnto theyr lord God and the horryble persecucion of Antichrist Conferre with this treated scripture and former prophecye of that vertuous man Bedas the worldes alteracyon now with the terrible turmoilynges of our tyme. And as in a mooste clere myrrour ye shal well perceyue them at this present to be in moost quick workynge And as concernynge the Israelytes or Iewes I haue bothe seane and knowne of them in Germanye mooste faythfull Christen beleuers Neyther is it in the prophecye Osee. iii. that they shoulde at that daye be all conuerted no more than they were at Iohan Baptystes preachynge Luce. i. For as Esaye reporteth thoughe the posteryte of Iacob be as the see sande innumerable yet shall but a remnaunte of them conuerte than vnto theyr lorde God Esaie x. And thoughe the Lorde hathe syfted that howse of Israell as brused corne in a syffe amonge all other nacyons Amos. ix Yet shal not that remnaunt of theirs peryshe but at that daye be saued throughe the onelye electyon of grace Romano xi Nowe concernynge the afore seyd foreronners in this most wonderful change of the worlde before the latter ende therof I thynke within thys realme of Englande besydes other nacions abroade the sprete of Helyas was not all a slepe in good Wyllam Tydall Robarte Barnes suche other more whome Antychristes vyolence hathe sent hens in fyre to heauen as Helyas went afore in the fyrye charet iiii Regum ii These turned the hartes of the fathers into the chyldren suche tyme as they toke from a greate nombre of oure nacyon by theyr Godlye preachynges and wrytynges the corrupted beleue of the pope his mastery workers which were no fathers but cruel robbers destroyers Ioā x. reducynge thē agayn to the true faithe of Abraham and Peter Gene. xv and Math. xvi The pure beleue in Christes birthe and passion which Adam and Noe sucked out of the first promes of God Iacob and Moses out of the seconde Dauid and the prophetes out of the thirde and so fourthe the Apostles fathers oute of the other scriptures so firmelye planted they in the consciences of manye that no cruell kynde of deathe coulde auerte thē from it As we haue for example their constaunt discyples and now stronge witnesses of Iesus Christ Iohan Lassels and Anne Askewe with theyr other ii companions verye gloryous martyrs afore God what thoughe they be not so afore the wronge iudgynge eyes of the world whom the bloudye remnaunte of Antechrist put vnto mooste cruell deathe in Smythfelde at London in the yeare of our lorde M.D.XLVI in Iulye Yf they be onely as was Iohan Baptyst great afore the Lorde by the holye scriptures allowaunce which are strongelye adourned with the graces of hys sprete as faythe force vnderstandynge wisdome pacyence loue long sufferaunce and suche lyfe I dare boldelye afferme these iiii myghty wytnesses also to be the same so well as the martirs of the primatyue or Apostles churche For so strongelye had these those vertues as they and so boldelye obiected their bodyes to the deathe for the vndefyled Christen beleue agaynst the malygnaūt Synagoge of Sathan as euer ded they for no tyrannye admyttynge any create or corruptyble substaunce for theyr eternal lyuynge god Yf their blynd babyes to proue them vnlyke do obiect agaynst me the myracles shewed at theyr deathes more than at these as that vnfaythfull generacyon is euer desyerous of wonders Math. xii I wold but knowe of thē what myracles were shewed whan Iohā Baptystes head was cut of in the preson Marci vi and whan Iames the Apostle was byheaded at Hierusalem Acto xii These ii were excellent afore God what though they were but miserable wretches light fellowes sedycyouse heretykes busye knaues lowsye beggers in the syght of noble king Herode and hys honorable counsell of prelates For had not rochettes and side gownes bene at hande haplye they had not so lyghtlye dyed Yf they allege Steuen to maynteyne theyr purpose that he at his deathe behelde heauen open I aske of thē againe what they were whiche se it more than his own persone Sure I am that their wycked predecessours there presente se it not For they stopped theyr eares whan he tolde them therof Actoru vii Yf they yet bringe fourth the other hystoryes of Apostles and martyrs I answere them that all they are of no suche autorite as these here afore The popes martyrs in dede were moche fuller of myracles than euer were Christes as hys selfe tolde vs they shulde be so Mathey xxiiii Yet wrought fryre Forest Iohā Fisher Thomas More no miracles what though manye be nowe regestred in theyr lyues and legendes by the fryres of Fraunce Italye and Spayne Besydes that Iohan Cochleus hathe writtē of them ad Paulum Pōtificem ad regem Henricum and also in theyr defence against doctor Sampson With that Erasmus ded also ad Huttenū P. M. ad Basparem Agrippam Albertus Pighius Riuius Fichardus a great sort more And as for the holye mayd of kēt with Doctor Bocking though they wrought great wonders by theyr lyfe yet apered non at their deathes Of hys owne chosen martyrs Christ loketh