ANDREW HEWET was a native of Feversham, and an apprentice to a tailor in Watlingstreet. A man named Holt, who was foreman to the king's tailor, suspecting Hewet to be a favourer of the gospel, entered into a conversation with him one day; and, having watched him to a bookbinder's house, went and informed the bishop's officers, who immediately searched the house, and finding Hewet, carried him to prison. By means of a friend he procured a file, and having got rid of his irons, escaped from confinement; but, a few months afterwards, through the information of a pretended friend, he was taken with another man, named Tibauld, also suspected of Lollardy, at the house of one Chapman. After repeated examinations, Tibauld was set at liberty, but was obliged to sell his house and land in Essex, the bishop having prohibited him from coming within seven miles of his own home. Chapman was confined five weeks, three of which he was kept in the stocks; for the poor Lollards often experienced the same treatment as the Apostle and his companions of old, "being thrust into the inner prison, and

having their feet made fast in the stocks." See Acts xvi. 24.

Hewet was carried before the bishops, and accused of believing that the bread in the sacrament, after consecration, was only a signification of the body of Christ, and not really the body of Christ, which was born of the Virgin Mary. When they required him to state how he believed respecting the sacrament, he answered, "Even as John Frith doth." Stokesly said, "Why Frith is a heretic, and already condemned to be burned; and except thou revoke thine opinion, thou shalt be burned also with him." His simple reply was, "Truly, I am content withal." He was sent to prison to Frith, and burned with him on the 4th of July, 1533.

When they were at the stake, Dr. Cook, a parish priest in London, told the bystanders that they should not pray for them any more than for a dog! The people were indignant at hearing this; but Frith smiled, and prayed the Lord to forgive them. Thus these two blessed martyrs committed their souls into the hands of God.

CABINET.

Intense hatred of sin, and ardent love to God, and inward purity, are advanced most by sanctified afflictions.-BICKERSTETH. The cross is the way to the crown; affliction is the path to glory.-BICKERSTETH.

POETRY.

A CHILD'S PROTESTANT HYMN.

O LORD, stretch forth thine hand,
From each rude blast and keen,
Defend my native land,

And save my gentle Queen.

Oh! let thy hand ensure

My own sweet sea-girt isle,
From Popish wrath secure,

Thy constant gracious smile.
Look down with thy pure eyes,

And in this rolling ball
Let Christ's dear kingdom rise
And Satan's empire fall.

Thy promises of old

O Lord, to us fulfil,

And make us firm and bold

To do thy holy will.

And should Rome's cruel hand
Once more, devoid of shame,
In this, our native land,

Light up the martyr's flame,
Our hearts, with zeal and love,
And ardent grace inspire,
The stake to brave, and drink
The martyr's cup of fire.
And should Rome ever try
To make me falsehoods tell,
Oh! may my lips reply

"I love my God too well."
Lord! turn the wicked hearts
Of all our Popish foes,
That they may all escape
Rome's swift descending woes.

Published under THE PROTESTANT

At F. BAISLER'S

124, Oxford-street;

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & Co.

INTELLIGENCE.

Tower Hamlets.-A meeting of the Tower Hamlets Operative Protestant Association was held at the School Room, Cannon-streetroad, St. George's East, on Tuesday, 27th April. The Rev. Charles Day, presided. The Rev. T. Cuffe, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Theophilus Smith, and Messrs. Binden and Sykes took part in the proceedings.

Finsbury.-A meeting of the Finsbury Operative Association was held at the Lecture Room, Holborn Bars, on Tuesday Evening, May 4th. E. Dalton, Esq. in the chair. The Rev. T. Cuffe, J. Callow, Esq. Mr. T. Sansbury, and Messrs. Moulton and Darragh respectively addressed the meeting.

