The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 30
NICOLAS RIDLY.
The Life and Death of Nicolas Ridly.
AN other Paul otherwise in diverse respects, save that we finde not that he ever persecuted the flock or faith of Christ, may this choise instrument of God Nicolas Ridley be not unfitly, nor unworthily be stiled. For he was for a long time a maintainer and practiser of Popish superstitions, which his adversaries also twit…ng him with in the time of his troubles, he denyed not, but freely confe…sed; yet withall profe…sing, that he had since that time repented him thereof, and God, he trust…d had in mercy pardoned upon his repentance, wha… in ignorance he then did: But after it pleased God to reveale hi… truth to him more clearly, he laboured as earnestly as any of his fellow labourers in the propagation of it; being indowed with as eminent parts as any of them for that purpose, and at length sealed it up, as did some others of them also, with his blood.
He was borne in Northumberland, as some say, or as others, in the Bishopricke of Durham, descended of a worshipfull Family bearing that name, and trained up in the first rudiments of literature in the Grammer schoole at New-castle upon Tine; which towne situate upon that river, which divideth those two Counties, though standing within Northumberland, is by a bridge joyned unto the Bishoprick of Durham: from the schoole there he was first transplanted into the University of Cambridge: and from thence, as it seemes, removed upon some occasions to Oxford; for tha… learned and industrious Bishop, who hath compiled a Catalogue of our English Prelates, doth of his certaine knowledge assure us, that he was some time fellow of University Colledge there. Those of Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge, among whom he was first placed, could not, it seemes well be without him, or he without them: with whom, if he continued not at first, yet he returned shortly againe to them, whither of his owne accord, or invited by them, doth not appeare. But certaine it is that he was head of that house, and there tooke his d…gree of Doctor in Divinity: Before which, or after I cannot certainly say, being desirous to see what Schooles of learning are abroad, and to try if better meanes for the inproving of himselfe and his excellent parts elswhere be found, he left these part… for a time, and visited the University of Paris, being the prime place of note for schoole-divinity in those dayes… But there he made no long stay, not finding peradventure what he looked for; but returned againe to his own Country and his former place of aboade.
Upon his returne, or not long after, especiall notice being taken of him, as his good parts well deserved, he was called to be Chaplaine unto King Henry the eight, and wa… in processe of time preferred to the Bishoprick of Rochester becoming vacant by the translation of Henry Holbeach thence to Lincolne: Concerning which his preferment I find different relations; for Mr Fox in his Martyrologie affirmes that he was by & under King Henry promoted to that See; wheras the forementioned compiler of the Catalogue of Bishops, (who seemes to have followed the authentick records) referreth both the removall of Holbeach, and the advancement of Ridley his successor to the first of King Edward in the yeere of our lord 1547. However, in that seat he sat not long, for in the third of King Edward, upon the deprivation of Bonner, that bloudy persecutor of Gods people and butcherer of Christs flock, he was translated to the Bishoprike of London: wherein how he bemeaned himselfe, shall hereafter be related.
Before these his latter times, having long walked in the dark, he came at length to see better and clearer light, in the points then questioned, especially concerning the blessed Sacrament of Christs body and bloud; first by reading that worthy & (for these times especially) learned works of Bertram written long since of that argument; wc• is to this day such a mote in the Papists eyes, that they know not wel how to handle it, or which way to dispose of it, though they wish it out of the world, not out of their eyes onelyonly, as appeareth by their long disput about it in their Index Expurgatorius: and afterward by conference with Cranmer and Peter Martyr, two other of Christs champions who confirmed him in the same: and lastly, as himselfe solemnly calling God to witnesse, seriously protested, upon due enquiry and diligent examination, finding the doctrine he after that maintained to be not onelyonly grounded upon Gods word, but agreeable also to the writings of the ancient Fathers.
Nor was he lesse zealous & forward in the profession and progatation of the truth and faith of Christ once knowne and embraced, then ever he had been in any erronious or superstitious way before, and carefull by a godly religious course of life to adorn it in himselfe, and commended it to others; for being passing well learned (which his adversaris themselves neither doe nor dare deny, of great reading and endued with d…xterity of wit, strength of memory, and a very gracefull elocution; he imployed diligently these hi… talents to his M…sters behoofe, for the instructing and winning of as m…ny to God as he might. And to thi… purpose following the Apostles instructions to Timoth…e, to preach the word instantly and constantly, in season and out of season, he suff…red no Lords day lightly, nor other Festivall, to passe over his head, but that he preached on it in some place or other, unlesse some other very weighty and urgent occasion (which unlesse such indeed, he gave not way to) cast a rub in his way: with his Sermons the better sort of people were so taken, that they swarmed about him like bees, allured by the sweet flowers & pleasant j…yce of that wholesome doctrine, which was in them by him in a very plausible, and yet no lesse powerfull and profitable manner delivered.
