What Wesley Left Out

~9,555 words

thereof,  he  raised  up  his  impious  imps  to  molest  and 
trouble  him. 
sS?n       Amongst  these  there  was  an  Augustine  friar,  who  took  occasion 
Se      yT  '''''■*'''"  sermons  that  master  Latimer  made  about  Christmas 
against     1529,  as  Well  m  the  church  of  St.  Edward,  as  also  in  St.  Auo-ustine's 
Lau™e^"s  '''^'""  ^}'^  University  of  Cambridge,  to  envy  against  him,  for  that 
preaching  mastcr  Latimer  m  the  said  sermons  (alluding  to  the  common  usao-e  of 
eards^n    ^^^c  scasou)  gavc  the  people  certain  cards  out  of  the  fifth,  sixth  "and 
bSe.     'f'''^"*^  chapters  of  St.  Matthew,  whereupon  they  might,  not 'only 
then,  but  always  else,  occupy  their  time.     For  the  chief  trump  in 
the  cards  he  limited  the  heart,  as  the  principal  thing  that  they  should 
serve  God  withal,  whereby  he  quite  overthrew  all  hvpocritical  and 
external  ceremonies,   not   tending  to  the  necessary 'furtherance  of 
God's  holy  word  and  sacraments.     For  the  better  "attaining  hereof, 
he  wished  the  Scriptures  to  be  in  English,  whereby  the  common 
])eople  might  the  better  learn  their  duties,  as  well  to  God  as  their 
neighbours. 

The  handling  of  this  matter  was  so  apt  for  the  time,  and  so  plea- 
santly applied  of  him,  that  not  only  it  declared  a  singular  towardncss 
of  wit  m  the  preacher,  but  also  wrought  in  the  hearers  much  fruit, 
to  the  overthrow  of  popish  superstition,  and  setting  up  of  perfect 
religion.  ^ 

This  was  upon  the  Sunday  before  Christmas  day ;  on  which  day 

(I)  Road  Latimer's  own  confession  in  hif  first  sermon  ujion  tlie  raternoster. 


GODLY    SERMONS    OF    MASTER    LATIMER.  439 

coming  to  the  cliurcli,  and  causing  the  boll  to  be  tolled  to  a  sermon,    Mary. 
he  entered  into  the  pulpit,  taking  for  his  text  the  words  of  the  gospel    ^  j^ 
aforesaid,  read  in  the  church  that  day  ;   "  Tu  quis  es  ?"  etc.      In  de-    ij-j.-/. 
livering  the  which  cards  (as  is  above  said)  he  made  the  heart  to  be 
trump,  exhorting  and  inviting  all  men  thereby  to  serve  the  Lord  with 
inward  heart  and  true  affection,  and  not  with  outward  ceremonies  : 
adding,  moreover,  to  the  praise  of  that  trump,  that  though  it  were 
never  so  small,  yet  it  would  take  up  the  best  coat  card  beside  in  the 
bunch,  yea,  though  it  were  the  king  of  clubs,  etc. :  meaning  thereby 
how  the  Lord  would  be  worshipped  and  served  in  simplicity  of  heart  xhedifie- 
and  verity,  wherein  consistcth  true  christian  religion,  and  not  in  the  tw"eu  '*^ 
outward  deeds  of  the  letter  only,  or  in  the  glistering  show  of  man's  fa"^';;'""' 
traditions,    or   pardons,    pilgrimages,   ceremonies,    voms,    devotions, 
voluntary  works,  and  works  of  supererogation,  foundations,  oblations, 
the  pope's  supremacy,  etc. ;  so  that  all  these  cither  Avere  needless, 
where  the  other  is  present,  or  else  were  of  small  estimation,  in  com- 
parison of  the  other. 


The  Tenor  and  Effect  of  certain  Sermons  made  by  Hugh  Latimer  in 
Cambridge,  about  the  year  of  our  Lord  1529. 

"  Tu  quis  es  ?"  which  words  are  as  much  to  say  in  English,  "  Who  art  thou  ?" 
Tliese  be  the  words  of  the  Pharisees,  whicli  were  sent  by  the  Jews  unto  St.  John 
Baptist  in  the  wilderness,  to  have  knowledge  of  him,  who  he  was ;  which  words 
they  spake  unto  him  of  an  evil  intent,  thinking  that  he  would  have  taken  on 
him  to  be  Christ,  and  so  they  would  have  had  him  done  with  their  good  wills, 
because  they  knew  that  he  was  more  carnal,  and  given  to  their  laws,  than 
Christ  indeed  should  be,  as  they  perceived  by  their  old  prophecies :  and  also, 
because  they  marvelled  much  of  his  great  doctrine,  preaching,  and  baptizing, 
they  were  in  doubt  whether  he  was  Christ  or  not;  wherefore  they  said  unto 
him,  "  Who  art  thou?"  Then  answered  St.  John,  and  confessed  that  he  was 
not  Christ. 

Now  here  is  to  be  noted,  the  great  and  prudent  answer  of  St.  John  Baptist 
unto  the  Pharisees,  that  when  they  required  of  him  who  he  was,  he  would  not 
directly  answer  of  himself,  what  he  was  himself;  but  he  said  he  was  not  Christ, 
by  the  which  saying  he  thought  to  put  the  Jews  and  Pharisees  out  of  their  false 
opinion  and  belief  towards  him,  in  that  they  would  have  had  him  to  exercise 
the  olHce  of  Christ;  and  so  declared  further  unto  them  of  Christ,  saying,  "  He 
is  in  the  midst  of  you,  and  amongst  you,  whom  ye  know  not,  whose  latchet  of 
his  shoe  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose,  or  undo."  By  this  you  may  perceive  that 
St.  John  spake  much  in  the  laud  and  praise  of  Christ  his  Master,  professing 
himself  to  be  in  no  wise  like  unto  him.  So  likewise  it  shall  be  necessary  unto 
all  men  and  women  of  this  world,  not  to  ascribe  unto  themselves  any  goodness 
of  themselves,  but  all  unto  our  Lord  God,  as  shall  appear  hereafter,  when  this 
question  aforesaid,  "  Who  art  thou.'"  shall  be  moved  unto  them  :  not  as  the 
Pharisees  did  unto  St.  John,  of  an  evil  purpose,  but  of  a  good  and  simple  mind, 
as  may  appear  hereafter. 

Now  then,  according  to  the  preacher's  mind,  let  every  man  and  woman,  of 
a  good  and  simple  mind,  contrary  to  the  Pharisees'  intent,  ask  this  question, 
"Who  art  thou?"  This  question  must  be  moved  to  themselves,  what  they  be 
of  themselves,  on  this  fashion,  "What  art  thou  of  thy  only  and  natural  genera- 
tion between  fatlier  and  mother,  when  thou  camest  into  the  world?  What 
substance,  what  virtue,  what  goodness  art  thou  of,  by  thyself?"  Which  ques- 
tion if  thou  rehearse  oftentimes  unto  thyself,  thou  shalt  well  perceive  and 
understand,  how  thou  shalt  make  answer  unto  it :  which  must  be  made  on  this 
wise ;  I  am  of  myself,  and  by  myself,  coming  from  my  natural  father  and 
mother,  the  child  of  the  ire  and  indignation  of  God,  the  true  inheritor  of  hell. 


440  GODLY    SERMONS    OF    MASTER    LATIMER. 

Mary,     a  lump  of  sin,  and  working  nothing  of  myself,  but  all  towards  hell ;  except  I 

have  better  help  of  another,  than  I  have  of  myself.     Now  we  may  see  in  what 

-^-  ^-  state  we  enter  into  this  world,  that  we  be  of  ourselves  the  true  and  just  inhe- 
^^^5.  ritors  of  hell,  the  children  of  the  ire  and  indignation  of  Christ,  working  all 
towards  hell,  whereby  we  deserve  of  ourselves  perpetual  damnation,  by  the 
right  judgment  of  God,  and  the  true  claim  of  ourselves  :  which  unthrifty  state 
that  we  be  born  unto  is  come  unto  us  for  our  own  deserts,  as  proveth  well  this 
example  following ; 

Let  it  be  admitted  for  the  probation  of  this,  that  it  might  please  the  king's 
grace  now  being,  to  accept  into  his  favour  a  mean  man,  of  a  simple  degree  and 
birth,  not  born  to  any  possession  ;  whom  the  king's  grace  favoureth,  not  be- 
cause this  person  hath  of  himself  deserved  any  such  favour,  but  that  the  king 
casteth  his  favour  unto  him  of  his  own  mere  motion  and  fantasy  :  and,  for  because 
the  king's  grace  will  more  declare  his  favour  unto  him,  he  giveth  unto  this  said 
man  a  thousand  pounds  in  lands,  to  him  and  his  heirs,  on  this  condition,  that 
he  shall  take  upon  him  to  be  the  chief  captain  and  defender  of  his  town  of 
Calais,  and  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  him  in  the  custody  of  the  same,  against 
the  Frenchmen  especially,  above  all  other  enemies. 

This  man  taketh  on  him  this  charge,  promising  his  fidelity  thereunto.  It 
chanceth  in  process  of  time,  that  by  the  singular  acquaintance  and  frequent 
familiarity  of  this  captain  with  the  Frenchmen,  these  Frenchmen  give  unto  the 
said  captain  of  Calais  a  great  sum  of  money,  so  that  he  will  but  be  content  and 
agreeable,  that  they  may  enter  into  the  said  town  of  Calais  by  force  of  arms ; 
and  so  thereby  possess  the  same  unto  the  crown  of  France.  Upon  this  agree- 
ment the  Frenchmen  do  invade  the  said  town  of  Calais,  alonely  by  the  negli- 
gence of  this  captain. 

Now  the  king's  grace,  hearing  of  this  invasion,  cometh  with  a  great  puissance 
to  defend  this  his  said  town,  and  so  by  good  policy  of  war  overcometh  the  said 
Frenchmen,  and  entereth  again  into  his  town  of  Calais.  Then  he,  being  desirous 
to  know  how  these  enemies  of  his  came  thither,  he  maketh  profound  search  and 
inquiry,  by  whom  this  treason  was  conspired.  By  this  search  it  was  known  and 
found  his  own  captain  to  be  the  very  author  and  the  beginner  of  the  betraying 
of  it.  The  king,  seeing  the  great  infidelity  of  this  person,  dischargeth  this  man 
of  his  office,  and  taketh  from  him  and  his  heirs  this  thousand  pounds  of  posses- 
sions. Think  you  not  that  the  king  doth  use  justice  unto  him,  and  all  his  pos- 
terity and  heirs?  Yes  truly  :  the  said  captain  cannot  deny  himself,  but  that  he 
had  true  justice,  considering  how  unfaithfully  he  behaved  himself  to  his  prince, 
contrary  to  his  own  fidelity  and  promise.  So,  likewise,  it  was  of  our  first  father 
Adam.  He  had  given  unto  him  the  spirit  and  science  of  knowledge,  to  work 
all  goodness  therewith ;  this  said  spirit  was  not  given  alonely  unto  him,  biit 
unto  all  his  heirs  and  posterity.  He  had  also  delivered  him  the  town  of  Calais, 
that  is  to  say,  paradise  in  earth,  the  most  strong  and  fairest  town  in  the  world, 
to  be  in  his  custody.  He  nevertheless,  by  the  instigation  of  these  Frenchmen, 
i.  e.  the  temptation  of  the  fiend,  did  obey  unto  their  desire,  and  so  he  brake  his 
promise  and  fidelity,  the  commandment  of  the  everlasting  King  his  master,  in 
eating  of  the  apple  by  him  inhibited. 

Now  then  the  King,  seeing  this  great  treason  in  his  captain,  deposed  him  of 
the  thousand  pounds  of  possessions,  that  is  to  say,  from  everlasting  life  in  glory, 
and  all  his  heirs  and  posterity  :  for,  likewise  as  he  had  the  spirit  of  science  and 
knowledge,  for  him  and  his  heirs ;  so  in  like  manner  when  he  lost  the  same, 
his  heirs  also  lost  it  by  him,  and  in  him.  So  now,  this  example  proveth,  that 
by  our  father  Adam  we  had  once  in  him  the  very  inheritance  of  everlasting  joy  ; 
and  by  him,  jmd  in  him  again,  we  lost  the  same. 

The  heirs  of  the  captain  of  Calais,  could  not  by  any  manner  of  claim  ask  of 
the  king  the  right  and  title  of  their  father,  in  the  thousand  poimds  of  posses- 
sions, by  reason  the  king  might  answer  and  say  unto  them,  that  althougli  their 
father  deserved  not  of  himself  to  enjoy  so  great  possessions,  yet  he  deserved  by 
himself  to  lose  them,  and  greater,  committing  so  high  treason,  as  he  did,  against 
his  prince's  commandments ;  whereby  he  had  no  wrong  to  lose  his  title,  but 
was  unworthy  to  have  the  same,  and  had  therein  true  justice.  Let  not  you 
think,  which  be  his  heirs,  that  if  he  had  justice  to  lose  his  possessions,  you 
liave  wrong  to  lose  the  same.  In  the  same  manner  it  may  be  answered  imto  all 
men  and  women  now  being,  that  if  our  father  Adam  had  true  justice  to  be 


HOW    TO    I'l.AY    WITH    CKUTAIX    CARDS.  441 

excluded  from  his  possession  of  everlasting  glorj-  in  paradise,  let  us  not  think  the    Atari/. 

contrary  tliat  be  his  heirs,  but  that  we  have  no  wrong  in  losing  also  the  same ; — 

yea,  we  have  true  justice  and  right.  Tlicn  in  what  miserable  estate  w^e  be,  tliat  ,,  _■ 
of  the  right  and  just  title  of  our  own  deserts  have  lost  the  everlasting  joy  and  '•'•^'"*- 
claim  of  ourselves  to  be  true  inheritors  of  hell !  for  he  that  committeth  deadly 
sin  willingly,  bindeth  himself  to  be  an  inlieritor  of  everlasting  pain  :  and  so  did 
our  forefather  Adam  willingly  eat  of  the  apple  forbidden.  Wherefore  he  was 
cast  out  of  the  everlasting  joy  in  paradise,  into  this  corrupt  world  amongst  all 
vileness,  whereby  of  himself  he  was  not  worthy  to  do  any  thing  laudable  or 
pleasant  to  God,  evermore  bound  to  corrupt  aflcctions  and  beastly  appetites, 
transfonned  into  the  uncleanest  and  variablest  nature  that  was  made  under 
heaven,  of  whose  seed  and  disposition  all  tlie  world  is  lineally  descended,  inso- 
much that  this  evil  nature  is  so  diffused  and  shed  from  one  into  another,  that  at 
this  day  there  is  no  man  nor  w'oman  living,  tliat  can  of  themselves  wash  away 
this  abominable  vileness  :  and  so  we  must  needs  grant  of  ourselves  to  be  in  like 
displeasure  unto  God,  as  our  forefather  Adam  was;  by  reason  hereof,  as  I  said, 
we  be  of  ourselves  tlie  very  children  of  the  indignation  and  vengeance  of  God, 
the  true  inheritors  of  hell,  and  working  all  towards  hell,  which  is  the  answer  to 
this  question,  made  to  every  man  and  woman  by  themselves,  "  Who  art  thou  ?" 

And  now,  the  world  standing  in  this  damnable  state,  cometh  in  the  occasion 
of  the  incarnation  of  Christ ;  the  Father  in  heaven,  perceiving  the  frail  nature 
of  man,  that  he,  by  himself  and  of  himself,  could  do  nothing  for  himself,  by  his 
prudent  wisdom  sent  down  the  second  person  in  Trinity,  his  Son  Jesus  Christ, 
to  declare  unto  man  his  pleasure  and  commandment :  and  so,  at  the  Father's 
will,  Ciirist  took  on  him  human  nature,  being  willing  to  deliver  man  out  of  this 
miserable  way,  and  was  content  to  suffer  cruel  passion  in  shedding  his  blood  for 
all  mankind;  and  so  left  beln'nd  for  our  safeguard,  laws  and  ordinances,  to  keep 
us  always  in  the  right  path  unto  everlasting  life,  as  the  evangelies,  the  sacra- 
ments, the  commandments,  and  so  forth :  which  if  we  do  keep  and  observe 
according  to  our  profession,  we  shall  answer  better  unto  this  question,  "  Who 
art  thou?"  than  we  did  before.  For  before  thou  didst  enter  into  the  sacrament 
of  baptism,  thou  wert  but  a  natural  man,  a  natural  woman  ;  as  I  might  say,  a 
man,  a  woman.  But  after  thou  takest  on  thee  Christ's  religion,  thou  hast  a 
longer  name  :  for  then  thou  art  a  christian  man,  a  christian  woman.  Now  then, 
seeing  thou  art  a  christian  man,  what  shall  be  thy  answer  of*  this  question, 
"  Who  art  thou?" 

