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
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
Vtrecht in hollaÌ„de where as the seyd Pyghius dwelt was for hys papystrye in great autoryte I knowe certaynlye the maÌ„ there was moch more casye to please in that cause thaÌ„ in an other sleuelesse matter of hys owne coÌ„cernynge Martyne Bucer Hys gallauÌ„tes also warranÌ„ted there I knowe to whome that the Romysh pope by the Emprours good helpe shuld withiÌ„ fewe yeares haue in EnglaÌ„de as great autoryte as euer he had afore I doubt not but suÌ„ what they knewe of their masters good coÌ„ueyanÌ„ce but of thys is not the kynge infourmed I coulde write here of manye other mysteryes coÌ„cernynge the obseruaunt fryres other ranÌ„gynge Rome ronners what newes they receyue wekelye out of EnglaÌ„de froÌ„ the papystes there in what hope they are put of their returne thydre agayne For I haue seane ther braggynge letters therof sent froÌ„ Emeryck to FrislaÌ„de froÌ„ the cuÌ„traye of Coleyne into Westphalye Of thys and soch other coÌ„ueyanÌ„ces the kynge is not yet in fourmed that I trust he shall be Anne Askewe TheÌ„ coÌ„maunded they me to shewe how I was maynteyned in the Counter and who wylled me to stycke by my opynyon I sayd that there was no creature that therin ded strengthen me And as for the helpe that I had in the Counter it was by the meanes of my mayde For as she went abroade in the stretes she made to the prentyses and they by her ded 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 fauourablye handeled and no man forbydden to consort hym Gene. 39. Whan Iohan Baptist was in stronge duraunce vndre Herode the tyraunt of Galile hys dyscyples ded frelye vysytt hym and were not rebuked for it Math. 11. Paule beynge emprysoned aud in cheanes at Rome vndre the most furyouse tyraâ—Ì„te Nero was neuer blamed for sendynge hys seruaunt Onesimus abroade not yet for writynge by hym to hys fryndes for socour Philem. 1. Neyther yet was Philemon troubled for releuynge hym there by the seyd Onesimus nor yet hys olde frynde Onesipherus for personallye there vysytynge hym and supportynge hym with hys moneye lyke as he had done afore also at Ephesus Now conferre these storyes aud soch other lyke with the present handelynge of Anne Askewe and ye shall wele perceyue our Englysh rulers and iudges in their newe Christyanyte of renouncynge the pope to excede all other tyrauntes in all crueltye spyght and vengeaunce But loke to haue it no otherwyse so longe as mytred prelates are of counsell Be ashamed cruell beastes be ashamed for all Christendome wondereth on your madnesse aboue all Anne Askewe Then they sayd that there were dyuerse gentyl womeÌ„ that gaue me moneye But I knewe not their names TheÌ„ they sayd that there were dyuerse ladyes whych had sent me moneye I answered that there was a maÌ„ in a blewe coate whych delyuered me x shyllynges and sayd that my ladye of Hertforde seÌ„t it me And an other in a vyolet coate ded geue me viij shyllynges and sayd that my ladye Dennye sent it me Whether it were true or no I can not tell For I am not suer who sent it me but as the men ded saye Iohan Bale In the tyme of Christes preachynge what though the holye clergye wer than not pleased therwith but iudged it as they do styll to thys daye most horryble heresye yet serten noble women as Mar ye Magdalene IoaÌ„na the wyfe of Chusa Herodes hygh stewarde Susanna manye other folowed hym froÌ„ Galile mynystred vnto hym of their substauÌ„ce coÌ„cernynge hys bodylye nedes Luce 8. These with other more after he was by the seyd clergye done to most cruell deathe for the veryte preachynge both prepared oyntmentes and spyces to anoynte hys bodye Luce 24. and also proclamed abroade hys gloryouse resurreccyon to hys Apostles