Anne Askew

Anne Askew (* 1521 in Stallingborough, Lincolnshire, † July 16, 1546 in Smithfield, London) was known in England at the time of King Henry VIII as a Protestant martyr.

Background

After Henry VIII had broken with Rome, the pope was rejected as the supreme ecclesiastical authority, other Catholic rites retained, which is why from now in England both heretics and " papists " were persecuted, because both deviated from the teachings of the newly formed Anglican Church.

Life

Anne Askew was born into a noble family. At 15, she was forced to marry the Catholic nobles Thomas Kyme. Actually, her older sister was provided as Kymes wife, but since she died, Anne had to take their place.

Anne refused even after marriage and the birth of two children, to take the name Kyme, and called to continue Askew. Also, they tried to reach a divorce from her husband on the grounds that he was not a believer. Her husband, who rejected the Protestant doctrines, threw his wife out of the house.

Work

After the separation of Kyme Anne Askew went to London, where she continued to call for Protestantism. She read the Bible in English, distributed banned books and established contacts with influential persons; among other things they want to Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife, have been in contact.

Finally, they had to answer for their activities - inter alia Edmund Bonner, acquired under Queen Mary I, the reputation of a fanatical Protestants hunter. However, in case he let Anne Askews clemency. Jasper Ridley is in his biography of Henry VIII states: " He (Bonner ) was impressed by her ( Anne Askews ) intelligence and good manners and made ​​it easy for her to withdraw. "

However, Anne continued her heretical activities and was arrested again. During interrogations she said that she wanted rather read five verses in the Bible, from which they find improvement and edification, as in the church hear five masses. "If one on the show as a meritorious work more confidence than those contained in the blood of Christ, that's shed for us, then that would be idolatry and a terrible blasphemy. " They also said it was enough, when alone without auricular confession God confess their sin. doubt you would not in the least because he wanted to listen to her and will forgive their sin, because they 've a repentant heart. in the Tower, she was tortured so by the commander Thomas Kingston that they then neither walk nor stand could. she stayed with their statements, and Kingston was impressed by her bravery so that he refused to torture her again. so had to Lord Chancellor Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, torture Anne Askew itself. Kingston confessed his disobedience to the king who forgave him.

The works written in prison by Anne Askew - reports on the process and the interrogations, religious poems, a ballad, a version of the 54th Psalm - published 1546/47 by John Bale ( 1495-1563 ). She stood since 1590/96 on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum in 1st class heretical writers (as "Anna" or " Andreas à Skeuue " etc.).

Execution

Anne Askew was burned in July 1546 as a heretic at the stake, and since they could neither walk nor stand still, she was tied to a chair at the stake. In order to shorten their sufferings, a leather bag was slung with blasting powder.

Remembrance

July 16 in the Protestant calendar name.

Works

• John Bale ( ed.): The First Examinacyon of the worthye servaunt of god Mastres Anne Askewe martyred actually latelye in Smythfelde, by the popes Romysh vpholders, with the Elucydacyon of Johan Bale, fictitious place of printing Marburg [: Derick van der Straten, Wesel ] 1546
• John Bale ( ed.): The lattre examinacyon of the worthye servaunt of God mastres Anne Askewe, lately martyred in Smythfelde, by the Wycked synagogue of Antichrist, with the Elucydacyon of Johan Bale, fictitious place of printing Marburg [ fact: Derick van der Straten, Wesel ] 1547