The  answer  of  this  question  is,  when  I  ask  it  unto  myself,  I  must  say  that  I 
am  a  christian  man,  a  christian  woman,  the  child  of  everlasting  joy,  through 
the  merits  of  the  bitter  passion  ofChrist.  This  is  a  joyful  answer.  Here  we 
may  see  how  much  we  be  bound,  and  in  danger  unto  God,  that  hath  revived  us 
from  death  to  life,  and  saved  us  that  were  damned  ;  which  great  benefit  we 
cannot  well  consider,  unless  we  do  remember  what  we  were  of  ourselves  before 
we  meddled  with  him  or  his  laws  :  and  the  more  we  know  our  feeble  nature,  and 
set  less  by  it,  the  more  we  shall  conceive  and  know  in  our  hearts  what  God  hath 
done  for  us  :  and  the  more  we  know  what  God  hath  done  for  us,  the  less  we  shall 
set  by  ourselves,  and  the  more  we  shall  love  and  please  God  ;  so  that  in  no 
condition  we  shall  either  know  ourselves  or  God,  except  we  do  utterly  confess 
ourselves  to  be  mere  vileness  and  corruption.  Well,  now  it  is  come  unto  this 
point,  that  we  be  christian  men,  cliristian  women,  I  pray  you  what  doth  Christ 
require  of  a  christian  man,  or  of  a  christian  woman  ?  Christ  requireth  nothing 
else  of  a  christian  man  or  woman,  but  that  they  will  observe  his  rule :  for  like- 
wise as  he  is  a  good  Augustine  friar  that  keepeth  well  St.  Augustine's  rule,  so 
is  he  a  good  cliristian  man  that  keepeth  well  (Christ's  rule. 

Now  then,  what  is  Christ's  rule  ?  Clirist's  rule  consisteth  in  many  things, 
as  in  the  commandments,  and  the  works  of  mercy,  and  so  forth.  And  because 
I  cannot  declare  Christ's  rule  unto  you  at  one  time,  as  it  ought  to  be  done,  I 
will  apply  myself  according  to  your  custom  at  this  time  of  Christmas ;  I  will, 
as  I  said,  declare  unto  you  Christ's  rule,  but  that  shall  be  in  Christ's  cards. 
And  whereas  you  are  wont  to  celebrate  Cliristmas  in  playing  at  cards,  I  intend, 
by  God's  grace,  to  deal  unto  you  Christ's  cards,  wherein  you  shall  perceive 
Christ's  rule.  The  game  tliat  we  will  play  at  shall  be  called  the  tnmip,  which 
if  it  be  well  played  at,  he  that  dealeth  shall  win ;  the  players  shall  likewise 
win ;  and  the  standers  and  lookers  upon  shall  do  the  same ;  insomuch   that 


442  GODLV    SERMONS    OF    MASTER    LATIMER. 

Mary,     there  is  no  man  that  is  willing  to  play  at  this  trump  with  these  cards,  but  they 

shall  be  all  winners,  and  no  losers. 

^•^-  Let  therefore  every  christian  man  and  woman  play  at  these  cards,  that  they 
l'^5o.  jjiay  have  and  obtain  the  trump ;  you  must  mark  also  that  the  trump  must 
apply  to  fetch  home  unto  him  all  the  other  cards,  whatsoever  suit  they  be  of. 
Now  then,  take  ye  this  first  card,  which  must  appear  and  be  showed  unto  you 
as  foUoweth :  you  have  heard  what  was  spoken  to  men  of  the  old  law,  "  Thou 
shalt  not  kill ;  whosoever  shall  kill  shall  be  in  danger  of  judgment.  But  1  say 
unto  you  of  the  new  law,"  saith  Christ,  "that  whosoever  is  angry  with  his 
neighbour,  shall  be  in  danger  of  judgment,  and  whosoever  shall  say  unto  his 
neighbour,  'llaca,'  that  is  to  say,  brainless,  or  any  other  like  word  of  rebuk- 
ing, shall  be  in  danger  of  council ;  and  whosoever  shall  say  unto  his  neighbour, 
'Fool,'  shall  be  in  danger  of  hell-fire."  This  card  was  made  and  spoken  by 
Christ,  as  appeareth  in  the  fifth  chapter  of  St.  Matthew. 

Now  it  must  be  noted,  that  whosoever  shall  play  with  this  card,  must  first, 
before  they  play  with  it,  know  the  strength  and  virtue  of  the  same  ;  wherefore  you 
must  well  note  and  mark  terms  how  they  be  spoken,  and  to  what  purpose  :  let 
us  therefore  read  it  once  or  twice,  that  we  may  be  the  better  acquainted  with  it. 
Now  behold  and  see,  this  card  is  divided  into  four  parts :  the  first  part  is  one 
of  the  commandments  that  was  given  unto  Moses  in  the  old  law,  before  the 
coming  of  Christ,  which  commandment  we  of  the  new  law  be  bound  to  observe 
and  keep,  and  it  is  one  of  our  commandments.  The  other  three  parts  spoken 
by  Christ,  be  nothing  else  but  expositions  unto  the  first  part  of  this  command- 
ment :  for  in  very  effect  all  these  four  parts  be  but  one  commandment,  that  is 
to  say,  "Thou  shalt  not  kill."  Yet  nevertheless,  the  last  three  parts  do  show 
unto  thee  how  many  ways  thou  mayest  kill  thy  neighbour  contrary  to  this  com- 
mandment :  yet,  for  all  Christ's  exposition,  in  the  three  last  parts  of  this 
card,  the  terms  be  not  open  enough  to  thee  that  dost  read  and  hear  them 
spoken.  No  doubt,  the  Jews  understood  Christ  well  enough,  when  he  spake 
to  them  these  three  last  sentences,  for  he  spake  unto  them  in  their  own  natural 
tenus  and  tongue.  Wherefoi-e,  seeing  that  these  terms  were  natural  terms  of 
the  Jews,  it  shall  be  necessaiy  to  expound  them,  and  compai'e  them  unto  some 
like  terms  of  our  natural  speech,  that  we,  in  like  manner,  may  understand 
Christ  as  well  as  the  Jews  did.  We  will  begin  first,  with  the  first  part  of  this 
card,  and  then,  after,  with  the  other  three  parts  :  you  must  therefore  under- 
stand that  the  Jews  and  the  Pharisees  of  the  old  law,  to  whom  this  first  part, 
this  commandment,  "Thou  shalt  not  kill,"  was  spoken,  thought  it  suflScient  and 
enough  for  their  discharge,  not  to  kill  with  any  manner  of  material  weapon,  as 
sword,  dagger,  or  with  any  such  weapon  ;  and  they  thought  it  no  great  fault 
whatsoever  they  said  or  did  by  their  neighbours,  so  that  they  did  not  harm  or 
meddle  with  their  corporal  bodies,  which  was  a  false  opinion  in  them,  as  prove 
well  the  three  last  other  sentences  following  the  first  part  of  this  card. 

Now,  as  touching  the  three  otlicr  sentences,  you  must  note  and  take  heed 
what  difference  is  between  these  three  manner  of  offences :  to  be  angry  with 
your  neighbour;  to  call  your  neighbour  "brainless,"  or  any  such  word  of 
disdain ;  or  to  call  your  neighbour  "  fool."  Whether  these  three  manner  of 
offences  be  of  themselves  more  grievous  one  than  the  other,  it  is  to  be  opened 
unto  you.  Truly,  as  they  be  of  themselves  divers  offences,  so  they  kill  diversly, 
one  more  than  the  other,  as  you  shall  perceive  by  the  first  of  tliese  three,  and 
so  forth  :  A  man  which  conceiveth  against  his  neighbour  or  bi-other,  ire  or 
wrath  in  his  mind,  by  some  manner  of  occasion  given  unto  him,  although  he 
be  angry  in  his  mind  against  his  said  neighbour,  he  will  peradventure  express 
his  ire  by  no  manner  of  sign,  either  in  word  or  deed;  yet  nevertheless  he 
offendeth  against  God,  and  breaketh  this  commandment  in  killing  his  own  soul ; 
and  is  therefore  in  danger  of  judgment. 

Now,  to  the  second  part  of  these  three :  That  man  that  is  moved  with  ire  against 
his  neighbour,  and  in  his  ire  calleth  his  neighbour  "brainless,"  or  some  other 
like  word  of  displeasure — as  a  man  might  say  in  a  fury,  "  I  shall  handle  thee  well 
enough,"  which  words  and  countenances  do  more  represent  and  declare  ire  to 
be  in  this  man,  than  in  him  that  was  but  angry,  and  s])ake  no  manner  of  word 
nor  showed  any  countenance  to  declare  his  ire.  Wherefore  as  he  that  so  declareth 
his  ire  either  by  word  or  countenance,  offendeth  more  against  God,  so  he  both 
killeth  his  own  soul,  and  doth  that  in  liim  is,  to  kill  his  neighbour's  soul  in 


HOW    TO    I'LAY    WITH    CERTAIN    CARDS. 


443 


moving  liim  unto  ire,   wherein  he  is  faulty  himself;  and  so  this  man  is  in     Mary. 
danger  of  council.  An 

Now  to  the  third  offence,  and  last  of  these  three  :  That  man  that  calleth  his  ^;  ^• 
neighbour  "  fool,"  doth  more  declare  his  angry  mind  toward  him,  than  he  ^^^^- 
that  called  his  neighbour  "but  brainless,"  or  any  such  words  moving  ire:  for  to 
call  a  man  "fool,"  tliat  word  rcpresenteth  more  envj'  in  a  man,  than  "  brain- 
less "  doth.  Wherefore  he  doth  most  offend,  because  he  doth  most  earnestly 
with  such  words  express  his  ire,  and  so  he  is  in  danger  of  hell-fire :  wherefore 
you  may  understand  now  these  three  parts  of  this  card  be  three  offences,  and 
that  one  is  more  grievous  to  God  than  the  other,  and  that  one  killeth  more  the 
soul  of  man  than  the  other. 

Now  peradventure  there  be  some  that  will  marvel  that  Christ  did  not  declare 
this  commandment  by  some  greater  faults  of  ire,  than  by  these  which  seem  but 
small  faults,  as  to  be  angrj-  and  speak  nothing  of  it,  to  declare  it  and  to  call  a 
man  "  brainless,"  and  to  call  his  neighbour  "  fool ;"  truly  these  be  the  smallest, 
and  the  least  faults  that  belong  to  ire,  or  to  killing  in  ire.  Therefore  beware  how 
you  offend  in  any  kind  of  ire  :  seeing  that  the  smallest  be  damnable  to  offend  in, 
see  that  you  offend  not  in  the  greatest.  For  Christ  thought,  if  he  might  bring 
you  from  the  smallest  manner  of  faults,  and  give  you  warning  to  avoid  the  least, 
he  reckoned  you  would  not  offend  in  the  greatest  and  worst,  as  to  call  your  neigh- 
bour thief,  whoreson,  whore,  drab,  and  so  forth,  into  more  blasphemous  names  ; 
which  offences  must  needs  have  punishment  in  hell,  considering  how  that  Christ 
hath  appointed  these  three  small  faults,  to  have  three  degrees  of  punishment  in 
hell,  as  appeareth  by  these  three  terms,  judgment,  council,  and  hell-fire  :  these 
three  terms  do  signify  nothing  else  but  three

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 5,555 more in the scan at the link above.

~274 words

the  Black  Friars,  called  Buckenham,  P""-  ^f^- 
otherwise  surnamcd     Domme  labia,    who  thinking  to  make  a  great  eth  at 
hand  against  master  Latimer,  about  the  same  time  of  Christmas,  Latimer*! 
■when  master  Latimer  brought  forth  his  cards  to  deface  belike  the 
doings  of  the  other,  brought  out  his  Christmas  dice,  casting  there  to 
his  audience  cinque  and  qiiati'C ;  meaning  by  the  cinque,  five  places  in 
the  New  Testament,  and  the  four  doctors  by  the  qnatre ;  by  which  his 
cinqe  quatre,  he  would  prove  that  it  was  not  expedient  the  Scripture 
to  be  in  English,  lest  the  ignorant  and  vulgar  sort,  through  the  occa-  Note 
sion  thereof,  might  haply  be  brought  in  danger  to  leave  their  voca-  sonfo?*" 
tion,  or  else  to  run  into  some  inconvenience:    as  for  example,  the '^'"^'"'"•- 

iT  111  ^       ^   •       •  ^  itt  -M  i  i  i      "^^  ^^ ''V 

ploughman,  when  he  iicaretli  this  in  the  gospel,  '  JNo  man  that  layetli  the  scrip- 
his  hand  on  the  plough  and  lookcth  back,  is  meet  for  the  liingdom  of  silouki 
God,"''   might  peradvcnture,    hearing    this,   cease   from    his  plough.  ^"e^^J^^ 
Likewise  the  baker,  when  he  hearc.th  that  a  little  leaven  conupteth  a  lish.  ° 

VOL.   VII.  G   G 


450  STIR    OCCASIONED    BY    LATIMER  S    PREACHING. 

Mary,  wliole  lump  of  clough,  may  percase  leave  our  bread  unleavened,  and 
^  J)  so  our  bodies  shall  be  unseasoned.  Also  the  simple  man,  when  he 
1555.    heareth  in  the  gospel,  "  If  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,  and  cast 

it  from  thee,"  may  make  himself  blind,  and  so  fill  the  world  full  of 

beggars.  These  with  others  more  this  clerkly  friar  brought  out,  to 
the  number  of  five,  to  prove  his  purpose. 

Master  Latimer,  hearing  this  friarly  sermon  of  Dr.  Buckenham, 
Cometh  again  in  the  afternoon,  or

~324 words

Latimer,  underneath  the  pulpit,  sat  Bucken- 
ham, the  foresaid  friar,  prior  of  the  Black  Friars,  with  his  black-friar's 
cowl  about  his  shoulders. 
Answer  Then  master  Latimer,  first  repeating  the  friarly  reasons  of  Dr. 
meMo  Buckenham,  whereby  he  would  prove  it  a  dangerous  thing  for  the 
Dr. Buck-  vulgar  people  to  have  the  Scripture  in  the  vulgar  tongue,  so  refuted 
sermon,  the  friar ;  so  answered  to  his  objections ;  so  dallied  with  his  bald 
reasons  of  the  ploughman  'looking  back,  and  of  the  baker  leaving  his 
bread  unleavened,  that  the  vanity  of  the  friar  might  to  all  men  appear, 
well  proving  and  declaring  to  the  people,  how  there  was  no  such  fear 
nor  danger  for  the  Scriptures  to  be  in  English,  as  the  friar  pretended ; 
at  least  this  requiring,  that  the  Scripture  might  be  so  long  in  the 
English  tongue,  till  Englishmen  were  so  mad,  that  neither  the  plough- 
man durst  look  back,  nor  the  baker  should  leave  his  bread  unleavened. 
And  proceeding  moreover  in  his  sermon,  he  began  to  discourse  of 
the  mystical  speeches  and  figurative  phrases  of  the  Scripture :  which 
phrases,  he  said,  were  not  so  diffuse  and  difficult,  as  they  were  com- 
mon in  the  Scripture,  and  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  most  commonly 
used  and  known  :  "  and  not  only  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  but  also 
every  speech,"  saith  he,  "  hath  its  metaphors  and  like  figurative  signi- 
fications, so  common  and  vulgar  to  all  men,  that  the  very  painters  do 
paint  them  on  walls,  and  in  houses." 

