406
RIDLEY FAMILY OF ENGLAND, - EARLY ANCESTRY.
-
Janet, thou donnot,
I'll lay my best bonnet
Thou gets a new gude-man afore it be night."
The old lady is made to say she had not heard the song sung for many
years, but that, when she was a lassie, it was sung at merry-makings “till
the roof rung again." The somewhat ludicrous description shows the dis-
orderly state of society in which a murder in cold blood was not only looked
upon as merely a casual circumstance, but, as stated in the succeeding
verses of the old song, sometimes became the source of jest and mockery.
"Willimoteswick," in the above verse, represented Sir Nicholas Ridley
of that place, and proves that he was then chief of that clan, not only be-
cause his name is not given, -being well known as "Ridley of Willi-
moteswick," but he is mentioned first in the list. "Hardriding Dick"
was Richard Ridley, head of the family at Hardriding at that time. "Will
of the Wall" was William Ridley, of Walltown, another ancient resi-
dence of the family, so named because situated on the old Roman Wall.
"Hughy of Hawden" was Hugh Ridley, a resident of Hawden, a place
near Willimoteswick and the other seats of the Ridleys of Northumber-
land. In this feudal attack an alliance was formed with the Thirwalls of
the castle of that name, a compact frequently entered into in those days by
families living neighbors, for the greater security of their properties.
Albany Featherstonhaugh made a figure during the reign of King Edward
VI, but fell at the hand of his deadly enemy, the bold and bloody "Ridley
of Willimoteswick," to whose merciless power the old man was left by his
son and successor, Nicholas, who ran away before the fight commenced.
The following from the notes in the works of Sir Walter Scott, proves
that a battle took place between the two clans: "24 Oct. 22 do Henrici
8 vi. Inquisito capt apud Hautähistle sup visum corpus Alexandri Feath-
erston. Gen, apud Grensilhaugh_felonici interfecti, 22 Oct, per Nicolaum
Ridley de Unthauk Gen. Hugon Ridley, Nicolaum Ridley et alios ejusdem
nominus." Nor were the Featherstons without their revenge, for, “36 to
Henrici 8 vi" we have " Ulligatio Nicalia Featherston, ac Thome Nix-
son, etc., etc., pro homicitto Will Ridley de moral."
RIDLEY HALL, another ancient residence of the family in Northumber-
land, was named for their ancestral seat in Chestershire. Some authori-
ties think Ridley Hall was possessed by the Tyndale Ridleys prior to their
attainder to the Willimoteswick estates, but in the absence of proof I am
unable to fix the dates of settlement with precision. This residence is
near where the Allan water falls into the river Tyne. The woods are
more justly celebrated for their beauty than those of any other place in
Northumberland, and far surpass those of the well-known Castle Eden in
the richness and variety of the scenery. They are of great extent, reach-
ing for several miles along the shores of the Allan toward Stewart Peel.
At the top of the woods, on the right bank of the Allan, a grassy terrace
leads to what is known as "Billbery Hill Moss House," whence there is
an extensive view up a deep glen to a promontory called "Stewart Peel ";
hence a winding path descends to the "Ravens' Craig," a bold cliff of
yellow sandstone which overhangs the river. A slightly-made chain.
bridge is swung across the stream a little lower down, whence a steep
path in the hill leads through the woods to a tarn in the hill-top under a
grove of dark Scotch firs, and close to a purple moorland. Thence pass-
ing the "Swiss Cottage," a place called the "Hawk's Nest" is reached by
the "Craggy Pass," a narrow staircase cut in the side of the rocks which
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