2-969-975 - /Heritage Images

"The Martyrdom of Ridley and Latimer", painted by Sir George Hayter, M.A.S.L. - from the Exhibition of the British Institution, 1856. 'This scene took place on the 16th of October, 1555...in front of Balliol College, Oxford; when the Martyrs, Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, were taken from their prison, the Bocardo, to the place of suffering...Ridley...earnestly looking towards heaven, and upon seeing Latimer near him ran to him, embraced, and kindly kissed him...Ridley saying, "Be of good cheer, brother, for God will assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it."...occupying the centre of the group on the right, is seen Lord Williams of Tame...reading aloud, the commission from the Crown for the execution...Although the imaginative powers of the painter will be greatly admired in the composition...the fidelity of the accessories greatly enhances its value as a representation of the terrible event'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.