Latimer

Latimer, Hugh, the martyr, was born, probably about 1485, at Thurcaston, Leicestershire, where his father was a yeoman-farmer. He was well brought up, and taught archery amongst other things. In 1506 he went to Cambridge, and four jears later was elected fellow of Clare Hall. Some jears later he took orders, and in 1522 was licensed by the university to preach in any part of England. As early as 1525, however, he declared that he could not refute Luther's doctrines, and had to disown them. In December, 1529, he preached his two sermons On the Card in St. Edward's church, Cambridge. They excited a controversy which had to be silenced by royal command. His support of the king's divorce and the favour of Anne Boleyn stood him in good stead in the succeeding years. Karly in 1531 he was instituted to the vicarage of West Kineton, in Wiltshire. In 1532, however, he -was inhibited from preaching in the diocese of London; but the influence of Cromwell and Anne Boleyn was strong, and, after having been one of the Lent preachers before the king in 1534, Latimer was appointed Bishop of Worcester in the summer of 1535. In a sermon before Convocation he also denounced purgatory and images, and he now began to be looked upon as one of the leading reformers. He was a regular attendant in Parliament in the session of 1539, but on the passing of the Six Articles resigned his bishopric. He also attempted to leave England, but was detained in the house of the Bishop of Chichester. On his liberation he was ordered to desist from preaching and not to visit the universities or his old diocese. In 1546 he was committed to the Tower on the charge of encouraging a reforming preacher named Crome, who was his friend. On the accession of Edward VI. he was released, and preached in 1548 four celebrated sermons at Paul's Cross, besides several in the King's Garden at Westminster. Soon after the accession of Mary he was summoned to London, but every opportunity was given him to escape. He refused to fly, and was committed to the Tower. In 1555 he suffered with Ridley, and died without much pain, uttering words which are mow historical.