WEBVTT 00:01.060 --> 00:08.360 The Story of Bishop Ridley Among many other worthy histories and notable acts of 00:08.360 --> 00:13.400 such as have been martyred for the true gospel of Christ, the tragical story of 00:13.400 --> 00:19.740 Dr. Ridley I thought good to chronicle and leave to perpetual memory, beseeching 00:19.740 --> 00:26.100 thee, gentle reader, with care and study well to peruse, diligently to consider, 00:26.560 --> 00:31.680 and deeply to print the same in thy breast, seeing him to be a man beautified 00:31.680 --> 00:36.320 with such excellent qualities, so ghostly inspired and godly learned, 00:36.820 --> 00:40.900 and now written doubtless in the book of life, with the blessed saints of the 00:40.900 --> 00:45.380 Almighty crowned and throned amongst the glorious company of martyrs. 00:46.420 --> 00:50.320 Descending of a stock right worshipful, he was born in Northumberlandshire. 00:51.160 --> 00:54.680 He learned his grammar with great dexterity in Newcastle and was removed 00:54.680 --> 00:58.760 from thence to the University of Cambridge, where he in short time became 00:58.760 --> 01:04.080 so famous that for his singular aptness he was called to be head of Pembroke Hall, 01:04.740 --> 01:06.880 and there made Doctor of Divinity. 01:08.340 --> 01:10.440 Departing from thence he travelled to Paris. 01:11.440 --> 01:15.680 At his return was made chaplain to King Henry VIII and promoted afterwards by him 01:15.680 --> 01:20.020 to the Bishopric of Rochester, and so from thence translated to the See 01:20.020 --> 01:23.480 and Bishopric of London in King Edward's days. 01:24.740 --> 01:29.120 He so occupied himself by preaching and teaching the true and wholesome doctrine 01:29.120 --> 01:34.360 of Christ that never good child was more singularly loved of his dear parents than 01:34.360 --> 01:36.840 he of his flock and diocese. 01:37.620 --> 01:42.360 Every holiday and Sunday he preached in some place or other, except he was 01:42.360 --> 01:43.800 lettered by weighty affairs. 01:44.720 --> 01:49.680 To his sermons the people resorted, swarming about him like bees, coveting the 01:49.680 --> 01:54.140 sweet flowers and wholesome juice of the fruitful doctrine, which he did not only 01:54.140 --> 01:59.080 preach but showed the same by his life as a glittering lanthorn to the eyes and 01:59.080 --> 02:04.080 senses of the blind, in such pure order that his very enemies could not reprove 02:04.080 --> 02:05.680 him in any one jot. 02:06.420 --> 02:11.220 He was well learned, his memory was great, and he of such reading withal that of 02:11.220 --> 02:16.780 right he deserved to be comparable to the best of this our age, as can testify his 02:16.780 --> 02:21.280 notable works, pithy sermons, and disputations in both the universities, 02:21.860 --> 02:26.200 as also his very adversaries, all of which will say no less themselves. 02:27.460 --> 02:32.060 Wise he was of counsel, deep of wit, and very politic in all his doings. 02:32.920 --> 02:38.080 In fine he was such a prelate, and in all points so good, godly, 02:38.180 --> 02:43.160 and ghostly a man, that England may justly rue the loss of so worthy a treasure. 02:44.340 --> 02:48.980 He was a man right, comely, and well proportioned, both in complexion and 02:48.980 --> 02:50.240 lineaments of the body. 02:51.120 --> 02:55.220 He took all things in good part, bearing no malice nor rancor in his heart, 02:55.580 --> 02:59.360 but straightways forgetting all injuries and offenses done against him. 03:00.280 --> 03:04.720 He was very kind to his kinsfolk, and yet not bearing with them anything 03:04.720 --> 03:09.760 otherwise than right would require, giving them always for a general rule, 03:10.340 --> 03:14.500 yea to his own brother and sister, that they, doing evil, should seek or look 03:14.500 --> 03:18.960 for nothing at his hand, but should be as strangers and aliens unto him, 03:19.540 --> 03:24.720 and they to be his brother and sister, which used honesty and a godly trade of 03:24.720 --> 03:25.000 life. 03:25.900 --> 03:31.160 He, using all kinds of ways to mortify himself, was given to much prayer and 03:31.160 --> 03:36.080 contemplation, for duly every morning, so soon as his apparel was done upon him, 03:36.420 --> 03:40.800 he went forthwith to his bedchamber, and there upon his knees prayed the space 03:40.800 --> 03:44.840 of half an hour, which being done, immediately he went to his study, 03:45.500 --> 03:49.180 if there came no other business to interrupt him, where he continued till ten 03:49.180 --> 03:54.600 of the clock, and then came to the common prayer daily used in his house. 03:55.640 --> 03:59.560 The prayers being done, he went to dinner, where he used little talk, except occasion 03:59.560 --> 04:06.400 by some had been ministered, and was it sober, discreet, and wise, and sometimes 04:06.400 --> 04:08.580 merry, as cause required. 04:09.720 --> 04:15.000 The dinner done, which was not very long, he used to sit an hour or thereabouts, 04:15.300 --> 04:19.300 talking or playing at the chess, that done, he returned to his study, 04:19.380 --> 04:23.120 and there would continue, except suitors or business abroad were occasion of the 04:23.120 --> 04:28.200 contrary, until five of the clock at night, and then would come to common 04:28.200 --> 04:33.260 prayer as in the forenoon, which being finished, he went to supper, behaving 04:33.260 --> 04:36.100 himself there as at his dinner before. 04:37.180 --> 04:41.580 After supper, recreating himself in playing at chess the space of an hour, 04:42.180 --> 04:46.760 he would return again to his study, continuing there till eleven of the clock 04:46.760 --> 04:51.580 at night, which was his common hour to go to bed, then saying his prayers upon his 04:51.580 --> 04:54.120 knees, as in the morning when he rose. 04:55.340 --> 05:00.040 Being at his manor of Fulham, as divers times he used to be, he read daily a 05:00.040 --> 05:03.860 lecture to his family at the common prayer, beginning at the Acts of the 05:03.860 --> 05:09.120 Apostles, and so going through all the epistles of St. Paul, giving to every man 05:09.120 --> 05:14.080 that could read a New Testament, hiring them besides with money to learn by 05:14.080 --> 05:20.080 heart certain principal chapters, but especially Acts 13, reading also unto 05:20.080 --> 05:26.020 his household oftentimes Psalm 101, being marvellous careful over his family, 05:26.540 --> 05:29.840 that they might be a spectacle of all virtue and honesty to others. 05:30.880 --> 05:35.980 To be short, as he was godly and virtuous himself, so nothing but virtue and 05:35.980 --> 05:40.020 godliness reigned in his house, feeding them with the food of our Saviour 05:40.020 --> 05:40.980 Jesus Christ. 05:42.500 --> 05:47.740 Remaineth a word or two to be declared of his gentle nature and kindly pity in the 05:47.740 --> 05:53.240 usage of an old woman called Mrs. Bonner, mother to Dr. Bonner, sometime Bishop of 05:53.240 --> 05:53.560 London. 05:54.680 --> 06:00.020 Bishop Ridley, being at his manor of Fulham, always sent for this said Mrs. 06:00.160 --> 06:04.660 Bonner, dwelling in a house adjoining to his house, to dinner and supper, 06:04.860 --> 06:09.840 saying, Go for my mother Bonner, who, coming, was ever placed in the chair 06:09.840 --> 06:15.500 at the table's end, being so gently entreated as though he had been born of 06:15.500 --> 06:20.860 her own body, being never displaced of her seat, although the king's counsel had been 06:20.860 --> 06:25.440 present, saying, when any of them were there, as divers' times they were, 06:26.060 --> 06:31.620 By your lordship's favour this place of right and custom is for my mother Bonner. 06:33.260 --> 06:39.560 But how well he was recompensed for this his singular gentleness and pitiful piety 06:39.560 --> 06:44.500 after, at the hands of the said Dr. Bonner, almost the least child that goeth 06:44.500 --> 06:46.020 by the ground can declare! 