woman of morose and superstitious temper, even made a merit of adding to the severity of his confinement. But that which cheered them in the gloom of their seclusion, was to find that their conduct was the theme of congratulation among the Protestants, who wrote from their prisons, to express their exultation at the noble stand which had been made for the sake of the Gospel. To these congratulations Ridley replied, by a general address in Latin to the whole company of the persecuted sufferers, exhorting them to persevere as "valiant combatants of the Lord, and maintain the faith of the Gospel now militant."

Nor were the labours of Ridley, or of his fellow-prisoners, intermitted, as far as their situation permitted them to be serviceable to the cause of religion. Frequent as they were in prayer, they yet devoted much of their time to the defence of their opinions. Ridley, when at last he was deprived of implements of writing, cut the lead of his prison windows into pencils, and wrote in the margin of the books which he was suffered to retain.

England, at length, being reconciled to the Pope, and the statute against heretics being revived, a commission was granted by Cardinal Pole, the Legate, for the trial of suspected persons. This was towards the close of the year 1554. Immediately upon this, several executions of Protestants took place. But still some delay occurred, with regard to the disposal of the three Prelates at Oxford, in consequence chiefly of the ambitious designs of Gardiner, who looked with a malignant eye at the advancement of Pole, and was desirous of keeping the See of Canterbury filled, until a more favourable opportunity should offer for his own succession to that dignity. The accession of Cardinal Caraffa, who was an implacable enemy to Pole, to the Papal throne, afforded better prospects to the ambition of Gardiner, and there was then less occasion to interrupt the course of the proceedings.

The Bishops of Lincoln, Gloucester, and Bristol, were accordingly appointed Commissioners, by authority from the Legate, for the prosecution of Latimer and Ridley, who received a citation to appear before them on the 30th of September. The Commissioners being assembled on that day, in the Divinity School at Oxford, Ridley was brought before them. Some altercation first arose with him, as to the point of shewing respect to the Pope and the Legate, by taking off the cap at the mention of their names, which Ridley refused to do, so as to imply any acknowledgment of the Papal authority-and as he persisted in his refusal, the Bishop of Lincoln commanded one of the Beadles to take the cap off his head. To this he readily submitted. The business of the day then opened with an address from the Bishop of Lincoln, who exhorted Ridley to renounce his opinions, and return to the bosom of the Church of Rome. The discussion then turned on the supremacy of the Pope, in which Ridley was too well fortified with arguments, for the advocates of the Papal cause to be able to make any impression on him. They quickly, therefore, turned from the discussion-the Bishop of Lincoln informing him that they were not met to dispute with him, but only to receive his answers either affirmatively or negatively to the articles originally proposed. He then entered upon each of the articles, and repeated

the dissent from them which he had before expressed, adding some observations on each, so as to render his meaning more explicit. Being dismissed for that day, he was ordered to appear again before them, at St. Mary's Church, at eight o'clock on the following morning. He was permitted in the meantime to have the use of pen, ink, paper and books, that he might write down his answers more clearly if he pleased.

Appearing again before the Commissioners at the appointed time, after a similar altercation as on the day before about the ceremony of uncovering the head at the name of the Pope, and an exhortation also as before to return to the Church of Rome, he was called upon by the Bishop of Lincoln, to produce his answers to the articles in writing, agreeably to the permission which had been given him. He then took a sheet of paper out of his bosom, and began to read what he had written, but the Bishop of Lincoln commanded the Beadle to take it from him. He remonstrated against such treatment, but finding that the Bishop would not suffer his answer to be read unless it was first delivered to the Commissioners, he was obliged to submit. The Bishop having obtained possession of the writing, only declared the sense of it, but would not suffer it to be read on the pretext of its containing words of blasphemy. And thus the specious promise, which had been made to him, was artfully disappointed. Being required again to give a determinate answer to the several articles, he only referred to his former answers, as well on the day before, as on his first appearance before the convocation. The proceedings were concluded with an address from the Bishop of Gloucester, and with the final sentence of condemnation, pronounced by the Bishop of Lincoln. The tenor of this sentence was, that he should be degraded from the degree of Bishop, from Priesthood, and all Ecclesiastical order-that he was no longer a member of the Church, and therefore was given over to the secular powers, to receive due punishment of them according to the temporal laws. They further excommunicated him by the great excommunication.

