The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Nicholas Ridley
NICHOL: RIDLEY
The Life of Nicolas Ridley, who died Ano Christi 1555.
NIcholas Ridley was borne in Northumberland of worshipfull parents,His birth and education. and bred at School in Newcastle, and from thence sent to Cambridge, where he grew so famous for his learning,His preferment in Cambridge. that after diverse other offices whereunto he was called in the University, hee was chosen Master of Pembroke-Hall, and made Doctor in Divinity. From thence he was called by Arch-Bishop Cranmer to be Vicar of Herne in East-Kent, His remove into Kent.where he was a fruitfull and painful Preacher, at which time it pleased God to reveal to him the true doctrine concerning the Lords Supper; and amongst others to convert by his Ministry the Lady Phines, who proved an eminent instrument of Gods glory. After a while he was made a Prebend of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury; but not liking his society there, he travelled into France, and at his returne was made Chaplaine to King Henry the Eighth, and Bishop of Rochester, His preferments.and from thence (in Edward the sixth dayes) he was removed to be Bishop of London; Preachers pattern.In which places hee took so great pains in preaching, that he was dearly beloved of his flock, to whom also he was singularly exemplary in his life; so that his very enemies had nothing to say against him. Every Sabbath, and holiday he preached in one place, or other, except extraordinary occasions hindred him; and to his Sermons multitudes of people resorted, swarming about him like bees to gather the sweet flowers, and wholsom juice of his fruitfull doctrine. He was passingly well learned, and of such reading, that he deserved to be numbred amongst the greatest Schollars that these latter ages produced, as appeared by his notable works, pithie Sermons, and sundry disputations in bo… Universities, which drew an acknowledgment of his learning from his very adversaries. He was of a strong memory and of great reading, of a deep wit,His Character. very judicious, an… very mercifull. He was of person right comely, and well proportioned in all points, both in complexion and line… ments of his body; He was free from malice, and soon forgat all injuries and offences done against him; very kinde to his kindred; yet withall telling them,Note. that if they did evill, they should look for nothing from him, bu… should be as strangers to him. He used all meanes to mortifie his flesh; being much in prayer, and contemplation; was sober in discourse, and sometimes merry at meals, after which he used to play at Chess about an hour,His recreation and then returned to his study till five a clock at night, when coming down, he had prayers in his family, then went to Supper, then plaid a game at Chess, and so returned to his study till eleven a clock at night.His Family government. His manner was daily to read a Lecture to his Family at prayer-time, giving to every one that could read a new Testament, and hiring them with mony to learn Chapters by heart, being marvellous carefull that his family might give an example of godliness and virtue to others. He called Bishop Bonners mother, his Mother, and when he was at Fulham, had her constantly at meals with him, setting her at the upper-end of the Table, who ever was present. And as he was godly himself, so nothing appeared in his family, but vertue, and godliness. He was first converted by reading Bertrams Book of the Sacrament,His conversion and much confirmed by conference with D. Cranmer, & Peter martyr. In the beginning of Q. Marie's days, he was imprisoned with the first, first in the Tower,His imprisonment. and from thence he was sent to Oxford with Cranmer, and Latimer, and there kept in the common Goal,He is sent to Oxford. till at length being severed from his brethren, he was committed to the custodie of one Irish, with whom he remained till the day of his death, which was Octob. 16. an. Christi 1555. Writing to Latimer in prison he saith,Note. I pray you good father, let me have something more from you to comfort my stomach, for except the Lord assist me in his service, I shall p…ay but the part of a white-liver'd Knight; but he can make a coward in his cause to fight like a man. Charity to Christ's prisoners.In a Leter to M. Bradford he saith, As far as London is from Oxford, yet thence we have received both meat, mony, and shirts, not onelyonly from our acquaintance, but from some strangers also. I know for whole sake they doe it, &c. And again▪ Ever since I heard of our dear brother Rogers his stout confession▪ and departing (blessed be God for it) I never felt any …mpish heavines in my heart, as sometimes I did before.Note. And again, Sir, Blessed be God, notwithstanding our hard restraint, and the evil reports raised of us, we are m…rry in God, and all our care is, and shall be (by Gods grace to please and serve him, from whom w… expect, after these temporary, and moment any miseries, to have eter…al …oy, and perpetual felicity▪ with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, &c. As yet never a learned man, scholer or other, hath visited us since our coming to Bocardo, which now may be called the Colledge of Quond…ms; for we be no fewer then three, and I dare say every one well contented with his portion, which is our heavenly fathers good and gracious gift. Farewell, We shall by the grace of God one day meet and be merry together; which day assuredly approacheth, the Lord grant it may shortly come.