As  for  example  (saith  he,  looking  toward  the  friar  that  sat  over 

against  him),  when  they  paint  a  fox  preaching  out  of  a  friar's  cowl, 

none  is  so  mad  to  take  this  to  be  a  fox  that  preacheth,  but  know  well 

enough  the  meaning  of  the  matter,  which  is  to  paint  out  unto  us, 

what  hypocrisy,  craft,  and  subtle  dissimulation,  lieth  hid  many  times 

in  these  friars'  cowls,  willing  us  thereby  to  beware  of  them.     In  fine, 

friar  Buckenham  with  this  sermon  was  so  dashed,  that  never  after  he 

durst

~477 words

out  of  the  pulpit  against  master  Latimer. 

Another        Bcsidcs  tliis  Buckeuham,  there  was  also  another  railing  friar,  not 

frlar'"^    of  the  Same  coat,  but  of  the  same  note  and  faction,  a  Grey  Friar  and 

against    ^  doctor,  an  outlandishman  called  Dr.  Vcnctus,  who  likewise,  in  his 

Latimer.    ,  ,.  •^     ^  ^  i  •  t       •  ii- 

brawlmg  sermons,  railed  and  raged  against  master  Latimer,  calling 
him  a  mad  and  brainless  man,  and  willing  the  people  not  to  believe 
him,  etc.  To  whom  master  Latimer  answering  again,  takcth  for  his 
gi-ound  the  words  of  our  Saviour  Christ,  "  Thou  slialt  not  kill,"'  ^  etc. 
"  But  I  say  unto  you,  whosoever  is  angry  with  his  neighbour  shall  be 
in  danger  of  judgment ;  and  Avhosoevcr  shall  say  unto  his  neighbour, 
Raca  (or  any  other  like  words  of  rebuking,  as  ''brainless'').,  shall  be 

(1)  Matt.  V. 


STIR    OCCASIONED    BV    LATIMKR  S    PREACHING.  451 

in  danger  of  council :  and  wliosoever  shall  say  to  his  neighbour,  Fool,    ^fary. 
shall  be  in  danger  of  hell  fire."  ^d 

In  discussing  of  which  place,  first  he  divideth  the  offence  of  killing    l,j5o. 
into  three  branches.     One  to  be  with  hand,  the  other  with  heart,  the  Answ.r 
third  with  word.     With  hand,  when  we  use  any  weapon  drawn,  to  ",',^.^"j'J' 
spill  the  life  of  our  neighbour:  with  heart,  when  we  be  angry  with  him  :  another 
with  word,  when  in  word  or  countenance  we  disdainfully  rebuke  ourcdar.*' 
neighbour,  or  despitefully  revile  hiiu.     Words  of  rebuking  are,  when 
we  speak  auv  opprobrious  and  unseemly  thing,  whereby  the  patience 
of  our  neighbour  is  moved,  as  when  we  call  him  mad  (said  he)  or 
brainless,  or  such  like,  which  are  guilty  of  council :  words  of  spite,  or 
reviling  arc,  when  we  call  him  fool ;  which  Christ  saith  is  guilty  of 
hell  fire,  etc. 

Thus  master  Latimer,  in  handling  and  trimming  this  matter,  after 
that  with  the  weight  of  Christ's  words  and  the  explaining  of  the 
same  he  had  sufficiently  borne  the  friar  clean  down,  then  he  turned 
to  the  fifth  chapter  of  the  book  of  AVisdom  ;  out  of  the  Avhich  chapter 
he  declared  to  the  audience,  how  the  true  servants  and  preachers  of 
God  in  this  world  commonly  are  scorned  and  reviled  of  the  proud 
enemies  of  God's  word,  which  count  them  here  as  madmen,  fools, 
brainless,  and  drunken  :  "  so  did  they,"  said  he,  "■  in  the  Scripture 
call  them  w^hich  most  purely  preached  and  set  forth  the  glory  of  God's 
word.  But,"  said  he,  "  what  will  be  the  end  of  these  jolly  fellows, 
or  what  will  they  say  in  the  end.^  '  We  mad  men,  we  mad  fools,  we, 
Ave  ourselves,'' '  etc.  And  that  will  be  their  end,  except  they  repent." 
And  thus  ending  his  sermon,  he  so  confounded  the  poor  friar,  that 
be  drove  him  not  only  out  of  countenance,  but  also  clean  out  of  the 
university. 

But  what  should  I  here  stand  deciphering  the  names  of  his  adver- 
saries,^ when  Avliole

~382 words

through  the  whole  university,  preaching  likewise 
and  barking  against  him  ?  amongst  whom  was  Dr.  ^V'atson,  master 
of  Christ's  College,  whose  scholar  Latimer  had  been  afore ;  Dr.  No- 
taries, master  of  Clare-hall ;  Dr.  Philo,  master  of  jMichaeFs-house  ; 
Dr.  Mctecalfe,  master  of  St.  John's  ;  Dr.  Blithe  of  the  KingVhall ; 
Dr.  Bullock,  master  of  the  Queen's  College;  Dr.ClifFe  of  Clement's 
hostel.  Dr.  Donnes  of  Jesus  College,  Dr.  Palms,  master  of  St. 
Nicholas's  hostel ;  and  Bain,  Rud,  and  Greenwood,  bachelor  of 
divinity,  all  three  of  St.  John's  College :  also  Brikenden,  bachelor 
of  divinity  of  the  same  house,  and  scholar  sometime  to  the  said 
Latimer.  Briefly,  almost  as  many  as  were  heads  there  of  houses, 
so  many  impugners  did  this  worthy  standard-bearer  of  Christ's  gospel 
sustain. 

Then  came  at  last  Dr.  West,^  bishop  of  Ely,  who  preaching  against  Latimer 
master  Latimer  at  Barnwell  Abbey,  forbade  him,  within  the 'churches  ["'Jreach. 
of  that  university,  to  preach  any  more.  Notwithstanding,  so  the  Lord 

(1)  "Nos  insensati,  nos  insensati,"  etc. 

(2)  The  vice-chancellor  at  the  time,  Dr.  Buckmaster,  endeavoured  to  restrain  these  contentions, 
who,  summoning  Latimer,  and  others  mentioned  in  this  paragraph,  hcfore  him,  gave  them  some 
excellent  advice  :  see  his  account  given  to  the  Senate  in  Dr.  Lamb's  '•  Collection  of  Letters,  Sta- 
tutes, and  other  Documents,  from  the  MSS.  of  Corp.  Christ.  Coll.  Camb.  j"  (Lond.  IS,1«.)  p.  15. -Ed. 

(3)  There  are  some  very  characteristic  particulars  about  this  Discourse,  ajid  Latimer's  subse- 
quent examination,  quoted  by  Dr.  Watkins,  in  the  Life  of  Latimer,  prefixed  to  his  Sermons  j 
(Lond.  1824;  pp.  10—12),  from  Strype's  Memorials  under  Mary,  chap,  xxviii.— Ed. 

G   G  2 


452  THE    TROUBLE    OF    MASTER    LATIMER. 

Mary,  provldcd,  tliat  Dr.  Barnes,  prior  of  the  Augustine  friars,  did  license 
^  £)  master  Latimer  to  preach  in  his  church  of  the  A\;gustines,  and  he 
1555.  himself  preached  at  the  church  by,  called  St.  Edward's  church,  which 
was  the  first  sermon  of  the  gospel  which  Dr.  Barnes  preached,  being 
upon  Christmas  Even  upon  a  Sunday.  Whereupon  certain  articles 
were  gathered  out  of  his  sermon,  and  were  commenced  against  him 
by  master  Tyrell,  fellow  of  the  King's-hall,  and  so  by  the  vice-chan- 
cellor presented  to  the  cardinal,  as  in  his  story  before  hath  been 
declared. 

This  master  Latimer,  as  you  have  heard,  being

~874 words

him  familiarly.    At  which  time  master  Latimer,  find- 
demned.    ing  opportunity,  kneeled  down,  opened  his  whole  matter  to  the  king, 

(1)  See  his  lirtit  Sermon  on  tlie  Lord's  Prayer,  4to.  page  125.  Ed.  ICO?.— Ed. 


THE    TKOCBLK    OK    MASTER    LATIMER.  4o3 

and  beggeil  her  pardon  ;    wliicli  the  king  most  graciously  granted,    Mary. 
and  gave   it  liim  at  liis  return  homeward.     In  the  mean  time  the  TaTtT" 
woman  was  delivered  of  a  child  in   the  prison,  whose  godfather  was    i.j55. 
master  Latimer,  mistress  Chckc  godmother.     But  all  the  while  he 
would  not  tell  her  of  the  pardon,  but  laboured  to  have  her  confess 
the  truth  of  the  matter.     At  length  the  time  came  when  she  looked 
to  suffer,  and  master  Latimer  came  as  he  was  wont  to  instruct  her ;  Puriika- 
unto  whom  she  made  great  lamentation  and  moan,  to  be  purified  women. 
before  her  suffering,  for  she  thought  to  be  damned  if  she  should 
suffer  without  purification. 

Then  master  Bilney,  being  with  master  Latimer,  both  told  her 
that  that  law  was  made  to  the  Jews,  and  not  to  us,  and  how  women 
be  as  well  in  the  favour  of  God  before  they  be  purified,  as  after ; 
and  rather  it  was  appointed  for  a  civil  and  politic  law,  for  natural 
honesty  sake,  than  that  they  should  any  thing  the  more  be  purified 
from  sin  thereby,  etc.  So  thus  they  travailed  with  this  woman,  till 
they  brought  her  to  a  good  trade  ;  and  then  at  length  showed  her 
the  king's  pardon,  and  let  her  go. 

This  good  act  among  many  others  at  this  time  happened  in  Cam- 
bridge by  master  Latimer  and  master  Bilney.  But  this  was  not 
alone,  for  many  more  like  matters  were  wrought  by  them,  if  all  were 
known,  whereof  partly  some  are  touched  before,  such  especially  as 
concern  master  Bilney,  mention  whereof  is  above  expressed.  But, 
as  it  is  commonly  seen  in  the  natural  course  of  things,  that  as  the 
fire  beginneth  more  to  kindle,  so  the  more  smoke  ariseth  withal,  in 
much  like  sort  it  happened  with  master  Latimer ;  whose  towardness 
the  more  it  began  to  spring,  his  virtues  to  be  seen,  and  his  doings  to 
be  known,  the  more  his  adversaries  began  to  spurn  and  kindle  against 
him.  Concerning  these  adversaries,  and  such  as  did  molest  him, 
partly  their  names  be  above  expressed.  Among  the  rest  of  this  Dr  Red- 
number  was  Dr.  Redman,  of  whom  mention  is  made  before  in  the  "pa/nst 
reign  of  king  Edward  ;  a  man  savouring  at  that  time  somewhat  more  Latimer. 
of  superstition,  than  of  true  religion,  after  the  zeal  of  the  Pharisees, 
yet  not  so  malignant  or  harmful,  but  of  a  civil  and  quiet  disposition, 
and  also  so  liberal  in  Avell  doing,  that  few  poor  scholars  were  in  that 
university,  which  fared  not  better  by  his  purse.  This  Dr.  Redman 
being  of  no  little  authority  in  Cambridge,  perceiving  and  understand- 
.ing  the  bold  enterprise  of  master  Latimer,  in  setting  abroad  the  word 
and  doctrine  of  the  gospel,  at  this  time,  or  much  about  the  same, 
writeth  to  him,  seeking  by  persuasion  to  revoke  the  said  Latimer 
from  that  kind  and  manner  of  teaching;  to  whom  master  Latimer 
makcth  answer  again  in  few  words.  The  sum  and  effect  of  both 
their  letters,  translated  out  of  Latin,  here  followcth  to  be  seen : 

The  Sum  of  the  Epistle  written  by  Dr.  Redman  to  Master  Latimer. 

Grace  be  with  you,  and  true  peace  in  Christ  Jesus. — I  beseedi  you  heartily, 
and  reqtiire  most  earnestly,  even  for  charity's  sake,  that  you  will  not  stand  in 
your  own  conceit  with  a  mind  so  indurate,  nor  |)refer  your  own  singular  judg- 
ment in  matters  of  religion  and  controversies  before  so  many  learned  men  ;  and 
that  more  is,  before  the  whole  catholic  church,  especially  considering  that  you 
neither  have  any  thing  at  all  in  the  word  of  God  to  make  for  you,  nor  yet  the 
testimony  of  any  authcntical  writer.     Nay,  nay  ;   I  beseech  you  rather  consider 


A.D. 
1555. 


word 


454  THE    TROUBLE    OF    MASTER    LATIMER. 

Mary,     that  you  are  a  man,  and  that  lying  and  vanity  may  quickly  blear  your  eye,  wliich 
doth  sometimes  transform  itself  into  an  angel  of  light. 

Judge  not  so  rashly  of  us,  as  that  wicked  spirit  hath  tickled  you  in  the  ear, 

Wit  you  well  that  we  are  careful  for  you,  and  that  we  wish  you  to  be  saved, 

and  that  we  are  careful  also  for  our  own  salvation.  Lay  down  your  stomach,  I 
pray  you,  and  luuuble  your  spirit,  and  suffer  not  the  church  to  take  offence  with 
the  hardness  of  your  heart,  nor  that  her  unity  and  Christ's  coat-without-seam 
(as  much  as  lieth  in  you)  should  be  torn  asunder.  Consider  what  the  saying 
of  the  wise  man  is,  and  be  obedient  thereunto  :  trust  not  your  own  wisdom. — 
The  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  etc. 

The  Sum  of  Master  Latimer's  Answer  to  Dr.  Redman. 

Reverend  master  Redman,  it  is  even  enough  for  me,  that  Christ's  sheep  hear  no 
man's  voice  but  Christ's  :  and  as  for  you,  you  have  no  voice  of  Christ  against 
me,  whereas,  for  my  part,  I  have  a  heart  that  is  ready  to  hearken  to  any  voice 
of  Christ  that  you  can  bring  me.  Thus  fare  you  well,  and  trouble  me  no  moi-e 
from  the  talking  with  the  Lord  my  God. 

Latimer  After  master  Latimer  had  thus  travailed  in  preaching  and  teaching 
called  up  ii-j  ti^g  university  of  Cambi-idge  about  the  space  of  three  years,  at 
cardinal,  length  he  was  called  up

~232 words

without  enemies.     So  true  it 
'"s.         is  that  St.  Paid  forctelleth  us,  "  Whosoever  will  live  godly  in  Christ, 
oni™to  be  shall  sufFer  persecution."     It  so  chanced,  that  whereas  he,  preaching 
our  ami    ^^P^'^  the  blcsscd  Virgin,  Christ's  mother  (whom  we  call  our  Lady), 
had  thereupon  declared  his  mind,  referring  and  reducing  all  honom* 
only  to  Christ  our  only  Saviour,  certain  popish  priests,  being  there- 
with offended,  sought  and  wrought  much  trouble  against  him,  drawing 
out  articles  and  impositions  which  they  untruly,  unjustly,  falsely,  and 
uncharitably  imputed  unto  him  : 

Matter  First,  That  he  should  preach  against  our  Lady,  for  that  he  reproved  in  a  ser- 

a'^ainst  "^°"  *^'^^  superstitious  rudeness  of  certain  blind  priests,  which  so  held  together 

Latim'cr  "P"»  that  blessed  virgin,  as  though  she  never  had  any  sin,  nor  were  saved  by 

by  popish  Christ  the  only  Saviour  of  the  whole  world, 
priests.  \wm,  That  he  should  say,  that  saints  were  not  to  be  worship})ed. 


Troubled 


and 
not  our 
Lady. 


COPY    OK    A    CITATION    SENT    TO    HIM.  455 

Item,  That  "  Ave  Maria"  was  a  salutation  only,  and  no  prayer.  Afury. 

Item,  Tliat  there  was  no  material  fire  in  hell.  

Item,  That  there  was  no  purgatory,  in   saying,  that  he  had   rather  he  in    ^-  ^• 

purgatory  tlian  in  Lollards'  Tower.  ^•'^•^5- 

Toucliing  the  whole  discourse  of  which  articles,  with  his  reply  and 
answer  to  tlic  same,  hereafter  shall  follow  (by  the  Lord's  assistance), 
when  we  come  to  his  letters. 

