RIDLEYS OF WILLIMOTESWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND.
421
of Mr. Irish, mayor of the city, in whose house he remained till the day
of his martyrdom.
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"He was several times brought before the Bishops' council, where every
argument was used to make him recant, but his firm answers assured his
examiners of his inflexibility. In reply to Dr. Brooks, he said, 'My lord,
you know my mind fully herein; as for my doctrine, my conscience as-
sureth me that it is sound, and according to God's word; and which doc-
trine, the Lord being my helper, I will maintain so long as my tongue
shall move, and breath is within my body: and in confirmation thereof I
am willing to seal the same with my blood.' When asked if he would
not confess the pope to be head of the church, he replied, 'I marvel that ye
will trouble me with any such foolish questions, you know my mind
concerning the usurped authority of that Anti-Christ.'
"When every means used to make him recant had proved unavailing,
and his formal degradation, that of putting on a priest's dress and then
taking the same off with ceremony,- had commenced, he refused to assist
his attendants in any way; and when told that these should be put on by
force, he replied, 'Do therein as it shall please you, I am well content
with that, and more than that; the servant is not above his Master.
they dealt so cruelly with our Saviour Christ, as the Scripture maketh
mention, and he suffered the same patiently, how much doth it become us,
his servants!'
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If
"On the night before he suffered, his beard* was washed, and as he sat
at supper, at the house of Mr. Irish, his keeper, he invited his hostess, and
the rest at the table, to his marriage; 'for,' said he, to-morrow I must be
married,' thus showing himself as cheerful as ever. And wishing his sister
at his marriage, he asked his brother, sitting at the table, whether he
thought she could find in her heart to be there; he answered, 'Yes, I dare
say, with all heart'; at this Ridley said he was glad to hear of her
sincerity. When he saw some weeping he said, 'Quiet yourselves; though
my breakfast shall be somewhat sharp and painful, yet I am sure my sup-
per will be more pleasant and sweet.' When they arose from the table
his brother-in-law offered to stay all night with him; but Ridley said,
'No, no, that you shall not; for I intend, God willing, to go to bed and
sleep as quietly to-night as ever I did.' On this his brother-in-law de-
parted, exhorting him to be of good cheer, and to take his cross quietly, for
the reward was great.
"On the north side of the town, in the ditch over against Balliol Col-
lege, the place of execution was appointed, and for fear that any tumult
might arise to hinder the burning of God's servant, the Lord Williams was
commanded by the queen's letters and the householders of the city, to be
ready with an armed force to assist the execution; and when everything
was in readiness, on the 15th of October, 1555, Ridley was led forth by the
mayor and bailiffs. He had on a black gown furred, and faced with foins,
such as he wore when bishop; a tippet of velvet, furred likewise, about his
neck; a velvet cap upon his head, and slippers on his feet. When he saw
the stake he held up his hands and said to Latimer, who was to be burned
with him, 'God will either assuage the fury of the flames, or else strengthen
us to abide it.'
He then went to the stake and kneeling down prayed
most fervently. Then a sermon was preached from the words, "Though
I have a picture of Ridley at the stake, purchased in London, in which he is
represented with a very long, waving beard, reaching nearly to the waist.