They then delivered him as a prisoner to the Mayor,—and Latimer after him having received a like sentence, the two Prelates, henceforth, only awaited the severe execution of the law, to which they were now fully consigned. But still every method was tried to make a convert of Ridley. The Papists justly regarding him as the great originator of the imputed heresy in the doctrine of the Lord's Supper, which they were now bending all their efforts to suppress, felt the importance of gaining him, above all, over to their party, as their most formidable antagonist, and one whose opinion carried the greatest weight among the Protestants. A retractation from him, it was not unreasonably presumed, would have spread a contagious influence through the body itself, which reposed so much confidence in his learning and sincerity of judgment. But happily their efforts were unavailing. No allurements could shake the constancy of purpose with which he had devoted himself to suffer all things for the truth.

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Now it was that he wrote his pathetic " farewell," which he designed to be published after his death. It is an affecting memorial of his dying affection for his friends, and his country, and the Church ; ex

pressing his love and gratitude to those from whom he had experienced kind offices in various ways, and his heartfelt sorrow for the fallen state of religion. He also wrote a farewell to the prisoners and exiles in Christ's cause, encouraging them to patience and perseverance in the good work which they had undertaken.

Then followed the ceremony of his degradation. Brookes, Bishop of Gloucester, with Marshal, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, and others, came to him at the Mayor's house, where he was still confined, on the 15th of October, and solicited him once more to recant with the offer of mercy from the Queen. As they found him immoveable as ever, they proceeded to divest him formally of his Ecclesiastical functions. It is remarkable in the Bishop of Gloucester's conduct, that he would not consider him as a Bishop, and only degraded him accordingly from the order of Priesthood. He was forcibly invested accordingly with the habiliments of a Roman Priest-the chalice and wafer were held in his hands, for he refused to hold them himself—and Brookes proceeded to read a Latin instrument for his degradation. Then they put a book into his hands, saying, "We take from thee the office of preaching the Gospel ;" at which he sighed, looking up towards heaven, and said, “O Lord God, forgive them this their wickedness." Then they removed the surplice off him, and so divested him of his functions. The ceremony being completed, he craved permission to speak to them, but they said, they could hold no conversation with one who was out of the Church. He then counselled the Bishop of Gloucester to consult the treatise of Bertram, which had been so effectual to his own conviction-and as the Bishop was turning away in disdain of such an appeal, changing the subject, he prayed him only to listen to him in a matter of worldly concern; upon which he produced a supplication to the Queen, which he had prepared, in behalf of his sister and her husband, and several others who had been involved in misfortune by his fall. He then read the supplication. On coming to that part of it where he touched upon his sister's sufferings, he could not refrain himself, but burst into tears. When he had recovered himself, he said: "This is nature that moveth me, but I have now done." Then he proceeded in reading it to the end. Bishop Brookes, having heard the paper read, shewed some symptom of a better feeling than that which he had hitherto betrayed-saying, "Indeed, Master Ridley, your request in this supplication is very lawful and honest, therefore, I must needs in conscience speak to the Queen's Majesty for them." A few words more were exchanged between them on this subject and then the Bishop of Gloucester called the Bailiffs and delivered Ridley to them in charge, to keep him safely from conversing with any one, and to bring him to the place of execution when they were commanded.

Beholding the conclusion of his life so near at hand, Ridley could not forbear breaking forth into an exclamation of thanks to the grace of

In all the previous processes he had been considered as holding the rank of a Bishop; this conduct may have proceeded, if not from the private opinion of Brookes founded on some objection as to the form of his consecration, from an after-thought on the part of his enemies, in order to diminish the authority of a man, whom they had ineffectually shewn themselves so anxious to reclaim.

God, which had rendered him thus triumphant in affliction. This exasperated the Bishop of Gloucester, who accused him of acting the part of a Pharisee in this exclamation-to which he replied, "that he gave God alone the glory, and confessed himself a miserable sinner." As the company were leaving him, a Warden from one of the Colleges desired him to repent and forsake his erroneous opinion. "Sir," said Ridley, repent you, for you are out of the truth, and I pray God (if it be his blessed will) have mercy upon you, and grant you the understanding of his word." The Warden only resented this charitable wish with reproaches of obstinacy and perverseness.

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After the company were gone, he prepared himself for his death, which was ordered to take place the following day, with an admirable cheerfulness of spirit. He called it his marriage; in the evening he washed his beard and his legs, as in preparation for a festal ceremony. At supper, he invited Mrs. Irish and the rest of the company to his marriage the next morning; and wishing his sister to be present, he asked her husband, Mr. Shipside, whether she could endure to be present at the scene, and hearing from him that he believed she would have the fortitude to come, he expressed great satisfaction at it. The discourse which passed, melted even Mrs. Irish into tears, who before had shewn such relentless severity in her behaviour. The evidence of this sensibility towards him, after the unkindness he had received from her, was not lost upon Ridley, who then addressed himself to her with much tenderness, bidding her to be composed, as "though his breakfast would be somewhat sharp and painful, yet he was sure his supper would be more pleasant and sweet."

