The Holy State, Book 4 · Chapter 11
NICHOLAS RIDLEY Bishop of LONDON. He died a constant Martyr for the Truth, and was burnt at Oxford the 16th of Octob: 1555. W Marshall sculp:
CHAP. 11. The life of Bishop RIDLEY.
NIcholas Ridley born in the Bishoprick of Duresme, but descended from the ancient and worshipfull familie of the Ridleys of Willimotes-wike in Northumberland. He was brought up in Pembrokehall in Cambridge, where he so profited in generall Learning, that he was chosen Fellow of the Colledge, and Anno 1533 was Proctour of the University.
At which time two Oxford men, George Throgmorton, and John Ashwell, came to Cambridge, and in the publick Schools challenged any to dipsute with them on these questions,
An Ius civile sit medicina praestantius?
An Mulier condemnata, bis ruptis laqueis, sit tertio suspendenda?
It seems they were men of more brow then brain, being so ambitious to be known, that they had rather be hiss'd down then not come upon the stage. Sure Oxford afforded as many more able disputants, as Civill Law yielded more profound and needfull questions. Throgmorton had the fortune of daring men, to be worsted, being so pressed by John Redman and Nicholas *Caius de Antiquit. Cant. Acad. p. 19.20.Ridley the opponents, that his second refused at all to dispute.
Indeed an University is an onelyonly fit match for an University; and any private man who in this Nature undertakes a whole body, being of necessity put to the worst, deserves not Phaetons Epitaph, magnis, but stultis tamen excidit ausis. And though *Brian Twine pag. 336.one objects, Neminem Cantabrigiensium constat Oxonienses unquam ad certamen provocasse; yet lesse learning cannot be inferred from more modestie. The best is, the two Sisters so well agree together that they onelyonly contend to surpasse each other in mutuall kindnesse, and forbidding all duells betwixt their children, make up their joint forces against the common foe of them and true Religion.
He was after chosen Master of Penbroke Hall, and kept the same whilest Bishop of Rochester and London, till outed in the first of Queen Marie. Not that he was covetous to hold his place in the Colledge, but the Colledge ambitious to hold him; as who would willingly part with a jewell. He was in good esteem with Henrie the eighth, and in better with pious King Edward the sixth, and was generally beloved of all the Court, being one of an handsome person, comelie presence, affable speech, and courteous behaviour.
But before I go further, Reader, pardon a digression, and yet is it none, for 'tis necessary. I have within the narrow scantling of my experimentall remembrance observed strange alteration in the worlds valuing of those learned men which lived in that age; and take it plainly without welt or gard, for he that smarts for speaking truth hath a playster in his own conscience.
When I was a child I was possessed with a reverend esteem of them, as most holy and pious men, dying Martyrs in the dayes of Queen Marie for profession of the truth; which opinion having from my Parents taken quiet possession of my soul, they must be very forcible reasons which eject it.
Since that time they have been much cried down in the mouthes of many, who making a Coroners enquest upon their death, have found them little better then Felons de se, dying in their own bloud, for a mere formality, de modo, of the manner of the Presence, and a Sacrifice in the Sacrament, who might easily with one small distinction have knockt off their fetters, & saved their lives. By such the Coronet of Martyrdome is pluckt off from their memories; and others more moderate equally part their death betwixt their enemies cruelty, and their own over-forwardnesse.
Since that, one might have expected that these worthy men should have been re-estated in their former honour, whereas the contrary hath come to passe. For some who have an excellent facultie in uncharitable Synecdoches, to condemne a life for an action, & taking advantage of some faults in them do much condemne them. And *Authour of the book lately printed of Causes hindring Reformation in England, lib. 1. pag. 10.one lately hath traduced them with such language, as neither beseemed his parts (whosoever he was) that spake it, nor their piety of whom it was spoken. If pious Latimer, whose bluntnesse was incapable of flattery, had his simplicity abused with false informations, he is called another Doctour Shaw, to divulge in his Sermon forged accusations. Cranmer and Ridley for some failings styled, the common stales to countenance with their prostituted gravities every politick fetch which was then on foot, as oft as the potent Statists pleased to employ them. pag. 11.And, as it follows not farre after, Bishop Cranmer, one of King Henries Executours, and the other Bishops, none refusing (lest they should resist the Duke of Northumberland) could find in their consciences to set their hands to the disenabling and defeating of the Princesse Marie, &c. Where Christian ingenuity might have prompted unto him to have made an intimation, that Cranmer (with pious Justice Hales in Kent) was last and least guilty, much refusing to subscribe; and his long resisting deserved as well to be mentioned, as his yielding at last. Yea, that very Verse, which Doctour Smith at the burning of Ridley used against him, is by the foresaid Authour (though not with so full a blow, with a slenting stroke) applyed to those Martyrs, A man may give his body to be burnt, and yet have not charity.
Thus the prices of Martyrs ashes rise and fall in Smithfield market. However their reall worth flotes not with peoples phancies, no more then a rock in the sea rises and falls with the tide: S. Paul is still S. Paul, though the Lycaonians now would sacrifice to him, and presently after would sacrifice him: These Bishops, Ministers, and Lay-people, which were put to death in Queen Maries dayes, were worthy Saints of God, holy and godly men, but had their faults, failings, and imperfections. Had they not been men they had not burn't; yea had they not been more then men (by Gods assistance) they had not burn't. Every true Christian should, but none but strong Christians will, die at the stake.
