Bishop Hugh Latimer was martyred in 1555. After being sentenced to death for his convictions, he wrote an open letter in which he declared, “Let us consider all the dear friends of God, how they have gone after the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ; whose footsteps let us also follow, even to the gallows if God’s will be so.”

A short time later, he and his friend Nicholas Ridley were tied to a stake. As the leaping flames began to touch their bodies, Latimer called out, “Be of good cheer, Brother Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out!”