L II LATIMER THE PREACHER OF the refORMATION ATIMER was the popular preacher of the Reformation, as Cranmer and Ridley were its theologians, and Cranmer, Cromwell, Somerset, and Burleigh its statesmen. None contributed more to make the return to scriptural simplicity deep and lasting in the hearts of the people than Latimer, by his powerful, direct, homely, and courageous eloquence. Speaking of the literature of the Reformation, Hallam says: "No English treatise on a theological subject, published before the end of 1550, seems to deserve notice in the general literature of Europe, though some may be reckoned interesting in the history of our Reformation. The sermons of Latimer, however, published in 1548, are read for their honest zeal and lively delineation of manners. They are probably the best specimens of a 26 style then prevalent in the pulpit, and which is still not lost in Italy, nor among some of our own sectaries—a style that came at once home to the vulgar, animated and effective, picturesque and intelligible, but too unsparing both of ludicrous associations and commonplace invective." Hugh Latimer, son of a yeoman-farmer of the same name, at Thurcaston in Leicestershire, was born about 1485, the last year of King Richard III., six years before the birth of Henry VIII. My father," he says in a sermon before King Edward VI., "was a yeoman, and had no lands of his own, only he had a farm of three or four pound a year by 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 King a harness, with himself and his horse, while he came to the place where he should receive the King's wages. I can remember that I buckled his harness when he went unto Blackheath Field (where the Cornish rebels were defeated in 1497). He kept me to school, or else I had not been able to have preached before the King's Majesty now. He married my sisters with five pound or twenty nobles apiece; so that he brought them up in godliness and the fear of God. He kept hospitality for his poor neighbours, and some alms he gave to the poor. From another sermon we learn how his father taught him archery, and how to lay his body to the bow. In 1506 he went to Cambridge, and four years later was elected Fellow of Clare Hall, just before taking the degree of B.A. In 1514 he became M.A. He was ordained at Lincoln, and in 1522 had the distinction of being one of the twelve preachers licensed by the University to preach in any part of England. He was also appointed to carry the silver cross in all University processions. In 1524 he took the degree of B.D.; and being a fervent and zealous Papist, and a bitter opposer of all who favoured the Reformation, he directed his oration on that occasion against Melancthon. He was remarkable in the University for sanctity of life, as well as for knowledge of divinity, and studious habits. One of his audience was Thomas Bilney, the future martyr. The result is thus related in a sermon by Latimer; "Master Bilney, or rather Saint Bilney, that suffered death for God's Word's sake; the same Bilney was the instrument whereby God called me to knowledge; for I may thank him, next to God, for that knowledge that I have in the Word of God. For I was as obstinate a Papist as any was in England. . . . Bilney heard. me and perceived that I was zealous without knowledge : and he came to me afterwards in my study, and desired me for God's sake to hear his confession. I did so; and to say the truth in his confession I learned more than before in many years. So from that time forward I began to smell the Word of God, and forsook the school-doctrines and such fooleries. Now after I had been acquainted with him I went with him to visit the prisoners in the Tower at Cambridge; for he was ever visiting prisoners and sick folk." The first time he had an interview with Henry VIII., six years later, he obtained the pardon of a woman whom he had seen unjustly accused at Cambridge. In 1525, as he was preaching in Latin in the University Church, Bishop West, of Ely, came in after he had begun, when Latimer changed his subject, and preached on the duties of a bishop. In thanking him West asked him to preach against Luther. Latimer said he had not read his works. West was suspicious, and In 1529 Latimer's two sermons "on the Card" gave offence. He depreciated voluntary good works, such as pilgrimages and gifts to churches, in comparison of works of mercy. mercy. In 1530 he was disliked by the Catholic party for his known favour to Henry's divorce. Gardiner came to Cambridge to find out the opinions of the leading divines on this subject, and Latimer's name was sent to the King as propitious. Latimer was sent for to preach before the King, who highly approved his sermon. Latimer was now in great favour, and through Cromwell and Dr. Butts, the King's physician, |