06:47.260 --> 06:50.260 For who afterward was more enemy to Ridley than Bonner? 06:51.280 --> 06:54.460 Who more went about to seek his destruction than he? 06:55.740 --> 07:01.440 Recompensing this his gentleness with extreme cruelty, as well as appeared by 07:01.440 --> 07:06.040 the straight handling of Ridley's own sister and George shipside her husband. 07:07.260 --> 07:11.260 Whereas the gentleness of Ridley did suffer Bonner's mother, sister, 07:11.400 --> 07:17.060 and other of his kindred, not only quietly to enjoy all which they had of Bonner, 07:17.580 --> 07:22.260 but also entertain them in his house, showing much courtesy and friendship daily 07:22.260 --> 07:27.820 unto them, on the other side Bishop Bonner being restored again, courishly, 07:28.320 --> 07:33.920 without all order of law and honesty, by extort power wrested from the brother 07:33.920 --> 07:37.500 and sister of Bishop Ridley, all the livings they had. 07:38.340 --> 07:41.980 And being not therewith satisfied, he sought to work the death of the 07:41.980 --> 07:46.860 foresaid shipside, which had been brought to pass indeed, at what time he was 07:46.860 --> 07:51.560 prisoner at Oxford, had not God otherwise wrought his deliverance by means of Dr. 07:51.720 --> 07:53.760 Heath, the Bishop of Worcester. 07:55.360 --> 07:59.320 About the 8th of September, 1552, Dr. Ridley, then Bishop of London, 07:59.440 --> 08:03.580 lying at his house at Hadham, in Hertfordshire, went to visit the Lady 08:03.580 --> 08:10.040 Mary, afterwards Queen Mary, then lying at Hunsdon, two miles off, and was gently 08:10.040 --> 08:14.480 entertained by Sir Thomas Wharton and other her officers, till almost eleven o 08:14.480 --> 08:18.820 'clock, about which time the said Lady Mary came forth into her chamber of 08:18.820 --> 08:23.580 presence, and then the said Bishop there saluted her grace, and said that he was 08:23.580 --> 08:25.860 come to do this duty to her grace. 08:27.300 --> 08:31.160 Then she thanked him for his pains, and for a quarter of an hour talked with 08:31.160 --> 08:35.360 him very pleasantly, said that she knew him in the court when he was chaplain to 08:35.360 --> 08:38.640 her father, and so dismissed him to dine with her officers. 08:40.140 --> 08:44.140 After dinner was done, the Bishop being called for by the said Lady Mary, 08:44.760 --> 08:48.780 resorted again to her grace, between whom this communication was. 08:49.520 --> 08:56.260 First, the Bishop beginneth in manner as followeth, Madam, I came not only to do my 08:56.260 --> 09:01.220 duty, to see your grace, but also to offer myself to preach before you on Sunday, 09:01.960 --> 09:03.440 if it will please you to hear me. 09:05.100 --> 09:09.100 At this her countenance changed, and after silence for a space, 09:09.680 --> 09:15.600 she answered thus, Mary, My Lord, as for this last matter, I pray you make 09:15.600 --> 09:17.040 the answer to it yourself. 09:17.880 --> 09:23.020 Bishop, Madam, considering mine office in calling, I am bound in duty to make your 09:23.020 --> 09:25.220 grace this offer, to preach before you. 09:26.260 --> 09:30.660 Mary, well I pray you make the answer, as I have said, to this matter yourself, 09:31.220 --> 09:32.780 for you know the answer well enough. 09:33.500 --> 09:38.380 But if there be no remedy, but I must make you aware, this shall be your answer. 09:39.060 --> 09:43.260 The door of the parish church adjoining shall be open for you if you come, 09:43.620 --> 09:48.040 and ye may preach if you list, but neither I, nor any of mine, 09:48.400 --> 09:49.160 shall hear you. 09:50.160 --> 09:54.000 Bishop, Madam, I trust you will not refuse God's word. 09:54.720 --> 09:58.420 Mary, I cannot tell what ye call God's word. 09:58.960 --> 10:00.740 That is not God's word now. 10:01.260 --> 10:03.740 That was God's word in my father's days. 10:04.560 --> 10:09.340 Bishop, God's word is all one in all times, but hath been better understood and 10:09.340 --> 10:11.440 practiced in some ages than in others. 