MarginaliaAnno. 1555. October.The societie of these twoo, as it was muche noted of many in that Vniuersitie: so it was full of many good examples, to al suche as would followe their doynges, both in visityng the prisoners, in relieuyng the nedy, in feding the hungrie, whereof somwhat is before mentioned in the historie of M. Bilney. In a place of his Sermons  

M. Latimer maketh mention of a certaine historie, which happened about this time in Cābridge betwene them twoo and a certain woman, then prisoner in the Castle or Tower of Cambridge, which I thought here not vnworthie to be remembred. The historie is this: It so chaunced that after M. Latimer had been acquainted with the foresaid M. Bilney, he went with hym to visite the prisoners in the Tower in Cambridge, and beyng there among other prisoners, there was a woman whiche was accused that she had killed her owne child, which acte she plainly and stedfastly denied. Whereby it gaue thē occasion to searche for the matter, and at length thei founde that her husbande loued her not, and therefore sought all meanes he could to make her awaie. The matter was thus.

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MarginaliaA story of a certaine woman cōdemned who was saued by Maister Latymer.A childe of hers had been sicke a whole yeare, and at length died in haruest tyme, as it wer in a consumptiō. Which when it was gone, she went to haue her neighbours to helpe her to the buriall, but all were in Haruest abroad: whereby she was inforced with heauinesse of harte, alone to prepare the child to the buriall. Her husbande commyng home, and not louyng her, accused her of murtheryng the child. This was the cause of her trouble: and M. Latimer by earnest inquisition, of conscience thought the woman not giltie. Then immediatly after, was he called to preache before kyng Hērythe viij. at Winsore: where after his Sermon, the kynges maiestie sent for hym,and talked with hym familiarly. MarginaliaMaister Latymer obteined pardon of the kyng for a woman wrongfully condemned.At which tyme M. Latimer finding opportunitie, kneled doune, opened his whole matter to the kyng, and begged her pardon: which the king most graciously graūted, and gaue it hym at his returne homeward. In the meane tyme the woman was deliuered of a child in the prison, whose Godfather was Maister Latimer, and Maistres Cheeke Godmother. But all that while he would not tell her of the pardon, but laboured to haue her confesse the truthe of the matter. At lengthe tyme came when she looked to suffer: and Maister Latimer came as he was wont, to enstructe her: MarginaliaPurification of women.vnto whom she made greate lamentation and mone to be purified before her sufferyng, for she thought to be damned, if she should suffer without purification. Then M. Bilney beyng with M. Latimer, both tolde her that that lawe was made to the Iewes, and not to vs, and howe women be aswell in the fauour of God before thei be purified, as after: and rather it was appointed for a ciuile and politicke law for naturall honestie sake, then that they should any thing the more be purified from synne thereby. &c. So thus they trauailed with this woman, till thei had brought her to a good trade, and then at length shewed her the kynges pardon and let her goe.

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Thys good acte among many other at this tyme happened in Cambridge, by M. Latimer and maister Bilney. But this was not alone, for many moe like matters were wroughte by them, if all were knowen, whereof partly some are touched before, suche especially as concern M. Bilney, mention wherof is aboue expressed pag 1981. But as it is commonly seen in the naturall course of thynges, that as the fire beginneth more to kindle, so the more smoke ariseth withall, in much like sorte it happened with M. Latimer, whose towardnes the more it began to spryng, his vertues to be seen, and his doynges to be knowē, the more his aduersaries beganne to spurne and kindle against hym. Concernyng these aduersaries, and suche as did molest hym, partly their names be aboue expressed. Amōg the rest of this nomber was doctor Redman, of whom mention is made before in the raigne of kyng Edward pag. 1311. a man sauouring at that time somwhat more of superstition, then of true religion, after the zeale of the Phariseis, yet not so malignant or harmfull, but of a ciuill and quiet dispositiō, and also so liberall in well doyng, that fewe poore Scholers were in that vniuersitie, which fared not better by his purse.  

