Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 6 · Part 41
Her condemnation.
THey said I was an heretick, and condemned by the law, if I would stand to my opinion; I said, touching my Faith I said and wrote to the Councell, I would not deny because I knew it true: then they would knowe whether I would denie the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud; I answered yea: for the same Sonne of GOD that was borne of the blessed Uirgin Mary, is now glorious in the heauens, and will come againe at the last day as he went vp: and that which you call your God is a peece of bread, and for more proofe thereof, let it lie in a boxe but thrée monthes and it will be mouldy and turne to nothing that is good, therefore I am perswaded it is no God.
Then they willed me to hauehave a Priest and then I smiled, then they asked mee if it were not good, I sayd I would confesse my faults vntounto God, for I was sure hee would heare me with fauour, and so we were condemned by the quest.
This was my beléefe which I wrote to the Councell, that the Sacramentall bread was left vsus to bee receaued with thanksegiuing in the remembrance of his death, the onelyonly remedy of our so…les recouery, and thereby we also receaue the whole benefit of his passion, then they would needs know whether the bread in the boxe were God or no, I sayd God is a spirit and will bee worshipped in spirit and truth, then they sayd, will you plainely deny Christ to bee in the Sacrament? I answered I beléeue the eternall sonne of God, not to dwell there, in witnes whereof I recited againe the history of Bell and the 7. and 17. of the Acts and the 24 of Mathew concluding I neither wish death nor feare it, God hauehave the praise thereof with thankes, then she wr…te to the Lord Chancelour and the King but it preuayled not.
After she was sent from Newgate to the Tower, then Maister Rich and one of the Councell charged me vppon mine obedience, to shew vntounto them if I knew any of my Sect, I answered I knew none, they asked me of my Lady Suffolke, my Lady Sussex, my Lady Hereford, my Lady Denny, and my Lady Fitzrallins. I sayd if I should pronounce any thing against them I am not able to proue it, they said the King was informed I could name if I would a great number of my sect, I sayd the King was as well deceaued in that behalfe as dissembled with in other matters.
Then they commanded mee to shewe how I was maintayned in the Counter, and who willed me to stick to mine opinion, I sayd there was none did strengthen me therein, and I was maintayned in the Counter by the meanes of my Mayde, for she made mone vntounto the Prentises, and they by her did send mee money, but who they were I know not.
Then they sayd diuers Gentlewomen gaue me money, but I know not their names, then they said many Ladies sent me money, I answered, there was a man in a blew cote deliuered me ten shillings and said my Lady of Hereford sent it me, and another in a Uiolet cote gaue me eyght shillings, and sayd my Lady Denny sent it mee, but I am not sure who sent it me, then they said there were of the Councell which did maintaine mee, and I said no.
Then they put mee vponupon the Racke and kept me there a long time, because I would not confesse any Gentlewomen or Ladies on my opinion, and because I did not cry, my Lord Chancelor and Sir Iohn Baker tooke paines to racke me with their owne hands vntill I was nie dead.
Then the Liefetennant caused mee to be loosed from the racke and incontinently I swounded, and they recouered me againe: after I sat two houres reasoning with my Lord Chanc…llor vppon the bare floure, where with flattering words hee perswaded me to leaue my opinions, but God gaue mee grace to perseuere and will doe I hope, then I was brought to bed with as painefull bones as euer pacient Iob: then my Lord Chancellor sent me word if I would leaue mine opinions, I should lacke nothing, if I would not I should to Newgate and be burned: I sent him word againe I would die rather then breake my faith,
She was borne of such a kindred, that she might hauehave liued in great prosperity, if she would rather hauehave followed the world then Christ: at the day of her execution she was brought into Smithfield in a chaire, because she could not goe on her feete by meanes of her torments, she was tyed by the middle with a chai…e that held vp her body, then Doctor Shaxton began his Sermon: Anne Askew hearing and answering againe vntounto him, where hee sayd well, she confirmed the same, where hee iaid amisse, she said, hee speaketh without booke. There was at the same time three burned with her: One Nicholas Belemy a Priest of Shropshire, Iohn Adams a Taylor, and Iohn Lacels, Gentleman of the Court and Kings houshold.
Wrisley Lord Chancellor, the old Duke of Norfolke, the Earle of Bedford, and the Lord Mayor: Wrisle sent Anne Askew the Kings Pardon, if shee would recant: she said the came not thither to deny her Lord, and master; Then were the Letters likewise offered vntounto the others, who in like maner followed the constancie of the woman: Wherevpon the Mayor commanded the fire to bee put vntounto them.
Sir George Blage of the Priuy Chamber was imprisoned, condemned, and should hauehave been burned, but that the King pardoned him: For saying the Masse auail…th neither quick nor the dead, being asked what then it was good for, he said belike to keep a horse from stumbling.