10:12.580 --> 10:17.740 Mary, you durst not, for your ears have avouched that for God's word in my 10:17.740 --> 10:19.520 father's days that now you do. 10:20.160 --> 10:24.480 And as for your new books, I thank God I never read any of them, I never did, 10:24.840 --> 10:25.760 nor ever will do. 10:26.820 --> 10:30.520 And after many bitter words against the form of religion then established, 10:31.060 --> 10:34.480 and against the government of the realm and the laws made in the young years of 10:34.480 --> 10:38.640 her brother, which she said she was not bound to obey till her brother came to 10:38.640 --> 10:43.320 perfect age, and then she affirmed she would obey them, she asked the bishop 10:43.320 --> 10:44.840 whether he were one of the council. 10:45.160 --> 10:45.940 He answered no. 10:46.660 --> 10:50.860 You might well enough, said she, as the council goeth nowadays. 10:52.160 --> 10:54.040 And so she concluded with these words. 10:54.980 --> 10:57.760 My Lord, for your gentleness to come and see me, I thank you. 10:57.940 --> 11:01.660 But for your offering to preach before me, I thank you never a whit. 11:02.640 --> 11:06.260 Then the said bishop was brought by Sir Thomas Wharton to the place where they 11:06.260 --> 11:08.260 dined, and was desired to drink. 11:08.860 --> 11:14.020 And after he had drunk, he paused a while, looking very sadly, and suddenly break out 11:14.020 --> 11:14.960 into these words. 11:15.640 --> 11:17.060 Surely I have done amiss. 11:17.660 --> 11:18.260 Why so? 11:18.420 --> 11:19.560 quoth Sir Thomas Wharton. 11:20.020 --> 11:24.620 For I have drunk, said he, in that place where God's word offered hath been 11:24.620 --> 11:25.280 refused. 11:26.140 --> 11:30.380 Whereas if I had remembered my duty, I ought to have departed immediately, 11:30.980 --> 11:35.320 and to have shaken off the dust of my shoes for a testimony against this house. 11:36.260 --> 11:41.040 These words were by the said bishop spoken with such a vehemency, that some of the 11:41.040 --> 11:44.460 hearers afterwards confessed their hair to stand upright on their heads. 11:45.320 --> 11:49.980 What time King Edward by long sickness began to appear more feeble and weak, 11:49.980 --> 11:53.920 a marriage was concluded between the Lord Guilford, son to the Duke of 11:53.920 --> 11:57.440 Northumberland, and the Lady Jane, the Duke of Suffolk's daughter, 11:57.820 --> 12:02.360 whose mother, being then alive, was daughter to Mary, King Henry's second 12:02.360 --> 12:07.020 sister, who first was married to the French King, and afterward to Charles, 12:07.160 --> 12:07.880 Duke of Suffolk. 12:08.440 --> 12:13.920 The King, waxing every day more sick than other, whereas indeed there seemed in him 12:13.920 --> 12:18.400 no hope of recovery, it was brought to pass by the consent, not only of the 12:18.400 --> 12:22.620 nobility, but also of the chief lawyers of the realm, that the King, by his 12:22.620 --> 12:29.480 testament, did appoint the aforesaid Lady Jane to be inheritrix unto the crown of 12:29.480 --> 12:34.100 England, passing over his two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. 12:35.400 --> 12:39.260 The causes laid against Lady Mary were that it was feared she would marry with a 12:39.260 --> 12:44.540 stranger and thereby entangle the crown, also that she would clean-alter religion, 12:45.040 --> 12:47.840 bring in the Pope to the utter destruction of the realm. 12:49.320 --> 12:52.960 King Edward, not long after this, departed, by the vehemency of his 12:52.960 --> 12:58.280 sickness, when he was sixteen years of age, with whom decayed in a manner the 12:58.280 --> 13:01.200 whole flourishing estate and honour of the English nation. 13:02.360 --> 13:07.220 This Jane was forthwith published Queen at London, and in other cities where was any 13:07.220 --> 13:07.960 great resort. 