But to return to Ridley: One of the greatest things objected against him, was his counsell to King Edward (which the good Prince wash'd away with his tears) about tolerating the Masse for Princesse Mary, at the intercession of Charles the fifth Emperour, which how great it was, let the indifferent party give judgement, when the *Haywards Edward sixth pag. 291.Historian hath given his evidence, The Bishops, of Canterbury, London, Rochester, gave their opinion, that to give licence to sinne, was sinne, but to connive at sinne, might be allowed, in case it were neither too long, nor without hope of reformation.
Another fault, wherewith he was charged, was that wofull and unhappy discord betwixt him and reverend Bishop Hooper, about the wearing of some Episcopall garments at his consecration (then in use) which Ridley press'd, and Hooper refused with equall violence, as being too many, rather loading then gracing him; and so affectedly grave, that they were light again. All we will say is this, that when worthy men fall out, onelyonly one of them may be faulty at the first, but if such strifes continue long, commonly both become guilty: But thus Gods diamonds often cut one another, and good men cause afflictions to good men.
It was the policy of the *Arist. polit. lib. 2. cap. 7.Lacedemonians alwayes to send two Embassadours together, which disagreed amongst themselves, that so mutually they might have an eye on the actions each of other: Sure I am that in those Embassadours, the Ministers, which God sendeth to men, God suffereth great discords betwixt them, (Paul with Barnabas, Jerome with Ruffin, and Augustine, and the like) perchance because each may be more cautious and wary of his behaviour in the view of the other. We may well behold mens weaknesse in such dissentions, but better admire Gods strength and wisdome in ordering them to his glory, and his childrens good. Sure it is, Ridley and Hooper were afterwards cordially reconciled; and let not their discords pierce farther then their reconciliation: The worst is, mens eyes are never made sound with the clearnesse, but often are made sore with the bleernesse of other mens eyes in their company. The virtues of Saints are not so attractive of our imitation, as their vices and infirmities are prone to infect.
*Hayward Edward 6. p. 407. & sequent.Ridley was very gracious with King Edward the sixth, and by a Sermon he preach'd before him so wrought upon his pious disposition, whose Princely charity rather wanted a directour then a perswader, that the King at his motion gave to the city of London,
1 Greyfriers, now called Christ-Church, for impotent, fatherlesse, decrepid people by age or nature to be educated or maintained.
2 S. Bartholomews near Smithfield, for poore by faculty, as wounded souldiers, diseas'd and sick persons to be cur'd and relieved.
3 Bridewell, the ancient Mansion of the English Kings, for the poore by idlenesse or unthriftynesse, as riotous spenders, vagabonds, loyterers, strumpets to be corrected and reduc'd to good order.
I like that Embleme of Charity which *Fr. Quartes Enchirid. pag. 1.one hath expressed in a naked child, giving honey to a Bee without wings; onelyonly I would have one thing added, namely holding a whip in the other hand to drive away the drones: So that King Edwards bounty was herein perfect and complete.
To return to Ridley: His whole life was a letter written full of learning and religion, whereof his death was the seal. Brought he was with Cranmer and Latimer to Oxford to dispute in the dayes of Queen Mary, though before a Syllogisme was form'd, their deaths were concluded on, and as afterwards came to passe, being burnt the sixteenth of October Anno 1555. in the ditch over against Balioll Colledge.
He came to the *Fox. Acts Mon: An: 1555. Octob.stake in a fair black gown furr'd and fac'd with foins, a Tippet of velvet, furr'd likewise, about his neck, a velvet night-cap upon his head, and a corner'd cap upon the same.
Doctour Smith preacht a Sermon at their burning; a Sermon which had nothing good in it but the text (though misapplyed) and the shortnesse, being not above a quarter of an houre long. Old Hugh Latimer was Ridleys partner at the stake, sometimes Bishop of Worcester, who crauled thither af…er him, one who had lost more learning then many ever had, who flout at his plain Sermons, though his down-right style was as necessary in that ignorant age, as it would be ridiculous in ours. Indeed he condescended to peoples capacity; and many men unjustly count those low in learning, who indeed do but stoop to their Auditours. Let me see any of our sharp Wits do that with the edge, which his bluntnesse did with the back of the knife, and perswade so many to restitution of ill-gotten goods. Though he came after Ridley to the stake, he got before him to heaven: his body, made tinder by age, was no sooner touch'd by the fire, but instantly this old Simeon had his Nunc dimittis, and brought the news to heaven that his brother was following after.
But Ridley suffered with farre more pain, the fire about him being not well made: And yet one would think that age should be skilfull in making such bonefires, as being much practised in them. The Gunpowder that was given him did him little service, and his Brother-in-law, out of desire to rid him out of pain, encreased it, (great grief will not give men leave to be wise with it) heaping fewell upon him to no purpose; so that neither the fagots which his enemies anger, nor his Brothers good will cast upon him, made the fire to burn kindly.
In like manner, not much before, his dear friend Master *See Mr Fox Acts and Mon. on Hoopers death.Hooper suffered with great torment; the wind (which too often is the bellows of great fires) blowing it away from him once, or twice. Of all the Martyrs in those dayes, these two endured most pain, it being true that each of them,
Quaerebat in ignibus ignes:
And still he did desire,
For fire in midd'st of fire.
Both desiring to burn, and yet both their upper parts were but Confessours, when their lower parts were Martyrs, and burnt to ashes: Thus God, where he hath given the stronger faith, he layeth on the stronger pain. And so we leave them going up to Heaven, like Eliah, in a chariot of fire.