Writing to Master Grindal, who was now in exile,In his Letter to Mr. Grindall. he thus gives him an account of his condition. I was (saith he) about two months close Priso…er in the Tower, after that without (my s…eking) I had the liberty of the Tower granted me, and so I continued about halfe a year, till refusing to be present at Mass, I was shut up close prisoner again. The last Lent but one, by reason of the rising in Kent, the Tower was so full of prisoners, that my Lord Arch Bish. of Canterbury, Master Latimer, Master Bradford, and my selfe, were all put into one Prison, where we remained till almost Easter, and then Doctor Cranmer, Master Latimer, and my selfe, were sent down to Oxford, and were suffered to have nothing with us, but what we carried upon us. A…bout Whitsuntide following was our disputations at Oxford, after which we had Pen, Ink, and all things taken from us, yea, and our own servants were removed from us, and strangers set in their steads, and all of us kept apart, as we are unto this da… God be blessed we are all three in health, and of good cheer, and have looked long agoe to have been dispatched; for within a … or two after our disputations we w…re condemned for Heretic…s: The Lords wil be fulfilled in us. His courage.&c When he was brought before the Popes D…legate [the Bishop of Lincoln] in the Divinity School in Oxford, whilst the Commission was reading, he stood …are till he heard the Cardinall named, and the Popes holiness, and then he put on his Cap, and being, a… monished by the Bishop to pull it off, he answered, I do not put it on in contempt to your Lordship, &c. but that by this my behaviour, I may make it appear that I acknowledg in … point the usurped Supremacy of Rome, and therfore I utterl… contemne and despise all Authority coming from the Pope Then the Bishop commanding the Bedle to pull off his Cap he bowing his head,His cond…mnation. suffered him quietly to do it. After diverse examinations, he was at last degraded, condemned, and delivered to the Bailisss to be kept till the n…xt day, when he should be burned. The night before he suffered he caused his beard to be shaven,His cheerful…ess …efore his death. and his feet washed, and bad his Hostess, and the rest at the board to his wedding: He asked his brother also whether his sister could finde in her he…r to b…e present at it? Yea, said hee, I dare say with all her heart. His Hostess (Mistris Irish) weeping, he said, O Mistris Irish, I see now that you love me not; for in that you weep, it appears that you will not be at my marriage, nor are therewith content: I see you are not so much my friend as I thought; but quiet your self, though my break-fast be somewhat sharpe, and pain…ull, yet I am sure my Supper shall be more pleasant and sweet. A good conscience a continual feast.His brother proffering to watch with him he refused it, saying, I intend to goe to bed, and sleep as quietly as ever I did in my life. In the morning he came forth in a fair black gowne, faced with foins, and tippet of velvet, &c. and looking behind him, he spied Master Latimer coming after, to whom he said,His carriage at his Martyrdome. O! bee you there? Yea, said Latimer, have-after as fast as I can follow. Coming to the stake, he lift up his hands and eyes stedfastly to heaven, and espying Master Latimer, he ran with a cheerfull countenance to him, embraced,His faith. and kissed him, and comforted him, saying, Be of good heart brother, for God will either asswage the fury of the flame, or give us strength to abide it. So he went to the stake, kneeled by it, kissed it, and prayed earnestly, and being about to speak to the people, some ran to him, and stopped his mouth with their hands. Afterwards being stripped, he stood upon a stone by the stake, saying. O heavenly father, I give thee hearty thanks, His prayer at the stake.for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto death, I beseech thee Lord God have mercy upon this Realm of England, and deliver it from all its enemies. As a Smith was knocking in the staple which held the chain, he said to him, Good fellow knock it in hard, for the flesh will have his course. Note.Then his brother brought a bag of gunpowder, and would have tyed it about his neck. Doctor Ridley asked what it was? His Brother answered, gunpowder; then said he, I take it as being sent of God, therefore I will receive it as sent from him. And when he saw the flame a coming up to him, he cryed with a loud voice, In manus tuas, &c. Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit, Lord receive my soul: His cruel martyrdom.But the fire being kept down by the wood, he desired them for Christs sake to let the fire come to him, which his brother in law mis-understanding, still heaped on faggots, whereby his nether parts were burned, before his upper parts were touched. At last his upper parts fell down into the fire also,His Death. and so he slept in the Lord.
Bishop Ridley upon a time crossing the Thames, there rose on a sudden such a Tempest, that all in the boat were astonished, looking for nothing but to be drowned: Take heart, said he, His Prophecy.for this boat carrieth a Bishop that must be burned, and not drowned. He suffered martyrdome Anno Christi, 1555.
He was a man so reverenced for his learning, and knowledge in the sacred Scriptures, that his very enemies were enforced to acknowledge that he was an excellent Clerk, and if his life might have been redeemed with monie, the Lord Dacres of the North, being his Kinsman, would have given 10000l. for the same, rather then that he should be burned. But so unmercifull and cruel was Q. Mary, Q. Maries unmercifulnesse.that notwithstanding D. Ridleys gentleness towards her in King Edward the sixth days, she would by no intreaties, nor other means be perswaded to spare his life. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty.
In a Letter which he wrote to his friends, he hath this passage: In a Letter.I warne you my friends, that ye be not astonished at the manner of my dissolution, for I assure you I think it the greatest honor that ever I was called to in all my life; and therefore I thank the Lord God heartily for it, that it hath pleased him of his great mercy to cal me to this high honor, to suffer death willingly for his sake, and in his cause; wherefore all you that be my true lovers and friends, rejoyce, and rejoyce with me again, and render with me hearty thanks to God, our heavenly Father, that for his sons sake my Saviour and Redeemer Christ, he hath vouchsafed to call me, being else without his gracious goodness, in my selfe but a sinful and vile wretch, to cal me (I say) to this high dignity of his true Prophets, faithfull Apostles, and of his holy and chosen Martyrs to dye, and to spend this temporall life in the defence, and maintenance of his eternall and everlasting truth.
Whist he was Mr. of Pembrook-hall, he used to walk much in the Orchard, where he learned without book almost all Pauls Epistles, and the Epistles of James, Peter John and Jude, concerning which himself said,He learned the Scripturer by heart. Though in time I did forget much of them againe, yet the sweet smel thereof I trust I shall carry with me into heaven, and the profit thereof I have felt in all my life time hitherto.