Charlie Fenton’s Reviews > The Queen and the Heretic: How two women changed the religion of England > Status Update

‘Some have assumed that the attempt on the queen took place after Anne’s death because they wanted to make a connection between the queen took place after Anne’s death because they wanted to make a connection between the queen and a woman who was, beyond any shadow of doubt, a heretic upon whom sentence had been carried out in accordance with the king’s justice.’

‘it is impossible not to connect she queen’s remorse with the persecution being suffered by those who were being imprisoned and burned for her faith - and, surely, Anne Askew would have been the uppermost in her mind. That girl Catherine had heard of and, perhaps, met as a lively teenager in Lincolnshire was now boldly upholding her faith, with her eyes fixed on martyrdom while she, the queen, lived in luxury’

‘She felt deeply that reports of her denial of the truth had been a blow to her brothers and sisters in the faith. She would now allow the same thing to happen again. Crome, Shaxton, and others might fall into the sin of backsliding; she would not. She was resolved to stand by the Gospel, as she understood it - whatever the cost. From the moment of her third arrest she had become a martyr in her own mind.’

‘Anne was returned to prison to await the final stage of her humiliating climbdown. The next day she was taken to the Guildhall where she had to listen while her confession was publicly read aloud. Only on the following day was Anne finally set at liberty. She wisely decided not to remain in London. The Court of Chancery had ordered her to return to her husband; the bishop had urged her to go back to her county’

‘From Lascelles and the bolder spirits to whom he introduced her, Anne learned more extreme views than those she had held previously. She arrived in London as a Bible student with a remarkable knowledge of the Scriptures but now she encountered believers who were grappling with complex theological issues.’

‘What inclined Henry to seek the new widow’s hand? Probably that calm acceptance of duty she was demonstrating. He had had his fill of meddlesome beauties and also of foreign princesses. Catherine was still young and attractive, and combined with these attributes had maturity and intelligence. The king was also well disposed towards the Parr family.’

‘Anne Askew’s religion was of an extremist hue. It is very likely that she was driven farther along the heretical path by her unhappy domestic situation. Oral tradition claims that she had two children by Thomas Kyme. Bearing and rearing will have occupied much of her time and energy in the early years of her marriage but her zeal could not be muzzled and she believed she had a mission to go gospelling.’

‘many prominent people, certainly including Lady Latimer, were exposed to the new teaching by hearing radical preachers, talking with friends and relatives and by clandestinely reading Tyndale’s New Testament. Catherine was exposed to the New Learning as much as most ladies of her class and more than many of them. She can hardly have failed to encounter the beliefs of Bigod and his entourage of preachers.’