and other IoaÌ„ 20 contrarye to the Byhoppes in hybycyon Acto 4. Yet reade we not that anye man or womaÌ„ was racked for the accusement of them A woman amoÌ„ge the Macedonyanes dwellynge in the cytie of Thyaâ—â—ra called Lydia by name a purple seller verye rytche in merchauÌ„dyse receyued Paule Sylas and Timothe with other suspected bretherne in to her howse habnÌ„dauntlye releued theÌ„ there Act. 16. yet was she not troubled for it In lyke maner at Thessalonica a great noÌ„bre of the Grekes and manye noble woman amonge theÌ„ beleued Paules forbydden doctryne and resorted boldelye both to hym and to Sylas Acto 17. yet were they not cruellye handeled for it Be ashamed than ye tyrauntes of EnglaÌ„de that your horryble tyraÌ„nyes shuld excede all other Iewes or Gentyles turkes or Idolaters More noble were these wâ—meÌ„ here rehearced forthus releuynge Christ and hys members than for anye other acte eyther yet degre of nobylyte For where as all other haue peryshed these shall neuer perysh but be censerued in the most noble and worthy eÌ„ scriptures of God the tyrannouse Byshoppes and prestes with their tyrannouse maynteners there condempned A through ChristeÌ„ charyte is not lightlye terryfyed with the tempestes of worldlye affliccyons nomore than true faythe is changed in men that be Christenlye coÌ„staunt Soch can not chose but consydre that it is both gloryouse to be afflicted for Christ 1. Petri 3. and also most merytoryouse to releue them here in their afflyccyons Math. 25. Vnto that Christen offyce hath Christ promysed the lyfe euerlastynge at the lattre daye where as Masse hearynge is lyke to remayne without rewarde except it be in helle for ydolatrye and blasphemye Not vnto them that in pryson vysyteth murtherers and theues if ye marke wele the texte is thys rewarde promysed For they are not there allowed for Christes dere meÌ„bers but vnto them that releue the afflicted for hys verytees sake Anne Askewe Then they sayd there were of the counsell that ded maynteyne me And I sayd no. Then they ded put me on the racke bycause I confessed no ladyes nor gentyll women to be of my opynyon and theron they kepte me a longe tyme. And bycause I laye styll and ded not crye my lorde Chauncellour and mastre Ryche toke peynes to racke me their owne handes tyll I was nygh dead Iohan Bale Nicodemus one of the hygh counsell was sore rebuked amonge the senyours of the Iewes for defeÌ„dyng Christes innoceÌ„cye whaÌ„ they weÌ„t aboute to slee hym Ioan. 7. And therfor it is no newe thynge that Christes doctryne hath suppâ—rtacyon amonge the counsels of thys worlde All men be not of one corrupted appetyte nor yet of one vngracyouse dyete Christ promysed hys dyscyples that they in one how sholde shuld fynde both hys enemyes and fryndes I am come sayth he to set man at varyaunce agaynst hys father and the doughter agaynst her mother and the doughter in lawe agaynst the mother in lawe He that loueth
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
all Harde is it to recorde On these men what wyll fall Yet lorde I the desyre For that they do to me Lete them not tast the hyre Of their inyquyte FINIS God saue the kynge God hath chosen the weake thynges of the worlde to coÌ„fouÌ„de thynges whych are myghtye Yea and thynges of no reputacyon for to brynge to nought thynges of reputacyon that no fleshe shuld presume in hys syght 1. Cormth 1. The Conclusyon THus hast thu dylygent reader the ende of these ij examynacyons and answers of the most Christen martyr Anne Askewe with other addycyons besydes Marke in them the horryble madde furye of Antichrist and the deuyll how they worke in thys age by their tyrannouse members to brynge the last vengeaunce swyftlye vpon them Afore tyme hath not bene seane soch frantyck outrage as