HUGH, bishop of Worcester, the only son of a yeoman, was born about 1472, at Thurcaston, in Leicestershire, and studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he took a degree. At the age of thirty, although formerly a zealous Papist, he became as zealous a Protestant, chiefly through the influence of Bilney. Being one of the twelve licensed preachers of the university, he boldly avowed his new opinions and was summoned, along with his friend Bilney, on a charge of heresy, before Cardinal Wolsey. On subscribing certain articles, they were liberated. Latimer, however, retaining the same fearless spirit, wrote a letter to Henry VIII., protesting against the sin and evil of prohibiting the Bible in English. The King was so far from being offended at this, that, on the recommendation of Cromwell, he appointed him to the living of West Kinton, in Wiltshire. Here he preached so violently against Popery, that in 1531 he was cited to appear before the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of London. Cromwell's patronage, however, not only shielded him from danger, but recommended him as chaplain to Anne Boleyn, and advanced him, in 1535, to the bishopric of Worcester. When the famous Six Articles were passed in 1539, Latimer, vacating his bishopric, retired into the country, but coming to London soon afterwards for the cure of a severe injury, he was accused, at the instance of Gardiner, and thrown into the Tower, where he lay for six years. On the accession of Edward VI. in 1547, he was liberated, but refusing, on account of his age, to resume the duties of his bishopric, he remained at court, and became famous for his impartial reproval of the vices of the age. Mary's reign began in 1553, and Latimer was cited before the Privy Council. As he was in the country at this time, and was allowed to obey the citation of his own accord, he might have foiled his enemies by flight. Nevertheless, he set out for London, remarking as he passed through Smithfield, that it had long groaned for him. The Privy Council, after examination, committed him to harsh confinement in the Tower; and in April 1554 he was sent to Oxford, along with Ridley and Cranmer, to hold a disputation with several doctors from the universities. Latimer, alleging his unfitness for a verbal dispute, on account of age, sickness, and disease, delivered his opinions in writing, and was condemned as a heretic. Another attempt to make him recant, was met by his refusal, "to deny his master Christ, and his verity;" and accordingly he was doomed, along with Ridley, to be burnt at Oxford on the 16th October 1555. He met his fate with great courage, exhorting his fellow-martyr with these well-known 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."

The chief feature in Latimer's character is his piety, alike earnest and cheerful, bold and simple-minded. His heroic zeal for truth and virtue, which sometimes seemed a want of common prudence, was well exemplified when he presented to Henry VIII., for a Christmas present, a Bible marked at the passage, "Whoremongers and adulterers God shall judge." His sermons (the latest edition of which was published at London in 1825) were peculiar in their day for their simplicity of plan and enforcement of practical piety. But the features most striking to us, are a pithy common sense, a colloquial familiarity, and the ingenious and superabundant use of homely imagery; which qualities, although they may now savour of a want of taste, rendered Latimer one of the most impressive preachers of his time.