I'he  chief  impugncrs  and  molesters  of  him,*  besides  these  country  Troubiers

~1,526 words

cruel 

handling  of  the  bishops,  it  is  in  doubt.     By  the  Avords,  and  the  title 

in  Tonstafs  Register  prefixed  before  the  articles,  it  may  seem  that  he 

did  subscribe.     The  words  of  the  Register  be  these  : — 

"  Hugo  Latimenis,  in  sacra  Theologia  Bacchalaurius  in  Universitate  Canta- 
briglje,  coram  Cant.  Archiepise.  Johan.  Lond.  Episcopo,  reliquaque  concione 
apud  Westmon,  vocatus,  confessus  est  et  recognovit  fidem  suam  sic  sentiendo  ut 
sequitur  in  his  artic.  21  die  Martii,  anno  1531." 

If  these  words  be  true,  it  may  be  so  thought  that  he  subscribed. 
And  whether  he  so  did,  no  great  matter  nor  marvel,  the  iniquity  of 


HIS    CRAFTY    HANDLING    BY    THK    BISHOPS.  459 

the  time  being  such,  that  either  he  must  needs  so  do,  or  else  abide    ^lary. 
the  bishop's  blessing,  that  is,  cruel  sentence  of  death,  which  he  at  that    ^  y 
time  (as  he  himself  confessed,  preaching  at  Stamford)  was  lotli  to    i^oS. 
sustain  for  such  matters  as  these  were,  unless  it  Avere  for  articles 
necessary  of  his  belief;  by  which  his  words  I  conjecture  rather  that 
he  did  subscribe  at  length,  albeit  it  was  long  before  he  could  be 
brought  so  to  do.     Yet  this,  by  the  way,  is  to  be  noted,  concerning  ^^^<^"^- 
the  crafty  and  deceitful  handling  of  these  bishops  in  his  examinations,  lingofthe 
what  subtle  devices  they  used  the  same  time,  to  entrap  him  in  their  exam^n-" 
snares.     The  truth  of  the  story  he  showeth  forth  himself  in  a  certain  jjjfy^^"" 
sermon  preached  at  Stamford,   Oct.  9,   a.  d.  1550,    his   words  be 
these  •} — 

"  I  was  once,"  saith  he,  "  in  examination  before  five  or  six  bishops,  where  1 
had  much  tm-moiling.  Every  week  thrice  I  came  to  examinations,  and  many 
snares  and  traps  were  laid  to  get  something.  Now  God  knoweth  I  was  igno- 
rant of  the  law,  but  that  God  gave  me  answer  and  wisdom  what  I  should  speak. 
It  was  God  indeed :  for  else  I  had  never  escaped  them.  At  the  last  I  was 
brought  forth  to  be  examined  into  a  chamber  hanged  with  arras,  where  I  was 
wont  to  be  examined :  but  now,  at  this  time,  the  chamber  was  somewhat 
altered.  For  whereas  before  there  was  wont  ever  to  be  a  fire  in  the  chimney, 
now  the  fire  was  taken  away,  and  an  arras  hanged  over  the  chimney,  and  the 
table  stood  near  the  chimney's  end. 

"  There  was  amongst  the  bishops  that  examined  me,  one  with  whom  I  had 
been  very  familiar,  and  took  him  for  my  great  friend,  an  aged  man,  and  he  sat 
next  the  table's  end.  Then,  amongst  all  other  questions  he  put  forth  one,  a 
very  subtle  and  crafty  one,  and  such  a  one  indeed,  as  I  could  not  think  so  great 
danger  in.  And  when  I  should  make  answer,  '  I  pray  you,  master  Latimer,' 
said  one,  '  speak  out ;  I  am  very  thick  of  hearing,  and  here  be  many  that  sit 
far  off.'  I  mai-velled  at  this,  that  I  was  bidden  speak  out,  and  began  to  mis- 
deem, and  gave  an  ear  to  the  chimney ;  and,  sir,  there  I  heard  a  pen  walking 
in  the  chimney  behind  the  cloth.  They  had  appointed  one  there  to  write  all 
mine  answers ,  for  they  made  sure  that  I  should  not  start  from  them :  there 
was  no  starting  from  them.  God  was  my  good  Lord,  and  gave  me  answer ;  I 
could  never  else  have  escaped  it." 

The  question  to  him  there  and  then  objected  was  this  :  "  Wliether  a  subtle 
he  thought  in  his  conscience,  that  he  hath  been  suspected  of  heresy."  tk.us'^^'' 
This  was  a  captious  question.  There  Avas  no  holding  of  peace  would  pJI^to"" 
serve  ;  for  that  was  to  grant  himself  faulty.  To  answer  it  was  every  J'^'A"'" 
way  full  of  danger;  but  God,  which  alway  giveth  in  need  what  to  bishops, 
answer,  helped  him,  or  else  (as  he  confessed  himself)  he  had  never 
escaped  their  bloody  hands.  Albeit  what  was  his  answer,  he  doth  not 
there  express. 

.  And  thus  hitherto  you  have  heard  declared  the  manifold  troubles 
of  this  godly  preacher,  in  the  time  not  only  of  his  being  in  the 
University,  but  especially  at  his  benefice,  as  partly  in  his  own  words 
above  mentioned,  and  partly  by  his  own  letters  hereafter  following, 
may  better  appear. 

*An  Inhibition-  made  to  Master  William  Latimer,  that  he  should 
not  preach  within  the  Diocese  of  London. 

John,  by  the  permission  of  God  bishop  of  London,  to  all  and  singular  par- 
sons, vicars,  chaplains,  curates  and  not  curates,  clerks  and  learned  men  whatso- 

(1)  Ex  verbis  Latimeri.     [In  his  sermon';,  vol.  i.  p.  270.  Lond.  1824.  — En.] 

(2)  Thi»  inhibition  and  the  observations  following,  arc  extracted  from  the  Edition  of  1563, 
p  507.— En. 


460  THE    TROUBLE    OF    MASTER    LATIMER. 

Mary,     ever  they  be,  throughout  our  city  and  diocese  of  London,  health,  grace,  and 

■ benediction,  etc.     Whereas  we,  by  authority  granted  us  by  the  law  and  pro- 

A.D.  vincial  constitutions  in  this  behalf,  of  late  did  inhibit  and  forbid  one  Hiigh 
I'^^J-  Latimer,  a  priest,  for  certain  just  and  lawful  causes  specially  moving  us  in  this 
behalf,  and  specially  for  the  pernicious  errors  already  determined  by  the  church 
in  the  decrees,  and  decretals,  and  provincial  constitutions,  by  the  which,  through 
his  crafty  flattering,  and,  as  it  is  said,  fraudulent  and  pestiferous  kind  of  preach- 
ing, he  goeth  about  to  corrupt  and  infect  the  people,  and  to  seduce  them  from 
the  approved  and  received  doctrine  of  the  church,  that  he  should  not  preach 
within  our  city  and  diocese  of  London,  in  places  exempt  or  not  exempt,  except  he 
were  licensed  thereunto  by  special  license,  under  pain  of  the  law.  Neverthe- 
less, as  we  have  heard  reported,  the  said  Hugh  Latimer,  despising  and  con- 
temning our  inhibition,  hath  rashly  presumed  to  preach  the  third  day  of  this 
present  month  of  October,  without  any  license,  within  our  diocese  of  London  ; 
that  is  to  say,  within  the  precincts  of  the  friars  Augustines,  to  the  violating  and 
contempt  of  the  law  and  our  inhibition.  Therefore  we  command  you  jointly 
and  severally,  firmly  enjoining  and  charging  you  that  for  the  causes  before 
said,  again  the  second  time  by  our  authority,  you  do  inhibit  and  forbid,  or  cause 
the  said  Hugh  Latimer  peremptorily  to  be  inhibited  and  forbidden ;  unto  whom, 
also,  by  the  tenor  of  these  presents  we  do  inhibit  and  forbid,  that  he  do  not  pre- 
sume to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  preaching,  and  to  preach  within  our  city,  diocese, 
and  jurisdiction  of  London,  in  places  exempt  or  not  exempt,  until  such  time  as, 
according  to  our  just  judgment,  he  have  purged  himself  of  his  default,  and  be 
lawfully  restored  unto  the  office  of  preaching,  and  have  obtained  his  letters  testi- 
monial according  to  the  tenor  and  form  of  the  canonical  sanctions  or  provincial 
constitutions,  in  this  behalf  lawfully  ordained ;  and  that  he  really  exhibit  and 
show  the  same  in  what  place  soever  he  will  hereafter  preach,  under  the  pain 
expressed  and  contained  in  the  law  and  provincial  constitutions.  Also  we  com- 
mand you  and  every  of  you,  jointly  and  severally,  that  you  do  intimate  and 
signify  this  inhibition  aforesaid  to  be  made  and  executed  by  our  authority  afore- 
said, unto  all  and  singular  abbots  and  priors  of  religious  houses,  as  well  exempt 
as  not  exempt,  to  their  presidents  or  vicegerents,  whatsoever  they  be  ;  and  also 
to  all  and  singular  parsons,  vicars,  priests,  the  clergy  and  people  wheresoever 
they  be  within  our  diocese,  albeit  in  places  exempt :  and  specially  to  the  famous 
man  friar  George  Brown,  professor  of  divinity,  and  prior  of  the  house  or  convent 
of  the  friars  Augustines  of  the  city  and  diocese  of  London.  For  the  same  causes 
and  by  the  said  authority  inhibiting  all  the  aforesaid,  that  they,  nor  any  of 
them,  do  not  admit  the  said  Hugh  Latimer  to  preach  within  any  of  their 
churches,  or  within  the  precinct  of  any  of  their  houses,  or  with  any  of  them, 
under  the  pain  and  penalty  expressed  and  contained  in  the  law  and  provincial 
constitutions,  until  such  time  as  he  have  purged  himself  as  is  before  said;  and 
that  he  do  really  exhibit  unto  them  his  sufficient  letters  testimonial  upon  his 
restitution,  as  is  aforesaid. 

Given  under  our  seal  the  2d  day  of  October,  a.  d.  1533,  and  in  the  third 
year  of  our  consecration. 

Tliis  inhibition  was  executed  against  the  said  Wilham  Latimer 
upon  a  Sunday,  the  5th  day  of  October,  in  the  year  aforesaid,  within 
the  parish  of  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle,  of  the  city  of  London,  by 
Robert  Hains,  a  learned  man,  etc.  The  which  inhibition  notwith- 
standing, the  said  William  Latimer  preached  the  3d  day  of  October 
at  afternoon,  within  the  precinct  of  the  friars  Augustines  of  the  city 
of  London. 

Thus  have  we  discoursed,  and  run  over  hitherto,  the  laborious  tra- 
vails, the  painful  adventures  and  dangerous  hazards,  and  manifold 
plunges,  which  this  true-hearted  and  holy  servant  of  God  suffered 
among  the  pope''s  friends  and  God's  enemies,  for  the  gospel's  sake:* 
in  which  so  hard  and  dangerous  straits,  and  such  snares  of  the  bishops, 
hard  had  it  been  for  him  and  impossible  to  have  escaped  and  continued 
so  long,  had  not  the  almighty  helping  hand  of  the  Highest,  as  he 


rescued 


HIS    PASTORAL    DILIGENCE.  461 

stirred  him  up,  so  liave  preserved  him  through  the  favour  and  power  of   Mary. 
his  prince  ;    wlio  with  much  favoiu

~258 words

much  profit,  as  might  be.    As  for  example,  in  this  thing,  and 
in  divers  others,  it  did  appear,  that  when  it  could  not  be  avoided  but 
holy  water  and  lioly  bread  must  needs  be  received,  yet  so  he  prepared 
and  instructed  them  of  his  diocese,  with  such  informations  and  les- 
sons, that  in  receiving  thereof  superstition  should  be  excluded,  and 
some  remembrance  taken  thereby,  teaching  and  charging  the  ministers 
of  his  diocese,  in  delivering  the  holy  water  and  the  holy  bread,  to  say 
these  words  following. 

Words  spoken  to  the  People  in  giving  them  Holy  Water. 

Remember  your  promise  in  baptizing ; 
Christ  his  mercy  and  blood-shedding  : 
By  whose  most  holy  sprinkling, 
Of  all  your  sins  you  have  free  pardoning. 

What  to  say  in  giving  Holy  Bread. 

Of  Christ's  body  this  is  a  token, 
Which  on  the  cross  for  our  sins  was  broken. 
Wherefore  of  your  sins  you  must  be  forsakers, 
If  of  Christ's  death  ye  will  be  partakers. 

By  this  it  may  be  considered  what  the  diligent  care  of  this  bishop 
was,  in  doing  the  duty  of  a  faithful  pastor  among  his  flock.     And 
moreover  it  is  to  be  thought  that  he  would  have  brought  more  things 
else  to  pass,  if  the  time  then  had  answered  to  his  desire ;  for  he  was 
not  ignorant  how  the  institution  of  holy  water  and  holy  bread  not 
only  had  no  ground  in  Scripture,  but  also  how  full  of  profane  exorcisms 
and  conjurations  they  were,  contrary  to  the  rule  and  learning  of  the 
gospel.     Thus  this  good  man  behaved  himself  in  his  diocese.     But,  Thetrou

~234 words

the  Tower  the  same  night. 

Besides  this,  divers  other  conflicts  and  combats  this  godly  bishop 
sustained  in  his  own  country  and  diocese,  in  taking  the  cause  of  right 
and  equity  against  oppression  and  wrong.  As  for  another  example, 
there  was  at  that  time,  not  far  from  the  diocese  of  Worcester,  a  certain 
justice  of  peace,  whom  here  I  will  not  name,  being  a  good  man  after- 
ward, and  now  deceased.  This  justice,  in  purchasing  of  certain  land 
for  his  brother,  or  for  himself,  went  about  to  wrong  or  damnify  a  poor 
man,  who  made  his  complaint  to  master  Latimer.  He  first  hearing, 
then  tendering,  his  rightful  cause,  wrote  his  letter  to  Jhe  gentleman, 
exhorting  him  to  remember  himself,  to  consider  the  cause,  and  to 
abstain  from  injury.  The  justice  of  peace  not  content  withal  (as  the 
fashion  of  men  is  when  they  are  told  of  their  fault),  sendeth  word 
again  in  great  displeasure,  that  he  would  not  so  take  it  at  his  hands, 
with  such  threatening  words,  etc.  Master  Latimer,  hearing  this,  an- 
swered again  by  writing  to  a  certain  gentleman ;  the  copy  whereof 
among  his  letters  hereafter  followeth  in  the  sequel  of  this  story  to  be 
seen. 

It  were  a  large  and  long  process  to  story  out  all  the  doings,  tra- 
vails, and  writings  of  this  christian  bishop,  neither  yet  have  we 
expressed  all  that  came  to  our  hands ;  but  this  I  thought  sufficient 
for  this  present.     Thus

~1,100 words

his  hat  in  his  hand,  having  a  kerchief  on  his  head,  and  upon  it  a  mer\  ap- 
night-cap  or  two,  and  a  great  cap  (such  as  townsmen  use,  with  two  p^"^^^- 
broad  flaps  to  button  under  the  chin),  wearing  an  old  thread-bare 
Bristol  frieze-gown  girded  to  his  body  with  a  penny  leather  girdle,  at 
the  which  hanged  by  a  long  string  of  leather  his  Testament,  and  his 
spectacles  without  case,  depending  about  his  neck  upon  his  breast. 
After  this  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  began  on  this  manner : 

Lincoln  : — "  blaster  Latimer,  you  shall  understand,  that  I  and  my  lords  here  The  ora- 
have  a  commission  from  my  lord  cardinal  Pole's  grace,  legate  a  latere  to  this  l""^",^!,, 
realm  of  England,  from  our  most  reverend  fatlier  in  God,  the  pope's  holiness,  Latimer. 
to  examine  you  upon  certain  opinions  and  assertions  of  yours,  which  you,  as 
well  here  openly  in  disputations  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1554,  as  at  sundry  and 
at  divers  other  times  did  affirm,  maintain,  and  obstinately  defend.  In  the  which 
commission  be  specially  two  points ;  the  one  which  we  must  desire  you  is,  that 
if  you  shall  now  recant,  revoke,  and  disannul  these  your  errors,  and,  together 
with  all  this  realm,  yea  all  the  world,  confess  the  truth,  we,  upon  due  repent- 
ance of  your  part,  shall  receive  you,  reconcile  you,  acknowledge  you  no  longer 
a  straved  sheep,  but  adjoin  you  again  to  the  unity  of  Christ's  church,  from  the 
which  you  in  the  time  of  schism  fell.  So  that  it  is  no  new  place  to  the  which  I 
exhort  you ;  I  desire  you  but  to  return  thither  from  whence  you  went.  Consider, 
master  Latimer,  that  without  the  unity  of  the  church  is  no  salvation,  and  in  the 
church  can  be  no  errors.'  Therefore  what  should  stay  you  to  confess  that 
which  all  the  realm  confesseth,  to  forsake  that  which  the  king  and  queen  their 
majesties  have  renounced,  and  all  the  realm  recanted.  It  was  a  common 
error,  and  it  is  now  of  all  confessed  :  it  shall  be  no  more  shame  to  you,  than  it 
(1)  But  this  church  then  stamK-th  uiwn  the  truth  of  God's  word,  and  not  upon  the  fantasy  of  man, 

VOL.  VII.  M   M 


530 


Mary. 

