WEBVTT 00:01.130 --> 00:06.920 The Life, Acts, and Doings of Master Hugh Latimer, the Famous Preacher and Worthy 00:06.920 --> 00:13.740 Martyr of Christ and His Gospel This old practised soldier of Christ, Master Hugh 00:13.740 --> 00:18.800 Latimer, was the son of one Hugh Latimer of Thurcuson, in the county of Leicester, 00:19.440 --> 00:25.140 a husbandman of a good and wealthy estimation, where also he was born and 00:25.140 --> 00:29.520 brought up until he was the age of four years or thereabout, at which time his 00:29.520 --> 00:35.620 parents, having him as then left for their only son, with six daughters, seeing his 00:35.620 --> 00:41.540 ready, prompt and sharp wit, purposed to train him up in erudition and knowledge of 00:41.540 --> 00:46.780 good literature, wherein he so profited in his youth at the common schools of his own 00:46.780 --> 00:51.180 country, that at the age of fourteen years he was sent to the University of 00:51.180 --> 00:56.780 Cambridge, where after some continuance of exercise in other things, he gave himself 00:56.780 --> 01:01.180 to the study of such divinity as the ignorants of that age did suffer. 01:03.100 --> 01:08.400 Zealous he was then in the popish religion, and therewith so scrupulous as 01:08.400 --> 01:13.740 himself confesseth, that being a priest and using to say mass, he was so servile 01:13.740 --> 01:18.180 an observer of the Romish decrees, that he had thought he had never 01:18.180 --> 01:21.140 sufficiently mingled his massing wine with water. 01:22.060 --> 01:26.980 He thought that he should never be damned, if he were once a professed friar, 01:27.780 --> 01:30.500 with divers such superstitious fantasies. 01:31.480 --> 01:36.720 In this blind zeal he was a very enemy to the professors of Christ's gospel, 01:37.460 --> 01:42.400 as his oration made, when he preceded battle of divinity, against Philip 01:42.400 --> 01:45.500 Melanchthon, and his works did plainly declare. 01:46.760 --> 01:51.820 Notwithstanding, such was the goodness and merciful purpose of God, that where he 01:51.820 --> 01:55.620 thought by that his oration to have utterly defaced the professors of the 01:55.620 --> 02:00.160 gospel and true church of Christ, he was himself by a member of the same 02:00.160 --> 02:03.400 prettily catched in the blessed net of God's word. 02:04.360 --> 02:09.660 For Master Thomas Bilney, being at that time a trier out of Satan's subtleties, 02:10.120 --> 02:15.080 and a secret overthrower of Antichrist's kingdom, and seeing Master Latimer to have 02:15.080 --> 02:19.700 a zeal in his ways, although without knowledge, was stricken with a brotherly 02:19.700 --> 02:24.800 pity towards him, and bethought by what means he might best win this zealous yet 02:24.800 --> 02:27.180 ignorant brother to the true knowledge of Christ. 02:28.020 --> 02:32.520 He came to Master Latimer's study, and desired him to hear him make his 02:32.520 --> 02:37.240 confession, which thing he willingly granted, with the hearing whereof he was, 02:37.660 --> 02:42.220 by the good spirit of God, so touched, that he forsook his former studying of the 02:42.220 --> 02:46.600 school doctors and other such fooleries, and became a true scholar of the true 02:46.600 --> 02:47.100 divinity. 02:47.820 --> 02:52.460 So that whereas before he was an enemy, and almost a persecutor of Christ, 02:52.840 --> 02:57.840 he was now an earnest seeker after him, changing his old manner of calumnying into 02:57.840 --> 03:02.140 a diligent kind of conferring, both with Master Bilney and others. 03:03.240 --> 03:07.800 After his winning to Christ, he was not satisfied with his own conversion only, 03:08.220 --> 03:12.440 but like a true disciple of the blessed Samaritan, pitied the misery of others, 03:12.540 --> 03:16.620 and became a public preacher and a private instructor to the rest of his brethren 03:16.620 --> 03:21.540 within the university, by the space of three years, spending his time partly in 03:21.540 --> 03:25.620 the Latin tongue among the learned, and partly amongst the simple people in 03:25.620 --> 03:27.380 his natural and vulgar language. 03:28.120 --> 03:33.100 Howbeit, as Satan never sleepeth when he seeth his kingdom begin to decay, 03:33.540 --> 03:38.460 so likewise now, seeing that this worthy member of Christ would be a shrewd shaker 03:38.460 --> 03:42.240 thereof, he raised up his children to molest and trouble him. 03:43.020 --> 03:47.700 Amongst these, there was an Augustine friar, who took occasion, upon certain 03:47.700 --> 03:53.880 sermons that Master Latimer made about Christmas 1529, to envy against him, 03:54.300 --> 03:58.660 for that Master Latimer in the said sermons alluded to the common usage of the 03:58.660 --> 04:03.920 season, gave the people certain cards out of the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters 04:03.920 --> 04:09.320 of St. Matthew, whereupon they might not only then, but always, occupy their time. 04:10.060 --> 04:15.140 For the chief, as their triumphing card, he limited the heart, as the principal 04:15.140 --> 04:20.760 thing, that they should serve God withal, whereby he quite overthrew all external 04:20.760 --> 04:25.680 ceremonies, not tending to the necessary beautifying of God's holy word and 04:25.680 --> 04:26.380 sacraments. 