Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶M. Ridley to the Queenes Maiestie.

IT may please your Maiestie for Christ our Sauiours sake,* 1.1 in a matter of conscience (and now not for my selfe but for other poore men) to vouchsafe to heare and vnderstande this mine humble supplication. It is so (honourable princesse) that in the tyme whyles I was in the Ministerie of the Sea of London diuers poore men Tenants thereof, haue taken new Leases of their Te∣nantries and holdyngs, and some haue renewed and chaunged their old, and therefore haue payed fines and summes of money, both to me, and also to the Chapter of Paules, for the confirma∣tion of the same.

Now I heare say that the Bishop which occupieth the same roume now, will not allow the foresayd Leases, which must re∣dound to many poore mens vtter ruine and decay.* 1.2 Wherefore this is myne humble supplication vnto your honourable grace, that it may please the same for Christes sake to be vnto the fore∣sayd poore men their gratious patronesse and defender, eyther that they may enioy their foresayd Leases and yeares renewed, as (I suppose) when their matter shall be heard with consciēce, both iustice, conscience, and equitie shall require, for that theyr Leases shall be found (I trust) made without fraude or couen, ey∣ther of theyr part, or of myne, and alwayes also the olde ••ents re∣serued to the Sea without any kynd of damage thereof: or if this will not be graunted, then that it may please your gracious high∣nesse to commaund that the poore men may be restored to their former Leases and yeares and to haue rendered to them agayne such sūmes of mony as they payd to me, & to that chapterhouse for their Leases & yeares, so now taken from them. Which thing concerning the fines payed to me, may bee easily done, if it shall please your Maiestie to commaund some portion of those goods which I left in my house when I fledde in hope of pardon for my trespasse towards your grace, which goodes (as I haue heard) be yet reserued in the same house. I suppose that halfe of the va∣lue of my plate which I left in myne offices, and specially in an iron chest in my bed chamber,* 1.3 will goe nigh to restore all suche fines receyued, the true summes and parcels whereof, are not set in their Leases: and therefore if that way shall please your high∣nesse, they must be knowen by such wayes and meanes, as your Maiestie by the aduise of men of wisedome and conscience shall appoynt: but yet for Christes sake I craue and most humbly be∣seech your Maiestie of your most gracious pity and mercy, that the former way may take place.

I haue also a poore Sister that came to me out of the North, with three fatherlesse children, for her reliefe, whome I maried after to a seruaunt of myne owne house: she is put out of that I did prouide for them. I beseech your honourable grace that her case may be mercifully considered, and that the rather, in con∣templation that I neuer had of hym, which suffered indurance at my entrance to the Sea of London, not one peny of his mouea∣ble goodes, for it was almost halfe a yeare after hys deposition, afore I did enter into that place: yea, and also if any were lefte, knowen to be hys, hee had lycence to cary it away, or there for his vse it did lye safe, as hys officers do know. I payd for the lead which I found there,* 1.4 when I occupied any of it to the behoofe of the Church or of the house. And moreouer, I had not onelye no part of hys moueable goods, but also (as hys olde receyuer and then myne, called M. Stanton, can testifie) I paid for him towards hys seruaunts common liueries and wages, after hys deposition, 53 or 55. poundes, I cannot tell whether. In all these matters I beseech your honourable Maiestie to heare the aduise of men of conscience, and in especially the Archbishop of Yorke, which for that hee was continually in my house a yeare and more, before myne imprisonment, I suppose he is not altogether ignorant of some part of these thyngs, and also hys grace doth knowe my Si∣ster, for whose succour and some reliefe, now vnto your highnes I make most humble sute.

The 16. day of Octob. An. 1555.

N. R.

This degradation beyng past, and all thynges fini∣shed, D. Brookes called the Bailiffes, deliueryng to them M. Ridley with this charge, to keepe him safely from any man speaking with hym,* 1.5 and that he should be brought to the place of execution when they were commanded. Then M. Ridley in praysing God, brast out with these words & sayd: God I thanke thee, and to thy prayse be it spoken, there is none of you all able to lay to my charge any open or notorious crime: for if you could, it should surely bee layd in my lappe, I see very well. Whereunto Brookes sayd, he played the part of a proud Pharisey, exalting and praysing hymselfe.

But M. Ridley sayd: No, no, no, as I haue sayd be∣fore, to Gods glory be it spoken. I confesse my selfe to bee a miserable wretched sinner, and haue great need of Gods helpe and mercy, and doe daily call and cry for the same: therefore I pray you haue no such opinion in me. Then they departed, and in goyng away, a certaine Warden of a Colledge, of whose name I am not very sure, bad Doct.

Ridley repent hym, and forsake that erroneous opinion. Whereunto M. R••dley sayd: Sir, repent you, for you are out of the truth: and I pray God (if it be his blessed will) haue mercy vpon you, and graunt you the vnderstanding of his worde.* 1.6 Then the Warden beyng in a chafe thereat, sayd: I trust that I shall neuer be of your erroneous and diuelish opinion, neyther yet to bee in that place whether you shal go. He is (saith he) the most obstinatest and wil∣fullest man that euer I heard talke since I was borne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A supplication of B. Ridley to Queene Mary, in the behalfe of certayne poore mens leases.
• * 1.2

  This Bishop was D. Boner.
• * 1.3

  If to succour the widow and fa∣therles is pure & vndefiled reli∣gion, as Saint Iames sayth: Then is Boner and his religion filthy and abo∣minable which doth such wr••••g to the widow and fatherles.
• * 1.4

  Notwithstan∣ding these god∣ly and iust ••e∣que••tes, no Iu∣stice could be had vntill that now of late some of these shamefull iniu∣ries, by order of law haue be••ne redressed.
• * 1.5

  The life of M. Ridley such as coul•• not with any notorious crime be char∣ged.
• * 1.6

  The wordes of a certayne war∣den or head of a Colledge.