The Annual Sermon in behalf of the Protestant Association was preached to an overflowing congregation at St. Clement Danes, on Tuesday, 11th of May, by the Rev. H. McNeile. £90. were collected. On the following day the Annual Meeting was held in the Large Room at Exeter Hall, which was filled to excess. The Rev. H. McNeile, Rev. Dr. Cooke, of Belfast, Rev. W. Ker, of Norwich, Sir H. Smyth, Bart. M.P., J. P. Plumptre, Esq., M.P. addressed the Meeting. The Chisholm, presided. There were nearly 200 of the clergy present from different parts of the country. £196 were collected. On Thursday Evening, Dr. Cooke, of Belfast, preached for the Protestant Association at the Scotch Church, Regent's Square. £14:14, were collected.

The Annual Meeting of all the Protestant Operative Associations of London will be held in Exeter Hall, on Wednesday the 16th of June, at which that distinguished champion of the cause of truth, the Rev. Hugh McNeile, has promised to speak. The Rev. M. Hobart Seymour, and the Rev. Wm. Curling, have also promised to take part in the proceedings. Dr. Cooke is expected. Lord Kenyon has consented to preside. To commence at 6 o'clock. Mr. McNeile will preach a Sermon in behalf of the Operative Associations on Tuesday Evening, in St. Clement Danes Church, Strand. Service to commence at half-past 6 o'clock.

the direction of

it ba ASSOCIATION,

PROTESTANT DEPOSITORY

at 11, Exeter Hall;

And R. GROOMBRIDGE.

W. DAVY]

[Gilbert-street.

SUFFERINGS OF RIDLEY AND

LATIMER, ETC.

We are now about to relate the last sufferings of two chief captains of the noble army of Martyrs,-Bishop RIDLEY and Bishop LATIMER. In September, 1555, a commission was sent from Cardinal Pole, as the pope's legate, authorizing the bishop of Lincoln, and two other Romish prelates, "to examine and judge Latimer and Ridley, for the errors they held and maintained by public disputation in the preceding year; also previously in the time of perdition,* and since." If they would recant, they were to be reconciled to the Pope, but if not they were to be burned.

The judges were seated in state in the divinity schools at Oxford, on the 30th of September. Ridley was first brought before them; he refused to acknowledge the authority of the Pope, or of Pole, as his legate, while he was ready to show all proper submission to any lawful authority of the land. The Bishop of Lincoln urged him to return to the Church of Rome, which, as he said, was derived from Peter, upon whom Christ had founded his Church. This, the Romish bishop alleged, was confirmed by

The reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. were thus styled by the Romanists.

VOL. II.

In

the Fathers; and he said that Ridley himself had once been of that opinion. reply, Ridley showed that the Rock referred to, was our Lord himself, and that the Fathers had expressly shown that the preeminence of the Bishop of Rome arose only from that city being the seat of imperial government. He confessed having once maintained the Romish opinion, even as St. Paul was once a persecutor of Christ. He was then required to attend to the articles objected to him, in which he was accused of having spoken against the sacrament at the public disputation, in which the Reformers had been compelled to take a part! He was required to give his answer on the following day, and sent back to prison.

Latimer was then called in. The simple appearance of that ancient Father is thus described: "He held his hat in his hand, having a kerchief on his head, with a nightcap or two, and a great cap such as townsmen use, with flaps to button under his chin, wearing an old threadbare gown of Bristol frieze, girded round him with a penny girdle, at which hung his Testament by a leathern string, and his spectacles hung round his neck."

The judges exhorted this venerable Reformer to return to the Romish faith: "Consider," said the Bishop of Lincoln, "that without the unity of the Church is no

errors!"

salvation, and in the Church can be no The Romish prelate went on, declaring that his Church was founded upon Peter, as could be proved from Scripture. Latimer hearing this, began to remove his cap and kerchief from his ears! Bishop White proceeded to show the power of this Church, by quibbling upon the word "feed," which he interpreted to rule, as in one sense it may be understood, and concluded by urging that if Latimer continued to be a rotten member of the body of the Church, he must be cut off, lest he should be noisome to the head," his holiness the Pope."