is now the iudges without all sober dyscressyon ronnynge to the racke toggynge halynge and pullynge therat lyke tormentours in a playe Compare me here Pylate with Wrisleye the hygh chauncellour of Englande with Ryche and with other whych wyll be counted no small moates And se how moch the pagane Iudge excelleth in vertu and wysdome the false christened Iudge yea rather prodygyouse tyraunt Whan Pylate had enquyred what accusacyon the Iewes clergye had agaynst Christ he perceyued they ded all of malyce and refused to meddle therin Ioan 18. In Wrisleye and Riche is no soch equyte But they rather seke occasyon to accoÌ„plysh the full malyce of Antichrist 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 with gentylnesse he counselled with hym that he myght the more frelye suppresse their madde furye and he promysed they shuld do hym no wronge in case he wolde vtter hys full mynde Ioan. 18. Farre contrarye to thys were Wrisleye and Ryche whych not all ignoraunt of the Byshoppes beastlye errours malycyouslye without all feare of God and shame of the worlde executed vpon thys godlye woman most terryble tyrannye Pylate spake for the innocent excused hym defended hym layed fourth the lawe pleated for hym sharpelye requyred them to shewe mercye alleged for hym their custome declared hym an innoceÌ„t sought by all meanes to delyuer hym Math. 27. These periured magystrates Wrysleye Ryche not onlye examyned thys innocent woman with rigour but also hated her scorned her reuyled her condempned her for an heretyke with vnspeakable tormentes sought to enforce her to brynge by accusacyon other noble women and men to deathe More ouer Pylate wolde shede no innocent bloude but laboured to mytygate the Byshoppes furye instaâ—ited them as they were relygyouse to shewe godlye fauer concludynge that he coulde by no lawe of iustice iudge hym worthye to dye Marci 15. These vengeable tyrauntes Wrisleye and Riche insacyably thirsted not only the innoceÌ„t bloude of thys faythfull seruaunt of God but also the bloude of the noble duchesse of Sothfolke the bloude of the worthye countesse of Hertforde and of the vertuouse countesse of Sussexe the bloude of the faythfull ladye Dennye of the good lady Fizwyllyams and of other godlye women more soche wydowes and wyâ—es as Paule Peter and Iohan commendeth in their epistles besydes the bloude of serten noble men of the kynges hygh counsell And all at the spyghtfull callynge on of the Byshoppes Slacke care gaue Pylate to the prestes he regarded not ther dyspleasure he detected their proteruouse madnesse by delayes he dyfferred the sentence and fynallye washed hys handes as one that was clere from their tyrannye Luce 23. Swyft eare gaue Wrisleye Ryche with their wycked affynyte to the puâ—fed vp porkâ—lynges of the pope Gardyner Bonner soch other they folowed their cruell counsell they enprysoned her iudged her condempned her racked her at the last with their owne poluted bloudye tormentours haÌ„des tyll the vaynes and synnowes brast If ye marke the scriptures wele ye shall easelye perceyue that Pylate was not in fawte of Christes buffetynges beatynges scornynges face spyttynges crownynge with thorne and soch other extreme handelynges But the malycyouse Byshoppes prestes whych waged Iudas to beâ—raye hym hyred false wytnesses to accuse hym monyed the multytude to dyffaine hym fayned false matter agaynst hym compelled the lawe and terryfyed the iudge to haue their full myschefe accomplyshed as our Byshoppes haue done in thys cruell acte and soch other Whan the prestes wolde haue blemyshed hys name by the ignomynyouse deathe whych he suffered amoÌ„ge theues on the crosse Pylate proclamed it gloryouse vnto all the worlde writynge hys tytle in Hebrue Greke and Latyne Iesus of Nazareth kynge