04:27.200 --> 04:31.180 For the better attaining hereof, he wished the Scriptures to be in English, 04:31.540 --> 04:36.640 that the common people might thereby learn their duties as well to God as to their 04:36.640 --> 04:37.020 neighbors. 04:38.200 --> 04:42.340 The handling of this matter was so apt for the time, and so pleasantly applied of 04:42.340 --> 04:46.980 Latimer, that not only it declared a singular towardness of wit in him that 04:46.980 --> 04:52.280 preached, but also wrought in the hearers much fruit, to the overthrow of popish 04:52.280 --> 04:55.080 superstition and setting up of perfect religion. 04:56.200 --> 05:00.620 On the Sunday before Christmas Day, coming to the church, and causing the bell 05:00.620 --> 05:05.560 to be told, he entered into the pulpit, exhorting and inviting all men to serve 05:05.560 --> 05:09.280 the Lord with inward heart and true affection, and not with outward 05:09.280 --> 05:09.900 ceremonies. 05:10.700 --> 05:15.020 Meaning thereby how the Lord would be worshipped and served in simplicity of the 05:15.020 --> 05:20.500 heart and verity, wherein consisteth true Christian religion, and not in the outward 05:20.500 --> 05:24.520 deeds of the letter only, or in the glistering show of man's traditions, 05:24.780 --> 05:29.980 of pardons, pilgrimages, ceremonies, vows, devotions, voluntary works, 05:30.360 --> 05:35.420 works of supererogation, foundations, oblations, the pope's supremacy, 05:35.980 --> 05:41.280 so that all these either be needless where the other is present, or else be of small 05:41.280 --> 05:42.980 estimation in comparison. 05:44.240 --> 05:49.360 It would ask a long discourse to declare what a stir there was in Cambridge upon 05:49.360 --> 05:50.860 this preaching of Master Latimer. 05:51.880 --> 05:56.120 Belike Satan began to feel himself and his kingdom to be touched too near, 05:56.480 --> 06:00.280 and therefore thought it time to look about him, and to make out his men at 06:00.280 --> 06:00.680 arms. 06:01.780 --> 06:06.860 First came out the prior of the black friars, called Buccanum, declaring that it 06:06.860 --> 06:11.480 was not expedient the Scripture to be in English, lest the ignorant might haply be 06:11.480 --> 06:16.320 brought in danger to leave their vocation, or else to run into some inconvenience, 06:16.840 --> 06:21.060 as, for example, the ploughman, when he heareth this in the gospel, 06:21.700 --> 06:25.480 no man that layeth his hand on the plough, and looketh back his meat for the kingdom 06:25.480 --> 06:29.640 of God, might peradventure hearing this, cease from his plough. 06:30.300 --> 06:34.820 Likewise the baker, when he heareth that a little leaven corrupteth a whole lump of 06:34.820 --> 06:39.740 dough, may per case leave our bread unleavened, and so our bodies shall be 06:39.740 --> 06:40.620 unseasoned. 06:41.440 --> 06:46.660 Also the simple man, when he heareth in the gospel, if thine eye offend thee, 06:46.920 --> 06:51.740 pluck it out, and cast it from thee, may make himself blind, and so fill the 06:51.740 --> 06:52.860 world full of beggars. 06:53.820 --> 06:58.760 Master Latimer, hearing this friarly sermon of Dr. Buckingham, cometh again to 06:58.760 --> 07:02.800 the church to answer the friar, where resorted to him a great multitude, 07:03.060 --> 07:06.880 as well of the university as of the town, both doctors and other graduates, 07:07.080 --> 07:12.180 with great expectation to hear what he could say, among whom also directly in the 07:12.180 --> 07:17.280 face of Latimer, underneath the pulpit, sat Buckingham, with his black friar's 07:17.280 --> 07:18.680 cowl about his shoulders. 07:19.820 --> 07:24.160 Then Master Latimer so refuted the friar, so answered to his objections, 07:24.680 --> 07:28.820 so dallied with his bald reasons of the ploughman looking back, and of the baker 07:28.820 --> 07:32.640 leaving his bread unleavened, that the vanity of the friar might to all men 07:32.640 --> 07:37.260 appear, well proving and declaring to the people how there was no such fear nor 07:37.260 --> 07:40.520 danger for the Scriptures to be in English, as the friar pretended. 