I. HUGH LATIMER. CIRCA 1490-1555. HUGH LATIMER sprang, as one of the extracts which follow implies, from a worthy though humble parentage. He was born in 1490 or 1491 at Thurcaston in the county of Leicester. Foxe tells, 'that his parents having him left for their only son, and seeing his ready, prompt and sharp wit, purposed to train him up in erudition and knowledge of good literature, wherein he so profited in his youth at the common schools of his own country, that at fourteen years he was sent to the University of Cambridge, where, after some continuance of exercises in other things, he gave himself to the study of such divinity as the ignorance of that age did suffer.' He was remarkable in the university for 'sanctimony of life,' as well as for his studious habits. Latimer was at this time a fervent and zealous Papist, and a bitter opponent of all who favoured the Reformation, insomuch that the oration which he made when he proceeded to the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, in 1524, was directed against Philip Melancthon and his opinions. At this period Bilney, seeing the zeal and piety of Latimer, sought to win him to the new doctrine. It is told that Bilney came to Latimer's study and asked him to receive his confession, and that Latimer, granting the request, was so touched by the hearing of the confession that he forsook his former studies and became a true scholar in the true divinity.' Latimer now devoted himself more earnestly to the work of the ministry. He employed himself in visiting the sick and prisoners, and in preaching both to the clergy in Latin and to the people in English, and many were won to the new doctrine by his instrumentality. The doctors and friars became alarmed, and induced the Bishop of Ely to prohibit Latimer from preaching within the churches of the university. He however obtained leave to preach in the church of the Augustine Friars—that being exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. Complaint was next made of Latimer to the Pope's legate, Cardinal Wolsey, by whom he was summoned to London to give an account of his teaching. The Cardinal considered the complaints frivolous, and dismissed Latimer with gentle admonition, giving him licence to preach throughout England, and other marks of confidence. In Feb. 1529-30 Latimer was one of the delegates appointed by the Senate to determine the validity of Henry the VIII's marriage with Catherine of Arragon, and the day on which the decree of the Senate was presented he preached before the King. From this time forward Latimer ceased to reside in Cambridge. He was appointed chaplain to Anne Boleyn and presented by the Crown to the living of West Kington in Wiltshire. Although he was diligent in the discharge of pastoral duty, he frequently preached in London, and some of his sermons both there and elsewhere, in which he attacked the practices of Rome, raised much controversy and met with occasional condemnation. In August, 1535, the bishopric of Worcester was conferred upon him; he held that see until July, 1539, when Cromwell informed him that it was the King's pleasure that he should resign his bishopric. Latimer had been twice imprisoned when the accession of Edward VI set him free in 1547. He went to reside with Archbishop Cranmer at Lambeth, and refused peremptorily to be reinstated in his see or to accept any other bishopric. At this time he showed that he was not above the persecuting spirit of his age by the part he took in proceedings against Joan Bocher, who was burnt for heresy. Very shortly after the accession of Queen Mary, Latimer was again committed to prison, and after six months spent in the Tower, was removed with Cranmer and Ridley to Oxford for the purpose of holding disputations concerning heresy. At the close of these disputations the three prelates were excommunicated, condemned, and committed to separate confinement. In September, 1555, after sixteen months of imprisonment, Latimer and Ridley were brought before commissioners empowered by Cardinal Pole to try them for heresy, and were sentenced to death. A fortnight later, on the 16th of October, 1555, Latimer, together with Ridley, was burnt in front of Balliol College, and not far from the Bocardo-the gaol of the city. Cranmer, who had been in the same prison, ascended to the roof of the gaol to see the spectacle, and kneeling down prayed to God to strengthen them. Such was the end of Hugh Latimer, whose brave words are in the mouth of every English child, 'Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.' Hugh Latimer was the chief preacher of the English Reformation, and if any single book be taken as giving a picture of the manners, thoughts, and events of that period, it would be his Sermons, which should be studied by all who wish to become acquainted with his time. Excepting Disputations and Letters he left little else. Latimer was, as has been already said, a man of the humbler class; he never became a very learned man, and was often indiscreet, but he was earnest and fearless, had great natural eloquence, and much homely wit. He exercised no episcopal functions after his resignation of his see in 1539, but remained a kind of watchdog of the Reformation at the Court of Edward VI and the Palace of his friend Archbishop Cranmer. His theology was too practical to allow him to mix deeply in the special controversies of the time, and he was a man rather of blunt and courageous honesty than of deep thought or tender feeling. 1. A Yeoman's Estate. My father was a yeoman, and had no lands of his own, only he had a farm of three or four pound a year at the uttermost, and hereupon he tilled so much as kept half a dozen men. He had walk for a hundred sheep; and my mother milked thirty kine. He was able, and did find the |