A.D. 
1555. 


The 
pope's  a 
thority. 


THE    EXAMINATION    OF    LATIMER 

was  to  us  all.  Consider,  master  Latimer,  that  within  these  twenty  years  this 
realm  also,  with  all  the  world,  confessed  one  church,  acknowledged  in  Christ's 
church  a  head;  and  by  what  means  and  for  what  occasion  it  cut  off  itself  from 
the  rest  of  Cln-istianity,  and  renounced  that  which  in  all  times  and  ages  was 
confessed,  it  is  well  known,  and  might  be  now  declared  upon  what  good  found- 
ation the  see  of  Rome  was  forsaken,  save  that  we  must  spare  them  that  are 
dead,'  to  whom  the  rehearsal  would  be  opprobrious  :  it  is  no  usurped  power,  as  it 
hath  been  termed,  but  founded  upon  Peter  by  Christ,  a  sure  foundation,  a  per- 
fect builder,  as  by  divers  places,  as  well  of  the  ancient  fathers,  as  by  the  express 
word  of  God,  may  be  proved." 

With  that  master  Latimer,  who  before  leaned  his  head  to  liis 
liand,  began  somewhat  to  remove  his  cap  and  kerchief  from  his  cars. 
The  bishop  proceeded,  saying : 

"  For  Christ  spake  expressly  to  Peter  saying,  '  Pasce  oves  rneas,  et  rege  oves 
meas,'  the  which  word  doth  not  only  declare  a  certain  ruling  of  Christ's  flock, 
but  includeth  also  a  certain  pre-eminence  and  government; 2  and  therefore  is 
the  king  called  '  Rex  a  regendo :'  so  that  in  saying  'rege,'  Christ  declared  a 
power  which  he  gave  to  Peter,  which  jurisdiction  and  power  Peter  by  hand 
delivered  to  Clement,  and  so  in  all  ages  hath  it  remained  in  the  see  of  Rome. 
This,  if  you  shall  confess  with  us,  and  acknowledge  with  all  the  realm  your 
errors  and  false  assertions,  then  shall  you  do  that  which  we  most  desire,  then 
shall  we  rest  upon  the  first  part  of  our  commission,  then  shall  we  receive  you, 
acknowledge  you  one  of  the  church,  and,  according  to  the  authority  given  unto 
us,  minister  unto  you,  upon  due  repentance,  the  benefit  of  absolution,  to  the 
which  the  king  and  queen  their  majesties  were  not  ashamed  to  submit  them- 
selves, although  they  of  themselves  were  unspotted,  and  therefore  needed  no 
reconciliation  :  yet  lest  the  putrefaction  and  rottenness  of  all  the  body  might 
be  noisome,  and  do  damage  to  the  head  also,  they  (as  I  said)  most  humbly 
submitted  themselves  to  my  lord  cardinal  his  grace,  by  him,  as  legate  to  the 
pope's  holiness,  to  be  partakers  of  the  reconciliation.  But,  if  you  shall  stub- 
bornly persevere  in  your  blindness ;  if  you  will  not  acknowledge  your  errors ; 
if  you,  as  you  now  stand  alone,  will  be  singular  in  your  opinions  ;  if  by  schism 
and  heresy  you  will  divide  youi'self  from  your  church,  then  must  we  proceed  to 
the  second  part  of  the  commission,  which  we  would  be  loth  to  do,  that  is,  not  to 
condemn  you,  for  that  we  cannot  do,  {that  the  temporal  sword  of  the  realm, 
and  not  we,-*  will  do)  but  to  separate  you  from  us,  acknowledge  you  to  be  none 
of  us,  to  renounce  you  as  no  member  of  the  church,  to  declare  that  you  are 
'  filius  perditionis,'  a  lost  child;  and,  as  you  are  a  rotten  member  of  the  church, 
so  to  cut  you  off  from  the  church,  and  so  to  commit  you  to  the  temporal  judges, 
permitting  them  to  proceed  against  you,  according  to  the  tenor  of  their  laws. 
Reasons  Therefore,  master  Latimer,  for  God's  love  consider  your  estate ;  remember  you 
to  per-  are  a  learned  man ;  you  have  taken  degrees  in  the  school,  borne  the  oflice  of  a 
flesll'^but  b'^^^^op  ;  remember  you  are  an  old  man ;  spare  your  body,  accelerate  not  your 
iiottosa-  death,  and  specially  remember  your  soul's  health,  quiet  of  your  conscience. 
^'f/y '^'J"-  Consider  that  if  you  should  die  in  this  state,  you  shall  be  a  stinking  sacrifice  to 
God  ;  for  it  is  the  cause  that  maketh  the  martyr,  and  not  the  death  :  consider 
that  if  you  die  in  this  state,  you  die  without  grace,  for  without  the  chiu-ch  can 
be  no  salvation.  Let  not  vain-glory  have  the  upper  hand,  humiliate  yourself, 
captivate  your  understanding,  subdue  your  reason,  submit  yourself  to  the  deter- 
mination of  the  church,  do  not  force  us  to  do  all  that  we  may  do,  let  us  rest 
in  that  part  which  we  most  heartily  desire,  and  I,  for  my  part  [then  the  bishop 
put  off  his  cap]  again  with  all  my  heart  exhort  you." 

After  tlic  bishop  had  somewhat  paused,  tlicn  master

~794 words

as  much  ease  as  you    l^'^J- 
will." 

Latimer :—"  Your  lordship  gently  exhorted  me  in  many  words  to  come  His  .in- 
to the  unity  of  the  church.     I   confess,  my  lord,  a  catholic  church,  spread  swerto 
throughout  all  the  world,  in  the  which  no  man  may  err,  without  the  which  ^•'>'=o'"- 
unity  of  the  church  no  man  can  he  saved  :  h\it  I  know  perfectly  hy  God's  word, 
that  this  church  is  in  all  the  world,  and  hath  not  its  foundation  in  Rome  only.  The  uni- 
as  you  say;  and  me  thought  your  lordship  hrought  a  place  out  of  the  Scriptures  ^|^j|,*|*'|^ 
to  confirm  the  same,  that  there  was  a  jurisdiction  given  to  Peter,  in  that  Christ  iiath^mt 
bade  him  '  rcgere,'  govern  his  people.'     Indeed,  my  lord,   St.  Peter  did  well  its  found- 
and  truly  his  office,  in  that  he  was  bid  '  regere :'  but,  since,  the  bishops  of  ",*'j^'J,^[;,'j 
Rome  have  taken  a  new  kind  of  '  regere.'     Indeed  they  ought  'regere,'  but 
how  my  lord?  not  as  they  will  themselves :  but  this  'regere'  must  be  hedged 
in  and  ditched  in.     They  must   'regere,'  but  '  secundum  verbum  Dei;'   they 
must  rule,  but  according  to  the  word  of  God.     But  the  bishops  of  Rome  have  "  Regere 
turned  'regere   secundum  verbum  Dei,'  into    'regere  secundum  voluntatem  secun- 
suam :'  they  have  turned  the  rule  according  to  the  word  of  God,  into  the  rule  bu™;-'''" 
according  to  their  own  pleasures,  and  as  it  pleaseth  them  best ;  as  there  is  a  turned  to 
book  set  fortli  which  hath  divers  points  in  it,  and,  amongst  others,  this  point  is  jp^^j^.'^''' 
one,  which  your  lordship  went  about  to  prove  by  this  word  '  regere;'    and  the  -rium  vo- 
argument  which  he  bringeth  forth  for  the  proof  of  that  matter,  is  taken  out  of  |^^ta- 
Deuteronomy,  where  it  Is  said,   '  If  there  ariseth  any  controversy  among  the   ^^' 
people,  the  priests  Levitici  cjencris,  of  the  order  of  Levi,  shall  decide  the  matter 
secundum  legem  Dei,  according  to  the  law  of  God,  so  it  must  be  taken.-     This 
book,  perceiving  this  authority  to  be  given  to  the  priests  of  the  old  law,  taketh 
occasion  to  prove  the  same  to  be  given  to  the  bishops  and  others  the  clergy  of 
the  new  law  :  but,  in  proving  this  matter,  whereas  it  was  said  there,  as  the 
priests  of  the  order  of  Levi  should  determine  the  matter  '  according  to  God's 
law,'  that  'according  to  God's  law,'  is  left  out,  and  only  is  recited,  as  the  priests 
of  the  order  of  Levi  shall  decide  the  matter    so  it  ought  to  be  taken  of  the 
])eople ;  a  large  authority  I  assure  you.     What  gelding  of  Scripture  is  this  ?  (^lippj^^ 
what  clipping  of  God's  coin?"     With  the  which  terms  the  audience  smiled,  of  God's 
"  This  is  much  like  the  '  regere'  which  your  lordship  talked  of     Nay,  nay,  my  f^^l^- 
lords,  we  may  not  give  such  authority  to  the  clergy,  to  rule  all  things  as  they  ,],g  ^.J^^_ 
will.     Let  them  keep  themselves  within  their  commission.     Now  I  trust,  my  lies. 
lord,  I  do  not  rail  yet." 

Lincoln  : — "  No,  master  Latimer,  your  talk  is  more  like  taunts  than  railing : 
but  in  that  I  have  not  read  the  book  which  you  blame  so  much,  nor  know  of 
any  such,  I  can  say  nothing  therein." 

Latimer ;— "  Yes,  my  lord,  the  book  is  open  to  be  read,^  and  is  entituled  to 
one  which  is  bishop  of  Gloucester,  whom  I  never  knew,  neither  did  at  any  time 
see  him  to  my  knowledge." 

With  that  the  people  kughed,  because  the  bishop  of  Gloucester 
sat  there  in  commission. 

Then  the  bishop  of  Gloucester  stood  up  and  said  it  was  his  book. 

Latimer  .-—"Was  it  yours,  my  lord?  Indeed  I  knew  not  your  lordship, 
neither  ever  did  I  see  you  before,  neither  yet  see  you  now,  through  the  bright^ 
ness  of  the  sun  shining  betwixt  you  and  me." 

Then  the  audience  laughed  again  ;  and  master  Latimer  spuke  unto 
them,  saying: — 

I^atimer .— "  Why,  my  masters,  this  is  no  laughing  matter.  I  answer  upon 
life  and  death,  '  Vse  vobis  qui  ridetis  nunc,  quoniam  liebitis.'  " 

(1)  Argument:  Christ  bade  Peter,  "regere,"  govern  his  people:  Ergo,  the  pope  must  play  the 
rex,  to  reign  over  kings  and  emperors. 

(3)  The''author  of  this  hook   was   Dr.  Brooks,  who  was  there  in  the  commission.     [Jamej 
Brokis  his  Sermon  at  Paul's  Cross ;  printed  by  Robert  Caley,  twice  in  1554.— tu.] 
M    M  2 


532  THE    EXAMINATION    OF    LATIMER 

M"ry.        The  bishop  of  Lincoln  commanded  silence,  and  then  said  : — 


Lincoln : — "  Master  Latimer,  if  you  had  kept  yourself  within  your  bounds,  if 


A.  D. 

^•'^^•'^'    you  liad  not  used  such  scoffs  and  taunts,  this  had  not  been  done, 

Brooks,  After  this  the  bishop  of  Gloucester  said,  in  excusing  of  his  booh, 
GTouces°-^  "  Master  Latimer,  hereby  every  man  may  see  what  learning  you 
ter.speak-  jjave."     Then  master  Latimer  interrupted  him,  saying  : — 

The  Ca-         Latimer : — "  Lo

~304 words

is  not  a  goodly  victory  ?" 

But  the  bishop  of  Gloucester,  interrupting  his  answer,  proceeded, 
saying  :— 

The  Ca-  Gloucester : — "  I  went  not  about  to  recite  any  place  of  Scripture  in  that 
tholics  al-  pjjjgg  Qf  j-^y  ^jQoj, .  fgj.  |.]^pn,  if  I  had  not  recited  it  faithfully,  you  might  have 
sTrip-"^  had  just  occasion  of  reprehension  :  but  I  only  in  that  place  formed  an  arginnent 
tures,  but  (i  majore,  in  this  sense  ;  that  if  in  the  old  law  the  priests  had  power  to  decide 
take  not  j^^j^g^g  of  controversy,  much  more  then  ought  the  authority  to  be  given  to  the 
clergy  in  the  new  law :  and  I  pray  you  in  this  point  what  availeth  their  re- 
hearsal '  secundum  legem  Dei  V  " 

Latimer : — "  Yes,  my  lord,  very  much.  For  I  acknowledge  authority  to  be 
given  to  the  spiritualty  to  decide  matter  of  religion ;  and,  as  my  lord  said  even 
now,  '  regere  :'  but  they  must  do  it  '  secundum  verbum  Dei,'  and  not  '  secundum 
voluntatem  suam;'  according  to  the  word  and  law  of  God,  and  not  after  their 
own  will,  their  own  imaginations  and  fantasies." 

The  bishop  of  Gloucester  would  have  spoken  more,  saving  that  the 
bishop  of  Lincoln  said  that  they  came  not  to  dispute  with  master 
Latimer,  but  to  take  his  determinate  answers  to  their  articles  ;  and  so 
began  to  propose  the  same  articles  which  were  proposed  to  master 
Ridley.  But  master  Latimer  interrupted  him,  speaking  to  the 
bishop  of  Gloucester. 

Ijatii7ier  : — "  Well,  my  lord,  I  could  wish  more  faithful  dealing  with  God's 
word,  and  not  to  leave  out  a  part,  and  to  snatch  a  part  here,  and  another  there, 
l)ut  to  rehearse  the  whole  faithfully." 

The  pro-  But  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  not  attending  to  this  saying  of  master 
oTLatu"  Latimer,  proceeded  in  the  rehearsing  of  the  articles  in  form  and  sense 
>"'"■•  as  1  declared  before  in  the  examination  of  the  articles  proposed  to 
master  Ridley,  and  required  master

~204 words

taken,  but  as  holy  bread  "^i"'^'^', 

^■n     1  \^      r^     iy  T  •>  °  "^  but  in  the 

sanctineu  by  God  s  word.  dignity  of 

represent 

With  that  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  smiled,  saying  : —  *"s- 

Lincoln : — "  Lo,  master  Latimer,  see  what  steadfastness  is  in  your  doctrine ! 
That  which  you  abhorred  and  despised  most,  you  now  most  establish :  for 
whereas  you  most  railed  at  holy  bread,  you  now  make  your  communion  holy 
bread." 

Latimer : — "Tush,  a  rush  for  holy  bread.  I  say  the  bread  in  the  commu- 
nion is  a  holy  bread  indeed." 

But  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  interrupted  him  and  said : — 

Lincoln  : — "  Oh,  ye  make  a  difference  between  holy  bread  and  holy  bread. 
[With  that  the  audience  laughed].  Well,  master  Latimer,  is  not  this  your 
answer,  that  the  substance  of  bread  and  wine  remaineth  after  the  words  of 
consecration  ?" 

Ijufimer : — "Yes,  verily,  it  must  needs  be  so;    for  Christ  himself  calleth  it  Differ- 
bread,  St.  Paul  calleth  it  bread,  the  doctors  confess   the  '  "  '" 

sacrament  confirmeth  the  same,  and  I  call  it  holy  bread 
no  difference  betwixt  your  holy  bread  and  this,  but  for  the  holy  office  which  it  ^^^^^  and 
beareth,  that  is,  to  be  a  figure  of  Christ's  body ;  and  not  only  a  bare  figure,  but  Pope's, 
effectually  to  represent  the  same." 

