priest, he violently drove her from his house, though she had borne him two children, and her conduct was unexceptionable. Abandoned by her husband, she came up to London, in order to procure a divorce, and to make herself known to that part of the court who either professed or were favourers of Protestantism; but as Henry VIII. with consent of parliament, had just enacted the law of the six articles, commonly called the bloody statute, she was cruelly betrayed by her own husband; and, upon his information, taken into custody, and examined concerning her faith. The act above mentioned denounced death against all those who should deny the doctrine of transubstantiation; or that the bread and wine made use of in the sacrament was not converted after consecration into the real body and blood of Christ; or, maintain the necessity of receiving the sacrament in both kinds; or affirm, that it was lawful for priests to marry; that the vows of celibacy might be broken; that private masses were of no avail; and that anicular confession to a priest was not necessary to salvation. Upon these articles she was examined by the inquisitor, a priest, the lord-mayor of London, and the bishop's chancellor; and to all their queries gave proper and pertinent answers; but not being such as they approved, she was sent back to prison, where she remained eleven days to ruminate alone on her alarming situation, and was denied the small consolation of a friendly visit. The king's council being at Greenwich, she was once more examined by Chancellor Wriothesley, Gardiner bishop of Winchester, Dr Cox, and Dr Robinson; but not being able to convince her of supposed errors, she was sent to the Tower. Mr Stripe, from an authentic paper, gives us the following short account of her examination, which may not, perhaps, be uninteresting or useless to the reader: "Sir Martin Bowes (lord mayor) fitting with the council, as most meet for his wisdom, and seeing her stand upon life and death, I pray you, quoth he, my lords, give me leave to talk to this woman?" Leave was granted. Lord Mayor. Thou foolish woman, sayest thou that the priest cannot make the holy body of Christ? A. Askew. I say so, my lord: for I have read that God made man; but that man made God I never read; nor I suppose ever shall read it. Lord Mayor. No! Thou foolish woman, after the words of consecration, is it not the Lord's body? A. Askew. No: it is but consecrated bread, or sacramental bread. Lord Mayor. What if a mouse eat it after consecration; what shall become of this mouse? what sayest thou, thou foolish woman? A. Askew. What shall become of her, say you, my lord? Lord Mayor. I say, that the mouse is damned. A. Askew. Alack, poor mouse!" Perceiving that some could not keep in their laughing, the council proceeded to the butchery and slaughter that they intended before they came there. It was strongly suspected that Mrs Askew was favoured by some ladies of high rank; and that she carried on a religious correspondence with the queen; so that the chancellor Wriothesley, hoping that he might discover something that would afford matter of impeachment against that princess, the earl of Hertford, or his countess, who all favoured reformation, ordered her to be put to the rack; but her fortitude in suffering, and her resolution not to betray her friends, was proof against that diabolical invention. Not a groan, not a word, could be extorted from her. The chancellor, provoked with what he called her obstinacy, augmented her tortures with his own hands, and with unheard-of violence: but her courage and constancy were invincible; and these barbarians gained nothing by their cruelties but everlasting disgrace and infamy. As soon as she was taken from the rack, she fainted away; but being recovered, she was condemned to the flames. Her bones were dislocated in such a manner, that they were forced to carry her in a chair to the place of execution. While she was at the stake, letters were brought her from the lord chancellor, offering her the king's pardon if she would recant. But she refused to look at them; telling the messenger, that "she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master." The same letters were also tendered to three other persons condemned to the same fate; and who, animated by her example, refused to accept them. Whereupon the lord-mayor commanded the fire to be kindled; and with savage ignorance cried out, Fiat justitia, "Let justice take its course." The faggots being lighted, she commenced her soul, with the utmost composure, into the hands of her Maker; and, like the great founder of the religion she professed, expired, praying for her murderers, July 16, 1546, about the 23th year of her age.