Outlines of Church History

The Pope began to constrict the noose around the Reformers, but as he tightened it, the Reformer's resisted.  They published new books, and made much headway, especially in England. The Pope fought back with burnings. Identifying a popular reformer, they persuaded him to recant his teachings. He did so, but then took it back, and when they were about to burn him he stuck the hand that had signed in the fire first, declaring that the hand was unworthy.