07:41.280 --> 07:45.320 At least this requiring, that the Scripture might be so long in the English 07:45.320 --> 07:50.040 tongue, till Englishmen were so mad, that neither the ploughman durst look 07:50.040 --> 07:52.940 back, nor the baker should leave his bread unleavened. 07:53.460 --> 07:59.160 Every speech, saith he, hath its metaphors and like figurative significations, 07:59.500 --> 08:03.700 so common to all men, that the very painters do paint them on walls and in 08:03.700 --> 08:04.060 houses. 08:04.980 --> 08:10.480 As for example, saith he, looking toward the friar, when they paint a fox preaching 08:10.480 --> 08:15.080 out of a friar's cowl, none is so mad to take this to be a fox that preaches, 08:15.400 --> 08:19.820 but know well enough the meaning of the matter, which is to paint out unto us what 08:19.820 --> 08:25.700 hypocrisy, craft, and subtle dissimulation, lieth hid many times in 08:25.700 --> 08:29.820 these friar's cowls, willing us thereby to beware of them. 08:31.100 --> 08:36.920 In fine, Friar Buckingham with this sermon was so dashed, that never after he durst 08:36.920 --> 08:39.720 peep out of the pulpit against Master Latimer. 08:40.860 --> 08:46.320 Besides this Buckingham, there was also another railing friar, not of the same 08:46.320 --> 08:51.880 coat, but of the same note and faction, a grey friar and a doctor, an outlandish 08:51.880 --> 08:57.580 man called Dr. Venetus, who likewise, in his brawling sermons, railed and raged 08:57.580 --> 09:01.860 against Master Latimer, calling him a mad and brainless man, and willing the people 09:01.860 --> 09:02.880 not to believe him. 09:03.820 --> 09:07.720 To whom Master Latimer, answering again, taketh for his ground the words of our 09:07.720 --> 09:11.260 Saviour Christ, Thou shalt not kill, etc. 09:12.220 --> 09:17.100 But I say unto you, Whosoever is angry with his neighbour shall be in danger of 09:17.100 --> 09:22.840 judgment, and whosoever shall say unto his neighbour, Rake, or any other like words 09:22.840 --> 09:28.500 of rebuking, as brainless, shall be in danger of counsel, and whosoever shall say 09:28.500 --> 09:32.020 to his neighbour, Fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. 09:32.600 --> 09:36.560 He declared to the audience that the true servants and preachers of God in this 09:36.560 --> 09:41.360 world commonly are scorned and reviled of the proud enemies of God's Word, 09:41.800 --> 09:45.080 which count them here as madmen, fools, brainless, and drunken. 09:45.600 --> 09:50.680 So did they, said he, in the Scripture, call them which most purely preached and 09:50.680 --> 09:52.640 set forth the glory of God's Word. 09:53.780 --> 09:57.720 He so confounded the poor friar that he drove him not only out of countenance, 09:57.820 --> 09:59.860 but also clean out of the university. 10:01.340 --> 10:05.640 Whole swarms of friars and doctors flocked against him on every side, almost through 10:05.640 --> 10:08.760 the whole university, preaching and barking against him. 10:09.580 --> 10:15.300 Then came at last Dr. West, Bishop of Ely, who, preaching against Master Latimer at 10:15.300 --> 10:20.500 Barnwell Abbey, forbade him within the churches of that university to preach any 10:20.500 --> 10:20.840 more. 10:21.920 --> 10:26.320 Notwithstanding that, so the Lord provided, Dr. Barnes, prior of the 10:26.320 --> 10:30.920 Augustine friars, did license Master Latimer to preach in his church of the 10:30.920 --> 10:31.520 Augustines. 10:32.380 --> 10:37.220 Thus Master Latimer, notwithstanding the malice of the adversaries, continued yet 10:37.220 --> 10:41.240 in Cambridge, preaching the space of three years together with such favor and 10:41.240 --> 10:45.600 applause of the godly, also with such admiration of his enemies that heard him, 10:45.960 --> 10:50.480 that the bishop himself, coming in and hearing his gift, wished himself to have 10:50.480 --> 10:53.380 the like, and was compelled to commend him. 10:54.400 --> 10:59.440 Master Latimer with Master Bilney used much to company together, insomuch that 10:59.440 --> 11:03.920 the place where they most used to walk in the fields was called long after the 11:03.920 --> 11:04.700 Heretics' Hill. 11:05.640 --> 11:09.820 The society of these two, as it was much noted of many in that university, 11:10.440 --> 11:15.500 so it was full of many good examples, to all such as would follow their doings, 11:15.520 --> 11:19.440 both in visiting the prisoners, in relieving the needy, in feeding the 11:19.440 --> 11:19.760 hungry. 11:20.880 --> 11:24.980 Master Latimer maketh mention of a certain history which happened about this time in 11:24.980 --> 11:30.060 Cambridge between them two, and a certain woman then prisoner in the castle or tower 11:30.060 --> 11:30.620 of Cambridge. 