Courage and cowardice can exist in the same person. I can attest to it. I alternate between a wimp and having a brave heart. I recognize a similar tendency in Thomas Cranmer (1489-1566), a leader in the Protestant Reformation. He orchestrated the writing of the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, still the primary worship resource for Anglican churches.
Under pressure from Queen Mary’s henchmen, Cranmer signed a statement renouncing many of the Protestant convictions that had defined his ministry. The queen (Bloody Mary) wanted him dead but first wanted him to announce his recantation publicly, from which purpose he was led from the prison to St. Mary’s Church. He carried the script of his approved remarks yet also tucked a revised speech in the lining of his coat. He began as expected but deviated to read from his revised speech and renounce his earlier recantations: “I come to the great thing that troubles my conscience more than any other thing that I ever said or did in my life: and that is, the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth, which here now I renounce and refuse, as things written with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart, written for fear of death, and to save my life.” He said further if he should be burned at the stake, his right hand would the first to be destroyed, since it had signed his recantation. Then, for good measure, he renounced the pope.
His enemies rushed forward, carried him away, and burned him at the stake. He offered his right hand to the flames with the words, “the hand hath offended” and prayed at the last, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” It was courage when it counted. We join together in a prayer of confession from the Book of Common Prayer which Thomas edited: