MarginaliaAn. 1555. October.glad therof, seekyng by that meanes to be rid out of the Court, wherewith in no case hee coulde agree: and so hauing a graunt of the benefice, contrary to the mynde of Doct. Buttes, he would needes depart and be resident at the same.
This benefice was in Wilshire vnder the Dioces of Sarum, the name of which Towne was called West Kington.
Latimer was collated to the living of West Kingston in the diocese of Salisburyon 14 January 1531, probably at the behest of Anne Boleyn.
MarginaliaMatter deuised agaynst M. Latymer by Popish Priestes.Item, that he should say, that Saintes were not to be worshipped.
Item, that Aue Maria was a salutation onely, and no prayer.
Item, that there was no materiall fire in hell.
Item, that there was no Purgatory, in saying, that he had leuer be in Purgatory then in Lollards tower.
Touchyng the whole discourse of which Articles, with his reply and aūswere to the same, hereafter shall folow (by the Lordes assistaunce) when we come to his letters.
The chief impugners and molesters of him, besides these coūtrey Priestes, were MarginaliaDoct. Powell, Doct. Wilson, D. Sherwood. Hubberdine, D. Warrham Archb. of Canterbury, D. Stokesley B. of London, troublers of M. Latymer.Doct. Powell of Salisbury, Doct. Wilson sometyme of Cambridge, M. Huberdin, and Doct. Sherwode. Of whom some preached agaynst hym, some also dyd write agaynst hym: in so much that by there procurement he was cited vp & called to appeare before W. Warrham Archbyshop of Cāterbury and Iohn Stokesley Bishop of London. an. 1531. Ianu. 29. the copy of which citatiō may appeare in our former edition, pag. 1332. more at large.
This harassment of Latimer in 1532 was but a stage in a long campaign directed against him by John Stokesley, bishop of London (1530-1539), in defense of the role of good works in the economy of salvation. That Latimer had preached a sermon in the London parish of St. Mary Abchurch, without Stokesley's permission, only increased the bishop's fury. Stokesley pursued Latimer even after Latimer became bishop of Salisbury.
[Back to Top]This citation was printed in the 1563 edition, deleted from the 1570 and 1576 editions, and reprinted in the 1583 edition.
Agaynst this citation, although M. Latimer dyd appeale to hys own Ordinary,
I.e., to the bishop with jurisdiction over Latimer; in this case the bishop of Salisbury.
This epistle was printed in the 1563 edition, dropped from the 1570 and 1576 editions, and restored in the 1583 edition.
is to be seeneMarginaliaMaster Latimers letter to the Archb. read thereof in the former edition pag. 1333.) he maketh mention of certaine Articles or propositions, whereunto he was required by the bishops to subscribe. The copy of which articles or bare propositions (as he termeth them) I thought here vnder to notifie, translated out of lattin into Englysh, as followeth.
[Back to Top]The original of these articles is found in the register of Bishop John Stokesley of London, Guildhall Library MS 9531/10, fo. 127v. It was copied by Foxe in BL, Harley MS 425, fos. 13r-14r.
MarginaliaArticles propounded to Master Latymer to subscribe vnto.I Beleue that there is a Purgatory to purge þe soules of the deade after thys lyfe.
That the soules in Purgatory are holpen wyth the Masses, praiers, and almes of the liuing.
That the Saintes do pray as Mediators now for vs in heauen.
That they are to be honored of vs in heauen.
That it is profitable for Christians to call vpon the Sainctes, that they may pray as Mediators for vs vnto God.
That Pilgrimages and oblations done to the sepulchers and Reliques of Saintes, are meritorious.
That they which haue vowed perpetuall chastitye, may not marry nor breake their vow, without the dispensation of the Pope.
That the keyes of bynding and losyng deliuered to Peter, do styll remayne with the Bishops of Rome hys Successors although they lyue wickedly, and are by no meanes nor at any tyme committed to lay men.
That men may merite and deserue at Gods hand by fasting, prayer, and other workes of piety.
That they which are forbiddē of the bishop to preach, as suspect persons, ought to cease vntyll they haue purged them selues before the sayd Bishops or their Superiours, and be restored againe.
That the fast which is vsed in Lent and other fastes prescribed by the Canons, and by custome receiued of the Christians (except necessity otherwyse require) are to be obserued and kept.
That God in euery one of the. vij. Sacramentes geueth grace to a man rightly receiuing the same.
That consecrations, sanctifiynges and blessinges by vse and custome receiued into the Church, are laudable and profitable.
That it is laudable and profitable that the venerable Images of the Crucifix and other Sayntes, should bee had in the Church as a remembraunce, and to the honor and worship of IESVS CHRIST, and hys Saintes.
That it is laudable and profitable to decke & to cloth those Images, and to set vp burning lightes before thē, to the honor of the sayd Saintes.
To these Articles whether he did subscribe or no,
A note by Foxe on BL, Harley MS 425, fo. 13v (see C113-T) states that these articles were registered, but not signed by Latimer. But that is not uncommon with articles copied into the register and it does not mean, as Foxe argues, that Latimer did not recant.
His ego nudis sententiis subscribere non audeo, quia popularis superstitionis diutius duraturae, quoad possum, autorculus esse nolo, &c.
[As in1563,except forHisin place ofHincin line 1,superstitionisin place ofsuperstitionein line 2 andpossumin place ofpotsumin line 3]
Not translated.
From here I do not dare to subscribe to nude propositions, because I do not wish to be the author, as far as I can, of a poular superstition which is going to last any longer, etc.
Hugo Latimerus in sacra Theologia Bacc. in vniuersitate Cantab. coram Cant. Archiespiscopo Iohan. Lond. Episcopo, reliquaque concione apud Westmonast. vocatus, confessus est, & recognouit fidem suam, sic sentiendo vt sequitur, in his artic. 21. die Martii. An. 1531.
Not translated.
Hugh Latimer Bachelor in holy theology in the university of Cambridge having been called into the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, John the Bishop of London, and the rest of the council at Westminster, confessed, and knew his faith again, in thus believing as follows in these articles. 21st day of March. 1531.
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