That young people should occupy themselves with these new doctrines was conceivable, but that a doctor of divinity should do so--what a disgrace! Latimer therefore determined to attack Stafford. He insulted him[477]; he entreated the youth of Cambridge to abandon the professor and his heretical teaching; he attended the hall in which the doctor taught, made signs of impatience during the lesson, and cavilled at it after leaving the school. He even preached in public against the learned doctor. But it seemed to him that Cambridge and England were struck blind: true, the clergy approved of Latimer's proceedings--nay, praised them; and yet they did nothing. To console him, however, he was named cross-bearer to the university, and we have already seen him discharging this duty. [477] Most spitefully railing against him. Foxe, Acts, viii, p. 437. Latimer desired to show himself worthy of such an honour. He had left the students to attack Stafford; and he now left Stafford for a more illustrious adversary. But this attack led him to some one _that was stronger than he_. At the occasion of receiving the degree of bachelor of divinity he had to deliver a Latin discourse in the presence of the university; Latimer chose for his subject _Philip Melancthon and his doctrines_. Had not this daring heretic presumed to say quite recently that the fathers of the church have altered the sense of Scripture? Had he not asserted that, like those rocks whose various colours are imparted to the polypus which clings to them,[478] so the doctors of the church give each their own opinion in the passages they explain? And finally had he not discovered a new _touch-stone_ (it is thus he styles the Holy Scripture) by which we must test the sentences even of St. Thomas? [478] Ut polypus cuicunque petræ adhæserit, ejus colorem imitatur. (Corp. Ref. i, p. 114.) As the polypus resembles in colour the rock to which it clings. [Sidenote: LATIMER HEARS BILNEY'S CONFESSION.]