11:31.300 --> 11:35.880 It so chanced that after Master Latimer had been acquainted with Master Bilney, 11:36.360 --> 11:40.580 he went with him to visit the prisoners in the tower in Cambridge, and among other 11:40.580 --> 11:44.840 prisoners there was a woman which was accused that she had killed her own child, 11:45.300 --> 11:48.220 which act she plainly and steadfastly denied. 11:49.160 --> 11:53.700 Whereby it gave them occasion to search for the matter, and at length they found 11:53.700 --> 11:57.720 that her husband loved her not, and therefore sought all means he could to 11:57.720 --> 11:58.480 make her away. 11:59.260 --> 12:00.140 The matter was thus. 12:00.660 --> 12:05.440 A child of hers had been sick a whole year, and at length died in harvest time, 12:05.580 --> 12:10.240 as it were in a consumption, which when it was gone she went to have her neighbours 12:10.240 --> 12:11.380 to help her to the burial. 12:11.800 --> 12:15.920 But all were in harvest abroad, whereby she was enforced with heaviness of 12:15.920 --> 12:19.080 heart alone to prepare the child to the burial. 12:20.320 --> 12:24.100 Her husband coming home and not loving her, accused her of murdering the child. 12:24.100 --> 12:29.380 This was the cause of her trouble, and Master Latimer by earnest inquisition 12:29.380 --> 12:31.500 of conscience thought the woman not guilty. 12:32.400 --> 12:36.720 Then immediately after was he called to preach before King Henry VIII at Windsor, 12:36.820 --> 12:41.060 where, after his sermon, the King's Majesty sent for him and talked with him 12:41.060 --> 12:41.820 familiarly. 12:42.420 --> 12:46.520 At which time Master Latimer, finding opportunity, kneeled down, opened his 12:46.520 --> 12:50.800 whole matter to the King, and begged her pardon, which the King most graciously 12:50.800 --> 12:53.860 granted, and gave it him at his return homeward. 12:55.220 --> 12:59.380 By the means of Dr. Butes, the King's physician, a singularly good man, 12:59.800 --> 13:03.820 and a special favourer of good proceedings, Master Latimer was in the 13:03.820 --> 13:06.800 number of them which laboured in the cause of the King's supremacy. 13:07.740 --> 13:11.540 Then went he to the court, where he remained a certain time in the said Dr. 13:11.640 --> 13:14.560 Butes' chamber, preaching then in London very often. 13:15.460 --> 13:20.220 At last, being weary of the court, having a benefice offered by the King at 13:20.220 --> 13:24.680 the suit of the Lord Cromwell and Dr. Butes, he was glad thereof, and, 13:24.820 --> 13:29.420 contrary to the mind of Dr. Butes, he would needs depart, and be resident at 13:29.420 --> 13:29.840 the same. 13:30.580 --> 13:34.780 This benefice was in Wiltshire, under the Diocese of Sarum, the name of 13:34.780 --> 13:39.580 which town was called West Kington, where this good preacher did exercise 13:39.580 --> 13:43.000 himself to instruct his flock, and not only to them his diligence 13:43.000 --> 13:45.660 extended, but also to all the country about. 13:46.800 --> 13:51.340 In fine his diligence was so great, his preaching so mighty, the manner of his 13:51.340 --> 13:55.800 teaching so zealous, that there, in like sort, he could not escape without 13:55.800 --> 13:56.180 enemies. 13:57.140 --> 14:01.400 He was cited to appear before William Warram, Archbishop of Canterbury, 14:01.520 --> 14:05.400 and John Stokesley, Bishop of London, January 29, A.D. 14:06.080 --> 14:06.640 1531. 14:16.030 --> 14:18.730 Fox's Book of Martyrs By John Fox. 14:19.570 --> 14:20.410 Disc 7. 14:23.640 --> 14:27.420 He was greatly molested and detained a long space from his cure at home, 14:27.540 --> 14:31.560 being called thrice every week before the said bishops to make answer for his 14:31.560 --> 14:31.900 preaching. 14:32.680 --> 14:37.120 At length, much grieved with their troublesome unquietness, which neither 14:37.120 --> 14:41.080 would preach themselves, nor yet suffer him to preach and do his duty, 14:41.580 --> 14:47.140 he writeth to the archbishop, excusing his infirmity, whereby he could not appear at 14:47.140 --> 14:52.260 their commandment, expostulating with them for detaining him from his duty doing, 14:52.920 --> 14:57.980 and that for no just cause, but only for preaching the truth against the certain 14:57.980 --> 15:00.380 vain abuses crept into religion. 15:01.280 --> 15:05.680 The story he showeth forth himself in a certain sermon preached at Stamford, 15:06.120 --> 15:07.180 October 9, A.D. 15:07.420 --> 15:07.980 1550. 15:08.360 --> 15:14.220 I was once, saith he, in examination before five or six bishops, where I had 15:14.220 --> 15:15.180 much turmoiling. 15:15.820 --> 15:20.700 Every week thrice I came to examinations, and many snares and traps were laid to get 15:20.700 --> 15:21.120 something. 