of the Iewes and wolde not at their instauÌ„t callyng on chaÌ„ge it IoaÌ„ 19. Wrisleye Riche with their vngracyouse affynyte haue in euerye poynt folowed here the execrable affectes of the prestes Fauorablye Pylate lycensed Ioseph of Arymathye to take downe Christes bodye and to burye it Math. 27. Wrisleye commaunded thys martyr of God with her faythfull companyons to be brent to ashes Pylate was ignoraunt of Gods lawes and a pagane Wrisleye and Ryche knowe both the lawe and the Gospell and are christyanes the more is it to their dampnacyon to execute soch turkysh tyrannye Now to conclude with Anne Askewe as the argument of thys boke requyreth In the yeare of our lord a M. D.ELVI And in the monthe of Iulye at the prodygyouse procurement of Antichristeâ— furyouse remnaunt Gardyner Bonner and soch lyke she suffered most cruell deâ—the iÌ„ Smythfelde with her iij. faythfull companyons IohaÌ„ Lassels a gentylmaÌ„ whych had bene her instructour Iohan Adlam a tayler and a prest so constaunt in the veryte agaynst the seyd Antichristes superstycyons as they whose name at thys tyme I had not Credyblye am I infourmed by dyuerse duche merchauntes whych were there present that in the tyme of their sufferynges the skye abhorrynge so wycked an acte sodenlye altered coloure and the cloudes from aboue gaue a thoÌ„der clappe not all vnlyke to that is written Psal. 76. The elementes both declared therin the hygh dyspleasure of God for so tyraÌ„nouse a murther of innocentes and also expreslye sygnyfyed hys myghtye hande present to the confort of them whych trusted in hym besydes the most wonderfull mutacyon whych wyll within short space therupon folowe And lyke as the Centuryon with those that were with hym for the tokens shewed at Christes deathe confessed hym to be the sonne of God Math. 27. So ded a great nombre at the burnynge of these martyrs vpon the syght of thys open experymeÌ„t afferme them to be hys faythfull members Full manye a Christen hart haue rysen and wyll ryse from the pope to Christe through the occasyon of their consumynge in the fyre As the saynge is of their ashes wyll more of the same opynyon aryse Manye a wone sayth yet both in
hearynge vnrewarded 44 Myracles of the masse 60 Moulde in the boxe 31. 56 NAmes of Englysh martyrs 5. 6 Noble women 40. 43 Northfolke tyraunt 61. 69 OBedyence where 40 Oswalde and Oswyne 8 PEryn all fryerysh 9. 60 Pylate with Wrisleye 64 Prestes of 2. sortes 32 Prestes and bawdes 66. 68 Prysoners haue fauoure 41 RAckedis Anne Askewe 45. 64 Renouncers of God 3. 28. 39 Ryght martyrs 5 SAcrament what it is 32 Sacramentall coÌ„munyon 22 Sayntes of Englande 5. 6. Shaxton recanteth 39 Songe of Anne Askewe 63 Strengthe of a martyr 36. 46 TYrannye of rulers 45. 47. 65. 69 Thomas walden 37 Thonder declared 67 â–ª 69 Tokens of martyrs 9. 45. 49. 54 UAyle of Moyses 26 Vrsula with other 8 WAffer cake no God 24. 34. 56 Wynchestre at Vtrecht 42 Wrysâ—eye a tyraunt 45. 50. 64. Yonge martyrs 7 God saue the King Writers notaireyâ— martyrs sufferers Bernardus Barnes and other RecaÌ„terâ— Brytayne churche Christ. Byshoppes â–ª Englysh churche Martyrs Other martyrs No dyrge Augustyne Wycleue Suffre Dyfference of martyrs Martyrs Compare Becket myracles â—yght martyrs Bonifacius Anglê° Clarus ClitaÌ„cus Edwinê° Edwardus Cadocus Lanfrancus Indractê° Iuthwara Hewaldiduâ— Anne Askewe Ositha Wenefrida MaxeÌ„tiâ— Guilhelmus Thomas Yonge Sayntes Foillanê° Iustinanus Rilianus Vrsulaâ— Prouethe spretes EdmuÌ„dâ— FremnÌ„dê° other Tokenâ— the autor Good store Brytannysh Englysh Tokens Answerâ— TyrauÌ„tes Wynchestre Peryn epycures pygges Lyght S. IohaÌ„ Sathan Christes heares Christes fete Fyre Coppye Christ. Breade RemeÌ„bre Edere Bibere Beleue â–ª Euangelystes Doctryâ—ne Faythe Christ. Communyon