{439}Several persons were burned to death about this time for professing the reformed doctrine, among whom was the young, beautiful and learned Anne Askew. She was a lady of honorable birth, who became a convert to the new faith, and was for that reason violently driven from her home by her cruel husband. Resuming her maiden name, she worked hard for her religion, and was aided by the first ladies at court. When it was discovered that she had sent books to the queen, she was singled out as a victim by those who hoped by means of torture to wring some confession from her by which Katharine might be charged with heresy or treason. But they were mistaken, for the heroic Anne Askew died at the stake like a true martyr, "with an angelic expression on her smiling countenance." Sir George Blagge was arrested also, but he happened to be one of the king's prime favorites, and was sometimes called by the endearing nickname of "pig." As soon as Henry heard of this arrest he sent for Wriothesley and rated him well, commanding him to draw up a pardon on the spot. On his release Blagge flew to thank his preserver, who on seeing him cried out, "Ah! my pig, are you here safe again!" "Yes, sire," was the reply, "and if your majesty had not been better than your bishops your pig had been roasted ere this time." The next attack was on the queen herself, whom Wriothesley and Gardiner had resolved to strike with a fatal blow. They told the king that her sister, Lady Herbert, not only read the books that he had prohibited, but also gave them to Katharine to read. Now it happened that the royal couple often conversed on theological subjects in their hours of domestic privacy, and Henry enjoyed his wife's ready wit and eloquence. She courted these subjects, because, knowing that he was suffering from an incurable malady, she felt it her duty to turn his mind heavenward. {440}One day in the presence of Gardiner she went a little too far in opposing her lord's views, and as he was suffering with his leg he felt rather more irritable than usual. He therefore snappishly put a stop to the discussion; after making a few pleasant remarks Katharine left the room. "A good hearing it is," said Henry sharply, "when women become such clerks; and much to my comfort to come, in mine old age, to be taught by my wife!" Gardiner took advantage of the king's wounded vanity to insinuate things against his wife that he would not have dared to say a few days before. He flattered him on his knowledge of theology, and declared that his majesty excelled the princes of that age and every other, as well as all the professed doctors of divinity, so much that it was absurd for anybody to think of arguing with him as the queen had just done. He added that it was painful for any of his counsellors to hear it, because those who were so bold in words would not hesitate to commit any act of disobedience. In fact he so poisoned the king's mind