The king was determined to root out the heresy—­if it existed there—­from the court; and those who knew him, knew that there was no cruelty of which he would not be guilty to accomplish his end.  Wriothesley, the chancellor, waited on the unfortunate Miss Askew to examine her concerning the religious sentiments of the other ladies of the court; but, though bold in professing her own religious views, she was just as firm in refusing to implicate any of her former associates.  Threatenings and promises were alike found useless.  Then she was subjected to the most excruciating torture; but, though every limb was dislocated, the noble girl remained true to her friends and to her God.  So enraged was the chancellor at her fortitude, that when the lieutenant of the tower refused to obey his order to screw the rack still more tightly, he seized the instrument himself, and wrenched it so violently as almost to tear the “body asunder.”  But her constancy was unshaken.  Torture having failed, the poor, mangled body was thrust into a chair, and carried to the stake.  A Catholic priest and two other persons were conducted with her to execution, all condemned in like manner for the violation of the king’s mandates.  Bound to their respective stakes, these victims of intolerant bigotry and unlimited tyranny awaited with patience the kindling of the fagots which were piled around.  But they were to be still further tempted ere they were released from suffering.  While they were thus publicly exposed in the most painful of positions, suffering all the physical agony it was possible to endure and live, a message was sent to them that, if they would even at that late period recant, their lives would be spared.  But they refused to purchase life at such a price, and calmly met their doom, Miss Askew with as much fortitude as either of the others.

Thus, amid smoke and flame, the pure spirit of Anne Askew was wafted, by attendant angels, to the paradise of God, whom she was not ashamed to honor before men.  In all the struggle of the Reformation, what man exhibited more courage or greater strength of character or fortitude than this beautiful girl of but seventeen Summers?  In what respect did she exhibit inferiority to those men associated with her in the trying year (1546) in which she earned her crown of martyrdom?  There were many martyrs, but not one more steadfast.

ESTHER INGLIS.

The reign of Elizabeth has been styled the Augustine age of England.  Under this queen’s sanction, literature flourished more than ever before in that kingdom; and as a consequence her people became less barbarous, and men learned to look with less admiration upon the sword, and more respect on books.  The influence of the encouragement given to men of letters by Elizabeth tells for good upon our literature, even after this lapse of time.