Katherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk escaped England, leaving her home, the Barbican in London by barge to rendezvous with her second husband Richard Bertie in Gravesend. From Gravesend, they took a ship bound for the Low Countries, traveling by road from Antwerp to the Duchy of Brabant. 

Katherine Brandon, Baroness Willoughby, was the only surviving child of Baron Willoughby and his Spanish bride Maria de Salinas. Maria was the chief lady in waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon and her closest friend. Katherine inherited the Barony on her father’s death and was shortly after married to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Brandon was King Henry VIII’s oldest and closest friend. When they married Katherine was 14 and Brandon was 49, thrice married, with children from his previous marriages. 

While it is unclear when Katherine was introduced to Protestantism it most likely took place after the death of her mother who was both an ardent Catholic and a vehement supporter of Queen Katherine. After the death of Charles Brandon, Katherine lost both her sons as well. During her bereavement, her spiritual experience deepened. She married her steward Richard Bertie, causing a scandal at court because of the disparity in their social statuses. 

When Queen Mary ascended to the throne Katherine came under the security of Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, ardent Catholic, and her old nemesis. Now that the tables had turned, and his faction was in power Gardiner began to plot Katherine’s demise. Sensing that he would ultimately prevail Katherine and Richard escaped England along with countless other Protestant refugees. They lived in Braband, Cleves, and finally in Poland before making their way back to England following the accession of Elizabeth I. 

On the 16th of October 1555, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were martyred. They were burned in a ditch not far from Balliol College Oxford. Today the spot is marked with a cobbled cross on Broad Street in Oxford. 

A raised covered platform set up opposite the college housed Lord William of Thame who had been commanded by the queen to preside over the execution. Townspeople gathered around the site of the burning, while vendors hawked their wares. Public burnings were a source of entertainment for the English commons in the early modern period. 

Ridley was brought out first looking nothing like a man being led to die. He wore a furred black gown with a bishop’s tuppet on his head. He approached the site of execution with ease, peace radiating from him. He mounted the platform where the stake had been set then turned to watch the guards bring in Hugh Latimer. Latimer didn’t look as peaceful as Ridley, nor was he dressed as finely. He wore an old gown of Bristol frieze, shabby with use, and his large skull cap was buttoned beneath his chin. His frail appearance brought tears to the eyes of the women in the crowd.

When Latimer neared Ridley is reported to have shouted “Well, you’re here at last Master Latimer”. Latimer smiled, then reached up his hand for help mounting the platform, replying, “I’ve followed you as closely as I can.”

When Latimer had mounted the platform Ridley embraced him, clasped his arm, and said “Be of good heart brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame or else strengthen us to bear it.” The two men then dropped to their knees and prayed together  Just before the burning began they were asked if they would recant a final time, a request they both declined. 

The commissioner then gave a signal to the men who had been engaged to perform the burning. While some of them began stacking firewood, another tied Latimer and Ridley to the stake facing away from each other. When the kindling and firewood was laid at their feet Latimer cried out, “Be of good comfort Master Ridley, and play the man. For we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.” 

They were brave words, when bravery must surely have been in short supply. They were also fighting words when all the fight was about to be burned out of them. Yet they were words that reached out to the crowd around them. After Latimer and Ridley burned the tide of public opinion turned against the queen. Common people could hardly believe that she would burn an aged man like Latimer who apparently posed no threat to the security of the realm.