Besides that for his owne family, while he resided at Fulham, his manner was to read to them every day at the time of morning prayer, a lecture out of the New Testament, which he constantly performed, beginning with th… A…ts of the Apostles, and so going on through all Sain… Pauls Epistles: to those of his family he used also to read over the hundred and fi…st Psalme; thereby to admonish them, what they ought to be, and what he expected from them, should they continue in his service, or such of them as could read, he bestowed Testaments; hiring them also with rewards to get some principall Chapters thereof by heart, and especially that of Acts the thirteenth. By thi… his care came his house to be so well ordered, that it seemed a schoole or nursery of vertue, and patern of piety and good life unto others, as himselfe also was to it.
For he was a man of so holy, just, sober, continent, and life generally unblamable, that his most malicious and mischievous advers…ries could fi…d nothing therein to tax him with…ll, though challenged solomly so to doe. Hi… very outward making, promised a well-composed inside; for he was a very comely person, and of well proportioned limbs and lineaments; nor did his outside deceive those that then conjectured well of him: it pleasing God eft even outwardly to imprint in the face and frame of his body, a living portraiture of those endowments, wherewith the inner man he hath adorned, yea what his lookes tes…ified, his li…e gave witnesse to, wherein all manner of sound piety and true vertue did most illustriously shine forth.
For matter of piety, he was much addicted to contemplation and prayer, wherein his common and constant course (if not otherwise enterrupted) was this; So soone as he wa… up in the morning, (nor was he any sluggerd, a little sleepe served him) and his apparell once on, he retired himselfe againe to his bed-chamber, and there on his knees he spent some halfe an houre in prayer: That done he betook himselfe to his study, where he continued till ten of the clock, at which time he came to the common prayer, which was used daily in his house: After that he dined, feeding temperately, not using much talke at table, but that he used, sober, grave, wise and discreete, sometimes also not unpleasant, if occasion were. After dinner (which he sat not long at) he spent about an houre usually either in conference with others, or in a game or two at chesse, the onelyonly recreation he made use of for the refreshing of himselfe: Then he returned againe to his study, where he sat, unlesse suiters or some other affaires knockt him off, untill five of the clock, his constant houre for the afternoone Common prayer. That finished, he supped, and after supper havi…g passed over about an houre before, he returned the third time to his study, continuing there untill eleven of the clock at nigh…, his usuall bed houre, which yet he went not to before he had spent some time, as in the morning in private prayer by himselfe. Thus used he to make his religious addresses unto God, both as a key to open the door in the morning to his daily employments, and as a bolt to shut and close them up all at evening againe.
For his other vertues, he was a man of a very patient spirit; which Salomon pronounceth a principall point and part, not of wisedome onelyonly, but of true valour & honour; though zealous in Gods cause, when occasion was, yet in his owne very moderate and temperate, taking all thing… in good part; nor retaining rancor against any, but very prone and ready to forgive and forget wrong…, and those no small ones, and offred by those, as whose hands he had deserved better usage.
To his kindred very kinde, as nature it selfe required: but without partiality or prepesterous affection to all, hi… brother and sister not excepted, not bearing with them in ought not agreeable to right; but giving them this generall rule, that if they did evill, they should looke for nothing a… his hands, but they should be as meere strangers and alien… to him; and those in their steed as his brother and sister, that carryed themselves honestly and followed a godly course of life. Nor was his kinde carryage such to them alone, but so lovingly and courteously demeaned he himselfe to his people, that never was any good child more deerely beloved of its naturall parents, nor gentle and kind parents of their naturall children, then he was of his flock and those both of his diocesse and others that had occasion to know him, and take notice of his kinde disposition, and demeanour. That which extended it selfe even to those also of the other side, who for his Religion brooked him not, yea to the neere kindred and friends of those that for the same most maligned him. For not by rage and harshnesse, but with much mildnesse and gentlenesse, he laboured to reduce such as remained obstinate Papists, seeking by kind carryage rather to woe and win them if it might be, then by harsh courses and rough dealing, either to force them, or to exasperate them, and so make them th… more obstinate.
