94 
RIDLEY. 
promoting the King’s service which they met with from the 
Bishop of Rochester. Upon this the Protector wrote a 
chiding letter to Ridley, which was followed by an inter¬ 
change of several other letters between them upon the sub¬ 
ject. But notwithstanding all the means which were made 
use of to influence our prelate, he resolutely persisted in 
refusing his countenance to a proceeding which he con¬ 
sidered to be unjust; and, owing to his firmness, the affair 
dropped. His next business was to preside at a public 
disputation in the University on the subject of the Lord’s 
Supper. On this occasion, the advocates both for the popish 
and protestant doctrines had a fair hearing, and after their 
debates were ended. Bishop Ridley determined, in a very 
learned, solid, and satisfactory manner, against transubstan- 
tiation, and the oblation of Christ in that sacrament. 
The Bishop of Rochester was one of the commissioners 
appointed to sit in judgment on the cause of Bonner, Bishop 
of London, and by whom sentence of deprivation was pro¬ 
nounced against him. After this sentence had been con¬ 
firmed, Bishop Ridley was thought to be the most proper 
person to fill that important see, on account of his great 
learning, and zeal for the Reformation. His translation 
from Rochester to London was accordingly declared in 
February, 1549-50, though he was not installed before 
the month of April, when the bishopric of Westminster 
was suppressed, as a distinct see, and united to that of 
London. It was an honourable mark of distinction that his 
patent to his bishopric was granted for the term of his 
natural life, while several other prelates in this reign held 
their titles to their sees only during their good behaviour. 
Ridley’s conduct towards his predecessor Bonner and his 
family, after taking possession of the episcopal palace, bears 
very creditable testimony to his integrity and benevolence. 
He took particular care to preserve from injury the goods and 
moveables belonging to Bonner, giving him free leave to 
remove the smallest article to which he had any claim, and 
sacredly keeping for his use what he knew to be his, though 
not taken away. Such materials as Bonner had purchased 
for the repair of his house and church, Ridley employed to 
the uses designed ; but he scrupulously repaid him the 
money which he had advanced for them. He took upon 
himself the discharge of the sums which were due to Bon¬ 
ner's servants for liveries and wages; and that the mother 
and sister of that prelate, who lived near the palace, at 
Fulham, and had their board there, might not be losers in 
consequence of his promotion, he always sent for them to 
dinner and supper, constantly placing Mrs. Bonner at the 
head of tire table, even when persons of high rank were his 
guests. Soon after his translation to London, Bishop Ridley 
was nominated one of the commissioners for examining 
Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, and concurred in his 
deprivation. About the same time commenced his dispute 
with Hooper, Bishop-elect of Gloucester on the subject of 
the vestments appointed to be used in the church, of which 
we have given an account in the life of that prelate. In the 
summer of the year 1550, Bishop Ridley visited his diocese, 
and among other injunctions set forth one which very pro¬ 
perly directed that the altars should be taken down in the 
churches, and tables substituted in the room of them for the 
celebration of the Lord’s Supper. By so doing he agreed 
with Hooper, who, in a sermon lately preached before the 
King, recommended that measure, “ thereby,” said he, “ to 
take away the false persuasion of the people, which they have 
of sacrifices to be done upon altars. Because, as long as 
altars remain, both the ignorant people, and the ignorant 
and even-persuaded priests, will dream always of sacrifices.” 
In 1551, the famous sweating sic-khess prevailed in Eng¬ 
land, and proved fatal to great numbers of people. How¬ 
ever, while this malignant and pestilential disorder was 
raging. Bishop Ridley continued to reside in the midst of his 
flock, assiduous in the discharge of his pastoral functions, 
and endeavouring to improve the public calamity to the 
reformation of the manners of the people. To promote 
more generally a reformation in the doctrine of the church, 
the council this year appointed Archbishop Cranmer and 
Bishop Ridley to prepare a book of articles of faith. With 
this view they drew up forty-two articles, and sent copies of 
them to the other bishops and learned divines, for their cor¬ 
rections and amendments; after which the Archbishop 
reviewed them a second time, and then presented them to 
the council, where they received the royal sanction, and 
were then published by the King’s authority, as an act of the 
supremacy. 
In the year 1552, Bishop Ridley visited his old college at 
Cambridge, and upon his return called at Hundsdon, to pay 
his respects to the Princess Mary. The’reception which he 
met with from her was civil, till he offered to preach before 
her on the following Sunday, if she would permit him. 
Upon this her countenance changed, and, after continuing 
for some time silent, said, “ I pray you, my Lord, make the 
answer to yourself." The Bishop proceeding to tell her that 
his office and duty obliged him to make the offer, she 
replied, that if the answer must come from her, she had to 
say that the doors of the parish-church should be open for 
him, if he came, and that he might preach if he pleased; 
but that neither would she hear him, nor allow any of her 
servants to do it. “ Madam,” says the Bishop, “ I trust you 
will not refuse God's word.” “ I cannot tell,” said she, 
“ what you call God’s word ; that is not God’s word now, 
that was God’s word in my father’s days.” Upon the 
Bishop’s observing, that God’s word was the same at all 
times, but had been better undersood and practised in some 
ages than others, she could restrain her anger no longer; but 
told him, “ You durst not for your ears have avouched that 
for God’s word in my father’s days, that you now do.” She 
then broke out into many bitter expressions against the 
established form of religion, the administration of govern¬ 
ment, and the laws made during her brother’s minority, and 
parted from the Bishop with these words: “ My Lord, for 
your civility in coming to see me, I thank you; but for your 
offer to preach before me, I thank you not a whit.” His 
honest freedom on this occasion, was never forgotten or for¬ 
given by the bigotted Mary. When the parliament assem¬ 
bled in 1553, the King, who was now languishing under the 
decline which soon terminated his life, being unable to go to 
Westminster, ordered the two Houses to attend him at White¬ 
hall ; w’here Bishop Ridley preached before him, and took 
the opportunity of expatiating with great force on the duties 
of beneficence and charity, as particularly obligatory on per¬ 
sons of the highest rank and station, both on account of 
their greater ability, and of the influence which their ex¬ 
amples of goodness might have upon others. On the same 
day the King sent for the Bishop, thanked him for his dis¬ 
course, discovering by a recapitulation of the principal 
points in it the strong impression which it had made upon 
him, and then entreated his direction by what particular 
actions he might in the best manner discharge his duty 
towards the poor and the miserable. As soon as he had 
recovered from the surprize occasioned by such an unex¬ 
pected question, the Bishop told his Majesty, that before he 
gave his answer he wished to consult with some persons ex¬ 
perienced in civil government; and especially the magis¬ 
trates of London, who, from the multitudes of the poorer 
classes within their jurisdiction, must be acquainted with 
their condition, and competent to point out the most proper 
means for their relief and improvement. Upon this the King 
ordered letters on the subject to be immediately drawn up, 
which he confirmed by his hand and seal and delivered to 
our prelate, desiring him to be his messenger to the citizens 
on that occasion, and to use all possible expedition in the 
business. With these letters the Bishop hastened to the 
Lord Mayor, who summoned a committee of aldermen and 
commoners, by whom the subject recommended in them 
was taken into serious consideration. The result was such a 
representation of the different classes of objects which called 
for the attention of humanity, as determined the King to 
found, or incorporate anew, and endow with ample revenues 
those noble charitable institutions, Christ’s, 'Bartholomew’s, 
Bridewell, and St. Thomas’s hospitals. 
When, after the death of King Edward VI., an attempt 
was 