So  the  notaries  penned  his  answer  to  be  affirmatively. 

Lincoln  : — "  What

~433 words

sins,  saving  his  cross  only." 

So  the  notaries  penned  liis  answer  to  this  article  also  to  be  affirma- 
tively. 

Lincoln : — "  What  say  you  to  the  fourtli,  master  Latimer  !"  Fourth 

•^  ^  article. 

And  recited  it.     After  the  recital  whereof,  when  master  Latimer 
answered  not,  the  bishop  asked  him  whether  he  heard  hiiii  or  no  .'' 


534  THE    EXAMIKATIOM    OF    LATIMER 

Mary.        Latimer : — "  Yes,  but  I  do  not  understand  what  you  mean  thereby." 
.    ■  V  Lincoln  : — "  Marry,  only  this,  that  these  your  assertions  were  condemned  by 

1555'    "1^^*^'^  Dr.  Weston  as  heresies;  is  it  not  so,  master  Latimer?" 

'■ — '-       Latimer : — "  Yes,  I  think  they  were  condemned.    But  how  imjustly,  He  that 

shall  be  judge  of  all  knoweth." 

So  tlie  notaries  took  his  ansAver  to  this  article  also  to  be  affir- 
matively. 

Fifth  Lincoln : — "  What  say   you,   master   Latimer,  to  the  fifth  article  ?"     And 

article.      recited  it. 

Latimer  : — "  I  know  not  wnat  you  mean  by  these  terms.  I  am  no  lav/yer  : 
I  would  you  would  propose  the  matter  plainly." 

Lincoln : — "  hi  that  we  proceed  according  to  the  law,  we  must  use  their 
terms  also.  The  meaning  only  is  this,  that  these  your  assertions  are  notorious, 
evil  spoken  of,  and  yet  common  and  recent  in  the  mouths  of  the  people." 

Latimer : — "  I  cannot  tell  how  much,  nor  what  men  talk  of  them.     I  come 

not  so  much  among  them,  in  that  I  have  been  secluded  a  long  time.   What  men 

report  of  them  I  know  not,  nor  care  not." 

Latimer        This  answer  taken,  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  said,  "  Master  Latimer,  we  mean 

assiffiied    not  that  these  your  answers  shall  be  prejudicial  to  you.     To-morrow  you  shall 

thtf  next"^  appear  before  us  again,  and  then  it  shall  be  lawful  for  you  to  alter  and  change 

dayagain.  what  you  will.    We  give  you  respite  till  to-morrow,  trusting  that,  after  you  have 

pondered  well  all  things  against  to-morrow,  you  will  not  be  ashamed  to  confess 

the  truth." 

Latimer : — "  Now,  my  lord,  I  pray  you  give  me  license  in  three  words,  to 
declare  the  causes  why  I  have  refused  the  authority  of  the  pope." 

Lincoln  : — "  Nay,  master  Latimer,  to-morrow  you  shall  have  license  to  speak 
forty  words." 

Latimer : — "  Nay,   my  lords,   I  beseech  you  to  do  with  me  now  as  it  shall 

please  your  lordships  :  I  pray  you  let  not  me  be  troubled  to-moiTow  again." 

Lincoln  : — "Yes,  master  Latimer,  you  must  needs  appear  again  to-morrow." 

Latimer : — "  Truly,  my  lord,  as  for  my  part  I  require  no  respite,  for  I  am  at 

a  point ;  you  shall  give  me  respite  in  vain :  therefore  I  pray  you  let  me  not 

trouble  you  to-morrow." 

Lincoln  : — "  Yes,  for  we  trust  God  will  work  with  you  against  to-morrow. 
There  is  no  remedy :  you  must  needs  appear  again  to-moiTow,  at  eight  of  the 
clock

~1,105 words

the 
press  of  the  multitude  doth  me  much  harm." 

Lincoln : — "  I  am  sorry,  master  Latimer,  for  your  hurt.  At  your  departure 
we  will  see  to  better  ordei-." 

With  that  master  Latimer  thanked  his  lordship,  making  a  very 
low  courtesy.  After  this  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  began  on  this 
manner  : 

The  Lincoln: — "Master  Latimer,  although  yesterday,  after  we  had  taken  your 

bishop  of  answers  to  those  articles  which  we  proposed,  we  might  have  justly  proceeded 

words  to    to  judgment  against  you,  especially  in  that  you  required  the  same,  yet  we, 

Latimer,   having  a  good  hope  of  your  returning,  desiring  not  your  destruction,  but  rather 

that  you  would  recant,  revoke  your  errors,   and  turn  to  the  catholic  chin-ch, 

deferred  fin-ther  process  till  this  day;    and  now,  according  to  the  appointment, 

we  have  called  you  here  before  us,  to  hear  whether  you  are  content  to  revoke 

your  heretical  assertions  and  submit  yourself  to  the  determination  of  the  clnu'ch, 

as   we   most   heartily  desire ;    and   I,  for  my  part,  as  I  did  yesterday,  mosi 

earnestly  do  exhort  you:  or  to  know  whether  you  persevere  still  the  man  that 

you  were,  for  the  which  we  would  be  sorry." 

,    .  It  seemed  that  the  bishop  would  have  further  proceeded,  savinjj 

Latimer      .1     ,  ^       •  •  i  1  •  • 

short  with  that  master  Latimer  interrupted  lum,  saying  : 

the  com-  ^  •'      ° 

mission-        Latimer  : — "  Your  lordship  often  doth  repeat  the  catholic  church,  as  though 

•-■"•  I  should  deny  the  same.     No,  my  lord,  I  confess  there  is  a  catholic  church,  to 

(I)  See  the  degradation  of  Hooper,  vol.  vi.  page  051.— Ed. 


HKFOUK    THE    COMMISSIOXKUS,  ^-tl 

the  determination  of  which  I  will  stand ;  but  not  the  church  which  you  call     Mary. 
catholic,  which  sooner  mi<,'ht  be  termed  diabolic.     And  whereas  you  joui  to- 
cether  the  Romish  and  catholic  church,  stay  there,  I  pray  you.     For  it  is  one        •     • 

thins  to  say  Romish  church,  and  another  thing  to  say  catholic  church :   I  must  ■__ 

use  here,  in  this  mine  answer,  the  counsel  of  Cyprian,  who  at  what  time  he  was  The  ca- 
ascited  before  certain   bishops  that  gave  him  leave  to  take  deliberation^ and  «;;»';=^_ 
counsel,  to  try  and  examine  his  opinion,  he  answered  them  thus  :     In  sticKing  and  the 
and  persevering  in  the  truth,  there  must  no  counsel  nor  deliberation  be  taken.    Rom.sh 
And   acrain.   being  demanded  of  them   sitting  in  judgment,  which   was  most  j,^^^^' 
like  to  be  of  the  church  of  Christ,  whether  he  who  was  persecuted,  or  they  who  things, 
did  persecute?     '  Christ,'   said  he,  'hath  foreshowed,  that  he  that  doth  follow  Cyprian's 
liim,  must  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  him.     Christ  gave  knovvledge  that  the  ^;;"/;^^^- 
disciples  should  have  persecution  and  trouble.'    How  think  you  then,  my  lords,  no  deli- 
is  it  like  tliat  the  see  of  Rome,  which  hath  been  a  continual  persecutor,  is  rather  beraUon 
the  church,  or  that  small  flock  which  hath  continually  been  persecuted  of  it,  j^j.^„ 
even  to  death  ?    Also  the  flock  of  Christ  hath  been  but  few  in  comparison  to  the 
residue,  and  ever  in  subjection :"  which  he  proved,  beginning  at  Noah's  time 
even  to  the  apostles. 

Lincoln  — "  Your  cause  and  St.  Cyprian's  is  not  one,  but  clean  contrary  : 
for  he  suffered  pei-secution  for  Christ's  sake  and  the  gospel.  But  you  are  m 
trouble  for  your  errors  and  false  assertions,  contrary  to  the  word  of  God  and  the 
received  truth  of  the  church."  . 

Master  Latimer  interrupting  him,  said:  "Yes  verily,  my  cause  is  as  good  as 
St  Cyprian's  :  for  his  was  for  the  word  of  God,  and  so  is  mine.  '» 

But  Lincoln  goeth  forth  in  his  talk :  "  Also  at  the  beginning  and  foundation 
of  the  church,  it  could  not  be  but  that  the  apostles  should  suffer  great  perse- 
cution.   Further,  before  Christ's  coming,  continually,  there  were  very  few  which 
truly  served  God ;  but,  after  his  coming,  began  the  time  of  grace.    Then  began 
the  church  to  increase,  and  was  continually  augmented,  until  it  came  unto  this 
perfection,  and  now  hath  justly  that  jurisdiction  which  the  unchristian  princes 
before  by  tyranny  did  resist.     There  is  a  diverse  consideration  of  the  estate  of  The 
the  church  now  in  the  time  of  grace,  and  before  Christ's  coming      But,  master  ™a^f^« 
Latimer,  although  we  had  instructions  given  us  determinately  to  take  your  answer  church 
to  such  articles  as  we  shoidd  propose,  without  any  reasoning  or  disputations,  yet  before 
we  hopint^by  talk  somewhat  to  prevail  with  you,  appointed  you  to  appear  before  compared 
us  yesterday  in  the  divinity  school,  a  place  for  disputations.  And  whereas  then,  mththe 
notwithstanding  you  had  license  to  say  your  mind,  and  were  answered  to  every  chun^'^af- 
matter,  yet  you  could  not  be  brought  from  your  errors,  we,  thinking  that  trom 
that  time  ye  would  with  good  advisement  consider  your  estate,  gave  you  respite 
from  that  time  yesterday  when  we  dismissed  you,  until  this  time;  and  now  have  Articles 
called  you  again  here  in  this  place,  by  your  answers  to  learn  whether  you  are  P™-^^^^^ 
the  same  man  you  were  then  or  no  ?     Therefore  we  will  propose  unto  you  the  ^^ain  to 
same  articles  which  we  did  then,  and  require  of  you  a  determinate  answer,  Latimer, 
without  further  reasoning  ;"  and  eftsoons  recited  the  first  article. 

Latimer  — "  Always  my  protestation  saved,  that  by  these  mine  answers  it 
should  not  be  thought  that  I  did  condescend  and  agree  to  your  lordships'  aii-  The  v^M-y 
thoritv,  in  that  you  are  legaced  by  authority  of  the  pope,  so  that  thereby  1  might  ci,nst  re- 
seem  to  consent  to  his  jurisdiction-to  the  first  article  I  answer  now,  as  I  ^hd  ceived  in 
yesterday,  that  in  the  sacrament  the  worthy  receiver  receiveth  the  very  body  o  tne^-  ,;^: " 
Christ,  and  drinketh  his  blood  by  the  Spirit  and  grace  :  but,  af^ter  that  corporal  „,«  spir.t 
being,  which  the  Romish  church  prescribeth,  Christ's  body  and  blood  is  not  in  andg.ace. 
the  sacrament  under  the  forms  of  bread  and  wine  " 

The  notaries  took  liis  answer  to  be  affirmatively.  For  the  second 
article  he  referred  himself  to  his  answers  made  before.  After  this  the 
bishop  of  Lincoln  recited  the  third  article,  and  required  a  determinate 
answer. 

Latimer  .—"  Christ  made  one  oblation  and  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  tiie  whole  The^'^''-^^ 
world,  and  that  a  perfect  sacrifice;  neither  ncedeth  there  to  be  any  other,  j,,;^,,;^_ 
neither  can  there  be  any  other,  propitiatory  sacrifice."  ticlcB. 

(1)  The  cause  of  the  martyrs  of  the  primitive  time,  and  of  the  latter  time,  is  all  one. 


Christ 
His  con- 
demna- 
tion 
read. 


542  A    COMMUXICATION    BETWEEN    BROOKS    AND    RIDLEY. 

Mary.        Tlic  notaries  took  Ins  answer  to  be  affinnatively.     In  like  manner 

^  £)     did  he  answer  to  tlie  other  articles,  not  varying  from  his  answers  made 

1555,    the  day  before. 

i,atinier

~3,893 words

his  Master  Christ, 

and  his  verity,   the  bishop   of  Lincoln   desired  master  Latimer  to 

hearken  to  him  :  and  then  master  Latimer,  hearkening  for  some  nev/ 

matter  and  other  talk,  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  read  his  condemnation  ; 

after  the  publication  of  the  which,  the  said  three  bishops  brake  up 

their  sessions,  and  dismissed  the  audience.     But  master  Latimer  re- 

Papists     quired  the  bishop  to  perform  his  promise '  in  saying  the  day  before, 

the?rp"ro-  ^^^^^  ^^^  should  have  license  briefly  to  declare  the  cause,  Avhy  he  refused 

mises.      the  pope's  authority.    But  the  bishop  said  that  now  he  could  not  hear 

him,  neither  ought  to  talk  with  him. 

Then  master  Latimer  asked  him,  Avhether  it  were  not  lawful  for 
him  to  appeal  from  this  his  judgment.  And  the  bishop  asked  him 
again  to  whom  he  Avould  appeal.  "  To  the  next  general  council," 
quoth  master  Latimer,  "which  shall  be  truly  called  in  God's  name."* 
With  that  appellation  the  bishop  was  content :  but,  he  said,  it  would  be 
a  long  season  before  such  a  convocation  as  he  meant  would  be  called. 
Then  the  bishop  committed  master  Latimer  to  the  mayor,  saying, 
"  Now  he  is  your  prisoner,  master  mayor."  Because  the  press  of  the 
people  was  not  yet  diminished,  each  man  looking  for  further  process, 
the  bishop  of  Lincoln  commanded  avoidance,  and  willed  master 
Latimer  to  tarry  till  the  press  were  diminished,  lest  he  should  take 
hurt  at  his  egression,  as  he  did  at  his  entrance.  And  so  con- 
tinued bishop  Ridley,  and  master  Latimer,  in  durance  till  the  16th 
day  of  the  said  month  of  October. 


A    COMMUNICATION    BETWEEN    DK.  BROOKS,    AND    DR.  RIDLEY, 

IN    THE    HOUSE    OF    MASTER  IRISH,    THE    15tH  DAY    OF 

OCTOBER,    AT    WHICH    TIME    HE    WAS    DEGRADED. 

Li  the  mean  season  upon  the  15th  day  in  the  morning,  and  the 
same  year  abovesaid.  Dr.  Brooks,  the  bishop  of  Gloucester,  and  the 
vice-chancellor  of  Oxford,  Dr.  Marshal,  with  divers  other  of  the  chief 
and  heads  of  the  same  university,  and  many  others  accompanying  them, 
came  unto  master  L'ish's  house,  then  mayor  of  Oxford,  where  Dr. 
Ridley,  late  bishop  of  London,  was  close  prisoner.  And  when  the 
bishop  of  Gloucester  came  into  the  chamber  where  the  said  Dr.  Ridley 
did  lie,  he  told  him  for  what  purpose  their  coming  was  unto  him,  say- 
ing, that  yet  once  again  the  queen's  majesty  did  offer  unto  him,  by 
them,  her  gracious  mercy,  if  that  he  would  receive  the  same,^ 
and  come  home  again  to  the  faith  which  he  was  ba])tized  in, 
and  revoke  his  erroneous  doctrine  that  he  of  late  had  taught  abroad 
to  the  destruction  of  many.  And  further  said,  that  if  he  would  not 
recant  and  become  one  of  the  catholic  church  with  them,  then  they 

.iiV„'^*"'''*i''-^?''"'^''  aPPeaJeth  to  the  next  general  council,  truly  called  in  the  Lord's  name  ;  but 
iiiai  councn  is  long  aconiiiifr. 
(2)  No  mercy  to  be  had  without  consenting  to  iniquity. 


DEGRADATION    OF    BISHOP    RIDI-EY,    MAKTYR.  543 

must  needs  (against  their  wills)  proceed  according  to  the  law,  which    M,inj. 
they  would  be  very  loth  to  do,  if  they  might  otherwise.  a.D. 

