Ask as a noun in that sense goes back to Old English. The OED has a 13th century cite with the alternate spelling axe: c1275 (▸?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.

Ask as a noun in that sense goes back to Old English. The OED has a 13th century cite with the alternate spelling axe: c1275 (▸?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 529 Eouer axe ich eow leue.