Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-26
m6t&A
"a; "a
y Ute =
Great Trials
%
History.
TRIAL OF
ANNE ASKEW

The tragedy of Anne Askew is one
of the most pathetic in the annals
tyr to her religion and at period
when many others were compelled to
suffer through strict adherence to
their faith.
Anne Askew, who was the second
daughter of Sir William AskeW, of
an old Lincolnshire family, was re-
luctastly compelled to give her hand
in marriage to Thomas Kyme, of
Kelsey. Her presumption for daring
to exercise her own judgment in re-
ligious matters so incensed her hus-
band that he drove her with ig-
nominy from his house. To sue for
a separation she went to London.
In London she met with a favor
able reception at court and was par
ticularly favored by the queen,
Catherine Parr, who approved in Sc
cret the doctrines of the reforma-
ton. In March, 1545, she underwent
an examination for heresy, first at
Sadler's Hall, before one Christopher
Dare, and then before the lord may
or of London, who committed her to
the Counter. The substance and the
particulars of these examinations
were written by herself and were
published after her death
On the twenty third of March a
relative succeeded, after several at
tempts, in bailing her. But she was
soon apprehended again and sum-
moned before the council of King
Henry VIII, at Greeswich. Here
she replied to the inquiries with
firmness and without prevarication.
She was remanded to Newgate and
not allowed to receive visits from
any one, not even from DR.. Latimer.
Anne, herself, wrote to the king
and chancellor. explaining her Opin-
ions; but her letters served only to
aggravate her crime. She was then
taken to the Tower and Intercepted
respecting her patrons at court, but
she heroically refused to betray them.
Anne's magnanimity served but to
incense her prosecutors, who endeav-
ored to extort a confession from her
by the rack, but she sustained the
torture with fortitude and resigna-
ton. The chancellor, Wciothesley.
commanded the lieutenant of the
Tower to strain the instrument of
his vengeance. Upon receiving a re-
fusal, he threw off his gown and ex- |
ercised himself the office of execu-
toner.
rnln hn
rack every limb was dislocated and
she tainted through pain. After she
recovered she remained sitting on
the ground for two hours calmly
reasoning with her tormentors. She
was carried back to her confinement.
and pardon and life were offered to
her if she would recant; but she re-
fused, and was condemned to the
stake.
A report having been circulated
that the prisoner had yielded Anne
wrote letter to John Lascelles. her
former tutor, and to the public, JUS
tifying herself on the charge. She
also drew up d confession of her
faith and an attestation of her in
nocence, which she concluded by a
prayer for fortitude and persever-
ance. A gentleman who saw her the
day previous to her execution OBJ
serves that amidst all her pains and
weaknesses. being unable to arise or
stand without assistance, her express
sion of mingled enthusiasm and res
ignation showed a sweetness and
serenity inexpressibly affecting.
At the stake letters were brought
to her from the chancellor exhorting
her to recant and promising her
pardon. Averting her eyes from the
paper. she replied that II came not
hither to deny my Lord and Mas
ter" The same proposition was
made to the four prisoners who were
to suffer with her. but without sue
cess While Shaxton, an apostate
from his principles. harangued the
prisoners, she listened attentively.
nicely. distinguishing even at that
terrible moment, between what she
thought true and what erroneous.
Anne Askew suffered martyrdom
on July 16. 1916, in the twenty-fifth
year of her age. She was so weak
that she had to be carried in a chair
to the stake at which she was
burned She was tied to the stake
with chain around her waist which
supported her body. On a bench un-
de. st. Bartholomew church sat
Lord Chancellor Wriothesley, the
dukes Of Norfolk and Bedford, the
lord mayor and others, to witness
the shameful tragedy.
Tomorrow-TriaI Of Richard Saw
aSe.