The Life of Latimer

The Life of Latimer
by Reverend R. DeMaus
1887

Thoughts Going In

I got this book from the free stack at the library. I will probably stop saying that. And then, begin again whenever (as if such a day will ever come) I start getting my books from elsewhere.

In the meantime, I got this book from the free stack. I would not be reading it otherwise, as I know nothing about the book.

What appealed to me most was the age and the size of the book. This little tome is old: from 1887, the same year as my new coin (about which, I am sure, I will post elsewhere). And the book is small: pocket size, so maybe I will carry it around with me... but that is pretty unlikely. Oh, it also claimed to be illustrated, but a quick review (I don't consider a flip through cheating, it's part of the book selection process) shows a prominent lack of illustrations: one at the start, and I think that's it.

I know it's a religious book. And I am reading it next because:

1. It's small, so the book is on top of my stack.
2. I stopped reading the last book before the end, so I now have permission to do so, again: something that seems likely with this book.

And that's enough of a preview.

Shall we begin?

Notable Quotes

'Well, well, Mr. Latimer, I perceive that you somewhat smell of the pan: you will repent this gear one day.'

They have made it treason to your noble Grace to have the Scriptures in English.

There is no law against unknown vices.

Neither make nor suffer to be made any privy contract of matrimony.

Every county in England had its local deity, some image reputed to possess miraculous powers, the kissing or reverencing of which (always after an offering) was deemed a specific for various diseases; and their shrines were crowded with worshippers.

He ['an observant friar, John Forest by name'] had, it seemed, abused the confessional by teaching treason to his penitents; denying the lawfulness of Henry's assumption of the title of 'Supreme Head of the Church in England.'

It was the custom of the time that some one should preach at an execution of this sort.

The countless blessings of a purified religion -- the true source of our national greatness!

He was the very type of man that the English nation has always best understood and most highly appreciated.

Running Thoughts

• DeMaus
• So, the book is written by a mouse?
• Sophie to Bernice
• I got your copy.
• Is that an invasion of privacy?
• 1485, 1485, or 1491
• Is when Latimer was born.
• So, just before Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
• Along with letters (he's a university man), Latimer (henceforth, he) was trained as a bowman.
• I shall conjuncture that one of the many reasons for this (beyond more wages when called up) is that it kept him out of the infantry; and thus, he was more likely to survive any war.
• For this (among other reasons) I can conclude, he had a good, strong peasant father.
• His youth ends when he is forty years old.
• Wolsey was some bigwig.
• But seems to be a godly sort of guy.
• I see a cross link between the reformation and freedom.
• And by this, I chiefly mean the free expression of thought in capitalism.
  • Down with Patents!
  • Down with Copyrights!
  • Down with Government Sanctioned Benefits to the lucky few.
    • I'd say privileged few, but such a turn of phrase may connote merit, which is seldom the case.
• While I'm railing, I might as well say, 'Down with Rents!' as well.
• To bring the common man closer to God.
• No! Not just the common man, every man!
• Ah, heresy, that wonderful charge.
• Of which all thinking men are guilty.
• And only dolts are innocent.
• As Bishop, Latimer was raking in £1,000 a year.
• Which in the time of Darcy would well have been worth 'Over ten thousand a year.'
• With manors and at least one castle, to boot.
• Queen Mary is killed off...
• As a footnote to history.
• To everything there is a season.
• Even plague...
  • When in season.
• Plague Time is Praise Time.
• May 1^st
• May Day
• St. Phillip & St. James's Day
• Robin Hood's Day
• Beautiful omens...
• accompanied by ghastly death scenes.
• Tax exemption for religious enterprises holds back progress.
• Or so, the Reformers held.
  • They were right.
• Heresy, it would seem, was easy to recant.
• One had to stand firm to the gallows to be put to death.
• The penalty for holding divergent beliefs however, seemingly, minor?
• Death!
• Unless one is a professional philosopher.
  • A preacher or such.
  • Engaged to wrestle with such constructs.
  • All in all, it seems a bit harsh.
• And hypocrisy runs rampant.
• An Act for Abolishing Diversity of Opinion
• a.k.a. The Bloody Statues
• a.k.a. The Whip with Six Cords
• Latimer resigned his bishopric in response.
  • Thus, is it better to Rule in Dishonour?
    • Or watch, as others do so?
• Dissolution means to die.
• King Henry VIII was loved by many...
• Women.
• And subjects.
• He ruled.
• I don't know what else you want from a king.
• Quondam:
• Means in former times.
• As it used to be.
• In the days before Double Speak.
• When vocabulary was extensive.
• And writing was Double Plus Good
• The devil is a scoundrel.
• Mark my words.
• The devil is a scoundrel.
• Was he a man of his time?
• Or ahead of it?
• Bribery is not the only Evil.
• Sometimes, The Rule of Law is Evil Incarnate.
• He packed the house.
• As a prisoner, Latimer had intercourse with other prisoners.
• They exchanged letters.
• Geez!
• Get your head out of the gutter.
• Latimer's going to die!
• Latimer's going to die!
• Is it Christian to deny your enemies either Christ or Salvation?
• It seems a silly reason for which to give one's life.
• But how much did death take?
• How many years?
• Heresy is an odd crime.
• Religious Sedition!
• Intellectual Revolt!
• Gun powder for the neck.
• Die like a man.
• The one portrait makes the book 'illustrated'.

The Debriefing

Latimer was martyred (burned at the stake) for refusing to believe (or at least, give lip service to) the idea that the Body & Blood of Christ is physically present in the Sacramental Offering.

Is it a ritual? A custom?

Or is it magic? The hand of God?

Truly, a silly reason to die.

Whatever.

Yeah, I think that covers it. Perhaps the Constitution has replaced the Bible for me. But no. As much as I'd like to believe in the Constitution, I no longer believe many others do... and it's value has always lain in it's collective worship.

Random heresy aside, reading this old time book was fun. I got a taste of how (some) folks thought from a time before. I am sure I shall read another old book (really old book) before too terribly long.