Anne Askew(I521–1546)
The Ballad Which Anne Askew Made and Sang When She Was in Newgate
Was in Newgate'
Like as the armed knight
Appointed to the field,
With this world will I fight
And faith shall be my shield.
Faith is that weapon strong
Which will not fail at need;
My foes therefore among
Therewith will I proceed.
As it is had in strength
And force of Christ's way,
It will prevail at length
Though all the devils say nay.
Faith in the father's old
Obtained rightwisenessrighteousness
Which make me very bold
To fear no world's distress.
I now rejoice in heart
And hope bid me do so,
For Christ will take my part
And ease me of my woe.
Thou sayst lord, who so kneck,.'
To them wilt thou attend;
Undo therefore the lock
And thy strong power send.
More enemies now I have
Than hairs upon my head
Let them not me deprave,villify
But fight thou in my stead.
On thee my care I cast
For all their cruel spite
I set not by their haste,
For thou art my delight.
I am not she that listchooses
My anchor to let fall
For every drizzling mist
My ship substantial.
Not oft use I to write
In prose nor yet in rhyme,
Yet will I show one sight
That I saw in my time.
I saw a royal throne
Where Justice should have sit,
But in her stead was one
Of modie cruel wit.wrathful
Absorbed was rightwisenessswallowed up
As of the raging flood;
Satan in his excess
Sucked up the guiltless blood.
Then thought I, Jesus lord,
When thou shalt judge us all,
Hard is it to record
On these men what will fall.
Yet lord I thee desire
For that they do to me,what
Let them not taste the hirereward
Of their iniquity.