15:21.920 --> 15:26.720 Now God knoweth I was ignorant of the law, but God gave me answer and wisdom what I 15:26.720 --> 15:27.400 should speak. 15:28.000 --> 15:31.240 It was God indeed, for else I had never escaped them. 15:31.980 --> 15:36.320 At the last I was brought forth to be examined into a chamber hanged with arras, 15:36.600 --> 15:38.040 where I was wont to be examined. 15:38.420 --> 15:42.800 But now at this time the chamber was somewhat altered, for whereas before there 15:42.800 --> 15:47.640 was wont ever to be fire in the chimney, now the fire was taken away, and an arras 15:47.640 --> 15:51.520 hanged over the chimney, and the table stood near the chimney's end. 15:52.000 --> 15:56.780 There was amongst the bishops that examined me one with whom I had been very 15:56.780 --> 16:02.600 familiar, and took him for my great friend, an aged man, and he sat next the 16:02.600 --> 16:03.240 table's end. 16:04.120 --> 16:09.160 Then amongst all other questions he put forth one, a very subtle and crafty one, 16:09.400 --> 16:13.440 and such a one indeed as I could not think so great danger in. 16:14.300 --> 16:18.440 And when I should made answer, I pray you, Master Latimer, said one, 16:18.560 --> 16:19.100 speak out. 16:19.540 --> 16:23.300 I am very thick of hearing, and here be many that sit far off. 16:24.280 --> 16:28.320 I marvelled at this, that I was bidden speak out, and began to misdeem, 16:28.380 --> 16:32.740 and gave an ear to the chimney, and, sir, there I heard a pen walking in 16:32.740 --> 16:34.340 the chimney behind the cloth. 16:35.760 --> 16:40.160 They had appointed one there to write all mine answers, for they made sure that I 16:40.160 --> 16:41.520 should not start from them. 16:42.400 --> 16:43.900 There was no starting from them. 16:44.700 --> 16:47.040 God was my good Lord and gave me answer. 16:47.380 --> 16:49.360 I could never else have escaped it. 16:50.160 --> 16:54.780 The question to him there and then objected was this, whether he thought in 16:54.780 --> 16:57.460 his conscience that he hath been suspected of heresy. 16:58.320 --> 17:00.100 This was a captious question. 17:01.080 --> 17:05.800 There was no holding of peace would serve, for that was to grant himself faulty. 17:06.380 --> 17:11.860 To answer it was every way full of danger, but God, which always giveth in need what 17:11.860 --> 17:12.920 to answer, helped him. 17:13.520 --> 17:17.220 Albeit what was his answer, he doth not express. 17:18.620 --> 17:23.580 King Henry VIII, with much favour, embraced Master Latimer, and with his 17:23.580 --> 17:26.800 power delivered him out of the crooked claws of his enemies. 17:27.620 --> 17:33.020 Moreover, through the procurement partly of Dr. Buttes, partly of Good Cromwell, 17:33.620 --> 17:38.200 he advanced him to the dignity of Bishop of Worcester, who so continued a few 17:38.200 --> 17:43.120 years, instructing his diocese according to the duty of a diligent and vigilant 17:43.120 --> 17:47.700 pastor, with wholesome doctrine and example of perfect conversation, 17:48.240 --> 17:49.720 duly agreeing to the same. 17:51.260 --> 17:55.560 It were a long matter to stand particularly upon such things as might 17:55.560 --> 18:01.380 here be brought to the commendation of his pains, as study, readiness, and continual 18:01.380 --> 18:06.120 carefulness in teaching, preaching, exhorting, visiting, correcting, 18:06.380 --> 18:11.340 and reforming, either as his ability could serve, or else the time would bear. 18:12.180 --> 18:17.000 But the days then were so dangerous and variable, that he could not in all things 18:17.000 --> 18:18.380 do that he would. 18:19.340 --> 18:23.600 Yet what he might do, that he performed to the uttermost of his strength, 18:24.000 --> 18:29.160 so that although he could not utterly extinguish all the sparkling relics of old 18:29.160 --> 18:33.760 superstition, yet he so wrought, that though they could not be taken away, 18:34.180 --> 18:38.700 yet they should be used with as little hurt and with as much profit as might be. 18:39.460 --> 18:44.680 As, for example, when it could not be avoided but holy water and holy bread must 18:44.680 --> 18:50.720 needs be received, he so instructed them of his diocese, that in receiving thereof, 18:51.340 --> 18:55.260 superstition should be excluded, charging the ministers in delivering the 18:55.260 --> 18:58.980 holy water and the holy bread, to say these words following. 19:00.260 --> 19:03.060 Words spoken to the people in giving them holy water. 19:04.040 --> 19:09.300 Remember your promise in baptism, Christ his mercy and blood shedding, 19:10.200 --> 19:15.260 by whose most holy sprinkling of all your sins you are free pardoning. 