The anointing is what gave courage to the Marian martyrs. During the reign of Mary Tudor (“Bloody Mary”, who reigned 1553-58) men gave their lives for their faith. As the flames came up over the bodies of Bishop Hugh Latimer and the young Bishop Nicholas Ridley, Latimer shouted back to Ridley, “Fear not, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle in England that I trust shall never be put out.” A year later the martyr John Bradford could say to his friend as the flames were about to encircle their bodies, “Be of good cheer, brother, we shall have a merry supper with
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