not the copy, I cannot now remember.

Then he read it to me, and asked me if I did agree to it. And I said again, I believe so much thereof, as the holy scripture doth agree unto; wherefore I desire you, that you will add that thereunto. Then he answered, that I should not teach him what he should write. With that, he went forth into his great chamber and read the same bill before the audience, which inveigled and willed me to set to my hand, saying also, that I had favour shown me. Then said the bishop, I might thank others, and not myself for the favour that I found at his hand. For he considered, he said, that I had good friends, and also that I was come of a worshipful stock.

Then answered one Christopher, a servant unto master Denny, Rather ought you, my lord, to have done it in such case for God's sake than for man's. Then my lord sat down, and took me the writing, to set thereto my hand, and I wrote after this manner; I Anne Askew do believe all manner of things contained in the faith of the catholic church.

[And forasmuch as mention here is made of the writing of Bonner, which this godly woman said before she had not in memory, therefore I thought in this place to infer the same, both with the whole circumstance of Bonner, and with the title thereunto prefixed by the register, and also with her own subscription; to the intent the reader seeing the same subscription neither to agree with the time of the title above prefixed, nor with the subscription after the writing annexed, might the better understand thereby what credit is to be given hereafter to such bishops, and to such registers. The tenour of Bonner's writing proceeds thus :*

"The true copy of the confession, and belief of Anne Askew, otherwise called Anne Kyme, made before the bishop of London, the twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord God, after the computation of the church of England, 1545, and subscribed with her own hand, in the presence of the said bishop and others, whose names hereafter are recited, set forth, and published at this present, to the intent the world may see what credence is now to be given unto the same woman, who in so short a time hath most damnably altered and changed her opinion and belief, and therefore rightly in open court arraigned and condemned. (Ex Regist.)

* This, and some subsequent particulars, were added by Fox.

"Be it known to all faithful people, that as touching the blessed sacrament of the altar, I do firmly and undoubtedly believe, that after the words of consecration be spoken by the priest according to the common usage of this church or England, there is present really the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whether the minister which doth consecrate, be a good man or a bad man, and that also, whensoever the said sacrament is received, whether the receiver be a good man or a bad man, he doth receive it really and corporeally. And moreover, I do believe, that whether the said sacrament be then received of the minister, or else reserved to be put into the pix, or to be brought to any person that is impotent or sick, yet there is the very body and blood of our said Saviour; so that whether the minister or the receiver be good or bad, yea, whether the sacrament be received or reserved, always there is the blessed body of Christ really.

"And this thing with all other things touching the sacrament, and other sacraments of the church, and all things else touching the christian belief, which are taught and declared in the king's majesty's book, lately set forth for the erudition of the christian people, I Anne Askew, otherwise called Anne Kyme, do truly and perfectly believe, and so here presently confess and acknowledge. And here I do promise, that henceforth I shall never say or do anything against the premises, or against any of them. In witness whereof, I, the said Anne, have subscribed my name unto these presents. Written the twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord God, 1545. (Ex Regist.)

66

By me Anne Askew, otherwise called Anne Kyme. "Witnesses.-Edmund, bishop of London. John, bishop of Bath. Owen Oglethorp, doctor of divinity. Richard Smith, doctor of divinity. John Rudde, batchelor of divinity. William Pie, batchelor of divinity. John Wymsley, archdeacon of London. John Cook, Robert John, Francis Spillman, Edward Hall, Alexander Brett, Edmund Buts, with divers other more being then present."

Here mayest thou note, gentle reader, in this confession, both in the bishop and his register, a double sleight of false conveyance. For although the confession purporteth the words of the bishop's writing, whereunto she set her hand, yet by the title prefixed before, mayest thou see that both

she was arraigned and condemned before this was registered, and also that she is falsely reported to have put to her hand; which indeed by this her own book appears not so to be, but after this manner and condition-I Anne Askew do believe all manner of things contained in the faith of the catholic church, and not otherwise. It followeth more in the story.]

Then because I added unto it the catholic church, he flung into his chamber in a great fury. With that my cousin Britain followed him, desiring him for God's sake to be a good lord unto me. He answered, that I was a woman, and that he was nothing deceived in me. Then my cousin Britain desired him to take me as a woman, not to set my weak womanish wit to his lordship's great wisdom.

and

Then went in unto him Dr. Weston, and said, that the cause why I did write there the catholic church, was, that I understood not the church was written before. So with much ado, they persuaded my lord to come out again, and to take my name with the names of my sureties, which were my cousin Britain, and master Spillman of Gray's Inn.

