Subsequently, the cause of Charles of Blois seemed to gain fresh strength, and his party greatly outnumbered that of Montfort, whose friends decreased as those of Charles increased.  Edward again sent re-enforcements.  The English fleet, having with them the countess, were met on the passage to Brittany by the enemy, and an action ensued, in which the countess behaved with the utmost courage, charging the foe as valorously as any other officer among them.  A storm put an end to the bloody conflict, and the fleet, without further adventure, reached the shores of Brittany.  Thenceforth the dispute of the succession became inextricably mixed up in the quarrel between England and France, becoming indeed a part of it; and we trace the career of the heroic Countess of Montfort no further.

ANNE ASKEW.

In the preceding sketch, it has been shown what a woman could—­did, in fact—­do and dare, as an ardent patriot and loving wife.  The fortitude of Anne Askew was of a different stamp.  She proved what she could endure for conscience’ sake.  The Reformation produced many women such as she; but her simple story must suffice, here, for all.

She was a young lady of high family, and exercised a remarkable influence, for one so young, over the ladies at the Court of Henry VIII; and even stood in the relation of a friend to the queen—­no great passport to the favor of the monster Henry.  Being possessed of considerable mental ability, she gave much of her attention to the study of the theological questions which were disturbing the peace of Europe at the time; and being also of an independent turn, and withal deeply pious, she dared to question Henry’s dogma concerning the “real presence” of the body of Christ in the Sacrament.  Henry was furious that a woman should dare to hold any tenet other than he allowed, or dispute one which he had decreed must be believed.  The infamous Bonner was commissioned to confer with her respecting her religious views; and, finding her firm in her determination not to yield to either his dictates or those of the king, he pronounced her a heretic.  His conduct in representing her as such was the more reprehensible, as, while refusing to give entire credence to the doctrine they wished to impose upon her, she told the bishop and wrote to the king that, “As to the Lord’s-supper, she believed as much as Christ himself had said of it, ... and as much as the Catholic Church required.”

But the king, though professing to be a reformer, would brook nothing which did not accord precisely with his own dogmatic utterances.  Her presuming to write to him, when she did not submit to his dictation, he chose to construe as a fresh insult to himself.

Her youth (she was but seventeen), her beauty, and her innocence were no protection.  The rack, and then the stake, were all that remained, unless she could be prevailed on to recant.  This she gently but firmly refused to do.