ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS 67
The Cobbler and the Saint
This story was told by Hugh Latimer,
who was burned at the stake for his faith.
ST ANTHONY, being in the wilderness, led there a very hard and
strict life, insomuch as none at that time did the like. To whom
came a voice from heaven, saying, " Anthony, thou art not so perfect
as is a cobbler that dwelleth at Alexandria."
Anthony, hearing this, rose up forthwith, took his staff, and
travelled till he came to Alexandria, where he found the cobbler.
The cobbler was astonished to see so reverend a father come to his
house. Then Anthony said unto him, " Come and tell me thy whole
conversation and how thou spendest thy time."
" Sir (said the cobbler), as for me, good works have I none, for
my life is but simple and slender. I am but a poor cobbler. In the
morning when I rise I pray for the whole city wherein I dwell,
especially for all such neighbours and poor friends as I have. After, I
set at my labour, where I spend the whole day in getting my living.
And I keep me from all falsehood, for I hate nothing so much as I do
deceitfulness ; wherefore when I make any man a promise I keep it
and perform it truly. And thus I spend my time poorly, with my
wife and children, whom I teach, as far as my wit will serve me, to fear
God. And this is the sum of my simple life."
St Anthony, who lived in a ruin at the top of a hill in a wilderness,
was over a hundred years old when he died. But who did more work for
the world, we may wonder, the busy cobbler making shoes or the idle saint
reflecting on his ruined hill ?
The Yeoman On His Farm
My father was a yeoman and had no lands of his own, only he had
a farm of three or four pound by year at the uttermost, and
hereupon he filled so much as kept half a dozen men.
He had walk for a hundred sheep, and my mother milked thirty
kine. He washable, and did find the king a harness, with himself and
his horse, while he came to the place that he should receive the king's
wages. I can remember that I buckled his harness when he went into
Blackheath field. He kept me at school or else I had not been able
to have preached before the king's majesty now. He married my
sisters with five pound apiece, so that he brought them up in godliness
and fear of God. He kept hospitality for his poor neighbours, and
some alms he gave to the poor.
All this he did of the said farm, where he that now hath it payeth
sixteen pound by year or more and is not able to do anything for his
prince, nor himself, nor for his children, or give a cup of drink to
the poor. Hugh Latimer