separately upon each. Latimer was first examined by Stokesley; subsequently
at various times by the bishops collectively; and finally, when certain
formulas had been submitted to him, which he refused to sign, his case was
transferred to convocation. The convocation, as we know, were then in
difficulty with their premunire; they had consoled themselves in their
sorrow with burning the body of Tracy; and they would gladly have taken
further comfort by burning Latimer.[575] He was submitted to the closest
cross-questionings, in the hope that he would commit himself. They felt
that he was the most dangerous person to them in the kingdom, and they
laboured with unusual patience to ensure his conviction.[576] With a common
person they would have rapidly succeeded. But Latimer was in no haste to be
a martyr; he would be martyred patiently when the time was come for
martyrdom; but he felt that no one ought "to consent to die," as long as he
could honestly live;[577] and he baffled the episcopal inquisitors with
their own weapons. He has left a most curious account of one of his
interviews with them.

"I was once in examination," he says,[578] "before five or six bishops,
where I had much turmoiling. Every week, thrice, I came to examination, and
many snares and traps were laid to get something. Now, God knoweth, I was
ignorant of the law; but that God gave me answer and wisdom what I should
speak. It was God indeed, for else I had never escaped them. At the last, I
was brought forth to be examined into a chamber hanged with arras, where I
was before wont to be examined, but now, at this time, the chamber was
somewhat altered: for whereas before there was wont ever to be a fire in
the chimney,[579] now the fire was taken away, and an arras hanging hanged
over the chimney; and the table stood near the chimney's end, so that I
stood between the table and the chimney's end. There was among these
bishops that examined me one with whom I had been very familiar, and took
him for my great friend, an aged man, and he sate next the table end. Then,
among all other questions, he put forth one, a very subtle and crafty one,
and such one indeed as I could not think so great danger in. And when I
would make answer, 'I pray you, Master Latimer,' said he, 'speak out; I am
very thick of hearing, and here be many that sit far off.' I marvelled at
this, that I was bidden to speak out, and began to misdeem, and gave an ear
to the chimney; and, sir