At the age of 25, Anne Askew (1521-1546) became one of only two women tortured and burned as heretics in English history.
As a child, Anne was often found reading the Bible. It was said she knew the Bible better than the priests she often questioned on their beliefs and practices contrary to Scripture.
Wanting to save his family money, Anne’s father married the 15-year old to an older wealthy Roman Catholic. There was immediate conflict. As a Protestant, Anne was convinced that the Scriptures alone – and not the pope, a priesthood, or traditions – were the foundation for Christianity. After several years of marriage and having two young children, Anne’s husband cast her from the house. She went to London as a “gospeller” handing out gospel tracts and witnessing to her faith in Jesus.
Like Anne, King Henry VIII refused to be told what he could or couldn’t do. In 1532, he broke from Roman Catholicism. Henry’s break was political, his Church of England retained the teachings of Rome, but replaced the pope with the English monarch.
As the Reformation strengthened in England, Henry and his counselors attempted to consolidate the king’s power by hunting Protestants. Anne was arrested three times and questioned about her faith and knowledge of secret Protestants in Henry’s court.
In 1546, Anne was arrested for the last time and convicted of heresy for opposing the Roman doctrine of transubstantiation. The papacy teaches that when a priest calls Jesus from Heaven and repeats in Latin, this is my body and this is my blood, Jesus is re-crucified on the altar and the bread and wine literally became His flesh and blood.
Striped naked, Anne voluntarily climbed onto the rack. Her jailers tied her down and stretched her body so that her shoulders, elbows, wrists, legs, knees, and ankles were slowly pulled from the joints. Anne still refused to give up the names of Protestants in King Henry’s court.
Every joint in her body dislocated, Anne was carried and chained to a wooden stake. A Roman bishop begged for her repentance, but with every accusation Anne either agreed with the priest’s words or contradicted him with Scripture. On July 16, 1546, she was burned alive with three other Protestants.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you (John 15:18).
Where Living Begins 
Thank you, Richard for this post.
You’re welcome Al. Thank you for reading.