LATIM_ER, 'Lyon, bishop of Worcester, was the son of an honest yeoman at Thurcostan, in Leicestershire, and was born about the year 1470. At the age of four years, he gave so great pools of a ready apprehension, that his parents, basing no other son, resolved to educate him for a learned profession ; and at the age of fourteen, he went to the univet sity of Cambridge, where he applied himself chiefly to the theological studies of those times. Having taken priest's orders, he distinguished himself, at a very early period, by his zeal for the tenets of Popery, and his invectives against the principles or the reformers; hut having subsequently embraced the Protestant faith, princi pally through the instructions of Thomas Bilney, a devout clergyman in the university, he became equally ardent in promoting the cause of the refurmed doctrines. His emi nence as a preacher, and the exemplary life which he led with his friend Bilney, had a very considerable influence in spreading the new opinions ; and all the exertions of the opposite party were called forth to counteract his growing popularity. Doctor West, bishop of Ely, was at length constrained to exercise his authority as diocesan ; but, being a man of great moderation, lie contented himself with preaching against the heretics, and forbidding Lati mer to preach in the university. Doctor Barnes, however, prior of the Augustine Friars, to preach in the church of his priory, which, like most religious houses, was exempt from episcopal jurisdiction; and here, m spite of all the machinations of his adversaries, he con tinued for three years to address the most crowded audien ces with distinguished success and applause. Even the bishop of Ely has hi'quently observed among his hearers, and candidly acknow hedged his excellence as a preacher. About this time, King Henry VIII. desirous to conciliate the Pope, had enjoined Wolsey to put the laws in execu tion against heretics ; anti Latimer was summoned, among others, to answer for his as owed sentiments. According to some accounts, he consented to subscribe the articles which were proposed to him ; but others affirm, that Wolsey was so pleased with his answers, that he dismissed him with a very gentle admonition, He had even begun to be in fa your at court ; and having preached before his majesty at Windsor, was noticed with more than usual affability. He was not the less resolute in his adherence to the cause of the reformed religion : and had the courage even to write a letter to the king, against a proclamation which had been issued for prohibiting the use of the Bible in the English language. Though his remonstrance, which singularly marked the sincerity and openness of his character, pro duced nn effect, yet the king, who had belore been pleased with Latimer's plain and simple manner of address, or who had at the time other ends to serve by his aid, received it with the utmost condescension. Be was afterwards still more firmly established in the royal favour by the exertions which he made, in full consistency with his principles, to support the plea of the king's supremacy. By the friend ship or Doctor Butts, the king's physician, and of Crom well, the prime minister, both favourers of the reformation, he was presented to the living of West Kingston, in Wilt shire ; and, contrary to the advice of his patrons, he re signed all attendance at court, to devote himself to the du ties of his parish. He extended his labours also with great
diligence into the adjoining parts, wherever he observed a deficiency of pastoral instruction; and was rising rapidly in the estimation of all good men in those districts, when his enemies drew up a charge of heresy against him, and procured a citation for his appearance before Stokesley, bishop or London. But this step only furthered his pro motion ; for while he was greatly harassed in the archie piscopal court, by frequent examinations, and crafty inter rogatories, and urgent injunctions, to subscribe their arti cles, the king, having been privately informed of the treat ment to which he was subjected, interposed his authority, and stopped all proceedings against him. Other accounts seem to imply, that he had previously made all the sub missions which the bishops required ; but in whatever way the matter was settled, he does not appear to have fallen in the king's estimation; and, soon after the date of these troubles, he was promoted to the see of Worcester, through the influence his steady patrons, Cromwell and Butts. hi this station, he applied himself with all his usual fideli ty to the discharge of his office ; and proceeded, with as much zeal as the state of things would admit, in correct ing the tendency of Popish superstitions. In 1536, he at tended the session of parliament and convocation, in which the Protestant influence so far prevailed, as to abolish form out of the seven sacraments, and to authorize the translation of the Bible into English. Returning to his bishopric, and shunning all concern in state affairs, he occupied himself entirely in the silent discharge of his pastoral duties, till the year 1539, when the act of the Six Articles was passed, which reduced him to the necessity of surrendering his office, or his conscience. Instantly he resigned his bish opric, arid retired to a private situation in the country ; but being obliged to repair to London, in consequence of a se vere bruise, which required better medical assistance than his neighbourhood could supply, he was soon discovered by Gardener's emissaries ; and, upon an allegation of having spoken against the Six Articles, was committed to the Tower, where he suffered a severe imprisonment during the remaining six years of Henry's reign. Immediately a• ter the accession of Edward VI. he recovered his liberty, and found his old friends again in power ; but he declined all their proposals to reinstate him in his diocese, and took up his residence with Crammer at Lambeth. Here he oc cupied himself chiefly in redressing the grievances of poor persons, who flocked to him in great numbers ; and assisted m preparing the first part of the English Homilies. He seldom failed, however, to appear in the pulpit on Sundays; and, besides preaching the Lent sermons before his ma jesty, frequently officiated at St. Paul's cross, and other churches in London.