In 1554. Ridley, Cranmer, and Latimer were sent to Oxford to hold public disputations with the Papists. 1555. Ridley was brought to the stake and burnt as a heretic by the Papists. A TREATISE OR LETTER OF BISHOP RIDLEY, Which he wrote at his last Farewell to all his true and faithful Friends in God a little before he suffered: with a sharp Admonition, by the way, to the Papists, the Enemies of Truth. Ar the name of Jesus, let every knee bow, both of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, and let every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is the Lord, unto the glory of God the Father. Amen. As a man, minding to take a far journey, and to depart from his familiar friends, cominonly and naturally hath a desire to bid his friends farewell before his departure: so likewise, now I, looking daily when I should be called for to depart hence from you (O! all ye, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters in our Saviour Christ, that dwell here in this world), having a like mind towards you all, and also blessed be God for this such time and leisure whereof right heartily I thank his heavenly goodness: do bid you all, my dear brethren and sisters (I say) in Christ, that dwell upon the earth, after such manner as I can, farewell. Farewell, my dear brother George Shipside: whom I have ever found faithful, trusty, and loving in all states and conditions, and now in the time of my cross, over all others to me inost friendly and stedfast, and that which liked me best, over all other things in God's cause ever hearty. 4. Farewell, my dear sister Alice, his wife: I am glad to hear of thee, that thou dost take Christ's cross, which is laid now (blessed be God) both on thy back and mine, in good part. Thank thou God, who hath given thee a godly and loving husband: see thou honour him, and obey him according to God's law. Honour thy mother-in-law, his mother, and love all those that pertain unto him, being ready to do them good, as it shall lie in thy power. As for thy children, I doubt not of thy husband, but that he, which hath given him a heart to love and fear God, and in God them that pertain unto him, shall also make him friendly and beneficial unto thy children, even as if they had been gotten of his own body. Farewell, my well-beloved brother, John Ridley, of the Waltown, and you, my gentle and loving sister Elizabeth: whom, besides the natural league of amity, your tender love, which you were said ever to bear towards me above the rest of your brethren, doth bind me to love. My mind was to have acknowledged this your loving affection, and to have acquitted it with deeds, and not with words alone. Your daughter Elizabeth I hid farewell, whom I love for the meek and gentle spirit that God hath given her, which is a precious thing in the sight of God. Farewell, my beloved sister, of Unthanke, with all your children, my nephews and nieces. Since the departure of my brother Hugh, my mind was to have been unto them in the stead of their father: but the Lord God must and will be their father, if they will love him, and fear him, and live in the trade of his law. Farewell, my well-beloved and worshipful cousins, Master Nicholas Ridley of Wyllimountswick and your wife; and I thank you for all your kindness |