bring more fire. This they did; but the wind blew the flame and smoke aside, and it was three quarters of an hour before his agony terminated. One of his hands dropped off before he died d; with the other he continued to smite his breast until the last.

Passing over many other instances of men who were found ready to sacrifice their lives, rather than do violence to their consciences, we come to Latimer.

Hugh Latimer was born in the year 1475. In the early part of his life he was a zealous Catholic; but he was afterwards converted by Thomas Bilney, with whom he contracted a friendship at Cambridge, and became thenceforward one of the most active and fearless of the Reformers. During the reign of Henry VIII. he was frequently exposed to danger from the Romanists, and the great exertions made by his patrons at court alone prevented his sharing the fate of Bilney. Latimer confined his attention to his clerical duties and meddled but little with politics. His moral character was pure, his piety warm; and these together with his wit and humor made him a popular and efficient preacher. Henry, who respected his blunt sincerity, bestowed upon him, in 1535, the see of Worcester. In this station Latimer failed not to rebuke the vices of the day; neither rank, nor

power saved the wicked from his censure; and more than once he boldly denounced the sins of the king himself.

Many attempts were made to destroy his influence by those who dreaded his honest zeal; but they were unsuccessful until the passage of the Six Articles. Latimer would neither vote for them nor assent to them. He resigned his bishopric, and, when he threw off his robes, leapt up and declared that "he felt lighter than he had ever found himself before." He then retired to the country where he meant to spend the remainder of his days; but being obliged to visit London for medical advice he was accused of having spoken against the Six Articles and cast into prison.

On the accession of Edward, Latimer was released and took up his residence at the house of Cranmer. He was often called upon to preach before the king; and such was the fame of his eloquence, that, to accommodate the crowds who flocked to hear him, the pulpit was removed from the royal chapel into the garden. "Upon these occasions he attacked the vices of the great with honest freedom; charging them in particular with covetousness, bribery, and extortion so emphatically, that it was impossible for them by any self-deceit to avoid the direct application of his reproofs to themselves. And so great was the

effect of his sermons, that restitution was made to the king of very considerable sums of which he had been defrauded."

When Mary came to the throne, Latimer, with other eminent prelates, was again committed to the Tower. The usual liveliness of his temper did not, however, forsake him. As a servant one cold day was leaving his apartment, Latimer called after him and bade him, "tell his master that unless he took better care of him he should certainly escape him." Upon receiving this message the lieutenant of the Tower came to his prisoner for an explanation. "Why, you expect, I suppose, Mr. Lieutenant," replied Latimer, "that I shall be burnt; but if you do not allow me a little fire this frosty weather, I can tell you I shall first be frozen."

Latimer and his fellow prisoners were troubled with many vexatious examinations. On one occasion, when he was ordered before those appointed to sit as his judges, he appeared in his prison-garb, with a cap buttoned under his chin, a pair of spectacles hanging at his breast, a New Testament under his arm, and a staff in his hand. Being told that he must defend his opinions the following day, he complained of his age and infirmities, and told the commissioners that he was just as well qualified to be made Governor of Calais as to enter into a debate with them; and

then added, in allusion to the doctrine of the real presence, that "he had the use of no book but that under his arm, which he had read seven times over deliberately, without being able to find in it neither the marrow bones nor the sinews of the mass." The venerable man was conscious that his faculties were impaired by time and suffering, and would not, therefore, venture to injure, by a weak support, what he held to be the cause of truth.

Bishop Ridley and Latimer were sentenced to be executed at the same time. On the 16th of October, 1555, they were led to the stake. Latimer threw off his tattered gown and appeared in a shroud prepared for the occasion, and animated by holy courage, "stood bolt upright as comely a father as one might lightly behold." When the pile was set on fire, he said to his companion; "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." Latimer expired first. Ridley who was on the opposite side of the stake lingered in agony till the flames caught some gunpowder which had been tied about his waist.

About this time Gardiner died, expressing, as it is said, remorse for his deeds, and often repeating these words, "Erravi cum Petro, sed non flevi cum Petro-I have erred with Peter, but

I have not mourned with Peter." His decease did not put a stop to the persecution, which continued to rage, and among others reached at length Archbishop Cranmer.

This prelate was first arrested on the charge of high treason, because he countenanced the usurpation of the Lady Jane Grey. Of this act he confessed himself guilty and besought the pardon of the queen, which was granted, she having determined to condemn him for heresy. He was tried before commissioners sent from Rome, deprived of his office, and degraded from his dignity. Afterwards promises of safety were held out to him, if he would abjure his opinions and become a Catholic. Cranmer, to preserve his life, consented and solemnly denied his former faith. But his enemies only meant to insult and disgrace him; his fate had been already decided. On the day appointed for his execution he was brought to St. Mary's Church, Oxford, there to listen to an account of his extorted penitence, and to hear it asserted that his errors were too great to be passed over by any earthly tribunal. When he found that there was no hope, the Archbishop resolved to atone as far as possible for his apostasy. He openly confessed that the fear of death had made him belie his conscience, and declared his readiness to suffer for his sins. At the stake he showed much firmness, keeping the right