RIDLEYS OF WILLIMOTESWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND.
419
in theology, and in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. He pro-
ceeded B. D., 1537, and on the refoundation of the Church of Canterbury,
under the King's charter, April 8, 1541, was constituted one of six preach-
ers of that cathedral. In the same year he commenced D. D., in his uni-
versity. In the reign of Edward VI, he distinguished himself by the
ability with which he defended the doctrines of protestantism. In 1553,
he was deprived of his preachership of Canterbury for being married, but
it is said he subsequently put away his wife and conformed to the change
of religion which took place in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1560, he
again occurs as one of the preachers of Canterbury. He also had the
rectory of Stretham, in the Isle of Ely. He was collated to the rectory
of Willingham, County of Cambridge, June 10, 1545, and was deprived
thereof on or before May 5, 1554. He was buried at Ely, June 16, 1576.
His wife, by whom he had two sons, was Mary, daughter of Christopher
Paterson.
Hugh Ridley¹2 (4), eldest son of Christopher (1), of Unthank Hall,
married Elizabeth —, and had issue, of whom hereafter. He was dead
in 1555, when his brother, the Bishop of London, wrote a letter to his
widow and children, then living at Unthank Hall, Northumberland.*
Richard Ridley12 (1), second son of Christopher" (1), settled at New-
castle-on-Tyne, and had several sons and daughters, of whom hereafter.
Elizabeth Ridley¹² (1), a daughter of Christopher" (1), was the wife
of John Ridley, of Walltown, County of Northumberland, which John
was descended from a collateral branch of the same family. She had issue.
Husband died in 1562. See "Ridleys of Walltown" in this book. In
his farewell letter (which see), the bishop calls Elizabeth "my gentle and
loving sister," and mentions her loving him "above the rest of my breth-
ren."
Alice Ridley2 (1), a daughter of Christopher (1), was the wife of
George Shipside. Her brother, the bishop, in his letter of farewell, says
of her husband, "whom I have ever found faithful, trusty, and living in
all good state and conditions"; and of Alice he wrote, "I am glad to hear
thou dost take Christ's cross in good part." Mr. Shipside kept near the
bishop during all his imprisonment. When preparing for the stake the
bishop gave this brother-in-law his gown and tippet.
Rt. Rev. Nicholas Ridley¹² (6), a son of Christopher" (1), was born at
Unthank Hall, Northumberland, about 1500. He received his early edu-
cation at Newcastle-on-Tyne, from whence he was removed to the univer-
sity at Cambridge, where his great learning and distinguished abilities so
recommended him that he was made master of Pembroke Hall, in that
college. After being some years in this office, he left Cambridge and trav-
eled into various parts of the continent for his advancement in knowl-
edge. On his return to England he was made chaplain to King Henry
VIII, and Bishop of Rochester, from which he was translated to the See
of London, by Edward VI.
In private life he was pious, humane, and affable; in public, learned,
sound, and eloquent; diligent in duty, and very popular as a preacher.
* BALDWIN RIDLEY, of Flushing, said to be a nephew of Nicholas Ridley, Bishop
of London, had a daughter Appolonia, who was married to Daniel Tyssen, who was
born at Flushing, in Zealand, and died there about 1647, aged 46 years. Was Bald-
win a son of Hugh Ridley, who was mentioned in the farewell letter of Bishop Rid-
ley as "of Unthank"?