This appeared, among other instances whereof many might be given, in that friendly usage of Bishop Heath; who continued for a twelve monethmonth as prisonner in his house; as prisoner, I may well say, rather then prisoner indeed; and yet not a prisonner neither, for he could not have enjoyed more liberty, or better respect and attendance, then he found and had there, had he been a free man in his owne.
But above others in this kind most remarkable (which I shall therefore adde onelyonly letting passe all others) and the more remarkable, because so far otherwise relatiated, is this that insueth. Being in Bonners room created Bishop of London, so oft and so long as he made his aboad at Fulham, he made the Mother of the said Bonner, (whom he used also to call his Mother, and indeed used her as if she had been his owne naturall Mother) his daily guest constantly at meat and meale, dinner and supper (which bounty and courtesie he affoorded oft also to one Mistres Mung…y Bonner sister and her daughter) placeing her continually in a chaire at the upper end of the table; nor suffering her to be displaced; whatsoever guests he had else at board, albeit they were Noblemen or of his Majesties privy Consell, as oft as it fell out; in way of excuse telling them, that by their Lord-ships favour, that place of right and custome was for his Mother Bonner. But know this his kindnesse was by Bonner & others af…er requited, in his and their carryage both to this man of courtesie himselfe, and to another of his neere kindred, the sequell will in part shew, and those that list further to see, may take notice from Master Fox his relations, in that his laborious and usefull workes of Acts and Monuments, that shineth so much in Popish stomacks; though it be not fraught with such rediculous legens and notorious lyes, as de Voragine, Vsuardus, and some others of theirs are.
In these workes and exercises, of piety, charity, pity, mercy, and Christian clemency, did this worthy Prelate passe his time, during the short, overshort raign of King Edward, working the harder in Christs Vineyard, the later h… came unto it. But the wheele being turned, upon the decease of that almost matchlesse Princesse of his yeeres, as well for piety as other excellent parts; shortly after the entrance of Queene Mary, the rather for a Sermon, which by the Counse…s appointment, he had formerly made against her, and in favour of the Lady Iane, he was with the first of these that suffered, clapt up in prison, and deprived of his bishoprick, and Bonner reinvested in it. After repairing to Fremingham, where the Queene then abode, he was from thence on a lame halting jade sent up to the Tower at London. Where during the time of his restrait some conference he had with Fecknam and others about Christs presence in the Sacrament: But from thence, not long after, by the Queenes appointment, he was together with Cranmer and La…imer his fellow prisoners, conveyed first to Windsor, and then sent to Oxford; where they were laid in the common joale, commonly called Bocardo: whereupon in one of his letters he saith merrily, that Bocardo was now become a Colledge of Quondams; that is, such as had once been Bishops, but then were not.
After that they had been detained som space of time there, downe came a Commission for a disputation to be held betweene the said three prisoners Christs champions, but a part, on the one part, and certaine Doctores and Divines of either University, thereunto designed, on the other part; whereupon they were severed one from another, that they might not have any help either from other; and Bishop Ridley was committed to the house of one Irish then Major of the City; whence being convented, as the other two also were before certaine Commissioners, he had certaine Articles tendred him to subscribe unto, concerning the reall presence of Christs naturall body and bloud, and the utter abolition of the substance of bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and concerning the Masse, as containing in it a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and dead, which refusing to subcrsibe to, and affirming them to be false, and such as sprung from a soure and bitter rooe, he was willing to deliver in writing his mind of them the night following; and being withall demanded, whither he were willing to dispute of them or no, he made answer very roundly, that so long as God gave him life, he should have, not his heart onelyonly, but his tongue and his pen to defend his truth: but required, as was meete and equall, to have time and books: Howbeit no further respit could be obtained then to write his mind against the next day, and to prepare for disputation against Tuesday following, it being then Saturday at even: meane space it was told him he should have what books he pleased, but could not be suffered to have any of his owne books or notes: Howbeit notwithstanding all disadvantages, neither few nor small, and the dispute it selfe most partially & tumultuousl… carryed, many baiting him at once, interrupting him ever anone in his speeches and answers, reviling and railing insteed of reasoning and arguing, and enciting the rude multitude to hisse and clap their hands at him. How well and worthily he quieted himselfe in the same, may to any indifferently and unpartially affected appeare by the Acts of it, so much as for clamor and confusion could be taken of it, yet extant. It is no unfiting censure, that a reverend Prelate gives of the three disputants, that Cranmer answered very learnedly and gravely, Ridley very readily and acutely, Latimer merrily and yet solidly, beyond the expectation of his age. Yet if taking somewhat from his sentence concerning either of the other, not as denied unto them, but imparted and applyed unto him, I should say, that he answered very readily & learnedly, acutely and yet solidly, I should neither wrong them at all, and doe him but right; for he was a man of sharp wit, a sound judgement, a strong memory, well versed in Schoole learning; and indeed seemed to have been one of the learnedst of those that then maintained Christs cause against the malicious enemies and oppugners of the maintainers of it, and of it in them. That which themselves were not ignorant of, but in a manner acknowledged, when they openly gave out in their ex…mination of him, that Latimer leaned to Cranmer, & Cranmer to Ridley, and Ridley to the singularity of his owne wit, whom therefore if they could prevaile against, they hoped to have removed a principall prop, that the other party relyed upon. But they were herein deceived, both he and they being both built upon a firmer and sounder foundation then they were able to undermine, much lesse to blow up.
