The Martyrdom of Anne Askew Pt. 1

It has often been said that the Bible can be used to prove any argument, and that is just what Anne Askew (ca. 1521-1546) did during her interrogations in 1545 and 1546. Anne Askew is a Protestant martyr, and a strong woman of faith in an age of great turmoil. Male authors identified her as a vessel of God and attributed her strength solely to God. She, in her writings, identifies herself as a strong and learned woman of deep Protestant faith. During her trial, she uses her knowledge of the Bible and her own wit to effectively put her interrogators in their places. Anne Askew uses texts traditionally used against women in her own defense. Askew's use of Biblical and scriptural texts in her defense and the defense of her faith will be the subject of this paper. While her intelligence and strength did not save her life, her writings remain today as a testimony of her faith, intelligence and skill with words.

Anne Askew was the young wife of Thomas Kyme, a lower noble in Friskney. Anne was the daughter of a knight, Sir William Askew, with considerable land holdings. Anne's open conversion, as well as other evidence indicates that her family likely had reform tendencies. She converted to Protestantism against the wishes of her husband. He expelled her from their home and she may have sought a divorce, but was not granted it. There are two men named Thomas Kyme of Friskney reported in the records, and it is unknown which of these men was Anne's husband. She is associated with Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII and her court. It is likely this association that led to her interrogation and eventual martyrdom. Anne's trial is recorded in two texts she herself wrote, The First Examinacyon of the Worthy Servant of God Mistresse Anne Askewe and The Lattre Examinacyon of the Worthy Servant of God Mistresse Anne Askewe. A number of late medieval and renaissance martyrs recorded their own heresy trials. Anne was also the author of "The Voyce of Anne Askewe out of the 54. Psalme of David" and "The Balade whych Anne Askewe Made and Sange Whan She Was in Newgate". Anne was first questioned regarding her religious beliefs in March of 1545, again in June of 1545 and finally in June 1546. She was released due to insufficient evidence. She was once again taken into custody and interrogated, this time under torture. Her interrogators used the rack on her on June 29 1546. This was, in fact, against custom due to both her gender and her status as a noblewoman. Anne bore her torture with great strength, and "laye style and ded not crye." Anne's interrogators included Sir Martin Bowes, the Lord Mayor of London; the duke of Norfolk; the bishop of London; the bishop of Worcester; the two chief justices of the King's Bench; the lord chief baron of the exchequer; the master of the rolls; the recorder of London and the bishop of London's archdeacon, chancellor and commissary. They hoped that she would not only confess her beliefs but also accuse other women of the court, specifically Queen Katherine Parr, the Duchess of Suffolk, Catherine Brandon, and Edward Seymour's wife, Anne Stanhope of supporting and sharing Protestant beliefs. Following Anne's trial, several of the men involved, including Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester, fell from favor and some were, in fact, executed.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic