he would not contend much in words, after a reasonable account of his faith given: that he would not bestow more on his enemies than to gall and springall them, for that they would always take refuge in the law.* His somewhat light and contemptuous way of expressing himself is apparent in this curious colloquy: in the course of which Ridley draws his portrait in the following terms: "Methinketh I see you suddenly lifting up your head towards heaven after your manner, and then looking upon me with your prophetical countenance, and speaking unto me with these or like words: Trust not, my son, to these word weapons, for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power." Thus Latimer and Ridley charged and pledged each other.†

*He afterwards, partially at least, carried out this intention at Oxford. Addison in the Spectator, No. 465, refers to his conduct as an excellent example of conviction retained, even after the arguments that wrought it were forgotten, because of the memory of the force with which they once impressed the mind. "This venerable old man, knowing how his abilities were impaired by age, and that it was impossible for him to recollect all those reasons which had directed him in the choice of his religion, left his companions who were in the full possession of their parts and learning, to baffle and confound their antagonists by the force of reason. As for himself, he only repeated to his adversaries the articles in which he firmly believed, and in the profession of which he was determined to die." Latimer however did more than that, as we shall see.

The two "Godly and Comfortable Conferences" between Ridley and Latimer were first printed in 1555: and again in 1556, the editor being J. O. (John Old?) See Ridley's Works, Parker Soc. p. xiv. and 151. They are also in Fox and in Ridley's Ridley, p. 445. They were professedly taken from "the scrolls and writings which were by God's good providence preserved, and as it were raked out of the ashes of the authors." The only manuscript original known seems to be that of the Bodleian, NE. B. 2.7. (See the Parker Soc. Ridley. p. xiv.) But this, in the opinion which Mr. Macray has given me, is a transcript some thirty years later than the time of Ridley. they have undergone a good deal of editing. writes as if he were addressing others besides fathers and brethren, I beseech you," &c. Parker Soc. 110. In the Parker edition there are several imperfections. Thus, Ridley's tenth

It seems probable that Thus in one place Ridley Latimer. "Write again,

After Wyat's rebellion, the Tower being crowded with prisoners, Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer were put together in one room: and to them was added Ridley's chaplain Bradford. This company made use of the opportunity by reading over the New Testament with care and deliberation, with especial regard to the great controversy. At length the order was given for the conveyance of the three bishops to Oxford: and the field for which they had practised was open before them.

The order was issued in the beginning of March: †

objection to the Mass (p. 109) should begin with the words More yet of the Canon, which are in Ridley's Ridley: and his eleventh (p. 110) with The Canon again: also in Ridley's Ridley. The piece "Therefore there is no remedy" &c. (p. 115) down to the end of the first Conference, is, in Fox, at the end of the second Conference. The last paragraph of the whole, “Sir, I have caused my man," &c. (p. 147) should be put into the mouth of Latimer, as it is in Fox. There are some other interesting matters in these conferences: and there is something touching in the image of Latimer's faithful servant conveying Ridley's remarks to his master, and Latimer writing his observations upon them, "blotting the paper vainly," as he says, in the blank spaces. From internal evidence they seem to belong to the Tower time, not to the later imprisonment at Oxford.

* "Where these famous men, viz. Mr. Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. Ridley, bishop of London, that holy man Mr. Bradford, and I, old Hugh Latimer, were imprisoned in the Tower of London for Christ's gospel preaching, and for because we would not go a massing, every one in close prison from other: the same Tower being so full of other prisoners that we four were thrust into one chamber, as men not to be accounted of, but, God be thanked, to our great joy and comfort, there did we together read over the New Testament with great deliberation and painful study: and, I assure you, as I will answer at the tribunal of God's majesty, we could find in the testament of Christ's Body and Blood no other presence but a spiritual presence." Latimer's Disputation with Smith, p. 259: Park. Soc. Remains. Strype's Cranmer,

Bk. iii. ch. 6.

"A Letter to the Lieutenant of the Tower to deliver to Sir John Williams the bodies of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, doctor Ridley, and Latimer, to be by him conveyed to Oxford." Council Book, 8 March. The Chronicle of Queen Mary puts this on March 12. "This day the bishop of Canterbury, the late bishop of London Ridley, and Master Latimer went out of the Tower towards Oxford, and out of the Fleet went Hooper with them." p. 68. This last is a curious mistake.

