great, and he of such reading withall, that of right he deserved to bee comparable to the best of this our age; as can testifie as well divers his notable workes, pithie sermons, and sundrie his disputations in both the universities, as also his verie adversaries, all which will say no lesse themselves.

Besides all this, wise he was of counsell, deepe of wit, and verie politike in all his dooings. How mercifull and carefull he was to reduce the obstinate papists from their erroneous opinions, and by gentlenes to win them to the truth, his gentle ordering and courteous handling of doctour Heath, late archbishop of Yorke, being prisoner with him in king Edwards time in his house one yeare, sufficientlie declareth. In fine, he was such a prelate, and in all points so good, godlie and ghostlie a man, that England may justlie rue the losse of so worthie a treasure. And thus hitherto concerning these publike matters.

Now will I speake something further particularlie of his person and conditions. Hee was a man right comelie and well proportioned in all points, both in complexion and lineaments of the bodie. He tooke all things in good part, bearing no malice nor rancor from his heart, but straightwaies forgetting all injuries and offences done against him. He was very kinde and naturall to his kinsfolke, and yet not bearing with them anie thing otherwise then right would require; giving them alwaies for a generall rule, yea, to his owne brother and sister, that they doing evill, should seeke or looke for nothing at his hand, but should be as strangers and aliens unto him, and they to bee his brother or sister, which used honestie, and a godlie trade of life.

testify. How able he was in confuting or overthrowing any thing, yet without any boasting or noise of arms, not only I, but all with whom he disputed, easily perceived: unless he understood that they thirsted more after glory than was fit; for this he used to set himself more vigorously to crush. His behaviour was very obliging, and very pious, without hypocrisy or monkish austerity; for very often he would shoot at the bow, and play at tennice with me. If there were no other witness of his beneficence to the poor, I will testify this to all, that before he was advanced to any ecclesiastical preferment, he carried me along in company with him to the next hospital, and when I had nothing to give to the poor, besides what he himself, according to his estate, gave liberally, he often supplied me, that I might give too. Whilst he was himself in prison, what aid he sent out of England to us in our exile in Germany, that learned man his faithful Achates, Dr. Edmund Grindal, now bishop of London, can testify; and many others, who were assisted by his liberality."-Strype's Eccles Memor., vol. iii. p. 229.

Hee using all kindes of waies to mortifie himselfe, was given to much praier and contemplation. For duelie everie morning, so soone as his apparell was done uppon him, he went forthwith to his bedchamber, and there upon his knees praied the space of halfe an houre; which being done, immediatelie he went to his studie (if there came no other busines to interrupt him), where he continued till ten of the clocke, and then came to common praier, dailie used in his house. The praiers being done, he went to dinner where he used little talk, except otherwise occasion by some had beene ministered, and then it was sober, discreet, and wise, and sometime merie, as cause required.

The dinner done, which was not verie long, he used to sit an houre or thereabouts talking or playing at the chesse.—That done, he returned to his studie, and there would continue, except suters or busines abroad were occasion of the contrary, untill five of the clocke at night, and then would come to common praier, as in the forenoone which being finished, he went to supper, behaving himselfe there as at his dinner before. After supper, recreating himselfe in playing at chesse the space of an houre, he would then returne againe to his studie: continuing there till eleven of the clocke at night, which was his common houre to go to bed, then saying his praiers 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 dailie a lecture to his familie at the common praier, beginning at the Actes of the Apostles, and so going throughout all the Epistles of S. Paule, giving to everie man that could reade a New Testament, hiring them besides with money to learne by heart certain principall chapters, but especially the thirteenth chapter of the Actes, reading also unto his household oftentimes the 101st Psalme, being marvellous carefull over his familie, that they might be a spectacle of all vertue and honestie to other.-To be short, as he was godlie and vertuous himselfe, so nothing but vertue and godlines raigned in his house, feeding them with the foode of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

5

Now remaineth a word or two to be declared of his gentle

5 The thirteenth chapter.] The reader will be interested in noticing this eminent prelate's judgment of the domestic uses of certain portions of the sacred volume.

We had before us, above, under the Life of Rogers, some account of certain chapters, psalms, &c., in special use with the Martyrs, at their executions.

nature and kindly pitie in the usage of an olde woman called mistris Boner, mother to doctour Boner, sometime bishop of London: which I thought good to touch, as well for the rare clemencie of doctour Ridley, as the unworthie immanity and ingratefull disposition againe of doctour Boner. Bishop Ridley being at his manor of Fulham, alwaies sent for the saide mistres Boner, dwelling in an house adjoyning to his house, to dinner and supper, with one mistres Mungey, Boners sister, saying, Go for my mother Boner; who comming, was ever placed in the chaire at the tables end, being so gentlie intreated, welcommed, and taken, as though hee had beene borne of her owne bodie; being never displaced of her seate, although the kings councel had beene present, he saying, when any of them were there (as divers times they were) By your lordships favour, this place of right and custome is for my mother Boner. But how well he was recompenced for this his singular gentlenes, and pitifull pitie after, at the hands of the said doctour Boner, almost the least childe that goeth by the ground can declare. For who afterward, was more enemie to Ridley, then Boner and his? Who more went about to seeke his destruction then he? recompensing his gentlenes with extreame crueltie. As well appeared by the strait handling of Ridleys owne naturall sister, and George Shipside her husband', from time to time: whereas the gentlenes

• How well he was recompenced.] See above, Life of Latimer, vol. ii. p. 666—9, and 676.

1 Shipside her husband.] Bishop Burnet, in his Hist. of the Reformation, vol. ii. book ii. no. 7, Records, has published a letter of Bonner, which I am tempted to transcribe, as it will serve to show how low-minded a man this was, who had so powerful and fatal an influence at this period.

