“To the abiding firm,” said he, “yea, firm as the Mount Zion, that standeth fast for ever. For the suffering, it seemed me that my dear master suffered nothing at all, but with Dr Ridley (I sorrow to say it) it was far otherwise. But hearken, and you shall wit all.
“The night afore they suffered, Dr Ridley was very pleasant at supper, and bade them all that were at the table to his wedding; ‘for,’ saith he, ‘I must be married to-morrow. And though my breakfast be somewhat sharp and painful, yet I am sure my supper shall be more pleasant and sweet.’ Then saith Mr Shipside, his brother (Note 1), ‘I will bide with you this night.’ ‘Nay,’ answered he, ‘not so, for I mean to go to bed, and sleep as quietly as ever I did in my life.’
“The stake was made ready on the north side of the town, in the town-ditch, over against Balliol College; and my Lord Williams of Thame had the ordering thereof. As Dr Ridley passed Bocardo, he looked up, thinking to have seen my Lord Archbishop at the glass-window; but they had provided against that, by busying him in disputation with a Spanish friar. Then Dr Ridley, looking back, espied my master coming after. ‘Oh!’ saith he, ‘be you there?’—‘Yea,’ saith my master; ‘have after as fast as I can follow.’ So when they came to the stake, Dr Ridley embraced him, saying, ‘Brother, be of good heart, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.’ Then they knelt and prayed; and after, talked a little to each other, but what they said none heard. Dr Smith (Robert Smith, a renegade from Lutheranism) preached the sermon, from ‘Though I give my body to be burned,’ and so forth, but his discourse lasted but a few minutes, and was nought save railing against heretics. Then Dr Ridley entreated of my Lord Williams leave of speech; which he would have given, but Mr Vice-Chancellor and the bailiffs would not suffer it, only that they might speak if they would recant, Dr Ridley cried then, ‘I will never deny my Lord Christ!’ and arising from his knees, he cried again with a loud voice, ‘Well, then, I commit our cause to Almighty God, who shall indifferently judge all.’ Whereto my master added his old posy (motto, maxim), ‘Well, there is nothing hid but it shall be opened.’ So that after they made them ready, and were fastened to the stake; and Mr Shipside brought two bags of gunpowder and tied around their necks. Then they brought a lighted faggot, and laid it at Dr Ridley’s feet. Then said my master, ‘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.’
“When Dr Ridley saw the fire flaming up towards him, he cried, with a wondrous loud voice, ‘Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit!’ And oft afterwards, ‘Lord, Lord, receive my spirit!’ My master, on the other side, did as vehemently cry, ‘O Father of Heaven, receive my soul!’ Who (Latimer) received the flame as it were embracing it, and after he had stroked his face, and bathed his hands a little in the fire, soon died, to the sight of all present having no pain. Dr Ridley’s suffering, on the contrary side, was fearful, and only to compare with Bishop Hooper. Ask me not to say more touching it. But at last the flame reached the gunpowder, and after that he was seen to stir no more, only to fall down at Mr Latimer’s feet. I will but say more, that hundreds of them which saw the sight shed tears thereover.”
No one spoke when Austin ended.
At last, John said softly, “‘Never to be put out!’ Lord, grant this word of Thy martyr, and let that bright lamp lighted unto Thee give light for ever!”
Three hundred years have run out since that dread October day, when the candle was lighted at Oxford which should never be put out. And put out it has never been. Satan and all his angels may blow against it, but God holds it in the hollow of His hand, and there it is safe.
Yet there is a word of warning, as well as a word of hope. To the Church at Ephesus saith our Lord, “I know thy works,”—yea, “and thy labour,”—yea, “and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.” Can more than this be said to our Church? Nay, can all this be said to her? God grant it. “Nevertheless”—nevertheless!—“I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” O Lord, how tenderly Thou dealest! Not “left thy love:” it was not so bad as that. Yet see how He notes the leaving of the first love! A little colder; a little deader; a little less ready to put on the coat, to defile the feet, to rise and open to the Beloved. Only a little; but how that little grieves His heart, who hath never left His first love. And what is the end? “I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
“O earth,” and O England, “hear the word of the Lord!” Art thou yet warm in thy first love? Has there been no looking back to Sodom, no longing for the flesh-pots of Egypt, no eyes wandering toward the house of Baal? God grant that thou mayest not lose thy candle! It was wrought of blood and in tears: is it a light thing that thou shouldst let it be put out?
One night in November came in Mr Underhill, and an hour after him, Mr Ferris.