Ann Askew: Life and Execution

Ann married Thomas Kyme, even though she did not love or care for him. As with many marriages in the 16th century, it was forced and a way for Ann's parents to gain something. She refused to take his name or to believe that her role in life was to be a mother to her two children. Kyme hated this about her and her views eventually led to her demise.

Kyme often ordered Ann to stay home but she enjoyed preaching about the Protestant faith. Kyme was a strong believer of the Catholic religion, growing up with that in mind. Out of protest, Ann left her home, with her books in tow, and moved to London. She soon gained a large group of followers and it is possible that Ann met some of the people of court, such as Anne Stanthope (Edward Seymour's wife) and Katherine Parr (Henry VIII's sixth wife and a protestant sympathiser).

While preaching, Ann was arrested. During her first arrest, she was sent warm clothes and food by Katherine Parr. No criminal charges were brought against her at first. She was sent back home to her husband, with the order to stop preaching. Being as strong-willed as she was, Ann refused to obey the law.

Before she left, she attempted to divorce Kyme by using the scriptures. She cited Corinthians 7:15, which states that Christians need not stay "bound" or "yolked" to non-believers; that God's peace would be granted to those who pursued devotion to God above a marriage tormented with issues of faith. She used this as a way to state that her husband was a non-believer but she did not get her own way.

The courts disagreed with Ann's view and she was sent back to her home. However, Ann still refused to act as a wife should at the time. She refused to obey the law. Her strong-will was the cause of her downfall but she believed she was doing right by preaching the Word of God. Ann left for London on two more occasions and was arrest both times; eventually the courts had to do something to stop her.

Ann's interrogation and torture continued while Kingston sought help but Ann remained firm and refused to implicate anybody else. Ann also refused to accept the deal. It is worth looking at it from a medical point of view; the rack would have led to Ann's arms and legs dislocating and the medical care would have made infection a high risk and recovery near-impossible. The discomfort Ann would have been in may have been worse than death at the time.

Ann's faith was too strong for her to recant her beliefs, anyway. Nothing would change her thoughts or her determination to preach her beliefs. It was unfortunately that she was born in the 16th century and when the religious reformation was constantly going through changes. She was charged with heresy, which carried the automatic sentence of death by burning at the stake.

After the torture, Anne was unable to walk or stand. She had to be carried to her to her execution and tied onto a seat. She was executed on July 15, 1546.

Before her execution, she and others condemned to death at the time were preached to by Dr. Shaxton; a man who had recanted his own faith to avoid the same treatment. Ann interrupted his sermon to make comments about his views; sometimes confirming and other times contradicting his words. Gunpowder was laid around the victims to help spare them the true pain of being burned at the stake.

The court never managed to overthrow Katherine Parr, with or without Ann Askew. She apologised to Henry VIII and remained by his side until his own death in 1547.

Ann was a very stubborn and strong-minded woman; similar to Anny Boleyn just ten years earlier. She knew her beliefs and was not willing to let others tell her otherwise. Ann's fame after death grew, when she became a martyr, similarly to Sir Thomas Moore also about ten years before. In 1570, a passage from the Book of Martyrs by John Foxe about her was placed in Anglican churches around England.

Sources:

• Crimes of Perception by Leonard George, Paragon House, 1998
• annaskew.com
• http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/askew.htm