And in saying of these words they put on the said Dr. Ridley the surplice, with all the trinkets appertaining to the mass; and as they were putting on the same, Dr. Ridley did vehemently inveigh against the Romish Bishop and all that foolish apparel, calling him antichrist, and the apparel foolish and abominable, yea, too fond for a vice* in a play, insomuch that Brook was exceeding angry with him, and bade him hold his peace, for he did but rail. Dr. Ridley answered again, and said, so long as his tongue and breath would suffer him, he would speak against their abominable doings, whatsoever happened unto him for so doing.

Brook. Well, you were best to hold your peace, lest your mouth be stopped.

At which words one Edridge, the reader then of the Greek lecture, standing by, said to Dr. Brook, "Sir, the law is, he should be gagged, therefore let him be gagged." At which words Dr. Ridley looking earnestly upon him that so said, wagged his head at him, and made no answer again, but with a sigh said, "Oh, well, well, well."

So they proceeded in their doings, yet nevertheless Dr. Ridley was ever talking things not pleasant to their ears, although one or other bade him hold his peace, lest he should be caused against his will.

When, as they came to that place where Dr. Ridley should hold the chalice and the wafer cake (called the singing bread), they bade him hold the same in his hand. And Dr. Ridley said, " They shall not come in my hands, for if they do, they shall fall to the ground for all me." Then there was one appointed to hold them in his hand, while Bishop Brook read a certain thing in Latin, touching

* A joster.

the degradation of spiritual persons, according to the Pope's law.

Afterwards they put a book in his hand, and withal read (as it is before said) a certain thing in Latin, the effect thereof was, "We do take from you the office of preaching the gospel, &c." At which words, Dr. Ridley gave a great sigh, looking up towards heaven, saying, "O Lord God, forgive them for this their wickedness."

And as they put upon him the mass gear, so they began with the uppermost garment, in taking it away again, reading a thing in Latin, according to the order contained in the said book of the Pope's law. Now when all was taken from him, saving only the surplice left on his back, as they were reading and taking it away, Dr. Ridley said unto them: "Lord God, what power be you of, that you can take from a man that which he never had? I was never singer in all my life, and yet you will take from me, that which I never had."

you

So when all this, their abominable and ridiculous degradation was ended very solemnly, Dr. Ridley said unto Dr. Brook, "Have you done? If have done, then give me leave to talk with you a little concerning these matters." Brook answered and said: "Master Ridley, we may not talk with you, you be out of the church, and our law is, that we may not talk with any that be out of the church." Then Master Ridley said: "Seeing that you will not suffer me to talk, neither will vouchsafe to hear me, what remedy, but patience? I refer my cause to my heavenly Father, who will reform things that be amiss, when it shall please him."

At which words they would have been gone, but that Master Ridley said: "My Lord, I would wish that your Lordship would vouchsafe to read over and peruse a little book of Bertram's doing concerning

the sacrament; I promise you, you shall find much good learning therein, if you will read the same with an indifferent judgment." Dr. Brook made no answer to this, but would have been gone away. Then Master Ridley said: "Oh, I perceive, that you cannot away with this manner of talk. Well, it boots not, I will say no more, I will speak of worldly affairs. I pray you therefore, my Lord, hear me, and be a mean to the Queen's Majesty, in the behalf of a great many poor men, and especially for my poor sister and her husband, which stand there. They had a poor living granted unto them by me, whilst I was in the See of London, and the same is taken away from them, by him that now Occupieth the same room, without all law or con

science.

"Here I have a supplication to the Queen's Majesty in their behalf. You shall hear the same read, so shall you perceive the matter the better." Then he read the same, and when he came to the place in the supplication, that touched his sister by name, then he wept, so that for a little space he could not speak for weeping. After that he had left off weeping, he said: "This is nature that moveth me. But I have now done:" and with that read out the rest, and delivered the same to his brother, commanding him to put it up to the Queen's Majesty, and to sue, not only for himself, but also for such as had any leases or grants by him, and were put from the same by Dr. Bonner, then Bishop of London; whereunto Brook said: "Indeed, Master Ridley, your request in this supplication is very lawful and honest: therefore I must needs in con science speak to the Queen's Majesty for them."

Ridley. I pray you, for God's sake, do so.

Brook. I think your request will be granted, except one thing let it, and that is (I fear) because

you do not allow the Queen's proceedings, but obstinately withstand the same, that it will hardly be granted.

Ridley. What remedy? I can do no more, but speak and write: I trust I have discharged my conscience therein, and God's will be done.

Brook. I will do what lieth in me.

This degradation being past, and all things finished, Dr. Brook called the bailiffs, delivering to them Master Ridley with this charge, to keep him safely from any man speaking with him, and that he should be brought to the place of execution, when they were commanded. Then Master Ridley in praising God burst out with these words, and said: "God, I thank thee, and to thy praise be it spoken, there is none of you all able to lay to my charge any open or notorious crime: for if you could, it should be surely laid in my lap, I see very well." Whereunto Brook said, he played the part of a proud pharisee, exalting and praising himself.

But Master Ridley said: " No, no, no, as I have said before, to God's glory be it spoken. I confess myself to be a miserable wretched sinner, and have great need of God's help and mercy, and do daily call and cry for the same: therefore, I pray you, have no such opinion of me." Then they departed, and in going away, a certain warden of a college, of whose name I am not very sure, bade Dr. Ridley repent him, and forsake that erroneous opinion. Whereunto Dr. Ridley said: "Sir, repent you, for you are out of the truth: and I pray God (if it be his blessed will) have mercy upon you, and grant you the understanding of his word." Then the warden, being in a chafe thereat, said: "I trust, that I shall never be of your erroneous and devilish ⚫pinion, neither yet to be in that place whither you

shall go.
He is," saith he, "the most obstinate and
wilfullest man that I ever heard talk since I was
born."

The night before he suffered, his beard was washed, and his legs; and as he sat at supper the same night at Mr. Irish's (who was his keeper), he bade his hostess and the rest at the board to his marriage: for, saith he, "To-morrow I shall be married:" and so shewed himself to be as merry as ever he was at any time before. And wishing his sister at his. marriage, he asked his brother sitting at the table, whether she could find in her heart to be there or no; and he answered," Yea, I dare say, with all her heart" at which word he said, he was glad to hear of her so much therein. So at this talk Mrs. Irish wept.

But Dr. Ridley comforted her, and said: "Oh, Mrs. Irish, you love me not now, I see, well enough. For in that you weep, it doth appear, you will not be at my marriage, neither are content therewith. Indeed you be not so much my friend, as I thought you had been but quiet yourself; though my breakfast shall be somewhat sharp and painful, yet I am sure, my supper shall be more pleasant and sweet, &c." When they arose from the table, his brother offered him to watch all night with him. But he said, No, no, that you shall not. For I mind (God willing) to go to bed, and to sleep as quietly to-night as ever I did in my life." So his brother departed, exhorting him to be of good cheer, and to take his cross quietly, for the reward was great.

66

The reader is here referred to the Second Volume of "The Fathers of the English Church," at page 412, for the account of the death of the Bishops La