After this disputation thus had for a shew, that they might seeme to have don somewhat, for the satisfaction of such as had little need of any, save that they would have somewhat to say for themselves, and their owne turning from the truth, and against those that stuck to it, and stood in the defence of it; on the Friday following, together with the other two his copartners therein, he was againe convented before the Commissioners, and upon refusall to recant, being condemned for an heretike, was returned to the Majors house, where he was more strictly kept and restrained then either of the other two, in the places of their restraint. That which he imputeth most to the wayward and superstitious and disposition of his keepers wife, being a woman as naturally very waspish, so withall extreamely Popish, and perswaded therefore that she pleased God the better, the worse she dealt with such a one as she deemed him to be; her husband otherwise a man mildly disposed, yet durst not doe what he otherwise desired, over-awed either by his wife, who ruled him as he the town, or els by authority and charge from the Commissioners; whose power there was so dreadfull, that not one of the University had the courage to repaire to the prisoners even then when accesse was more free.
But all the strict and hard usage shewed him, he end…red with much patience, comfort, contentment and cheerfulnesse, as by his letters then written may evidently appeare. In the custodie of this I…sh he aboad from the time of the disputation in April A… 1554. unto the thirtyeth of September 1555. …t which time being agai…e convented together with these two other before-mentioned, before some other Commissioners authorised by Cardinall P…le the Popes Legate, and haveing stood uncovered in thei… presence, till he heard the Lega…e and Pope named, he then put on his Cap, professing withall that he so did, not in d…rogation any way from the person and worth of the Cardinall, whom he honoured and reverenced as one of the bloud Royall, and a… a personage end…wed with excellent parts both of learning and vertue; but in regard of his Legateship and deputation for the Pope, whose usurped supremacy and abused authority he re…used and renounced, …nd ther…by defied the same. But his …ap being take… from him, after some dispute about the See of Ro…e and the Po…es power, th…re were certaine Articles propounded to him, much in effect with those that had formerly bin disputed of; concerning the Sacrament of Eucharist, and the Sacrifice of the Masse, unto which he was required to give in answer the next day by eight of clock in the morning, haveing Pen Inke and Paper, with such bookes as he pleased to require for the accomplishment of the same; but withall they required from him an answer by word of mouth at present, who thereupon tould them that hee presumed of their gentlenesse, that they would have given him time as they had before said, untill the morrow, that upon good advi…ement he might make a determinite answer. And they replying, that his answer then should not be prejudi…iall to ought that he should after give in, but he should have liberty to adde, detract, alter and change wha… he pleased; he tho withall challenging them with former breach of promise concerning the disputation, that he should have a copie of what was there done; see what the notaries had taken, have liberty within a certaine time to alter what he would in his answers, or to adde thereunto, whereof no part was performed; yet condescended to answer by word of mouth at present, and so did according to th…t which formerly he had done, maintaining dispute with them about the same for some good space of time, untill he was committed againe to the Major; and Master Latimer called in to be baited by them, as he had bin.
The next day appearing againe before them, with such gesture as before, and so againe entertained, he delivered u… his answer in writing, concerning a protestation against their autority and jurisdiction as delogated and derived from the Pope, and his judgement concerning the Articles exhibited, explained and confirmed not by Scripture alone, but by the testimonies also of the Fathers; which he required to have read, but could not obtaine it, save a line or two here and there as they pleased: they affirming that it contained words of blasphemy; and he averring, that a line or two excepted, there was nothing in it but the sayings of the auncient Doctors, confirming his assertions; hardly could he have leave to utter a few words, and that not without oft interruption, and with telling on their fingers-ends how many words he had spoken. A… length they excomunicated him with the greater excomunication, and haveing passed sentance of condemnation against him, turned him over to the Secular power.