13:09.100 --> 13:12.920 Between this young damsel and King Edward there was little difference in age, 13:13.260 --> 13:17.020 though in learning and knowledge of the tongues she was superior unto him. 13:17.900 --> 13:22.960 If her fortune had been as good as was her bringing up, joined with fineness of wit, 13:23.420 --> 13:28.080 undoubtedly she might have seemed comparable not only to your Aspasius and 13:28.080 --> 13:34.120 Sempronius to wit the mother of Gracchi, yea, to any other woman beside, 13:34.640 --> 13:37.900 that deserved high praise for their singular learning, but also to the 13:37.900 --> 13:41.700 university men, which have taken many degrees of the schools. 13:42.540 --> 13:47.420 In the meantime, while these things were a-working at London, Mary, who had 13:47.420 --> 13:51.060 knowledge of her brother's death, writeth to the lords of the council a 13:51.060 --> 13:53.220 letter wherein she claimeth the crown. 13:54.000 --> 13:59.440 My lords, we require you, that of your allegiance which you owe to God and us, 13:59.780 --> 14:04.800 and to none other, forthwith upon receipt hereof, do cause our right and title to 14:04.800 --> 14:09.080 the crown, and government of this realm, to be proclaimed in our city of London, 14:09.540 --> 14:10.580 and other places. 14:12.400 --> 14:15.980 To this letter of the Lady Mary, the lords of the council made answer. 14:16.780 --> 14:22.040 This is to advertise you, that forasmuch as our sovereign Lady Queen Jane is 14:22.040 --> 14:26.100 invested and possessed with the just and right title in the imperial crown of this 14:26.100 --> 14:30.860 realm, not only by good order of old ancient laws of this realm, but also by 14:30.860 --> 14:35.720 our late sovereign lord's letters patent, signed with his own hand, and sealed with 14:35.720 --> 14:40.920 the great seal of England, we must therefore, as of most bounden duty and 14:40.920 --> 14:44.860 allegiance, assent unto her said grace, and to none other. 14:45.800 --> 14:51.260 This answer received, and the minds of the lords perceived, Lady Mary speedeth 14:51.260 --> 14:55.980 herself secretly away far off from the city, hoping chiefly upon the good will of 14:55.980 --> 14:59.820 the commons, and yet perchance not destitute altogether of the secret 14:59.820 --> 15:02.440 advertisements of some of the nobles. 15:03.620 --> 15:07.520 When the council heard of her sudden departure, and perceived her stoutness, 15:07.520 --> 15:13.660 and that all came not to pass as they supposed, they gathered speedily a power 15:13.660 --> 15:17.660 of men together, appointing an army, and first assigned that the Duke of 15:17.660 --> 15:21.700 Suffolk should take that enterprise in hand, and so have the leading of the band. 15:22.660 --> 15:25.980 But afterward, altering their minds, they thought it best to send forth the 15:25.980 --> 15:30.260 Duke of Northumberland, with certain other lords and gentlemen, and that the Duke of 15:30.260 --> 15:34.100 Suffolk should keep the tower, where the Lord Guildford and the Lady Jane 15:34.100 --> 15:35.820 the same time were lodged. 15:36.980 --> 15:41.940 Mary in the meanwhile, tossed with much travail up and down to work the surest way 15:41.940 --> 15:46.540 for her best advantage, withdrew herself into Norfolk and Suffolk, where she 15:46.540 --> 15:50.960 understood the Duke's name to be had in much hatred for the service that had been 15:50.960 --> 15:54.800 done there of late under King Edward in subduing the rebels. 15:55.760 --> 16:00.860 And there, gathering to her as such aid of the commons on every side as she might, 16:01.440 --> 16:07.380 kept herself close for a space within Framingham Castle, to whom first of all 16:07.380 --> 16:12.500 resorted the Suffolk men, who, being always forward in promoting the 16:12.500 --> 16:16.800 proceedings of the gospel, promised her their aid, so that she would not attempt 16:16.800 --> 16:21.060 the alteration of the religion which her brother King Edward had before established 16:21.060 --> 16:25.660 by laws and orders publicly enacted and received by the consent of the whole 16:25.660 --> 16:26.000 realm. 