His companion, Latimer, before he removed his prison dress, looked like a withered and bent old man, but afterwards appeared quite changed, and stood upright, “as comely a father as one might lightly behold.”  He distributed several small articles he had about him amongst his friends who stood near him, and said, “Well, there is nothing hid but it shall be opened”—­a remark he had often made before—­and then he prayed aloud to the Almighty, concluding with the words, “I beseech Thee, Lord God, take mercy on this realm of England, and deliver the same from all her enemies.”

[Illustration:  THE BURNING OF RIDLEY AND LATIMER.]

After embracing each other they were chained to the stakes, and the faggots of wood piled around them, while a brother-in-law tied a bag of gunpowder round Ridley’s neck.  As the fires were being lighted, the brave old Latimer uttered these memorable words: 

“Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man!  We shall this day light such a candle in England as I trust shall never be put out!”

He then received the flame in his hands, as if embracing it, and, stroking his face with it, died apparently without pain.

Ridley lived longer, but when the powder exploded, he fell dead at Latimer’s feet.  Latimer had often prayed during his imprisonment that he might shed his heart’s blood for the truth, and that God would restore His gospel to England, and preserve the Lady Elizabeth.  As his body was consumed, the bystanders were astonished at the quantity of blood that gushed from his heart.  His words proved to be prophetic, for the fires of the martyrs restored the light to their country, and spread like wildfire throughout the land, carrying all before them.  How strong must have been their belief when, with the offer of life held out to them, they elected to die for the faith “which is in Christ Jesus.”

Cranmer had signed a recantation and was brought to St. Mary’s Church to proclaim his adhesion to the Roman faith, but instead of doing so, he created a great sensation by boldly repudiating all he had said in favour of Romish assumption.  He said it was contrary to the truth; and “as for the Pope,” he continued.  “I refuse him as anti-Christ.”  A great uproar followed.  The preacher shouted, “Stop the heretic’s mouth!” and Cranmer was immediately led out to be burnt, suffering death on that same day, March 21, 1556.  A portion of the stake to which he was fastened and the band of iron which was placed round his waist were still preserved at Oxford.

Mary, who was Queen of England at that time, was a zealous Roman Catholic, and the Reformers were looked upon as heretics, and punished accordingly.  So many of them were executed during her reign, that she became known to history as “Bloody Mary.”  Her sister Elizabeth was known to favour the Protestants, and as she would follow as Queen of England, her life was often in danger.  It was for her preservation