"To my loving and dearly beloved friends, my cousin Thomas Shirley, the worshipful Richard Leechmore, &c. In most hearty wise I commend me unto you, ascertaining, that yesterday I was, by sentence, restored again to my bishoprick, and reposed in the same, even as fully as I was at any time before I was deprived; and by the said sentence, my usurper Dr. Ridley is utterly repulsed; so that I would ye did order all things at Kidmerley and Bushley at your pleasures, not suffering Sheepshead, or Shipside, to be any medler there, or to sell or to carry away any thing from thence; and I trust, at your coming up now at the parliament, I shall so handle both the said Sheepsheads, and the other Calves-heads, that they shall perceive their sweet shall not be without sour sauce. This day is looked that Mr. Canterbury must be placed where is meet for him. He is become very humble, and ready to submit himself in all things; but that will not serve; in the same predicament is Dr. Smith, my friend, and the dean of Pauls, with others.

of the other did suffer Boners mother, sister, and other his kindred, not onelie quietlie to enjoy all that which they had of Boner, but also entertained them in his house, shewing much courtesie and friendship, dailie unto them: whereas on the other side, B. Boner being restored againe, would not suffer the brother and naturall sister of B. Ridley, and other his friendes, not onelie not to enjoy that which they had by the said their brother bishop Ridley, but also currishlie without all order of law or honesty, by extort power wrasted from them all the livings they had.

And yet being not therewith satisfied, hee sought all the meanes he could, to work the death of the foresaide Shipside, saying that he would make twelve godfathers to go upon him: which had beene brought to passe indeed, at what time hee was prisoner at Oxford, had not God otherwise wrought his deliverance by meanes of doctour Heath bishop then of Worcester.

Whereby all good indifferent readers notoriously have to understand, what great diversitie was in the disposition of these two natures. Whereof as the one excelled in mercie and pitie, so the other againe as much or more excelled in churlish ingratitude, and despitefull disdaine.-But of this matter enough.

8

Now concerning Gods vocation, how doctor Ridley was first called to the savouring and favouring of Christ and his gospell; partlie by his disputation before, and other his treatises it may appeare, that the first occasion of his conversion was by reading of Bertrams booke of the sacrament, whom also the conference with bishop Cranmer, and with Peter Martyr did not a little confirme in that behalfe. Who now by the grace of God, being throughly woon and brought to the true way, as he was before blinde and zealous in his olde ignorance, so was he as constant and faithfull in the right knowledge which the Lord had opened unto him, (as well appeared by his preachings and doings during all the time of king Edward) and so long he did much good, while authoritie of externe power might defend and hold up the

Commend me to your bed-fellows most heartily, and remember the liquor that I wrote to you for. This bearer shall declare the rest, and also put you in remembrance for beeves and muttons for my house-fare. And thus our blessed Lord long and well keep you all. Written in haste this 6th of September (1553).

"Assuredly all your own,

"EDMUND LONDON."

The first occasion.] See above, Life of Latimer, vol. ii. p. 581.

peace of the church, and proceedings of the gospell. But after that it pleased so the heavenlie will of the Lord our God, to bereave us of our stay, and to call from us king Edward that precious prince; as the whole state of the church of England was left desolate and open to the enemies hand, so this bishop Ridley, after the comming in of queene Mary, eftsoone and with the first' was laid hands upon and committed to prison, first in the Tower; then after translated from thence with the archbishop of Canterburie, and maister Latimer, to Oxford, he was with them inclosed in the common gayle and prison of Bocardo; while at length being dissevered from them, hee was committed to custodie in the house of one Irish, where he remained till the last day of

9 With the first.] July 23, 1553, a letter was dispatched by the council to Sir Thomas Cheyney and Sir John Gage, directing them to confine Ridley close prisoner in the Tower.-Haynes's Burghley State Papers, p. 160. It is not difficult to shew why he was particularly obnoxious. As the learned Mr. Baker says, "There needed no colours; he had given too just offence. In a MS. of Corp. Chris. Coll. Cant. miscell. P. this account is given.

“Sunday, July 16. Dr. Ridley, bishop of London, preached at Paul's cross: where he declared in his sermon, the lady Mary and Elizabeth to be illegitimate and not lawfully begotten, &c., according to God's law; and so found both by the clergy, and acts of parliament in Henry the VIIIth's time; which the people murmured at.”—Burnet's Hist. of the Reformation, vol. iii. p. 409. Appendix.

Fox has given a fuller relation of the same sermon. "Doctor Ridley in time of q. Jane had made a sermon at Pauls crosse, so commanded by the council, declaring there his mind to the people, as touching the lady Mary, and dissuading them, alledging there the incommodities and inconveniences which might arise by receiving her to bee their queene, prophesying as it were before, that which after came to passe; that shee would bring in foreign power to reign over them: besides the subverting also of Christian religion then alreadie established: shewinge moreover that the same Mary being in his diocesse, he, according to his duty, being then her ordinary, had travailed much with her to reduce her to this religion; and notwithstanding in all other points of civilitie, she shewed herselfe gentle and tractable, yet in matters that concerned true faith and doctrine, she shewed herselfe so stiff and obstinate, that there was no other hope of her to be conceived, but to disturb and overturn all that which with so great labours had been confirmed and planted by her brother afore.-Shortly after this sermon, queene Mary was proclaimed; whereupon hee speedily repairing to Fremingham to salute the queene, had suche cold welcome there, that being despoiled of all his dignities, he was sent backe uppon a lame halting horse to the Tower."-Fox's Acts, p. 1280.