16:27.220 --> 16:29.520 Unto this condition she effsoons agreed. 16:30.420 --> 16:34.820 Thus Mary, being guarded with the power of the gospelers, did vanquish the Duke and 16:34.820 --> 16:36.320 all those that came against her. 16:37.300 --> 16:41.740 In the meantime, God turned the hearts of the people to her and against the council, 16:42.440 --> 16:46.200 which after the council perceived, and that certain noblemen began to go the 16:46.200 --> 16:51.000 other way, they turned their song and proclaimed for Queen the Lady Mary. 16:51.940 --> 16:56.280 And so the Duke of Northumberland was left destitute and forsaken at Cambridge with 16:56.280 --> 17:00.000 some of his sons and a few others, who were arrested and brought to the Tower 17:00.000 --> 17:02.180 of London as traitors to the crown. 17:03.180 --> 17:07.280 Mary, when she saw all in quiet by means that her enemies were conquered, 17:07.520 --> 17:11.720 followed up the third day of August to London, with the great rejoicing of many 17:11.720 --> 17:16.620 men, but with a greater fear of more, and yet with flattery peradventure most 17:16.620 --> 17:18.160 great of feigned hearts. 17:19.460 --> 17:23.880 Her first lodging she took at the Tower, where the aforesaid Lady Jane with her 17:23.880 --> 17:27.660 husband the Lord Guilford were imprisoned, where they remained waiting her pleasure 17:27.660 --> 17:29.300 almost five months. 17:30.320 --> 17:34.960 Lady Jane Grey was executed on the 12th February 1554. 17:35.800 --> 17:39.880 But the Duke, within a month after his coming to the Tower, being adjusted to 17:39.880 --> 17:43.600 death, was brought forth to the scaffold and there beheaded. 17:44.700 --> 17:49.520 Mary, besides hearing Mass herself in the Tower, every day more and more discomfited 17:49.520 --> 17:53.560 the people, declaring herself to bear no goodwill to the present state of religion. 17:54.640 --> 17:59.200 Such whose consciences were joined to truth perceived already coals to be 17:59.200 --> 18:03.420 kindled, which after should be the destruction of many a true Christian man. 18:04.520 --> 18:08.940 Diver's bishops were removed, and others placed in their rooms, amongst whom was 18:08.940 --> 18:09.620 Dr. Ridley. 18:10.640 --> 18:15.580 In the time of Queen Jane, he had made a sermon at St. Paul's Cross, so commanded 18:15.580 --> 18:19.820 by the council, declaring there his mind to the people as touching the Lady Mary, 18:20.420 --> 18:24.760 alleging the inconveniences which might rise by receiving her to be their Queen, 18:25.340 --> 18:29.540 prophesying, as it were before, that which after came to pass, 18:29.940 --> 18:34.380 that she would bring in foreign power to reign over them, besides subverting all 18:34.380 --> 18:35.220 Christian religion. 18:36.020 --> 18:40.300 Showing that there was no other hope of her to be conceived, but to disturb and 18:40.300 --> 18:45.480 overturn all that which, with so great labours, had been confirmed and planted by 18:45.480 --> 18:45.940 her brother. 18:46.820 --> 18:52.020 Shortly after this sermon, Queen Mary was proclaimed, whereupon he, speedily 18:52.020 --> 18:56.780 repairing to Framingham, to salute the Queen, had such cold welcome there, 18:57.240 --> 19:01.940 that being despoiled of all his dignities, he was sent back upon a lame halting-horse 19:01.940 --> 19:02.620 to the tower. 19:03.700 --> 19:08.000 About the 10th of March, Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ridley, 19:08.340 --> 19:12.680 Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, Bishop also sometime of Worcester, 19:13.100 --> 19:15.800 were conveyed as prisoners from the tower to Windsor. 19:16.540 --> 19:20.840 And from thence to the University of Oxford, there to dispute with the divines 19:20.840 --> 19:25.180 and learned men of both the universities, Oxford and Cambridge, about the presence, 19:25.600 --> 19:27.860 substance, and sacrifice of the sacrament. 