When the bishop had concluded, Latimer raised up his head, and asked if his lordship had done, desiring leave to say a few words. This being given, the venerable Father then proceeded. "Your lordship gently exhorted me, in many words, to come to the unity of the Church. I confess a Catholic Church, spread throughout the world, in which no man may err, and without which unity of the Church no man can be saved. But I know perfectly, by God's word, that this Church is in all the world, and hath not its foundation in Rome only as you say. Indeed, my lord, St. Peter performed his office well; and truly in that (way) he was bid regere (to govern,) but the bishops of Rome have since taken a new kind of regere. They ought to rule, it is true, but how? According to the word of God. But the bishops of Rome have turned ruling according to the word of God into ruling according to their own will, as it pleaseth them." He proceeded for some time in this homely yet forcible manner. After some further words, one of the commissioners accused him of want of learning. "Lo, you look for learning at my hands," he replied, "which have gone so long to the school of forgetfulness, making the bare walls my library, keeping me so long in prison without book or pen and ink, and now you let me loose to come and answer to articles! You deal with me as though two were appointed to fight for life and death, and overnight the one, through friends and favour, is cherished, and has good counsel given him how to encounter with his enemy. The other for envy or want of friends, is set all night in the stocks. In the morning, when they meet, the one is in full strength, the other almost dead through feebleness. Think you not that to run such a man through with a spear is a goodly victory?" After further conference he was dismissed till the morrow, though he entreated them to finish with him that day.

The next morning they were again brought forward, Ridley having remarked that the

supper of our Lord had never been better ministered, or more duly received, than during the late reign, the Bishop of Lincoln exclaimed, "A goodly receiving, I promise you, to set an oyster-table instead of an altar, and to come from (eating) puddings to receive." Ridley replied, "Your lordship's unreverent terms do not elevate the thing. Perhaps some men came more devoutly from puddings, than other men now do from other things.' Ridley then desired permission to read his answers to the articles on which he was accused. This was not allowed; and the Romish bishops having examined the paper, declared it contained blasphemies not fit to be read! After further disputation, Ridley claimed the promise made him the day before, that he should be allowed to state his reasons against the Pope's authority. This was granted, but he was restricted literally to the terms of the promise, which were, that he should speak forty words: and before he had concluded the first sentence, the Romanists exclaimed that his number was out, and stopped him! With hypocritical professions of kindness, White said that he was sorry for him. "I believe it, my lord," said Ridley, "for it will one day be burdensome to your soul!" The usual sentence of condemnation was then read.

Latimer next appeared; respecting the mass he thus expressed himself: "Christ made one oblation and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and that a perfect sacrifice; neither needeth there to be any other, neither can there be any other propitiatory sacrifice." He was condemned of course.

On the 15th of October, the Romish Bishop of Gloucester, with others, came to the house of Mr. Irish, the mayor of Oxford, where Ridley was closely confined,† and dressing him by force, in the finery of a popish priest ready to say mass, (they denied that he was a bishop,) proceeded to degrade him according to their usual form. Ridley spoke vehemently against the folly of their

Gavin's "Master Key of Popery" contains many details which show the truth and justice of this observation. To explain the bishop's words, we should remark, that Romish priests are required to perform mass before they break their fast. + Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, were confined separately during the greater part of the time they were at Oxford; the former in the prison called Bocardo, the two latter in private houses. From a book in the library of Bene't College, Cambridge, referred to by Strype, it appears that they were sometimes allowed to dine and sup together. They were then under the charge of the city bailiffs, who expended £63. in the care of these prisoners, but were only repaid £20. For the rest, they had to Queen Elizabeth, and there is good reason to bepetition the Protestant bishops in the reign of lieve that their application was not in vain.

ceremonies, till they threatened to gag him, if he were not quiet. He stood silent until they put the Gospels in his hand, and then took them away, saying, "We do take from you the office of preaching the gospel." At this he sighed, and looking up to heaven, said, "O Lord, forgive them this their wickedness." This ceremony being ended, Ridley wished to converse with the bishop upon the subject, but was told, "You now are out of the Church, and we may not talk with any that are out of the Church." Ridley then entreated him to read Bertram's book respecting the sacrament, and to convey a petition to the queen in favour of his relatives. He was delivered over to the bailiffs of the town, with strict orders to allow no man to speak to him.

