HUGH, bishop of Worcester, was born about the year 1480 at Thurcaston in Leicestershire, the only son of a yeoman of that village. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Christ's college, Cambridge, where he applied himself to the study of divinity, and in proper time took the degree of bachelor in that science. At this time he was a zealous Papist, Latimer, Papist, and was honoured with the office of keeper of Latin. the cross to the university; but when he was about thirty years of age, he became a convert to the Protestant religion; and being now one of the twelve licensed preachers from Cambridge, he promulgated his opinions with great freedom. It was not long before he was accused of heresy; and being summoned before Cardinal Wolsey, was obliged to subscribe certain articles of faith, which he certainly did not believe.

About the year 1529 he was presented by the king to the rectory of Weftkinton in Wilshire; to which place, after residing some time at court with his friend and patron Dr Butts, he retired; but resuming his former invectives against the Popish doctrines, he was again summoned to answer certain interrogatories, and again obliged to subscribe.

In 1535 he was promoted to the bishopric of Worcester; in the possession of which dignity he continued till the year 1539, when, rather than assent to the act of the six articles, he resigned his mitre, and retired into the country; but was in a short time accused of speaking against the six articles, and committed to the Tower, where he continued prisoner till the death of Henry VIII, which happened in January 1547. On the accession of Edward VI, Latimer was released, but not restored to his bishopric, though he preached several times before the king, and continued to exercise his ministerial function with unremitting zeal and resolution. Young Edward, alas! finished his short reign in 1553; and Mary, of infamous memory, ascending the throne, poor Latimer was immediately doomed to destruction, and, together with Cranmer and Ridley, confined in the Tower. In April 1554, they were removed to Oxford, that they might dispute with the learned doctors of both universities. Latimer declining the disputation on account of his great age and infirmities, delivered his opinion in writing; and refusing to subscribe the Popish creed, was condemned for heresy; and in October following was, together with Bishop Ridley, burnt alive. He behaved with uncommon fortitude on the occasion, and died a real martyr to the Reformation. His general character is that of a learned, virtuous, and brave man. His works are, 1. Sermons, 1635, fol. 2. Letters; in Fox's Acts and Monuments, vol. ii. fol. 1; &c. 3. An Injunction to the Prior and Convent of St Mary's in Worcestershire. See record at the end of Burnet's History of the Reformation, part ii. p. 293.