Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

appointing him cross-bearer to the university.[1]
The young priest strode on before the doctors,
bearing aloft the sacred symbol, with an air that
showed how proud he was of his office. He
signalized the taking of his degree as Bachelor of
Divinity, by delivering a violent Latin discourse
against Philip Melancthon and his doctrines.
But there was one who had once been as great a
zealot as himself, who was watching his career
with deep anxiety, not unmingled with hope, and
was even then searching in his quiver for the arrow
that should bring down this strong man. This was
Bilney. After repeated failures he found at last the
shaft that, piercing Latimer's armor, made its way
to his heart. "For the love of God," said Bilney to
him one day, "be pleased to hear my
confession."[2] It was a recantation of his
Lutheranism, doubtless thought Latimer, that was
to be poured into his ear. Bilney dropped on his
knees before Latimer, and beginning his
confession, he unfolded his former anguish, his
long but fruitless efforts for relief, his peace at last,
not in the works prescribed by the Church, but in
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