"  But,"  saith  he,  "  we  have  been  oftentimes  with  you,  and  luive  requestea  ^'^^^ 

that  you  woukl  recant  this  your  fantastical  and  deviUsh  opinion,  wliich  hitherto 
you  have  not,  althou2;Ii  you  might  in  so  doing  win  many,  and  do  niucli  good. 
Thei-efore,  good  master  Ridley,  consider  with  yourself  the  danger  that  shall 
ensue,  both  of  body  and  soul,  "if  that  you  shall  so  wilfully  cast  yourself  away  in 
refusing  mercy  offered  unto  you  at  this  time.'' 

"  My  lord,"  quoth  Dr.  Ridley,  "  you  know  my  mind  fully  herein  ;  and  as  for  Answerof 
the  doctrine  which  I  have  taught,  my  conscience  assnrcth  me  that  it  was  sound,  ^}^^^^ 
and  according  to  God's  word  (to  his  glory  be  it  spoken)  ;  the  which  doctrine,  urooks. 
the  Lord  God  being  my  helper,  I  will  maintain  so  long  as  my  tongue  shall  wag,  o  worthy 
and  breath  is  within  my  body,  and  in  confirmation  thereof  seal  the  same  with  ofchHst's 
my  blood."  church. 

Gloucester  : — "  Well,  you  were  best,  master  Ridley,  not  to  do  so,  but  to  be- 
come one  of  the  church  with  us  :  for  you  know  this  well  enough,  that  whosoever 
is  out  of  the  catholic  church,  cannot  be  saved.  Therefore  I  say  once  again,  that 
while  you  have  time  and  mercy  offered  you,  receive  it,  and  confess  with  us  the 
pope's  holiness  to  be  the  chief  head  of  the  same  church."  ^ 

Ridleii : — "  I  marvel  that  you  will  trouble  me  with  any  such  vain  and  foolish 
talk.  You  know  my  mind  concerning  the  usurped  authority  of  that  Romish 
Antichrist.  As  I  confessed  openly  in  the  schools,  so  do  I  now,  that  both  by  my 
behaviour  and  talk  1  do  no  obedience  at  all  unto  the  bishop  of  Rome,  nor  to  his 
usurped  authority,  and  that  for  divers  good  and  godly  considerations." 

And  here  Dr.  Ridley  would  have  reasoned  with  the  said  Brooks,  Ridley 
bishop  of  Gloucester,  of  the  bishop  of  Rome's  authority,  but  could  m^ded 
not  be   suffered,   and  yet  he  spake  so  earnestly  against  the  pope  *°,,f,|'"''^' 
therein,  that  the  bishop  told  him,  if  he  would  not  hold  his  peace,  he  otherwise 
should  be  compelled  against  his  Avill.     "And  seeing,"  saith  he,  "  that  not'^be 
you  will  not  receive  the  queen's  mercy  now  offered  unto  you,  but  ^"JJ^g^^ 
stubbornly  refuse  the  same,  we  must,  against  our  wills,  proceed  ac- 
cording to  our  commission  to  degrading,  taking  from  you  the  dignity 
of  priesthood.     For  we  take  you  for  no  bishop,  and  therefore  we 
will  the  sooner  have  done  with  you.     So,  committing  you  to  the 
secular  power,  you  know  what  doth  follow." 

Ridley  : — "  Do  with  me  as  it  shall  please  God  to  suffer  you,  I  am  well  content 
to  abide  the  same  with  all  my  heart." 

Gloucester : — "  Put  off  your  cap,  master  Ridley,  and  put  upon  you  this 
surplice." 

Ridley  :-''^ot  J  truly."         ^^  Sf- 

Glojicester  : — "  But  you  must.  put  on  the 

Ridley: — "  I  will  not."  surplice. 

Gloucester  : — "  You  must  therefore  make  no  more  ado,  but  put  this  surplice 
upon  you." 

Ridieii : — "Truly,  if  it  come  upon  me,  it  shall  be  against  my  will." 

Gloucester: — "  Will  you  not  do  it  upon  you?" 

Ridley : — "  No,  that  I  will  not." 

Gloucester ;— "  It  shall  be  put  upon  you  by  one  or  other." 

Ridley  ;— "  Do  therein  as  it  shall  please  you  ;  I  am  well  contented  with  that,  ^j?",^^^^^- 
and  more  than  that;  'the  servant  is  not  above  his  master.'  If  they  dealt  aga^Jn^t ' 
so  cruelly  with  our  Saviour  Christ,  as  the  Scripture  makcth  mention,  and  he  the  bishop 
suffered  the  same  patiently,  how  much  more  doth  it  become  us  his  servants."     "^^f"^^ 

And  in  saying  of  these  words,  they  put  upon  the  said  Dr.  Ridley  apparei. 
the  surplice,  with  all  the  trinkets  appertaining  to  the  mass.     And  as  pUcVhe're 
they  were  putting  on  the  same.  Dr.  Ridley  did  vehemently  inveigh  '^^^^'/.^^f^ 
against  the  Romish  bisho]),  and  all  that  foolish  apparel,  calling  him  apparel. 

(I)  With  that  their  caps  went  otT,  but  Dr.  Ridley  held  on  his  cap. 


544  THE    STORY    OF    BISHOP    RIDLEY,    MARTYR, 

flfnrt/.    Antichrist,  and  tlie  apparel  foolish  and  abominable,  yea,  too  fond  for  a 

A.  D.    'vice  in  a  play,  insomuch  that  bishop  Brooks  was  exceeding  angry  with 

1555.   him,  and  bade  him  hold  his  peace,  for  he  did  but  rail.     Dr.  Ridley 

answered  him  again,  and  said,  so  long  as  his  tongue  and  breath 

Avould  suffer  him,  he  would  speak  against  their  abominable  doings, 

whatsoever  happened  unto  him  for  so  doing. 

Gloucester : — "  Well,  you  were  best  to  hold  your  peace,  lest  your  mouth  be 
stopped." 

Master  At  which  words  one  Edridge,  the  reader  then  of  the  Greek  lecture, 
^Jetif  standing  by,  said  to  Dr.  Brooks ;  "  Sir,  the  law  is,  he  should  be 
counsel,  gagged ;  therefore  let  him  be  gagged."  At  which  words  Dr.  Ridley, 
^louidbe  ^°°'^'i"S  earnestly  upon  him  that  so  said,  wagged  his  head  at  him,  and 
gagged.^  made  no  answer  again,  but  with  a  sigh  said,  "  Oh  well,  well,  well  !" 
TnTof'  ^^  ^^^^^  proceeded  in  their  doings,  yet  nevertheless  Dr.  Ridley  was 
Ridley,  ever  talking  things  not  pleasant  to  their  ears,  although  one  or  other 
bade  him  hold  his  peace,  lest  he  should  be  caused  against  his  will. 

When  they  came  to  that  place  where  Dr.  Ridley  should  hold  the 

chalice  and  the  wafer-cake,  called  the  singing-bread,  thev  bade  him 

wouwnot  ^^^^^  ^^^®   ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  hands.     And  Dr.^Ridley  said,  "They  shall 

let  coraT  not  come  in  my  hands ;  for,  if  tliey  do,  they  shall  fall  to  the  ground 

irand'the  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^6."     Thcu   there  was  one  appointed  to  hold  them  in  his 

and  wt    ^'^^^'  "^^"^^  bishop  Brooks  read  a  certain  thing  in  Latin,  touching 

fer-cake.  the  degradation  of  spiritual  persons  according  to  the  pope's  law, 

Sded      .Afterward  they  put  a  book  in  his  hand,  and  withal  read  (as  is  before 

from^  ^    said)  a  certain  thing  in  Latin,  the  effect  whereof  was  :  "  We  do  take 

preach-    fj-^j^^  y^^^  ^j^^  ^^^^  ^^  preaching  the  gospel,"  etc.     At  which  words 

Dr.  Ridley  gave  a  great  sigh,  looking  up  towards  heaven,  saying,  "  O 

Lord  God,  forgive  them  this  their  wickedness  !  "     And  as  they  put 

upon  him  the  mass-gear,  so  they  began  with  the  uppermost  garment,  in 

taking  it  away  again,  reading  a  thing  in  Latin,  according  to  the  order 

contained  in  the  said  book  of  the  pope's  law.     Now  when  all  was 

taken  from  him,  saving  only  the  surplice  left  on  his  back,  as  they  were 

reading  and  taking  it  away.  Dr.  Ridley  said  unto  them,  "  Lord  God, 

what  power  be  you  of,  that  you  can  take  from  a  man  that  which  he 

never  had  !     I  was  never  singer  in  all  my  life,  and  yet  you  will  take 

from  me  that  which  I  never  had." 

So  when  all  this  their  abominable  and  ridiculous  degradation'  Avas 
ended  very  solemnly.  Dr.  Ridley  said  unto  Dr.  Brooks,  "  Have  you 
done  ?     If  you  have  done,  then  give  me  leave  to  talk  with  you  a 
little  concerning  these  matters."     Brooks  answered  and  said,  ""Mas- 
ter Ridley,  we  may  not  talk  with  you ;   you  be  out  of  the  church, 
and  our  law  is,  that  we  may  not  talk  with  any  that  be  out  of  the 
church."    Then  master  Ridley  said,  "  Seeing  that  you  will  not  suffer 
me  to  talk,   neither  will  vouchsafe  to  hear  me,  what  remedy  but 
patience  ?     I  refer  my  cause  to  my  heavenly  Father,  who  will  reform 
things  that  be  amiss,  when  it  shall  please  him."    At  which  words  thev 
^^^ praise    ,vould  havc  bccu  gone,  but  master  Ridley  said,  "  My  lord,  I  would 
}.™kup„n  ylf  ^^'""^  y?^^'  loKlship  would  vouchsafe  to  read  over  and  peruse  a 
iMeSacra-  Jittlc  book  of  Bertram's  doings,  concerning  the  sacrament.    I  promise 
you,  you  shall  find  much  good  learning  therein,  if  you  will  read  the 

(I)  All  the  glittering  of  Antichrist's  kingdom,  consistcth  in  aiiisli  toys. 


Ridley's  supplication  to  the  queen.  545 

same  ^\^tll  an  indifFcrent  judgment."     Dr.  Brooks  made  no  answer  to    Mary. 
this,  but  would  have  been  gone  away.     Then  master  Ridley  said,        ^  ^i. 

"  Oh,  I  perceive  that  you  cannot  away  with  this  manner  of  talk.     Well !  it  Hi. 

boots  not,  I  will  say  no  more,  I  will  speak  of  worldly  affairs.  I  pray  you 
therefore,  my  lord,  hear  me,  and  be  a  mean  to  the  queen's  majesty,  in  the 
behalf  of  a  great  many  of  poor  men,  and  especially  for  my  poor  sister  and  her 
husband  which  standcth  there.  They  had  a  poor  living  granted  unto  them  by  Note  the 
me,  whiles  I  was  in  the  see  of  London,  and  the  same  is  taken  away  from  them,  by  ".'^"^l^  """ 
him  that  now  occupicth  the  same  room,  without  all  law  or  conscience.  Here  I 
have  a  supplication  to  the  queen's  majesty  in  their  behalfs.  You  shall  hear  the 
same  read,  so  shall  you  perceive  the  matter  the  better." 

Then  he  read  the  same ;  and,  when  he  came  to  tlie  place  in  the 
supplication,  that  touched  his  sister  by  name,  then  he  wept,  so  that 
for  a  little  space  he  cotild  not  speak  for  weeping.     After  that  he  had 
left  off  weeping,  said,  "  This  is  nature  that  moveth  me :  but  I  have 
now  done."    And  with  that  read  out  the  rest,  and  delivered  the  same 
to  his  brother,  commanding  him  to  put  it  up  to  the  queen's  majesty, 
and  to  sue,  not  only  for  himself,  but  also  for  such  as  had  any  leases  ^^^;']7j;^j 
or  grants  by  him,  and  were  put  from  the  same  by  Dr.  Bonner,  then  from  her 
bishop   of   London.      Whereunto    Brooks    said,    "  Indeed   master  ^^Z^l 
Ridley,  your  request  in  this  supplication  is  very  lawful  and  honest : 
therefore  I  must  needs  in  conscience  speak  to  the  queen's  majesty 
for  them." 

Ridley : — "  I  pray  you,  for  God's  sake,  do  so." 

Gloucester :—"  I  think  your  request  will  be  granted,  except  one  thing  let  it, 
and  that  is,  I  fear,  because  you  do  not  allow  the  queen's  proceedings,  but  obsti- 
nately withstand  the  same,  that  it  will  hardly  be  granted." 

Jiidlei/ ;— "  What  remedy  ?  I  can  do  no  more  but  speak  and  write.  I  trust 
I  have  discharged  my  conscience  therein  ;  and  God's  will  be  done." 

Gloucester  : — "  I  will  do  what  lieth  in  me." 

The  copy  of  this  supplication  written  to  the  queen  here  followeth. 

A  Supplication  of  Bishop  Ridley  to  Queen  Mary  in  the  behalf  of 
certain  poor  Men's  Leases. 

It  may  please  your  majesty,  for  Christ  our  Saviour's  sake,  in  a  matter  of 
conscience  (and  now  not  for  myself,  but  for  other  poor  men)  to  vouchsafe  to 
liear  and  understand  this  humble  supplication.  It  is  so,  honourable  princess, 
that  in  the  time  whiles  I  was  in  the  ministry  of  the  see  of  London,  divers  poor 
men,  tenants  thereof,  have  taken  new  leases  of  their  tenantries  and  holdings, 
and  some  have  renewed  and  changed  their  old,  and  therefore  have  paid  fines 
and  sums  of  money,  both  to  me,  and  also  to  the  chapter  of  Paul's,  for  the  con- 
firmation of  the  same. 

Now,  I  hear  say,  that  the  bishop'  which  occupieth  the  same  room  now,  will 
not  allow  the  foresaid  leases,  which  must  redound  to  many  poor  men's  utter  ruin 
and  decay.  Wherefore  this  is  mine  humble  supplication  unto  your  honourable 
grace,  that  it  may  please  the  same,  for  Christ's  sake,  to  be  unto  the  foresaid  poor 
men  their  gracious  patroness  and  defender,  either  that  they  may  enjoy  iheir 
foresaid  leases  and  years  renewed,  as  I  suppose  when  their  matter  sliall  be  heard 
with  conscience,  both  justice,  conscience,  and  equity  shall  recjuire,  for  that  their 
leases  shall  be  found  (I  trust)  made  without  fraud  or  cunning,  either  of  their 
part,  or  of  mine,  and  always  also  the  old  rents  reserved  to  the  see  without  any 
kind  of  damage  thereof:  or  if  this  will  not  be  granted,  then  that  it  may  please 
your  gracious  higlmess,  to  command  that  the  poor  men  may  be  restored  to  their 
former  leases  and  years,  and  to  have  rendered  to  them  again  such  sums  of 
(1)  This  bishop  wns  doctor  Bonner. 
VOL.   VII.  N     N 


A.D. 

1555. 


546  THE    STOllY    OF    BISHOP    RIDLEY,    MARTYR. 

Mnrij.  money  as  they  paid  to  me  and  to  the  chapter  for  their  leases  and  years,  so 
~  now  taken  from  them.  Which  thing  concerning  the  fines  paid  to  me,  may 
be  easily  done,  if  it  shall  please  your  majesty  to  command  some  portion  of  those 
.  goods  which  I  left  in  my  house  when  I  fled  in  hope  of  pardon  for  my  trespass 
towards  your  grace,  which  goods  (as  I  have  heard)  be  yet  reserved  in  the  same 
house,  I  suppose  that  half  of  the  value  of  my  plate  that  I  left  in  mine  offices, 
and  specially  in  an  iron  chest  in  my  bed-chamber,  will  go  nigh  to  restore  all 
such  fines  received,  the  true  sums  and  parcels  whereof  are  not  set  in  their 
leases;  and  therefore,  if  that  way  shall  please  your  highness,  they  must  be 
known  by  such  ways  and  means  as  your  majesty,  by  the  advice  of  men  of  wis- 
dom and  conscience,  shall  appoint :  but  yet,  for  Christ's  sake,  I  crave  and  most 
humbly  beseech  your  majesty,  of  your  most  gracious  pity  and  mercy,  that  the 
former  way  may  take  place. 