19:28.420 --> 19:31.640 The articles whereupon they should dispute were these. 19:32.340 --> 19:37.640 First, whether the natural body of Christ be really in the sacrament after the words 19:37.640 --> 19:39.420 spoken by the priest or not. 19:39.980 --> 19:43.140 Secondly, whether in the sacrament, after the words of consecration, 19:43.140 --> 19:47.880 any other substance do remain than the substance of the body and blood of Christ. 19:48.440 --> 19:53.720 Thirdly, whether in the Mass be a sacrifice propitiatory for the sins of the 19:53.720 --> 19:54.580 quick and the dead. 19:55.640 --> 20:01.060 Dr. Ridley answered without any delay, saying they were all false, and that they 20:01.060 --> 20:03.220 sprang out of a bitter and sour root. 20:04.040 --> 20:06.240 His answers were sharp, witty, and very learned. 20:07.000 --> 20:09.040 He was asked whether he would dispute or no. 20:09.740 --> 20:13.420 He answered that as long as God gave him life, he should not only have his heart, 20:13.520 --> 20:15.920 but also his mouth and pen to defend his truth. 20:16.900 --> 20:18.920 But he required time and books. 20:19.620 --> 20:23.700 They said that he should dispute on Thursday, and till that time he should 20:23.700 --> 20:24.240 have books. 20:25.020 --> 20:28.940 Then gave they him the articles, and bade him write his mind of them that 20:28.940 --> 20:29.360 night. 20:30.460 --> 20:35.500 The report and narration of Master Ridley, concerning the misordered disputation had 20:35.500 --> 20:38.040 against him and his fellow prisoners at Oxford. 20:38.760 --> 20:43.660 I never yet, since I was born, saw anything handled more vainly or 20:43.660 --> 20:49.280 tumultuously than the disputation which was with me in the schools at Oxford. 20:50.000 --> 20:53.700 Yea, verily, I could never have thought that it had been possible to have found 20:53.700 --> 20:57.840 amongst men recounted to be of knowledge and learning in this realm, any so 20:57.840 --> 21:02.040 brazen-faced and shameless, so disorderly and vainly to behave themselves, 21:02.580 --> 21:07.580 more like to stage players in interludes to set forth a pageant, than to grave 21:07.580 --> 21:09.840 divines in schools to dispute. 21:11.220 --> 21:15.600 And no great marvel, seeing they which should have been moderators and overseers 21:15.600 --> 21:19.320 of others, and which should have given good examples in words and gravity, 21:19.760 --> 21:24.540 gave worst example above all others, and did, as it were, blow the trump to the 21:24.540 --> 21:28.320 rest, to rave, roar, rage, and cry out. 21:29.060 --> 21:33.620 By reason whereof, good Christian reader, manifestly it may appear that they never 21:33.620 --> 21:37.660 sought for any truth of verity, but only for the glory of the world and 21:37.660 --> 21:39.220 their own bragging victory. 21:40.100 --> 21:44.660 A great part of the time appointed for the disputations was vainly consumed in 21:44.660 --> 21:49.620 opprobrious checks and reviling taunts, with hissing and clapping of hands, 21:49.760 --> 21:51.640 to procure the people's favour withal. 21:52.120 --> 21:57.240 All which things, when I with great grief of heart did behold, protesting openly, 21:57.680 --> 22:01.640 that such excessive and outrageous disorder was unseemly for those schools, 22:02.040 --> 22:06.180 and men of learning and gravity, and that they which were the doers and 22:06.180 --> 22:10.500 stirrers of such things, did nothing else but betray the slenderness of their cause 22:10.500 --> 22:11.820 and their own vanities. 22:12.540 --> 22:16.620 I was so far off by this my humble complaint from doing any good at all, 22:16.940 --> 22:21.380 that I was enforced to hear such rebukes, checks, and taunts for my labour, 22:21.780 --> 22:25.860 as no person of any honesty, without blushing, could abide to hear the like 22:25.860 --> 22:30.780 spoken of a most vile violet against a most wretched ruffian. 