Shaxton, Bishop of Salisbury, at once resigned their sees.

The reaction which had taken place under the influence of Gardiner was highly unfavourable to Latimer. His resignation was accepted without reluctance, and he himself skipped for joy on putting off his rochet. Escaping to Gravesend, he was brought back, and remained nearly a year in ward with Sampson, Bishop of Chichester. For some time he daily expected to be called to execution. But that was not to be yet for sixteen years. From that premature martyrdom he was saved by the intervention of a powerful friend, probably Crumwell, who said to the King: Consider, sir, what a singular man he is, and cast not that away in one hour which nature and art hath been so many years in breeding and perfecting."

In 1540 Bishop Sampson himself was sent to the Tower. Latimer was not liberated till July. In that month he had the horror of seeing his patron Crumwell beheaded, and his chaplain Garrard and his old friend Barnes burned at Smithfield. He was ordered to remove from London, desist from preaching, and not to visit either of the Universities or his own old diocese. For nearly six years his life is a blank.

In 1546 he was accused of encouraging his friend Crome "in his folly," when he had got into trouble by preaching. The latter years of Henry's reign were gloomy indeed for the reformers. Latimer appealed to the King, but was committed to the Tower. In 1547 he was released by the general pardon on Edward VI.'s accession, and his eloquence was at once recognised as likely to be useful to the new policy.

On Sunday, January 1st, 1548, after eight years' silence, Latimer preached the first of four sermons at Paul's Cross. He also preached at the Shrouds, a covered gallery near St. Paul's, his famous sermon on "the Plough," in which he denounced many public evils, political, ecclesiastical, religious, and social, especially unpreaching prelates, declaring the devil to be the most assiduous bishop in England. In March a pulpit was set up for him in the King's private garden at Westminster, the Chapel Royal being too small. His Lenten sermon on "" Restitution" was followed by large sums of money restored to the King by Bradford, the future martyr. About this time Latimer and Cranmer gave up their belief in Transubstantiation. So popular was he that Parliament petitioned that he might be restored to the See of Worcester; but he

preferred to remain a simple preacher. "The seven sermons which he preached before King Edward are a curious combination of moral fervour and political partisanship, eloquently denouncing a host of current abuses, and paying the warmest tribute to the government of Somerset."1

In 1549 he was one of the Commission for reforming the Canon Law, but owing to the death of Edward their labours came to nothing.

During the next two years he was the guest of John Glover, of Baxterley Hall, Warwickshire, and of the Duchess of Suffolk at Grimsthorpe, Lincolnshire. At this time he is described by his attached Swiss servant, Augustine Bernher, as being, although a sore bruised man, over threescore and seven, most assiduous in preaching, generally delivering two sermons each Sunday, and rising every morning, winter and summer, at two o'clock to study.

On Mary's accession he expected to be called to account, especially when Gardiner was released from the Tower. There was a strong inclination to let him escape, and the pursuivant was

1 Mr. Gairdner, in the Dictionary of National Biography.

ordered to allow him to obey or fly. Latimer greeted him as a welcome messenger, and appeared before the Council. He was committed to the Tower, where he was not unlikely to die, as the hard life and cold were ill suited to his years. He was comforted by writings from his fellow-prisoner, Bishop Ridley, and both were allowed to prepare their defence in writing.

In March 1554 Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer were sent down to Oxford to dispute with the ablest divines there. On April 14th proceedings were opened in St. Mary's Church. Latimer appeared with a kerchief and two or three caps on his head, his spectacles hanging by a string at his breast, and a staff in his hand. He was allowed a chair. He protested that, owing to age, sickness, want of practice, and lack of books, he was almost as meet to discuss theology as to be captain of Calais. On the 18th a discussion was held, in which, while complaining of want of memory, he handed written replies to the three propositions suggested.

It was not for more than a year, September 1555, that the Cardinal sent three bishops to Oxford to reconcile the three prisoners, if penitent, or else to hand them over secular arm to be burnt.

to the They had been

confined separately, refused pens and ink, but well fed.

The examination was held on September 30th before the three bishops in the Divinity School. Latimer knelt before them, and made a spirited reply to an exhortation to recant. His answers to five articles brought up against him were taken down, and he was held to have confessed to all.

Next day, October 1st, Ridley and Latimer were brought up for sentence. Latimer declared he acknowledged the Catholic Church, but not the Romish, and adhered to his previous answers, without admitting the competence of the tribunal, which derived its authority from the Pope. Sentence was passed on him by the Bishop of Lincoln, Latimer in vain inquiring whether it were not lawful for him to appeal to the next General Council which should be truly called in God's name.

On the 16th he and Ridley were brought out to execution by the mayor and bailiffs of Oxford at the ditch over against Balliol College. Ridley went first, Latimer following as fast as age would permit. When Latimer neared the place Ridley ran back and embraced him. For a few minutes the two talked together.

Dr.