Marginalia1555. October.the lyke, and was compelled to commende hym vppon the same.
MarginaliaBylney & Latymer ioyned cōpanions.So M. Latimer with M. Bilney after thys cōtinued yet in Cambridge a certayne space, where he wyth the sayd Bilney vsed much to conferre and company together, in so much that the place where they most vsed to walke in the fieldes, was called long after, the Heretickes hyll.
There is only one hill in Cambridge: Castle Hill, an artificial mound on a small rise just across the Cam from Magdalen College. In Latimer's day, this would have been open countryside just outside the city.
The societie of these two, as it was much noted of many in that Vniuersity: so it was full of many good examples, to all such as would followe their doinges, both in visiting the prisoners, in relieuyng the neede, in feeding the hungry, whereof somewhat is before mentioned in the history of M. Bilney. In a place of hys Sermons
This story is related by Latimer in Sermons by Hugh Latimer, ed. G. E.Corrie, Parker Society (Cambridge: 1844), p. 452.
MarginaliaA story of a certaine woman cōdemned who was saued by Master Latymer.A chylde of hers had ben sicke a whole yeare, and at length dyed in haruest tyme, as it were in a consumption. Which when it was gone, she went to haue her neighbours to helpe her to the buriall, but all were in haruest abroade: whereby she was inforced with heauines of hart alone to prepare the chylde to the buriall. Her husband commyng home, and not louing her, accused her of murthering the chyld. This was the cause of her trouble: and M. Latimer by earnest inquisition, of conscience thought the woman not gilty. Then immediately after, was hee called to preach before Kyng Henry. 8. at Winsore: where after hys Sermon, the kings Maiesty sent for hym,and talked with him familiarly. At which tyme M. Latimer finding oportunity, kneeled downe, opened hys whole matter to the kyng, and begged her pardon: which the kyng most gratiously graunted, and gaue it hym at hys returne homeward.MarginaliaMaster Latymer obteyned pardon of the King for a womā wrongfully condemned. In the meane tyme the woman was deliuered of a chyld in the prison, whose Godfather was Master Latimer, and Mistres Cheeke Godmother. But all that whyle he would not tell her of the pardon, but laboured to haue her confesse the truth of the matter. At length time came when shee looked to suffer: and Master Latimer came as he was wont, to enstruct her: vnto whom she made great lamentation and mone to be purified before her suffering, for she thought to be damned, if she should suffer without purification.MarginaliaPurification of wemen. Thē M. Bilney being wyth M. Latimer, both tolde her that that law was made to the Iewes and not to vs, & howe women be aswell in the fauour of God before they be purified, as after: and rather it was appointed for a ciuile and politicke law for naturall honesty sake, then that they should any thing the more bee purified from sinne thereby. &c. So thus they trauailed with this woman, tyll they had brought her to a good trade, & then at length shewed her the kinges pardon and let her go.
[Back to Top]Thys good act among many other at this tyme hapned in Cambridge by M. Latimer and M. Bilney. But thys was not alone, for many moe like matters were wrought by them, if all were knowen, whereof partly some are touched before, such especially as concerne M. Bilney, mētion wherof is aboue expressed pa. 1146. But as it is commonly seene in the naturall course of things, that as the fier beginneth more to kindle, so the more smoke aryseth wythall, in much like sort it hap-
[Back to Top]ned with M. Latimer, whose towardnes the more it began to spring, hys vertues to be seene, and his doinges to be knowē, the more hys aduersaries begā to spurne and kindle agaynst hym. Concerning these aduersaries, and such as dyd molest hym, partlye their names bee aboue expressed. Among the rest of thys nomber was Doct. Redman, of whom mention is made before in the raygne of King Edward, pag. 1537. a man sauouring at that time somwhat more of superstition, thē of true religion, after the zeale of the Phariseyes, yet not so malignant or harmfull, but of a ciuile & quiet disposition, and also so liberall in well doing, that fewe poore Scholers were in that vniuersity, which fared not better by hys purse.
For a discussion of Redman and his considerable reputation among contemporaries see Ashley Null, 'John Redman, the Gentle Ambler' in Westminster Abbey Reformed 1540-1640, ed. C. S. Knighton and Richard Mortimer (Aldershot: 2003), pp. 38-74. The exchange of letters between Latimer and Redman is discussed on pp. 42-43.
[Back to Top]The original Latin version of this letter is only in the 1563 edition.
MarginaliaA letter of D. Redman to Master Latymer.GRace be vnto you, and true peace in CHRIST IESV. I besech you hartely, and requyre you most earnestly, euen for charities sake, that you will not stand in your own conceit with a mynd so indurate, nor preferre your own singular iudgement in matters of religiō and controuersies, before so many learned men, and that more is, before the whole catholicke Church, especially considering that you neyther haue any thing at all in the word of God to make for you, nor yet the testimony of any autenticall wryter. Nay, nay: I besech you rather consider that you are a man, and that lying and vanitye may quickely bleare your eye, which doth sometyme transforme it selfe into an aungell of lyght.
[Back to Top]Iudge not so rashly of vs, as that wicked spirit hath tickled you in the eare. Witte you well that we are carefull for you, and that we wish you to be saued, and that we are carefull also for our owne saluation. Lay downe your stomacke I pray you, and humble your spirite, and suffer not the Church to take offence with the hardnes of your hart, nor that her vnity and CHRISTES coate without seame (as much as lyeth in you) should be torne a sunder. Consider what the saying of the wyse man is, and be obedient thereunto: Trust not in your owne wisdome. The Lord IESVS CHRIST. &c.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAunswere of M. Latimer to Doctour Redman.REuerend M. Redman, it is euen inough for mee that CHRISTES shepe heare no mans voice but CHRISTES: and as for you, you haue no voyce of CHRIST against me: whereas for my part, I haue a hart that is ready to harken to any voyce of CHRIST that you can bring me. Thus fare you well, and trouble me no more from the talking with the Lord my God.
[Back to Top]After M. Latymer had thus traueiled in preachyng and teachyng in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge about the space of 3. yeares, MarginaliaM. Latymer called vp to the Cardinall.at length he was called vp to the Cardinall for heresie,
Foxe is drawing his knowledge of this episode from a letter sent to him by Ralph Morrice, Latimer's friend and Archbishop Cranmer's secretary (BL, Harley MS 422, fos. 84r-87r).
After that, he returned to the Vniuersity agayne, where shortly after by the meanes of MarginaliaD. Buttes a worthy fauorer of Gods word.Doct. Buttes the kynges Phisicion, a singular good man and a speciall fauorer of good procedynges, he was in the number of them which laboured in the cause of the kynges supremacy. Then went he to the Court, where he remayned a certain tyme in the sayd Doct. Buttes chamber, preachyng then in London very often. At last beyng wery of the Court, hauyng a benefice offred by the kyng, at the sute of the Lord Cromwell and Doct. Buttes, was
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