this declaration availed her nothing, and was
rather regarded as a fresh insult. The chancellor, Wriothesely, who had
succeeded Audley, and who was much attached to the Catholic party, was
sent to examine her with regard to her patrons at court, and the
great ladies who were in correspondence with her: but she maintained a
laudable fidelity to her friends, and would confess nothing. She was
put to the torture in the most barbarous manner, and continued still
resolute in preserving secrecy. Some authors[*] add an extraordinary
circumstance; that the chancellor, who stood by, ordered the lieutenant
of the Tower to stretch the rack still farther; but that officer refused
compliance the chancellor menaced him, but met with a new refusal;
upon which that magistrate, who was otherwise a person of merit, but
intoxicated with religious zeal, put his own hand to the rack, and drew
it so violently that he almost tore her body asunder. Her constancy
still surpassed the barbarity of her persecutors, and they found all
their efforts to be baffled. She was then condemned to be burned alive;
and being so dislocated by the rack that she could not stand, she
was carried to the stake in a chair. Together with her were conducted
Nicholas Belenian, a priest, John Lassels, of the king's household, and
John Adams, a tailor, who had been condemned for the same crime to the
same punishment. They were all tied to the stake; and in that dreadful
situation the chancellor sent to inform them, that their pardon was
ready drawn and signed, and should instantly be given them if they
would merit it by a recantation. They only regarded this offer as a new
ornament to their crown of martyrdom; and they saw with tranquillity the
executioner kindle the flames which consumed them. Wriothesely did not
consider, that this public and noted situation interested their honor
the more to maintain a steady perseverance.

* Fox, ii. p. 578. Speed, p. 780. Baker, p. 299.
But Burnet questions the truth of this circumstance; Fox,
however, transcribes her own papers, where she relates it. I
must add, in justice to the king, that he disapproved of
Wriothesely's conduct, and commended the lieutenant.

Though the secrecy and fidelity of Anne Ascue saved the queen from this
peril, that princess soon after fell into a new danger, from which she
narrowly escaped. An ulcer had broken out in the king's leg, which,
added to his extreme corpulency and h