When they rose from the table, his brother Shipside offered to watch all night with him. But he would not suffer him, saying, "that he minded (God willing) to go to bed and to sleep as quietly that night as ever he did in his life."

The next morning, the preparations for the execution of Latimer and himself being completed, in a ditch over against Balliol College, of which Bishop Brookes was at that time Master, the two Martyrs were brought forth in the custody of the Mayor and Bailiffs.

First came Ridley, dressed in a handsome black gown, furred, faced with points, such as he used to wear in his episcopal character, with a tippet of velvet, also furred, about his neck, a velvet night-cap on his head, and his square cap upon that, walking to the stake between the Mayor and one of the Aldermen. As he passed by the chamber where the Archbishop was confined, he looked up in hope of seeing him at the window, and speaking to him, but the Archbishop was at that moment engaged with some Papists in disputation, and therefore could not be seen. Arriving at the stake before Latimer, he there earnestly lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven. Shortly after Latimer came up, upon which, with a cheerful countenance, Ridley ran to him, embraced and kissed him, and comforted him, saying: "Be of good heart brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it." Then, moving to the stake, he kneeled down and kissed it, and prayed earnestly, as did Latimer also. Both then rising, conferred together a little while.

A sermon followed, by Dr. Smith, in which, among many false asser

tions, which it shocked them to hear, not only were their opinions injuriously set forth as heretical, but their constancy in death was misrepresented, as the desperation of abandoned men. Ridley would have replied to the sermon, but his mouth was forcibly stopped, as he attempted to speak, by the Vice-Chancellor and Bailiffs. They would only suffer him to speak in case he would recant, saying, that then his life should be spared, but on no other terms. "Well then," said he, "so long as the breath is in my body, I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known truth. God's will be done in me." And with that he rose up and said, with a loud voice: "Well then, I commit my cause to Almighty God, who will judge all indifferently."

He then began to disrobe himself for the stake. Taking off his gown and tippet, he gave them to his brother Shipside. Some part of his apparel he gave to others, and some the Bailiffs took. He also gave away several small memorials of himself to the by-standers, who were many of them deeply affected and weeping. Some plucked the points of his hose. Each person accounted himself happy in getting ever so slight a token of him.

Being stripped to his shirt and truss, he would have been burned in these, but Shipside prevailed on him to pull off the latter, as it might increase his pain, and if preserved, might be serviceable to a poor man. Then, standing at the stake upon a stone, lifting up his hands, he prayed: "O heavenly Father, I give unto thee most hearty thanks, for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto death. I' beseech thee, Lord God, take mercy upon the realm of England, and deliver the same from all her enemies."

As they were securing the chain which bound the two Martyrs together to the stake, he shook it, and bade the smith "knock it in hard, for the flesh would have its course." Shipside then brought him some gunpowder in a bag, and was proceeding to tie it about his neck, when he asked what it was, and being informed, said: "I take it to be sent of God, therefore, I will receive it as sent by him. And have you any for my brother?" meaning Latimer. Being answered in the affirmative, he desired that some should be given to him also, lest it should be too late. He then addressed himself to Lord Williams, who was in attendance on the spot, by command of the Queen, to see the execution duly performed without tumult or interruption-repeating the same request as that contained in his supplication to the Queen, in behalf of his distressed relatives and others, who had been despoiled of their rights through the unfeeling avarice of Bonner*. So mindful was he even in his own most bitter extremity, of the wants and distresses of others.

* How does Ridley shine here in comparison with Bonner? When he succeeded Bonner in the diocese of London, he was careful to do his predecessor no harm, giving him liberty to remove all his property, and preserving for him whatever he left. He paid him for the lead which he had bought for the repairs of the house and church; and paid also fifty-three or fifty-five pounds remaining due to Bonner's servants. Towards Bonner's mother and sister he shewed peculiar consideration. That they might not feel their change of fortune, he always sent for them to dinner and supper, and placed Mrs. Bonner at the upper end of his table, even though any of the King's Council happened to dine with him; saying, " By your Lordship's favour, this place of right and custom is for my mother Bonner."

VOL. VII. NO. 1.

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