MarginaliaD. Redman against M. Latymer.This doctor Redman being of no little authoritie in Cambridge, perceiuyng and vnderstandyng the bolde enterprise of M. Latimer in settyng abroade the worde and doctrine of the Gospell, at thys tyme, or muche about the same, writeth to hym, sekyng by perswasiō to reuoke the said Latimer from that kynde and maner of teachyng: to

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whom M. Latimer maketh aunswer againe in fewe woordes. The summe and effecte of bothe their letters translated out of Latine, here followe to be seen.

MarginaliaA letter of D. Redman to M. Latymer.GRace be vnto you, and true peace in Christ Iesu. I beseche you hartely, and require 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 religion and controuersies, before so many learned men, and that more is, before the whole catholike Church, especially considering that you neither 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 beseech you rather consider that you are a man, and that liyng and vanitye maie quickely bleare your eye, whiche doeth sometyme transforme it self into an Aungell of light.

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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 wishe you to bee saued, and that we are carefull also for our owne Saluation. Laie doune your stomacke I praie you, and humble your spirite, and suffer not the Churche to take offence with the hardnes of your hart, nor that her vnitie and Christes coate without seame (as muche as lieth in you) should bee torne a sunder. Consider what the saying of the wiseman is, and be obedient thereunto: Trust not in your owne wisedome. The Lorde Iesus Christ. &c.

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MarginaliaAunswere of M. Latymer to Doctour Redman.REuerende M. Redman, it is euen enough for me, that Christes shepe heare no mannes voyce but Christ: & as for you, you haue no voyce of Christe againste me: whereas for my part, I haue a harte that is readie to harken to any voyce of Christ that you can bryng me. Thus fare you well, and trouble me no more from the talkyng with the Lorde my God.

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After master Latimer had thus trauailed in preachyng, and teachyng in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge, about the space of three yeres, MarginaliaM. Latymer called vp to the Cardinall.at length he was called vp to the Cardinall for heresie,  

by the procurement of certain of the saied Vniuersitie, where he was content to subscribe, and graunt to suche Articles, as then thei propounded vnto hym. &c.

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After that, he retourned to the Vniuersitie agayne, where shortly after, by the meanes of MarginaliaD. Buttes a worthy fauourer of Gods word.Doc. Buttes the kynges Phisition, a singuler good man, and a speciall fauourer of good procedinges, he was in the nomber of them whiche laboured in the cause of the kynges supremacie. Then went he to the Court, where he remained a certain time in the saied Doct. Buttes chamber, preachyng then in London very often. At laste beyng wearie of the Courte, hauyng a benefice offred by the kyng, at the sute of the Lord Crūwell and D. Buttes, was glad thereof, sekyng by that meanes to be rid out of the Court, wherewith in no case he could agre: and so hauyng a graunte of the Benefice, contrary to the minde of Doctour Buttes, he would needes departe, and be resident at the same.

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This benefice was in Wilshire, vnder the Dioces of Sarum, the name of which toune was called Weste Kyngton.  

MarginaliaM. Latimer beneficed in Wilshire in west Kington.Where this good preacher did exercise hym self with muche diligence of teachyng to instructe his flocke: and not onely to them his diligence extended, but also to all the coūtrey about. In fine, his diligence was so greate, his preachyng so mightie, the maner of his teachyng so zelous, that there in like sort he could not escape without enemies. So true it is that Sainct Paule foretelleth vs: Whosoeuer will liue godlie in Christ, shall suffer persecution. It so chaunced þ^t where as he preachyng vpon the blessed virgin Christes mother (whom we call our Ladie) had thereupon declared his minde, referryng and reducyng all honour onely to Christ our onely sauior, MarginaliaM. Latymer troubled for preachyng Christ onely to be our Sauiour, and not our Lady.certain Popish Priestes being therewith offended, sought and wrought muche trouble against hym, drawyng out Articles and impositiōs whiche they vntruly, vniustly, falsly, and vncharitablie imputed vnto hym, first that he should preache against our Ladie, for that he reproued in a Sermō MarginaliaThe superstitious rudenes of blinde Priestes.the superstitious rudenesse of certain blinde Priestes, whiche so helde altogether vpon that blessed Virgine, as though she neuer had any synne, nor were saued by Christe the

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