INTRODUCTION.
Hugh Latimer, a farmer\'s son, was born about the year 1491, at
Thurcaston, in Leicestershire. He was an only son, with six sisters, who
were all well cared for at home. He was a boy of fourteen when sent to
Clare College, Cambridge. When about twenty- four years old, he had
obtained a college fellowship, had taken the degree of Master of Arts, and
was ordained Priest of the Roman Church at Lincoln. In 1524, at the age
of about thirty, he proceeded to the degree of B.D., and on the occasion of
his doing so he argued publicly for the Pope\'s authority against opinions of
Melancthon. Thomas Bilney went afterwards to Latimer\'s rooms, gave
him his own reasons for goodwill to the teaching of Melancthon, and
explained to him his faith as a Reformer in a way that secured Latimer\'s
attention. Latimer\'s free, vigorous mind, admitted the new reasonings,
and in his after-life he looked always upon "little Bilney" as the man who
had first opened his eyes.