385 The STORY, LIFE, and MARTYRDOM, OF HUGH LATIMER, D. D. As related by John Fox, in the Third Volume of the Martyrology. Now followeth, likewise, the life and doings of the worthy champion, and old practised soldier of Christ, Master Hugh Latimer: of whose acts and long travels, even from his first years and tender age, to begin here to entreat: first, he was the son of one Hugh Latimer, of Thirkisson, in the county of Leicester, a husbandman of right good estimation; with whom also he was brought up, until he was of the age of four years, or thereabout. At which time his parents (having him, as then left for their only son, with six daughters) seeing his ready, prompt, and sharp wit, purposed to train him up in erudition and knowledge of good literature; wherein he so profited in his youth at the common schools in his own country, that at the age of fourteen years he was sent to the university of Cambridge. Where, after some continuance of exercises in other things, he gave himself to the study of such school divinity, as the ignorance of that age did suffer. Zealous he was then in the popish religion, and therewith so scrupulous, as himself confessed, that being a priest, and using to say mass, he was so servile an observer of the Romish decrees, that he thought he had never sufficiently mingled his mass ing wine with water: and moreover, that he should never be damned, if he were once a professed friar, with divers such superstitious fantasies. And in this blind zeal he was a very enemy to the professors of Christ's Gospel; as both his orations, made, when he proceeded bachelor of divinity, against Philip Melancthon, and also his other works did plainly declare. But especially his popish zeal could in no case abide in those days, good Master Stafford, reader of the divinity lectures in Cambridge; most spitefully railing against him, and willing the youth of Cambridge in no wise to believe him. Notwithstanding, such was the goodness and merciful purpose of God, that when he saw his good time, by the which way he thought to have utterly defaced the professors of the Gospel, and true church of Christ, he was at length himself, by a member of the same, prettily caught in the blessed net of God's word. For Mr. Thomas Bilney *, being at that time a trier out of Satan's subtilties, and a secret overthrower of antichrist's kingdom, seeing Master Latimer to have a zeal in his ways (although without knowledge), was stricken with a brotherly pity towards him, and bethought by what means he might best win this zealous ignorant brother, to the true knowledge of Christ. Wherefore, after a short time, he came to Master Latimer's study, and desired him to hear him make his confession. Which thing he willingly granted; by hearing whereof, he was (through the good Spirit of God) so touched, that hereupon he forsook his former studying of the school doctors, and other such fopperies, and became an earnest student of true divinity, as he himself, as well in his conference with Master Ridley, as also in his first sermon made upon the Paternoster, doth con * The martyr. |