That night Ridley supped with the family of the mayor. He invited his hostess and the others present to his marriage, for, said he, "To-morrow I must be married." Mrs. Irish, the wife of the mayor, was a Papist, but she shed tears for his approaching fate. His brother offered to remain with him all night, but Ridley declined, saying that he meant to go to bed, and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life.

The next morning, October the 16th, the place of execution was prepared; it was in front of Baliol College, at that time a ditch by the town wall, but now filled up and made a street: the exact spot was near the corner of Broad-street. Lord Williams, of Thame, was present, by order of the Council, with an armed force. Ridley came first to the stake, dressed in a furred black gown, such as he usually wore, and walking between the mayor and an alderman. Then followed Latimer in his old frieze coat, with a long shroud hanging down to his feet. As Ridley passed the prison of Bocardo he looked up at the windows, hoping to see Cranmer; but the Spanish friars were then disputing with the archbishop. Looking back, he saw Latimer following; and when they arrived at the stake he embraced his aged companion, saying, "Be of good heart, brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it." They then kneeled down and prayed separately, and afterwards conversed together. Dr. Smith next began a sermon from 1 Cor. xiii. "If I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, I gain nothing thereby." The reader may easily suppose the tenour of this discourse, which lasted about a quarter of an hour. Ridley then said to Latimer, 'Will you answer the sermon, or shall I?" Begin first, I pray you," was the reply. "I will," said Ridley.

They both kneeled down, and entreated

Lord Williams to allow Ridley to speak a few words. That nobleman was inclined to grant the request, but Dr. Marshall, the vice-chancellor and the bailiffs ran up to Ridley and stopped his mouth, telling him that he must not speak, unless he would recant. 'Well, then," said he with a loud voice, "I commit our cause to Almighty God, who shall without favour judge all."

Latimer added one of his pithy sayings: "There is nothing hid but it shall be opened," and said that he could answer Smith well enough if he were permitted. They were then ordered to make ready for the fire. Ridley gave away many trifling articles to the bystanders, who crowded eagerly to obtain them. Latimer gave nothing, but allowed the keeper to take off his upper garments; and his mortal frame becoming invigorated at the prospect of the near approach of his journey's end, he no longer appeared a withered, crooked old man, his body crazed and bending under the weight of years, but stood upright, "as comely a father as one would desire to behold."

Ridley then standing at the stake, held up his hand, and said, "Õh heavenly Father, I give unto thee most hearty thanks, for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee, even unto death. I beseech thee, O Lord God, have mercy upon this realm of England, and deliver the same from all her enemies." The smith then put an iron chain round the martyrs, and drove in a staple to fix it. "Good fellow," said Ridley, "knock it hard, for the flesh will have its course." His brother-in-law brought some gunpowder; being told what it was, Ridley said, "I will receive it as sent of God," and inquired whether there was some for Latimer. He also addressed Lord Williams, requesting him to speak to the queen in behalf of his relatives, and some tenants of the see of London who had taken leases from him, but had been dispossessed by Bonner, that he might obtain new fines from others.*

All was now ready-a lighted fagot was brought and laid at Ridley's feet. Then Latimer addressed his stake-fellow in these memorable words: "BE OF GOOD COMFORT MASTER 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."

That light has not yet been extinguished; and blessed be God, it appears to burn with

maintained Bonner's mother and sister, treating * While Ridley held the bishopric of London, he them with much respect. The mother was always allowed the most honorable place at his table. Bonner returned this conduct by depriving Ridley's brother-in-law of his property, and by seeking occasion to accuse him of heresy!