19:16.600 --> 19:18.620 What to say in giving holy bread? 19:19.680 --> 19:24.860 Of Christ's body this is a token, which on the cross for your sins was 19:24.860 --> 19:25.240 broken. 19:26.580 --> 19:33.180 Wherefore, of your sins you must be forsakers, if of Christ's death ye will be 19:33.180 --> 19:33.780 partakers. 19:36.140 --> 19:40.360 It is to be thought that he would have brought more things else to pass, 19:40.560 --> 19:42.980 if the time then had answered to his desire. 19:43.880 --> 19:48.120 For he was not ignorant how the institution of holy water and holy bread 19:48.120 --> 19:54.360 not only had no ground in Scripture, but also how full of profane exorcisms and 19:54.360 --> 19:58.280 conjurations they were contrary to the rule and learning of the gospel. 19:59.500 --> 20:05.360 As before, both in the university and at his benefice, he was tossed and turmoiled 20:05.360 --> 20:11.440 by wicked and evil-disposed persons, so in his bishopric also he was not clear 20:11.440 --> 20:14.000 and void of some that sought his trouble. 20:15.220 --> 20:20.100 None especially there was, and that no small person, which accused him to the 20:20.100 --> 20:21.260 king for his sermons. 20:22.380 --> 20:26.900 The story, because he himself showeth in a sermon of his before King Edward, 20:27.360 --> 20:30.860 I thought therefore to use his own words, which be these. 20:31.960 --> 20:37.600 In the king's days that dead is, many of us were called together before him 20:37.600 --> 20:39.700 to say our minds in certain matters. 20:40.520 --> 20:43.740 One accuseth me that I had preached seditious doctrine. 20:44.640 --> 20:48.340 The king turned to me and said, What say you to that, sir? 20:49.060 --> 20:54.360 Then I kneeled down and turned me first to my accuser, and required him, Sir, 20:54.460 --> 20:57.780 what form of preaching would you appoint me to preach before a king? 20:58.520 --> 21:03.020 Would you have for me to preach nothing as concerning a king in the king's sermon? 21:03.900 --> 21:06.760 Have you any commission to appoint me what I shall preach? 21:07.620 --> 21:12.880 Besides this, I asked him divers other questions, and he would make no answer to 21:12.880 --> 21:13.720 none of them all. 21:14.300 --> 21:15.480 He had nothing to say. 21:16.860 --> 21:21.540 Then I turned me to the king and submitted myself to his grace and said, I never 21:21.540 --> 21:26.400 thought myself worthy, nor I never sued to be a preacher before your grace, 21:26.700 --> 21:31.980 but I was called to it, and would be willing, if you mislike me, to give place 21:31.980 --> 21:37.720 to my betters, for I grant there may be a great many more worthy of the room than I 21:37.720 --> 21:37.980 am. 21:39.120 --> 21:43.800 And if it be your grace's pleasure so to allow them for preachers, I could be 21:43.800 --> 21:45.840 content to bear their books after them. 21:46.440 --> 21:51.880 But if your grace allow me for a preacher, I would desire your grace to give me leave 21:51.880 --> 21:53.400 to discharge my conscience. 21:55.520 --> 22:00.260 And I thank Almighty God, which hath always been my remedy, that my sayings 22:00.260 --> 22:01.660 were well accepted of the king. 22:02.720 --> 22:05.920 Certain of my friends came to me with tears in their eyes and told me they 22:05.920 --> 22:08.580 looked I should have been in the tower the same night. 22:09.840 --> 22:14.440 Thus he continued in this laborious function of a bishop the space of certain 22:14.440 --> 22:17.100 years, till the coming in of the six articles. 22:18.060 --> 22:22.580 Then, being distressed through the straightness of time, so that either he 22:22.580 --> 22:26.700 must lose the quiet of a good conscience or else forsake his bishopric, 22:27.200 --> 22:30.380 he did of his own free accord resign his pastorship. 22:31.780 --> 22:36.060 At what time he first put off his roshot in his chamber among his friends, 22:36.700 --> 22:41.420 suddenly he gave a skip on the floor for joy, feeling his shoulders so light. 22:42.300 --> 22:46.540 Howbeit, troubles and labors followed him wheresoever he went. 22:47.400 --> 22:52.180 For a little after he had renounced his bishopric, he was sore bruised and almost 22:52.180 --> 22:54.200 slain with the fall of a tree. 22:55.140 --> 22:58.800 Then, coming up to London for remedy, he was molested of the bishops, 22:59.100 --> 23:04.060 whereby he was again in no little danger, and at length was cast into the tower, 23:04.620 --> 23:09.100 where he remained prisoner, till the time that King Edward entered his crown, 23:09.640 --> 23:14.140 by means whereof the golden mouth of this preacher long shut up before was now 23:14.140 --> 23:14.900 opened again. 