22:32.320 --> 22:36.800 At the first beginning of the disputation, when I should have confirmed mine answer 22:36.800 --> 22:41.160 to the first proposition in few words, afore I could make an end of my first 22:41.160 --> 22:45.620 probation, even the doctors themselves cried out, He speaketh blasphemies! 22:45.820 --> 22:47.300 He speaketh blasphemies! 22:47.700 --> 22:52.480 And when I on my knees besought them, and that heartily, that they would 22:52.480 --> 22:56.700 vouchsafe to hear me to the end, whereat the proculator, being moved, 22:56.820 --> 22:58.700 cried out on high, Let him read it! 22:58.760 --> 22:59.520 Let him read it! 22:59.840 --> 23:03.320 Yet, when I began to read again, there followed immediately such shouting, 23:03.580 --> 23:07.900 such a noise and tumult, such confusion of voices, crying, Blasphemies! 23:08.080 --> 23:08.520 blasphemies! 23:08.800 --> 23:14.220 as I, to my remembrance, never heard or read the like, except it be that one, 23:14.600 --> 23:18.800 which was in the acts of the apostles, stirred up by Demetrius the silversmith, 23:19.120 --> 23:24.460 and others of his occupation, crying out against Paul, Great is Diana of the 23:24.460 --> 23:25.060 Ephesians! 23:25.260 --> 23:27.340 Great is Diana of the Ephesians! 23:27.920 --> 23:32.260 The witch-cries and tumults of them against me so prevailed, that I was 23:32.260 --> 23:36.800 enforced to leave off the reading of my probations, although they were short. 23:38.400 --> 23:42.220 After the disputation the Friday following, which was the 20th of April, 23:42.320 --> 23:46.360 the commissioners sat in St. Mary's Church, and Dr. Weston used particular 23:46.360 --> 23:50.540 dissuasions with every one of them, and would not suffer them to answer in any 23:50.540 --> 23:55.000 wise, but directly and pre-emptorily, as his words were, to say whether they 23:55.000 --> 23:56.460 would subscribe or no. 23:57.040 --> 24:01.720 And first to the Archbishop of Canterbury, he said he was overcome in disputations, 24:02.180 --> 24:05.860 to whom the Archbishop answered that he was not suffered to oppose as he would, 24:06.200 --> 24:10.400 nor could answer as he was required, unless he would have brawled with them, 24:10.400 --> 24:13.320 so thick their reasons came one after another. 24:14.100 --> 24:17.300 Ever four or five did interrupt him that he could not speak. 24:17.880 --> 24:21.780 Master Ridley and Master Latimer were asked what they would do, and they replied 24:21.780 --> 24:24.940 that they would stand to that they had said. 24:25.880 --> 24:29.780 Then were they all called together, and sentence read over them, that they 24:29.780 --> 24:33.600 were no members of the church, and therefore they, their forters and 24:33.600 --> 24:35.840 patrons, were condemned as heretics. 24:36.540 --> 24:39.220 After which they answered again, every one in his turn. 24:40.080 --> 24:44.660 The Archbishop of Canterbury, From this your judgment and sentence I appeal to the 24:44.660 --> 24:48.620 just judgment of God Almighty, trusting to be present with Him in heaven, 24:49.080 --> 24:52.280 for whose presence in the altar I am thus condemned. 24:52.900 --> 24:58.400 Dr. Ridley, although I be not of your company, yet doubt I not but my name is 24:58.400 --> 25:02.640 written in another place, whether this sentence will send us sooner than we 25:02.640 --> 25:04.660 should by the course of nature have come. 25:05.380 --> 25:10.280 Master Latimer, I thank God most heartily that He hath prolonged my life to this 25:10.280 --> 25:14.420 end, that I may in this case glorify God by that kind of death. 25:15.880 --> 25:19.600 After the sentence pronounced, they were separated one from another. 25:20.220 --> 25:22.240 The archbishop was returned to Picardo. 25:22.620 --> 25:26.760 Dr. Ridley was carried to the sheriff's house, Master Latimer to the bailiffs. 25:27.940 --> 25:32.160 A detailed account of the martyrdom of Bishop Ridley will be found in the next chapter.