On the fifteenth day of the same monethmonth he was by Brookes Bishop of Glocester assisted by some other degraded, at which time he requested the said Bishop to second his petition to the Queene, that such Tenants as he had made Leases to, while he was possessed of the Bishoprick of London, & his Sister among the rest might quietly enjoy the sam: this he promised to do, acknowledging it to be agreeable to equity and right, but it seemes it could not be obtained; for that cruell bloud-sucker, whose Mother and Sister he had so kindly delt with, thrust his Sister and her Husband, against all Law and conscience out of the keeping of a Park, which he had conferred upon them: nor is it likely that the rest fared much better then they did.
The day following he suffred together with Master Latimer: who much strengthned him as by conference before, so at the Stake then. The evening before he suffered he washed his Beard and his Feete, and bad those at boord that supped with him to his wedding the next day: demanded of his brother Master Shipside, whether he thought his sister his wife could find in her heart to be there; and he answering, that he durst say she would with all her heart, he professed to be thereof very glad. At suppertime he was very cheerfull and merry, desiring those there present that wept (of wch number Mrs Irish his Hostesse tho a blind and eager Papist was one) to quiet themselves, affirming that tho his breakefast was like to be somwhat sharp and painfull, yet his supper he was sure should be pleasant and sweet. His brother offred to watch all night with him. But he refused it; telling him, that he intended to go to bead, hoping to sleepe as quietly that night as ever he did in his life.
So on the next day being the sixteenth of October, this meeke Sheepe of Christ, and yet a stout Bel-weather of his flock, faithfull and constant to his blessed shepheard and soveraign owner unto death, yea unto paines and torments worse then death, was together with his copartner, both in defence of the Faith, and of afflictions for the defence of it, brought out to the place of their Martyrdome, in a Ditch or low parcell of ground lying on the North side of the City behind Baliol Colledge; where Doctor Smith, who had before in King Edwards time recanted, instead of a Sermon made a bitter invective against them; which they offred to answer: but when they could not b… permitted to spe…k, they committed their cause to God, commended their souls into his hands, and with much readinesse and resolution yeelded their bodies to the mercilesse flames, and such cruel torments therein as other their breath…rn and fellowwitnesses of Christ had b…fore th…m unde…gon…; wherein this our worthy and valian… spirituall Champion, through the i…discret…on o… those that composed …he pile, and managed the fewell about him, hindring there where they thought to helpe, and lengthening his torments by those meanes whereby they hoped to have shortened them, endured a long time in grievous paines, to the heart griefe of the behoulders, burning in a manner by piece-meale; till at leng…h having passed this fiery triall, his soule was as in a flaming Chariot with Elias, carried up into the highest Heaven. Some works of his though not many remaine.
1 A Protestation or Determination delivered in the Schooles at a Disputation in King Edwards dayes. 2 His Disputations at Oxford in Q…eene Maries time. 3 An assertion of the true faith concerning the Lords Supper against Transubstantiation, translated after into Latine, and Printed a… Geneva. 4 A Treatise concerning the right forme of Administration of the Lords Supper. 5 A Treatise against setting up and adoring of Imagis. 6 A Conference betweene him and Master Latimer in Prison. 7 A large Farewell to his faithfull friends; together with a sharp Admonition to obstinate Papists. 8 An other Farewell to the imprisoned and exiled for the Gospel. 9 A Treatise con…aimning a Lamentation for the change of Religion, and a comparison of the Romish doctrine with that of the Gospell. 10 Divers pious Letters written to divers persons.
Read in the progresse of this blessed story
Romes cursed …ruelty, and Ridlyes glory:
Romes S…r…ns song, but Ridlyes carelesse eare
Was deaf. They …h…rmd; …t Ridly would not hear…
Rome s…g preferment, but brave Ridleys tongue
Condemn'd that f…lse Preferment which Rome …ung:
Rome whis…red wealth… but Ridly (whose great gaine
Was godlinesse) he w…v'd it with disday…e:
Rome threatned Durance, but great Ridleys mind
Was, too too strong for threats or Chaines to binde:
Rom… thundred death b…t Ridlyes dauntl…sse eye
Star'd in deaths face, and scornd death …tanding by:
In spite of Rome for England… Faith he …tood,
And in the flames, he seald it with his Blood.