Loue. Letter Christ. Foreheades Hartes Lyars A meÌ„bre CoÌ„panyons Ryme Solomon Ryme An vse Marryed Exyled Dâ—uorcement A beast Sacrament 〈◊〉 Answere Tyraunâ— Daunger Parableâ— Rebukes v. houres Wyuchesnstre Mockers Hypocrytes Sacrament Wynchestre Godlye Pryncesâ— Micheaâ— hieremye Pylateâ— Lisias Cesares Wynchestre Treason Christes Sacrament Halte EnglaÌ„de â—epidi Brennâ— antichrist Tâ—brâ—Ì„ne Prestes God law heth Pagett Christes meanyng Sygnyfye Remembraunce Idolatrye Not in breade spirytuall the eater Remembraunce Tyll he come Frute of the vyne Partkyng Pagett Idell wytte S. fraÌ„ces A compaeryson Christ a shaddoâ— â–ª Coxe and RobynsoÌ„ newgate In breade A waffer antichrist Inpaned newgate Breade Temple Moses vayle Blessed Temple warnyng The masse Idolles Tyberius Caligula Masses antichrist Shurne them the â—ayle Darkenesse Syght Daniel StreÌ„gth Promes Faythe A martyr TyrauÌ„tes Stedefast ValeauÌ„t Faythe Oelchesytes Inconstaunt Prayer ephraim Useas idolatrye Ephraimytes ij sortes S. SteueÌ„ Temple worshypp Meate â— bulweâ—kes Romystes Lo here Set here Heretyke Sacrament Moulde in the boxe Christ coÌ„dempned Membre Sacrament no sygnes the wyne â–ª Confessyâ— Teachers Belles prestes Tyrannye Wycked lawes Remembraunce Apostles Eatynge The suÌ„me of beleue O beastlye ydolaters O constaunt martyr Olde ydâ—laters newe ydolaters A waffer The supper Answere An ydoll Deathe Promyses To the ChauÌ„cellour The kyng To God Stronge Obedyâ—â— Her matter Their offyce To god Trouble Heresyes Faythe Dyscharge Heresye What it is Who is the heretyke the kyngâ— Ryche Shaxton Sathan 3. ghostlye enemyes Wynchestre spirytuall MammoÌ„ ShaxtoÌ„ Double Vnworthy Hypocrytes Iudgement Ryche Christen ladyeâ— Babylon Obedyence A sâ—cte Ladyes Helthe The kyng Mardocheus Haman Papystes Crastye Pyghius Bucer Obseruâ—untes Letters to accuse Ioseph Paule Onesymus Iudges Prelates Gentyllwomen Ladyes Christ. Noble women Eydia â–ª Noble women TyrauÌ„tes Prelates Faythe Masse hearynge the racke Nicodemus Fryndes hygh treason Frenesye A tourmentour Wrisleye Riche MaÌ„mon â–ª wretchâ—â— TyranÌ„tes A lambe TyrauÌ„tes Christ. Periures A mylstone Vnlosed Perseuer Practyse TeÌ„ptacyoÌ„ 3. sortes Prayse Wrisleye ynne kepers Profyght my ladye Honoure cardynall A tyrauÌ„t Swete woman A martyâ— â–ª Gods creature Christes seruaunt A verye Saynt Deathe Chronycles Deathe No feare Haruest Racked No noyse Wrisleye Ryche Iulianus an excuse TyrauÌ„tes No noyse Of Cayphas Christes martyr Bonner â–ª Wolues saluacyoÌ„ Hande writynge Gods stede Buylded Alambe Pryson Eucharystye Pryson Christ. Smyrna â—ntichrist with fyre Trouble Condempned proue her Frutes of faythe ObedyeÌ„t to God No heretyke Breade Proue yet Frutes of faythe Consecracyon Waffer Breade â–ª Shall come antichrist Myracle No God Doctors Moulde in the boxe Godmakers The supper Scriptures Without Masse Idolatryes Mannys wysdome Scriptuâ—es Hope prâ—nestyll Frutes of faythe Her god A sure part Eucharystye masse an ydoll obedyeÌ„ce The Masse â—dolaters An ydoll Popes Monkes Vniuersytees the masse Profytable Necessarye myracles of themasse Sead letter Sathan Wytches An ydoll Enemyes hate theÌ„ Aduersaryes â—â—ters Fryndes Fauorers Northfolke Prayer Swete woman Gods true seruaunt Christes membre Charyte A Saynt antichrist CoÌ„passyoÌ„ Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrysleyâ— Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrisleye Ladyes Pylate Wrisleye Ryche â–ª Pylate Prestes Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrisleye Brent Martyrâ— A sygne â–ª Gods haÌ„de Centurio Christyanes take hede Ceremonyes Tenderlynges Hypocresye Papystes Prestes Bawdes ThoÌ„ders Thonder Apocal. ThoÌ„ders Eucheriê° For tyrauntes Northfolke Marke wele S. SteueÌ„ gods worde Not lost