23:15.980 --> 23:20.740 Beginning afresh to set forth his plow, he labored in the Lord's harvest most 23:20.740 --> 23:26.360 fruitfully, discharging his talent as well in divers' places of this realm as before 23:26.360 --> 23:27.320 the king at the court. 23:28.140 --> 23:33.280 In the same place of the inward garden, which was before applied to lascivious and 23:33.280 --> 23:38.220 courtly pastimes, there he dispensed the fruitful word of the gospel of Jesus 23:38.220 --> 23:43.280 Christ, preaching there before the king and his whole court to the edification of 23:43.280 --> 23:43.520 many. 23:44.560 --> 23:49.740 In this his painful travail he occupied himself all King Edward's days, 23:50.420 --> 23:53.000 preaching, for the most part, every Sunday twice. 23:53.920 --> 23:59.280 Though a sore bruised man by the fall of a tree, and above sixty-seven years of age, 23:59.740 --> 24:02.660 he took little ease and care of sparing himself. 24:03.340 --> 24:07.600 Every morning, winter and summer, about two of the clock, he was at his book 24:07.600 --> 24:08.580 most diligently. 24:09.940 --> 24:14.560 Master Latimer ever affirmed that the preaching of the gospel would cost him his 24:14.560 --> 24:17.560 life, to the which he cheerfully prepared himself. 24:18.640 --> 24:22.580 After the death of King Edward, not long after Queen Mary was proclaimed, 24:23.220 --> 24:28.080 a persuivant was sent down into the country to call him up, of whose coming, 24:28.080 --> 24:33.160 although Master Latimer lacked no forewarning, yet so far off was it that he 24:33.160 --> 24:37.520 thought to escape, that he prepared himself towards his journey before the 24:37.520 --> 24:39.180 said persuivant came to his house. 24:40.080 --> 24:46.200 When the persuivant marveled, he said unto him, My friend, you be a welcome messenger 24:46.200 --> 24:51.540 to me, and be it known unto you and to all the world, that I go as willingly to 24:51.540 --> 24:57.280 London, at this present, called to render a reckoning of my doctrine, as ever I was 24:57.280 --> 24:58.460 at any place in the world. 24:59.400 --> 25:04.660 I doubt not but that God, as He hath made me worthy to preach His word before two 25:04.660 --> 25:09.560 excellent princes, so will He able me to witness the same unto the third, 25:10.120 --> 25:13.220 either to her comfort or discomfort eternally. 25:14.220 --> 25:18.860 When the persuivant had delivered his letters, he departed, affirming that he 25:18.860 --> 25:23.920 had commandment not to tarry for him, by whose sudden departure it was manifest 25:23.920 --> 25:28.440 that they would not have him appear, but rather to have fled out of the realm. 25:29.260 --> 25:34.500 They knew that his constancy should deface them in their popery, and confirm the 25:34.500 --> 25:35.520 godly in the truth. 25:36.740 --> 25:41.640 Thus Master Latimer, coming up to London through Smithfield, where merrily he said 25:41.640 --> 25:45.880 that Smithfield had long groaned for him, was brought before the council, 25:46.120 --> 25:50.860 where he patiently bore all the mocks and taunts given him by the scornful papists. 25:51.920 --> 25:56.100 He was cast into the tower, where he, being assisted with the heavenly grace of 25:56.100 --> 26:01.500 Christ, sustained imprisonment a long time, notwithstanding the cruel and 26:01.500 --> 26:06.120 unmerciful handling of the lordly papists, which thought then their kingdom would 26:06.120 --> 26:06.820 never fall. 26:07.460 --> 26:12.120 He showed himself not only patient but also cheerful in and above all that which 26:12.120 --> 26:13.740 they could or would work against him. 26:14.600 --> 26:19.280 Yea, such a valiant spirit the lord gave him that he was able not only to despise 26:19.280 --> 26:24.360 the terribleness of prisons and torments, but also to laugh to scorn the doings of 26:24.360 --> 26:24.780 his enemies. 26:26.280 --> 26:32.260 When the lieutenant's man upon a time came to him, the aged father, kept without fire 26:32.260 --> 26:37.580 in the frosty winter, and well nigh starved with cold, merrily bade the man to 26:37.580 --> 26:42.480 tell his master that if it did not look the better to him, perchance he would 26:42.480 --> 26:43.080 deceive him. 26:43.900 --> 26:47.920 The lieutenant of the tower, hearing this, bethought himself of these words, 26:48.040 --> 26:52.440 and fearing less that indeed he thought to make some escape, began to look more 26:52.440 --> 26:57.520 straightly to his prisoner, and so coming to him, chargeth him with his words. 