I  have  also  a  poor  sister  that  came  to  me  out  of  the  north,  with  three  father- 
less children,  for  her  relief,  whom  I  married  after  to  a  servant  of  mine  own 
house  :  she  is  put  out  of  that  I  did  provide  for  them.'  I  beseech  your  honour- 
able grace,  that  her  case  may  be  mercifully  considered,  and  that  the  rather,  in 
contemplation  that  I  never  had  of  him,  which  suffered  in  durance  at  my  en- 
trance into  the  see  of  London,  not  one  penny  of  his  movable  goods ;  for  it  was 
almost  half  a  year  after  his  deposition,  afore  1  entered  into  that  place  :  yea  and 
also,  if  any  were  left,  known  to  be  his,  he  had  license  to  carry  it  away,  or  there 
for  his  use  it  did  lie  safe,  as  his  officers  do  know.  I  paid  for  the  lead  which  I 
found  there,  when  I  occupied  any  of  it  to  the  behoof  of  the  church,  or  of  the 
house.  And  moreover,  I  had  not  only  no  part  of  his  movable  goods,  but  also 
(as  his  old  receiver,  and  then  mine,  called  master  Stanton,  can  testify),  I  paid 
for  him  towards  his  servants'  common  liveries  and  wages,  after  his  deposition, 
fifty-three  or  fifty-five  pounds,  I  cannot  tell  whether.  In  all  these  matters  I 
beseech  your  honourable  majesty  to  hear  the  advice  of  men  of  conscience,  and 
in  especial  the  archbishop  of  York,  who,  for  that  he  was  continually  in  my 
house  a  year  and  more,  before  mine  imprisonment,  I  suppose  is  not  altogether 
ignorant  of  some  part  of  these  things ;  and  also  his  grace  doth  know  my  sister, 
for  whose  succour  and  some  relief,  now  unto  your  highness  I  make  most 
humble  suit.''     The  16th  of  October,  anno  1555.  i^,.  ,    ,      t}.-,. 

This  degradation  being  past,  and  all  things  finished,  Dr.  Brooks 
called  the  bailiffs,  delivering  to  them  master  Ridley  with  this  charge, 
to  keep  him  safely  from  any  man  speaking  with  him,  and  that  he 
should  be  brought  to  the  place  of  execution  when  they  were  com- 
manded. Then  master  Ridley  in  praising  God,  burst  out  witli  these 
words,  and  said,  "  God,  I  thank  thee,  and  to  thy  praise  be  it  spoken, 
there  is  none  of  you  all  able  to  lay  to  my  charge  any  open  or  noto- 
rious crime :  for  if  you  could,  it  should  surely  be  laid  in  my  lap,  I 
chaiT'ed*^  see  very  well.'"  Whereunto  Brooks  said,  he  played  the  part  of  a 
proud  Pharisee,  exalting  and  praising  himself  But  master  Ridley 
said,  "  No,  no,  no,  as  I  have  said  before,  to  God's  glory  be  it  spoken. 
I  confess  myself  to  be  a  miserable  wretched  sinner,  and  have  great 
need  of  God's  help  and  mercy,  and  do  daily  call  and  cry  for  the 
same  :  therefore,  I  pray  you,  have  no  such  opinion  of  me.""  Then 
they  departed,  and  in  going  away  a  certain  warden  of  a  college,  of 
whose  name  I  am  not  very  sure,-*  bade  Dr.  Ridley  repent  him,  and 
forsake  that  erroneous  opinion.  Whereunto  master  Ridley  said, 
"  Sir,  repent  you,  for  you  are  out  of  the  truth.  And  I  pray  God  (if 
it  be  his  blessed  will)  have  mercy  upon  you,  and  grant  you  the 
understanding  of  his  word.""     Then  the  warden,  being  in  a  chafe 

(1)  If  to  succour  the  widow  and  fatherless,  is  pure  and  undefiled  relipion.  as  St.  James  saith, 
then  are  Bonner  and  his  religion  filthy  and  abominable,  which  do  such  wrong  to  the  widow  and 
fatherless. 

(2)  Notwithstanding  these  goodly  and  just  requests,  no  justice  could  be  hud,  until  that  now,  of 
late,  some  of  these  shameful  injuries,  by  order  of  law  have  been  redressed. 

(3)  "One  master  Warner,  as  I  remember."  Kdit.  15GH,  p.  137C.— Ed. 


Ridley 
could  not 
with  any 
notorious 


HIS    BEHAVIOUR    AT    HIS    LAST    SUPPER.  547 

thereat,  said,  "  I  trust  that  I  shall  never  be  of  your  erroneous  and  Mary. 
devilish  opinion,  neither  yet  to  be  in  that  place  whither  you  shall  f^o.  ^  j^ 
He  is,"  saith  he,  "  the  most  obstinate  and  wilful  man  that  ever  I  1555. 
heard  talk  since  I  was  born."  

THE    BEHAVIOUR    OF    DR.    RIDLEY    AT    HIS    SUPPER,    THE    NIGHT 
BEFORE    HIS    SUFFERING. 

The  night  before  he  suffered,  his  beard  was  washed  and  his  legs ;  Ridiey 
and,  as  he  sat  at  supper,  the  same  night  at  master  Trisirs  (who  was  |^,u1.'sts'to 
his  keeper),  he  bade  his  hostess,  and  the  rest  at  the  board,  to  his  h's  mar- 
marriage  ;   "  for,"  said  he,  "  to-morrow  I  must  be  married  :"  and  so  '^'^^*' 
showed  himself  to  be  as  merry  as  ever  he  was  at  any  time  before.  Mrs. 
And  wishing  his  sister  at  his  marriage,  he  asked  his  brother  sitting  at  great'  ^ 
the  table,  whether  she  could  find  in  her  heart  to  be  there  or  no.     And  }?f^P'''  ^^' 
he  answered,  "  Yea,  I  dare  say,  with  all  her  heart :"  at  which  word  ^eepetu 
he  said,  he  was  glad  to  hear  of  her  so  much  therein.     So  at  this  talk  Ridley. 
mistress  Irish  wept. 

But  master  Ridley  comforted  her,  and  said,  "  O  Mrs.  Irish,  you 
love  me  not  now,  I  see  well  enough ;  for  in  that  you  weep,  it  doth 
appear  you  will  not  be  at  my  marriage,  neither  are  content  therewith. 
Indeed  you  be  not  so  much  my  friend,  as  I  thought  you  had  been. 
But  quiet  yourself:  though  my  breakfast  shall  be  somewhat  sharp 
and  painful,  yet  I  am  sure  my  supper  shall  be  more  pleasant  and 
sweet,"  etc. 

When  they  arose  from  the  table,  his  brother  offered  him  to  watch  Ridley 
all  night  with"  him.    But  he  said,  "  No,  no,  that  you  shall  not.    For  carea"his 
I  mind  (God  willing)  to  go  to  bed,  and  to  sleep  as  quietly  to-night,  '^-^^^■ 
as  ever  I  did  in  my  life."     So  his  brother  departed,  exhorting  him  to 
be  of  good  cheer,  and  to  take  his  cross  quietly,  for  the  reward  was 
great,  etc. 

THE     BEHAVIOUR     OF     DR.    RIDLEY    AND     MASTER     LATIMER,     AT 

THE    TIME    OF     THEIR    DEATH,    WHICH    WAS    THE    16tH 

OF    OCTOBER,    1555. 

Upon  the  north-side  of  the  town,  in  the  ditch  over  against  Balliol- 
college,^  the  place  of  execution  was  appointed :  and  for  fear  of  any 
tumult  that  might  arise,  to  let  the  burning  of  them,  the  lord  Williams  • 
was  commanded,  by  the  queen"'s  letters,  and  the  householders  of  the 
city,  to  be  there  assistant,  sufficiently  appointed.  And  when  every 
thing  was  in  a  readiness,  the  prisoners  were  brought  forth  by  the 
mayor  and  the  bailiffs. 

Master  Ridley  had  a  fair  black  gown  furred,  and  faced  with  foins, 
such  as  he  was  wont  to  wear  being  bishop,  and  a  tippet  of  velvet 
furred^  likewise  about  his  neck,  a  velvet  night-cap  upon  his  head,  and 
a  corner  cap  upon  the  same,  going  in  a  pair  of  slippers  to  the  stake, 
and  going  between  the  mayor  and  an  alderman,  etc. 

After  him  came  master  Latimer  in  a  poor  Bristol  frieze  frock  all 

(1)  "  Balliol  CollcBe."  A  correspondent  in  the  ChristianOhstrvrrtoT  June  1838,fp.  .354)  after  refer- 
ring to  a  previous  communication  in  the  number  for  September  1837,  tendiiii;  to  confirm  the  accuracy 
of  Foxe's  history,  states  that,  "  not  many  weeks  since,  some  workmen,  who  were  employed  in 
making  a  drain  in  Broad  street,  opposite  the  door  of  the  master  of  IJalliol's  lodgin;;s,  found,  at  the 
depth  of  about  three  feet  from  the  present  surface,  such  a  quantity  of  ashes  and  burnt  sticks,  as 
plainly  indicated  that  they  had  discovered  the  spot  on  which  the  martyrs  suffered." — Ed. 

(2)  "  With  a  tippet  of  sables  :"  Edit.  1563.-ED. 

N    N

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about -107 more in the scan at the link above.

~693 words

I  Can  follow."     So  he,  following  a  pretty  way  off,  at 
the  stake,  length  they  came  both  to  the  stake,  the  one  after  the  other,  where 
first  Dr.  Ridley  entering  the  place,  marvellous  earnestly  holding  up 
both  his  hands,  looked  towards  heaven.     Then  shortly  after  espying 
master  Latimer,  with  a  wonderous  cheerful  look  he  ran  to  him,  em- 
braced, and  kissed  him  ;  and,  as  they  that  stood  near  reported,  com- 
forted him,  saying,  "  Be  of  good  heart,  brother,  for  God  will  either 
assuage  the  fury  of  the  flame,  or  else  strengthen  us  to  abide  it."" 

With  that  went  he  to  the  stake,  kneeled  down  by  it,  kissed  it, 
and  effectually  prayed,  and  behind  him  master  Latimer  kneeled,  as 
earnestly  calling  upon  God  as  he.     After  they  arose,  the  one  talked 
with  the  other  a  little  while,  till  they  which  were  appointed  to  see 
the  execution,  removed  themselves  out  of  the  sun.     What  they  said 
I  can  learn  of  no  man. 
Dr.  Smith      Then  Dr.  Smith,  of  whose  recantation  in  king  Edward's  time  ye 
at  the ""°  heard  before,  began  his  sermon  to  them  upon  this  text  of  St.  Paul, 
ofRidify  "  ^^  I  y'^^^  ^""y  ^^^y  ^^  ^^^^  ^^'^  ^^  ^^  burnt,  and  have  not  charity, 
and  Lati-  I  shall  gain  nothing  thereby.''"''    Wherein  he  alleged  that  the  goodness 
of  the  cause,  and  not  the  order  of  death,  maketh  the  holiness  of  the 
person  ;   which  he  confirmed  by  the  examples  of  Judas,  and  of  a 
woman  in  Oxford  that  of  late  hanged  herself,  for  that  they,  and  such 
like  as  he  recited,  might  then  be  adjudged  righteous,  which  despe- 
rately sundered  their  lives  from  their  bodies,  as  he  feared  that  those 
Dr.  Smith  men  that  stood  before  him   would  do.     But  he  cried  still  to   the 
agaLst     people  to  beware  of  them,  for  they  were  heretics,  and  died  out  of 
tyrs!"^'^    the  church.     And  on  the  other  side,  he  declared  their  diversity  in 
opinions,  as   Lutherans,  fficolampadians,  Zuinglians,  of  which  sect 
they  were,  he  said,  and  that  was  the  worst :    but  the  old  church  of 
cot!iCTega-  ^^^''ist,  and  the  catholic  faith  believed  far  otherwise.     At  which  place 
tion  bur-  they  lifted  up  both  their  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,,  as  it  were  calling 
withdi-    God  to  witness  of  the  truth  :  the  which'  countenance  they  made  in 
ophi'ions^  many  other  places  of  his  sermon,  where  they  thought  he  spake-amiss. 
He  ended  with  a  very  short  exhortation  to  them  to  recant,  and  come 
home  again  to  the  church,  and  save  their  lives  and  souls,  which  else 
were  condemned.     His  sermon  was  scant ;  in  all,  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
Dr.  Ridley  said  to  master  Latimer,  "  Will  you  begin  to  answer  the 
sermon,  or  shall  I  ?"     Master  Latimer  said,  "  Begin  you  first,  I  pray 
you."     "  I  will,"  said  master  Ridley. 

habeani,  niliil  inde  utilifntis  capio." — 


THE  MARTYRDOM  OF  RIDLEY  AND  LATIMER.  549 

Then,  the  wicked  sermon  being  ended,  Dr.  Ridley  and  master    Ji/ary. 
Latimer  kneeled  down  u])on  their  knees  towards  my  lord  ^Villiams  of    *   ij 
Thame,  the  vice-ehaneellor  of  Oxford,  and  divers  other  commissioners    155-,. 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  who  sat  upon  a  form  thereby ;  unto  whom  J^~jjZ~ 
master  Ridley  said,  "  I  beseech  you,  my  lord,  even  for  Chrisfs  sake,  ready  10 
that  I  may  speak  but  two  or  three  words."    And  whilst  my  lord  bent  sinitu'a 
his  head  to  the  mayor  and  vice-chancellor,  to  know  (as  it  appeared)  ^u'tTo't' 
whether  he  might  give  him  leave  to  speak,  the  bailiffs  and  Dr.  Mar-  s"iii-'red. 
shall,   vice-chancellor,   ran   hastily  unto  him,  and  with  their  hands  vlct-'^'''' 
stopped  his  mouth,  and  said,  "  Master  Ridley,  if  you  will  revoke  your  [o/'"f  ^';^. 
erroneous  opinions,  and  recant  the  same,  you  shall  not  only  have  ford, 
liberty  so  to  do,  but  also  the  benefit  of  a  subject ;  that  is,  have  your  Ridley.' 
life."     "  Not  otherwise  ?"  said  master  Ridley.     "  No,"  quoth  Dr. 
Marshal.     "  Therefore  if  you  will  not  so  do,  then  there  is  no  remedy  RWiey 
but  you  must  suffer  for  your  deserts."  "  Well,"  quoth  master  Ridley,  teth  his 
"  so  long  as  the  breath  is  in  my  body,  I  will  never  deny  my  Lord  goT*° 
Christ,  and  his  known  truth  :  God's  will  be  done  in  me  !"     And  with  Latimer's 
that  he  rose  up,  and  said  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Well  then,  I  commit  whenNie 
our  cause  to  Almighty  God,  which  shall  indifferently  judge  all."    To  {j°"''i'j)"".' 
whose  saying,  master  Latimer  added  his  old  posy,  "  Well  !  there   is  ed  to  an

~190 words

but  it  shall  be  opened.""     And  he  said,  he  could  answer  swYtii.  "^ 
Smith  well  enough,  if  he  might  be  suffered. 

Incontinently  they  were  commanded  to  make  them  ready,  which 
they  with  all  meekness  obeyed.  Master  Ridley  took  his  gown  and 
his  tippet,'  and  gave  it  to  his  brother-in-law  master  Shipside,  who  all 
his  time  of  imprisonment,  although  he  might  not  be  suffered  to  come 
to  him,  lay  there  at  his  own  charges  to  provide  him  necessaries,  which 
from  time  to  time  he  sent  him  by  the  serjeant  that  kept  him.  Some 
other  of  his  apparel  that  was  little  worth,  he  gave  away ;  other  the 
bailiffs  took. 

He  gave  away  besides,  divers  other  small  things  to  gentlemen  Ridley 
standing  by,  and  divers  of  them  pitifully  Aveeping,  as  to  sir  Henry  Lea  fway  lus 
he  gave  a  new  groat ;  and  to  divers  of  my  lord  Williams"'s  gentle-  ana^Jfher 
men  some  napkins,  some  nutmegs,  and  rases  of  ginger ;  his  dial,  and  gifts  to 
such  other  things  as  he  had  about  him,  to  every  one  that  stood  next  pie.^*"" 
him.     Some  plucked  the  points  off  his  hose.     Happy  was  he  that 
might  get  any  rag  of  him. 

Master  Latimer  gave  nothing,  but