After the death of Somerset, he withdrew from the me tropolis, and made use of the king's license as a general preacher, wherever his services appeared to be required. But, upon the restoration of Popery, at the commencement of Mary's reign, he was once more silenced, together with all the Protestant teachers ; and in a short time, summoned to London before the ecclesiastical council. He had long been persuaded, that, sooner or later, he should be called to answer with his life for the cause which he had espoused; and, particularly, that, in the eye of Bishop Gardener, now prime minister, he was marked for proscription. Though forewarned of the designs meditating against him, and of the approach of the messenger with the citation from court, he was so far from availing himself of the opportunity to escape, (which, it is conjectured, would have been !Dore agreeable to his enemies than his appearance,) that he in stantly made ready to accompany the officer, and addressed him in language expressive of the utmost readiness to at tend his orders. The messenger, however, acquainted him, that he had no authority to seize his person ; and merely delivering the citation, took his departure without delay. Latimer prepared to obey the summons, proceeded straight to the metropolis; and, on the day after his arrival, presented himself to the council, by whom he was loaded with reproaches, and committed to the tower. Notwith standing the infirmities of his advanced age, and the seve rity of treatment which he experienced, he bore his con finement with the utmost patience, and even frequently in dulged in his habitual jocularity. Being denied the bene fit of a fire, even in the midst of winter, he said one day to the under-keeper, "that if he did not look the better to him, perchance he should deceive him." The lieutenant, upon being informed of these expressions, became apprehensive of some intention on the part of his prisoner to effect his escape ; and, coming to him in person, required an expla nation of his words. " Yea, master lieutenant," said Lati mer; " for you look, I think, that I should burn ; but, ex cept you let me have some fire, I am like to deceive your expectation, for I am like here to starve for cold." In 1554, after half an year's imprisonment, he was con veyed to Oxford, together with Cranmer and Ridley, for the purpose of holding a public disputation with the most eminent Popish divines. At these conferences, which were conducted in a most disorderly manner, it is observable, that, though Latimer avowed his intention to shun argu ment as of no avail, and to content himself with offering a plain account of his faith, he nevertheless managed the con troversy with more ability and consistency than his col leagues, who attempted to answer the citations from the Fathers in the quibbling style of the schoolinen, while tie other adhered to the pure strain of scripture language, and disclaimed all authority which did not coincide with its plain import. " Then you are not of Chrvsostome's faith,
nor of St. Augustine's faith ?" said his opponents. I have said," replied the bishop, " when they say well, and bring scripture for therm I am of their faith ; and farther Augus tine requireth not to be believed." After the termination of the disputations, sentence was pronounced against the three Protestant prelates as heretics ; hut they remained in custody till the month of September in the following year, when commissioners were appointed to examine them a se cond time, and to afford them an opportunity of retracting the sentiments which they had formerly avowed. The aged bishop, adhering resolutely to his confession, was led to the stake along with his fellow prisoner Ridley, on the 16th of October, 1553, where he met the painful death of his martyrdom with the utmost composure and fortitude. " Mr. Latimer very quietly suffered his keeper to pull off his hose and his other array, which, to look into, was very simple ; and being stripped into his shroud, lie seemed as comely a person to them that were there present, as one should lightly see ; and whereas, in his clothes he appear ed a withered and crooked silly old man, he now stood bold upright, as comely a father as one might lightly behold." As the faggots were kindling, he said to his companion in suffering, Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man ; we shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England, as, I trust, shall never be put out ;" and as the flame embraced his body, he repeatedly cried with a firm voice, " 0 Father of heaven, receive my soul !" and expir ed in a short time without any appearance of extreme agony.
The general character of this venerable person is most honourable to the cause which lie embraced, and presents a worthy pattern to every Christian bishop. He was always more attentive to the pursuit of useful knowledge than of curious literature ; and, even in his advanced years, was re• gularly occupied with his studies many hours before sun rise, both in winter and summer. He avoided all interfer ence in secular or political concerns, and devoted himself wholly to the discharge of his office as a christian pastor. He was a celebrated and popular preacher in his time ; and his manner of address in the pulpit is described as having be:• remarkably earliest and impressive; but his sermons, which are extant," though frequently marked by the most affecting simplicity, abound too much in the low familiari ty, and even studied drollery, which suited the taste of that age, and which had their origin, with so many other devia tions from apostolic example, in the most corrupted church, and darkest periods of Christendonnt See Fox's Acts and Olonuments ; Sirype's Ecclesiastical Memoirs ; 'Words worth's Ecclesiastical Biography. (q.)