This being done, we thought that I should have been put to bail immediately according to the order of the law. Howbeit, he would not suffer it, but committed me from thence to prison again, until the next morrow, and then he willed me to appear in the Guildhall, and so I did. Notwithstanding, they would not put me to bail there neither, but read the bishop's writing unto me as before, and so commanded me again to prison. Then were my sureties appointed to come before them on the next morrow in Paul's church, which did so indeed. Notwithstanding, they would once again have broken off with them, because they would not be bound also for another woman at their pleasure, whom they knew not, nor yet what matter was laid unto her charge. Notwithstanding, at the last, after much ado and reasoning to and fro, they took a bond of them of recognisance for my forthcoming. And thus I was at last delivered.

Written by me ANNE ASKEW,

I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, (saith God,) your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And whosoever call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.-Joel ii.

I Do perceive, dear friend in the Lord, that thou art not yet persuaded throughly in the truth concerning the Lord's supper, because Christ said unto his apostles; Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you.

In giving forth the bread as an outward sign or token to be received with the mouth, he minded them, in a perfect belief to receive that body of his which should die for the people, or to think the death thereof to be the only health and salvation of their souls. The bread and the wine were left us for a sacramental communion, or a mutual participation of the inestimable benefits of his most precious death and bloodshedding, and that we should in the end thereof be thankful together for that most necessary grace of our redemption. For, in the closing thereof, he said thus; This do ye in remembrance of me. Yea, so oft as

ye shall eat it, or drink it. Luke xxii. and 1 Cor. xi. Else should we have been forgetful of that we ought to have in daily remembrance, and also have been altogether unthankful for it; therefore it is meet that in our prayers we call unto God, to graft in our foreheads the true meaning of the Holy Ghost concerning this communion. For St. Paul saith,

The letter slayeth; the Spirit is it only that giveth life, 2 Cor. iii. Mark well John vi. where all is applied unto faith, note also the 2 Cor. iv. and in the end thereof ye shall find plainly that the things which are seen are temporal, but they that are not seen are everlasting. Yea, look in

Hebrews iii. and ye shall find that Christ, as a son, and no servant, ruleth over his house, whose house are we, and not the dead temple, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of that hope to the end. Wherefore, as saith the Holy Ghost, To day if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, &c. Ps. xcv.

The sum of my examination before the king's council at Greenwich.

Your request as concerning my prison fellows, I am not able to satisfy, because I heard not their examinations; but the effect of mine was this:-I, being before the council, was asked of M. Kyme. I answered that my lord chancellor knew already my mind in that matter. They with that answer were not contented, but said, it was the king's pleasure that I should open the matter unto them. I answered them plainly that I would not so do. But if it were the king's pleasure to hear me, I would show him the truth. Then they said, it was not meet for the king to be troubled with me. I answered, that Solomon was reckoned the wisest king that ever lived, yet misliked he not to hear two poor common women, much more his grace, a simple woman, and his faithful subject. So in conclusion I made them no other answer in that matter. Then my lord chancellor asked me of my opinion in the sacrament. My answer was this, I believe that so oft as I, in a christian congregation, do receive the bread in remembrance of Christ's death, and with thanksgiving, according to his holy insti tution, I receive therewith the fruits also of his most glorious passion. The bishop of Winchester bade me make a direct answer. I said I would not sing a new song of the Lord in a strange land. Then the bishop said, I spake in parables. I answered, it was best for him, for if I show the open truth, said I, ye will not accept it. Then he said, I was a parrot. I told him again I was ready to suffer all things at his hands, not only his rebukes, but all that should follow besides, yea and that gladly.

Then had I divers rebukes of the council, because I would not express my mind in all things as they would have me. But they were not in the mean time unanswered, which now to rehearse were too much, for I was with them there about five hours. Then the clerk of the council conveyed me from thence to my lady Garnish.*

The next day I was brought again before the council. Then would they needs know of me what I said to the sacrament. I answered, that I already had said what I could say. Then after divers words they bade me go by. Then came my lord Lisle, my lord of Essex, and the bishop of Winchester, requiring me earnestly that I should confess

* Prison.