AMONG many other worthy and sundry histories and notable acts of such, as of late days have been turmoiled, murdered, and martyred for the true Gospel of Christ in Queen Mary's reign, the tragical story and life of Dr. Ridley, I thought good to commend, to chronicle, and leave to perpetual memory: beseeching thee, gentle reader, with care and study well to peruse, diligently to consider, and deeply to print the same in thy breast, seeing him to be a man beautified with such excellent qualities, so ghostly inspired and godly learned, and now written doubtless in the book of life, with the blessed saints of the Almighty, crowned and throned amongst the glorious company of martyrs.

First, descending of a stock right worshipful, he was born in Northumberlandshire, who being a child, learned his grammar with great dexterity in Newcastle, and was removed from thence to the university of Cambridge, where he in a short space became so famous, that for his singular aptness he was called to higher functions and offices of the university, by degrees attaining thereunto, and was called to be the head of Pembroke Hall, and there made doctor of divinity. After this, departing from thence, he travelled to Paris, and at his return was made chaplain to King Henry the Eighth, and promoted afterwards by him to the bishopric of Rochester: and so

from thence translated to the see and bishopric of London in King Edward's days.

In which calling and offices he so travailed and occupied himself by preaching and teaching the true and wholesome doctrine of Christ, that never good child was more singularly loved of his dear parents, than he of his flock and diocese. Every holy day and Sunday he lightly preached in some one place or other, except he was otherwise letted by weighty affairs and business: to whose sermons the people resorted, swarming about him like bees, and coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome juice of the fruitful doctrine, which he did not only preach, but shewed the same by his life, as a glittering lantern to the eyes and senses of the blind, in such pure order and chastity of life (declining from evil desires and concupiscences), that even his very enemies could not reprove him in any one jot thereof.

Besides this, he was passingly well learned, his memory was great, and he of such reading withal,

The following anecdote is found in Rolt's Lives of the Reformers, p. 170: The King was under a visible decay, and Bishop Ridley preached before him towards the latter end of his sickness. The Bishop enlarged much in his sermon on the good effects of charity; and the King was so moved with what he said, that immediately after the sermon he sent for the Bishop, whom he commanded to sit down and be covered. His Majesty resumed the heads of the discourse, and said his lordship must give some directions how he might acquit himself of his duty. The Bishop, astonished at so much tenderness and sensibility in so young a prince, burst forth into tears, but desired time to consider of the particular channel, in which the royal charity should be directed; and that the King would give him leave to consult with the lord mayor and aldermen about it. His Majesty accordingly wrote them a letter by the Bishop, who returned to him with a scheme of three foundations; one for the sick and wounded, another for such as were wilfully idle or mad, and a third for orphans: and His Majesty endowed St. Bartholomew's hospital for the first, Bridewell for the second, and the Grey Friars church for the third,

that of right he deserved to be comparable to the best of this our age, as can testify, as well divers his notable works, pithy sermons, and sundry his disputations in both the universities, as also his very adversaries, all which will say no less themselves.

Besides all this, wise he was of counsel, deep of wit, and very politic in all his doings. How merciful and careful he was to reduce the obstinate Papists from their erroneous opinions, and by gentleness to win them to the truth, his gentle ordering, and courteous handling of Dr. Heath, late Archbishop of York, being prisoner with him in King Edward's time in the house one year, sufficiently declareth. In fine, he was such a prelate, and in all points so good, godly, and ghostly a man, that England may justly rue the loss of so worthy a treasure..

Now will I speak something further particularly of his person and conditions. He was a man right comely and well proportioned in all points, both in complexion and lineaments of the body. He took all things in good part, bearing no malice nor rancour in his heart, but straightways forgetting all injuries and offences done against him. He was very kind and natural to his kinsfolks, and yet not bearing with them any thing otherwise, than right would require, giving them always for a general rule (yea, to his own brother and sister), that they, doing evil, should seek or look for nothing at his hand, but should be as strangers and aliens unto him, and that they should be his brothers or sisters, which used honesty and a godly trade of life.

He used all kinds of ways to mortify himself, was given unto much prayer and contemplation: for duly every morning, so soon as his apparel was done upon him, he went forthwith to his bed-chamber, and there upon his knees prayed the space of half an hour; which being done, immediately he went

to his study (if there came no other business to interrupt him), where he continued till ten of the clock, and then came to common prayer, daily used in his house. The prayers being done, he went to dinner, where he used little talk, except otherwise occasion by some had been ministered, and then was it sober, discreet, and wise, and sometime merry, as cause required.

The dinner done, which was not very long, he used to sit an hour, or thereabouts, talking or playing at chess that done, he returned to his study, and there would continue, except suitors or business abroad were occasion of the contrary, until five of the clock at night, and then would come to common prayer, as in the forenoon: which being finished, he went to supper, behaving himself there, as at his dinner before: after supper, he recreated himself in playing at chess the space of an hour, he would then return again to his study, continuing there till eleven of the clock at night, which was his common hour to go to bed, then saying his prayer upon his knees, as in the morning when he rose.

Being at his manor of Fulham, as divers times he used to be, he read daily a lecture to his family at the common prayer, beginning at the Acts of the Apostles, and so going throughout all the Epistles of St.. Paul, giving to every man, that could read, a New Testament, hiring them besides with money to learn by heart certain principal chapters, but especially the 13th chapter of the Acts, reading also unto his household oftentimes the 101st Psalm, being marvellous careful over his family, that they might be a spectacle of all virtue and honesty to others. To be short, as he was godly and virtuous himself, so nothing but virtue and godliness reigned in his house, feeding them with the food of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Now remaineth a word or two to be declared of his gentle nature and kindly pity in the usage of an old woman, called Mistress Bonner, mother to Dr. Bonner, sometime Bishop of London: which I thought good to touch, as well for the rare clemency of Dr. Ridley, as the unworthy immanity and ingrateful disposition again of Dr. Bonner. Bishop Ridley being at his manor at Fulham, always sent for the said Mistress Bonner, dwelling in an house adjoining to his house, to dinner and supper, with one Mrs. Mungey, Bonner's sister, saying: "Go for my mother Bonner," who, coming, was ever placed in the chair at the table's end, being so gently entreated, well commended, and taken, as though he had been born of her own body, being never displaced of her seat, although the king's council had been present, saying, when any of them were there (as divers times they were), By your lordships' favour, this place of right and custom is for my mother Bonner."

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But how well he was recompensed for this his singular gentleness and pitiful pity after at the hands of the said Dr. Bonner, almost the least child that goeth by the ground can declare. For who afterwards was more enemy to Ridley than Bonner and his? Who more went abroad to seek his destruction than he? recompensing his gentleness with extreme cruelty. As well appeared by the strait handling of Ridley's own natural sister, and George Shipside, her husband, from time to time: whereas the gentleness of the other did suffer Bonner's mother, sister, and others his kindred, not only quietly to enjoy all that, which they had of Bonner, but also entertained them in his house, shewing much courtesy and friendship daily unto them: whereas on the other side, Bishop Bonner being restored again, would not suffer the brother and natural sister of