In the mean

but it was not put in force for a month. time the Parliament and Convocation had been continued (as it has been seen) from Oxford to London. But for the three prisoners the original destination remained of Oxford, which was considered to be a safer and more convenient place for a theological encounter. Their delegated adversaries from the Convocation House (as it has been seen) proceeded thither; and thither they themselves proceeded slowly by Windsor and Brentford, reaching the end of their journey about the tenth of April.*

Their delegated adversaries were already there: and received that formidable accession of strength which not only Oxford but the sister University had been commanded to supply: nor shall we refuse to trace the vestiges of those who were engaged in such memorable, if nugatory, proceedings. Of Oxford, by commission, were joined to them Marshall the Vicechancellor, the Provicechancellor Smith, the renowned doctor Tresham, and Holyman and Morwent. Of Cambridge, and, since Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer were all of Cambridge, of Cambridge it may not have been unmeet that certain representatives should be added, appeared, under the commission of their Chancellor Gardiner, Young the Vicechancellor, Atkinson provost of King's College, Glynn master of Queen's, Watson master of St. John's and chaplain to Gardiner, who had taken part in the disputation in St. Paul's, Scot master of Christ's college, a religious man who had received a pension at the dissolution, Sedgwick Queen's professor of divinity, and Langdale a doctor of St. John's, and a former antagonist of Ridley; who took up their quarters at the Cross Inn

* "The oppositions at Oxford begun." 9 April. Grey Friars' Chron. p. 89. Fox says it was about the tenth.

+ Langdale wrote in three books an elaborate confutation of Ridley's

near Quatervois or Carfax, April 13.* Thence early on the following morning they proceeded to Lincoln College, in quest of Weston and the delegates of Convocation: for Weston was head of Lincoln. Him they found with his company at mass in the college chapel; at end of which he took them to his rooms, and received with satisfaction the ample and vigorous credentials which they bore from the senate of Cambridge. "We are asked," said Cambridge, "on the part of the sacred Synod or Convocation of the Province of Canterbury to declare our opinion on three Articles concerning the Sacrament of the altar: which Articles affirm that the natural Body and Blood of Christ is present therein: that no other substance remains there after consecration: that in the Mass is the lively sacrifice of the Church for the dead and the living. We pronounce these Articles to be true, Catholic, and orthodox. But, as we are well aware from public notoriety that there are certain sons of perdition and iniquity, seditious innovators, and enemies of the Church of Christ, who strive to subvert His Catholic and orthodox doctrine, of whom the chief movers and foremost champions are Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, we have deputed certain pious and erudite doctors to dispute with them and any other such monsters; to refel and refute their perverse opinions and heretical doctrines." So to all whom it might concern: but to her sister Oxford Cambridge expressed herself even more strongly. "The Academies themselves have been seized and infected with the same terrible pest of seditious error, of insolent and stubborn heresy, with which in the late tempest our churches were convulsed:

"Determination" on the Eucharist in the great disputation at Cambridge in Edward's reign; published in 1556, but written when Ridley was bishop of Rochester. Cooper's Ath. Cant. i. 509.

* Wood's Ath. Oxon. p. 81, 82.

but now, as those churches, so recently afflicted with the fury of persecution, enjoy the calm and optable serene, so to the Academies by our most religious Queen is peace restored. restored. It is for us to pray for the increase of godliness in truth and integrity. May those contumacious patrons and leaders of false doctrine be brought back to the bosom of holy Mother Church by the persuasions of the learned men whom we send to you with our authority." All then proceeded to the University church of St. Mary: where, in a chapel the Cambridge doctors were incorporated, and sending for their robes arrayed themselves. They then issued into the choir; a convocation of the University was held, in which the newly admitted members took part; and the commission and the Cambridge letters were read openly. To the Articles the men of the Convocation of Canterbury had subscribed already in London: and the Cambridge men in their own senate: now the Oxford divines, who were to dispute, and others also, subscribed them and meantime mass was said. A procession was then formed in which the doctors of divinity of both universities marched intermingled, the vicechancellor and the prolocutor walking together, having before them the quire, the younger regents, the proctors, and the doctors of law with their beadles, and behind them the bachelors of the several faculties, and a great company of undergraduate scholars and students. They marched to Christ Church, where the quire sung an anthem and a collect was read: a dinner followed at Lincoln college: all returned to St. Mary's church, where, to the number of thirty-three, the Commissioners took their seats within the chancel in front of the altar, and commanded the mayor to bring before them Doctor Cranmer :

Strype's Cranmer. Appen. No. LXXVII., LXXVIII.