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

arrived from Wolsey to stop proceedings. The
Papal chair had again become vacant, and Wolsey
was of opinion, perhaps, that to light martyr-fires at
that moment in England would not tend to further
his election: as a consequence, the disciples had a
breathing-space. This tranquil period was diligently
improved. Bilney visited the poor at their own
homes, Stafford redoubled his zeal in teaching, and
Latimer waxed every day more bold and eloquent
in the pulpit. Knowing on what task Tyndale was at
this time engaged, Latimer took care to insist with
special emphasis on the duty of reading the Word
of God in one's mother tongue, if one would avoid
the snares of the false teacher.
Larger congregations gathered round Latimer's
pulpit every day. The audience was not an unmixed
one; all in it did not listen with the same feelings.
The majority hung upon the lips of the preacher,
and drank in his words, as men athirst do the cup of
cold water; but here and there dark faces, and eyes
burning with anger, showed that all did not relish
the doctrine. The dullest among the priesthood
could see that the Gospel of a free forgiveness
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