26:58.040 --> 27:02.760 Yea, master lieutenant, so I said, quoth he, for you look, I think, 27:03.060 --> 27:04.000 that I should burn. 27:04.560 --> 27:09.220 But except you let me have some fire, I am like to deceive your expectation, 27:10.020 --> 27:12.920 for I am like here to starve for cold. 27:14.120 --> 27:19.260 Many such like answers and reasons, merry but savory, coming not from a vain 27:19.260 --> 27:23.460 mind, but from a constant and quiet reason, proceeded from that man, 27:23.860 --> 27:28.020 declaring a firm and stable heart, little passing of all this great 27:28.020 --> 27:31.820 blustering of their terrible threats, but rather deriding the same. 27:32.660 --> 27:37.740 Thus master Latimer, passing a long time in the tower, from thence was transported 27:37.740 --> 27:42.840 to Oxford, with Dr. Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Master Ridley, 27:43.200 --> 27:47.300 Bishop of London, there to dispute upon articles sent down from Gardiner, 27:47.560 --> 27:48.540 Bishop of Winchester. 27:50.000 --> 27:52.780 The said Latimer, with his fellow-prisoners, was condemned and 27:52.780 --> 27:57.080 committed again to prison, and there they continued from the month of April to the 27:57.080 --> 28:01.880 month of October, where they were most godly occupied, either with brotherly 28:01.880 --> 28:05.300 conference, or with fervent prayer, or with fruitful writing. 28:06.280 --> 28:10.260 Albeit Master Latimer, by reason of the feebleness of his age, wrote least of them 28:10.260 --> 28:15.640 all, yet oftentimes so long he continued kneeling in prayer, that he was not able 28:15.640 --> 28:17.040 to rise without help. 28:18.080 --> 28:20.680 These were three principal matters he prayed for. 28:21.580 --> 28:27.240 First, that as God had appointed him to be a preacher of His word, so also He would 28:27.240 --> 28:32.300 give him grace to stand to His doctrine until his death, that he might give his 28:32.300 --> 28:33.620 heart blood for the same. 28:34.500 --> 28:38.920 Secondly, that God of His mercy would restore His gospel to England once again. 28:39.600 --> 28:45.160 And these words, once again, once again, he did so beat into the ears of the Lord 28:45.160 --> 28:50.040 God, as though he had seen God before him, and spoken to Him face to face. 28:50.820 --> 28:55.200 The third matter was, to pray for the preservation of the Queen's majesty that 28:55.200 --> 29:00.640 now is, at the time, the Princess Elizabeth, whom even with tears he desired 29:00.640 --> 29:03.880 God to make a comfort to His comfortless realm of England. 29:04.760 --> 29:08.560 The Lord most graciously did grant all those His requests. 29:09.580 --> 29:14.260 First, concerning His constancy, even in the most extremity the Lord 29:14.260 --> 29:15.720 graciously assisted Him. 29:16.000 --> 29:19.680 For when He stood at the stake, without Bacardo Gate at Oxford, 29:20.100 --> 29:24.540 and the tormenters about to set fire to Him, and to the learned and godly bishop, 29:24.720 --> 29:29.120 Master Ridley, He lifted up His eyes towards heaven with an amiable and 29:29.120 --> 29:34.760 comfortable countenance, saying these words, God is faithful, which doth not 29:34.760 --> 29:37.060 suffer us to be tempted above our strength. 29:38.120 --> 29:42.480 How mercifully the Lord heard His second request in restoring His gospel once again 29:42.480 --> 29:45.420 unto this realm these present days can bear record! 29:46.220 --> 29:50.320 And what then shall England say now for her defense, which being so mercifully 29:50.320 --> 29:54.800 visited and refreshed with the word of God, so slenderly and unthankfully 29:54.800 --> 30:00.100 considereth either her own misery past, or the great benefit of God now present? 30:01.000 --> 30:02.840 The Lord be merciful unto us. 30:03.760 --> 30:08.160 Again, concerning His third request, it seemeth likewise most effectuously 30:08.160 --> 30:12.340 granted, to the great praise of God, the furtherance of His gospel, 30:12.620 --> 30:14.920 and to the unspeakable comfort of this realm. 30:15.860 --> 30:20.020 When all was so desperate that the enemies mightily flourished and triumphed, 30:20.360 --> 30:25.520 when God's word was banished, Spaniards received, and no place left for Christ's 30:25.520 --> 30:29.480 servants to cover their heads, suddenly the Lord called to remembrance 30:29.480 --> 30:34.200 His mercy, and forgetting our former iniquity, made an end of all these 30:34.200 --> 30:34.760 miseries. 30:35.780 --> 30:39.800 Queen Elizabeth was appointed and anointed, for whom this gray-headed father 30:39.800 --> 30:44.900 so earnestly prayed in his imprisonment, through whose true, natural, and imperial 30:44.900 --> 30:49.760 crown, the brightness of God's word was set up again to confound the dark and 30:49.760 --> 30:54.760 false-visored kingdom of Antichrist, the true temple of Christ re-edified, 30:54.760 --> 30:57.760 and the captivity of sorrowful Christians released.