The humble cross in Broad Street in front of Balliol College, shown below, marks the spot where Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley and then later Thomas Cranmer were martyred during the reign of Queen Mary I of England (aka known as Bloody Mary).
The first time I visited, I did not have my camera with me, nor did I when I attended mass at St Mary Magdalen Church, which is nearby. On the third visit, the light was fading, and I feared the pictures might not come out well, but fortunately they did.
I concur with my friends on Facebook who say, the crude brick marker is a most solemn and sacred place. Quotes from friends on Facebook:
"I spent a long time there on the sidewalk meditating on the events commemorated by these markers. Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer. We owe them so, so much."
"For me, that little brick cross is the most solemn spot in Oxford."
"I've stood there too. It felt a most sacred spot."
"He was a great man, and a better poet. Such a shame that we have to kill so many of them for our mad illusions."
And me: "The Book of Common Prayer is a masterpiece."
John Foxe's account of the burning of Ridley and Latimer:
Dr. Ridley, the night before execution, was very facetious, had himself
shaved, and called his supper a marriage feast; he remarked upon seeing
Mrs. Irish (the keeper's wife) weep, "Though my breakfast will be
somewhat sharp, my supper will be more pleasant and sweet."
The place of death was on the northside of the town, opposite Baliol
College. Dr. Ridley was dressed in a black gown furred, and Mr. Latimer
had a long shroud on, hanging down to his feet. Dr. Ridley, as he passed
Bocardo, looked up to see Dr. Cranmer, but the latter was then engaged
in disputation with a friar. When they came to the stake, Mr. Ridley
embraced Latimer fervently, and bid him: "Be of good heart, brother, for
God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to
abide it." He then knelt by the stake, and after earnestly praying
together, they had a short private conversation. Dr. Smith then preached
a short sermon against the martyrs, who would have answered him, but
were prevented by Dr. Marshal, the vice-chancellor. Dr. Ridley then took
off his gown and tippet, and gave them to his brother-in-law, Mr.
Shipside. He gave away also many trifles to his weeping friends, and the
populace were anxious to get even a fragment of his garments. Mr.
Latimer gave nothing, and from the poverty of his garb, was soon
stripped to his shroud, and stood venerable and erect, fearless of
death.
Dr. Ridley being unclothed to his shirt, the smith placed an iron chain
about their waists, and Dr. Ridley bid him fasten it securely; his
brother having tied a bag of gunpowder about his neck, gave some also to
Mr. Latimer.
Dr. Ridley then requested of Lord Williams, of Fame, to advocate with
the queen the cause of some poor men to whom he had, when bishop,
granted leases, but which the present bishop refused to confirm. A
lighted fagot was now laid at Dr. Ridley's feet, which caused Mr.
Latimer to say: "Be of good cheer, Ridley; and play the man. We shall
this day, by God's grace, light up such a candle in England, as I trust,
will never be put out."
When Dr. Ridley saw the fire flaming up towards him, he cried with a
wonderful loud voice, "Lord, Lord, receive my spirit." Master Latimer,
crying as vehemently on the other side, "O Father of heaven, receive my
soul!" received the flame as it were embracing of it. After that he had
stroked his face with his hands, and as it were, bathed them a little in
the fire, he soon died (as it appeareth) with very little pain or none.
Well! dead they are, and the reward of this world they have already.
What reward remaineth for them in heaven, the day of the Lord's glory,
when he cometh with His saints, shall declare.
Thomas Cranmer's Recantacyons sermon before his execution:
Every man desireth, good
people, at the time of their deaths, to give some good exhortation that
others may remember after their deaths, and be the better thereby. So I
beseech God grant me grace, that I may speak something at this my
departing, whereby God may be glorified and you edified.
First, it is an heavy case to see that many folks be so much doted upon
the love of this false world, and so careful for it, that for the love
of God, or the love of the world to come, they seem to care very little
or nothing therefore. This shall be my first exhortation: That you set
not overmuch by this false glosing world, but upon God and the world to
come. And learn to know what this lesson meaneth, which St John
teacheth, that the love of this world is hatred against God.
The second exhortation is, that next unto God, you obey your king and
queen, willingly and gladly, without murmur and grudging. And not for
fear of them only, but much more for the fear of God: Knowing, that they
be God's ministers, appointed by God to rule and govern you. And
therefore whoso resisteth them, resisteth God's ordinance.
The third exhortation is, that you love all together like brethren and
sisters. For alas, pity it is to see, what contention and hatred one
Christian man hath to another; not taking each other, as sisters and
brothers; but rather as strangers and mortal enemies. But I pray you
learn and bear well away this one lesson, To do good to all men as much
as in you lieth, and to hurt no man, no more than you would hurt your
own natural and loving brother or sister. For this you may be sure of,
that whosoever hateth any person, and goeth about maliciously to hinder
or hurt him, surely, and without all doubt, God is not with that man,
although he think himself never so much in God's favour.
The fourth exhortation shall be to them that have great substance and
riches of this world, that they will well consider and weigh those
sayings of the Scripture. One is of our Saviour Christ himself, who
saith, It is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven; a sore saying, and yet spoke by him, that knew the truth. The second is of St John, whose saying is this, He
that hath the substance of this world, and seeth his brother in
necessity, and shutteth up his mercy from him, how can he say, he loveth
God? Much more might I speak of every part; but time sufficeth
not. I do but put you in remembrance of things. Let all them that be
rich, ponder well those sentences; for if ever they had any occasion to
shew their charity, they have now at this present, the poor people being
so many, and victuals so dear. For though I have been long in prison,
yet I have heard of the great penury of the poor. Consider, that that
which is given to the poor is given to God; whom we have not otherwise
present corporally with us, but in the poor.
And now forsomuch as I am come to the last end of my life, whereupon
hangeth all my life passed, and my life to come, either to live with my
Saviour Christ in heaven, in joy, or else to be in pain ever with wicked
devils in hell; and I see before mine eyes presently either heaven
ready to receive me, or hell ready to swallow me up; I shall therefore
declare unto you my very faith, how I believe, without colour or
dissimulation. For now is no time to dissemble, whatsoever I have
written in times past.
First, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and every article of the Catholic faith, every word and sentence
taught by our Saviour Christ, his Apostles and Prophets, in the Old and
New Testament.
And now I come to the great thing that troubleth my conscience more than
any other thing that ever I said or did in my life: and that is, the
setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth. Which here now I
renounce and refuse, as things written with my hand contrary to the
truth which I thought in my heart, and writ for fear of death, and to
save my life, if it might be: and that is, all such bills, which I have
written or signed with mine own hand, since my degradation; wherein I
have written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in
writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall first be punished.
For if I may come to the fire, it shall be first burned. And as for the
Pope, I refuse him, as Christ's enemy and antichrist, with all his
false doctrine.
An eye-witness account of Cranmer's execution by a Roman Catholic known only as J. A. is
here.
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Martyrs' Memorial
Intersection of St. Giles', Magdalen Street, and Beaumont Street
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i Abbey is home to a community of monks of the English Benedictine Congregation.
The monastery is under the patronage of St Edmund, King & Martyr, and was founded
in Paris in 1615. Uprooted by the French Revolution it came to settle at Douai in
Flanders. After more political turmoil the community of St Edmund finally returned
to England in 1903, to Woolhampton in Berkshire, at the invitation of the Bishop
of Portsmouth.
