fubje&. But notwithstanding all the perfuafions and menaces that were used, the Bishop ultimately refused to give his countenance and concurrence to, what he thought,, unjust measures: he was steady, and the affair dropt.'

The Vifitors, especially the Bishop of Rochefter, had ano-ther commiffion to execute, which was to prefide at a public difputation, appointed to be held at Cambridge, relating to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The two pofitions appointed

were:

ift. Tranfubftantiation cannot be proved by the plain and manifeft words of Scripture, nor can thereof be neceffarily collected, yet be confirmed by the confents of the ancient Fathers, for thefe one thousand years past.

2d. In the Lord's Supper is none other oblation or facrifice,than one only remembrance of Chrift's death, and of thanksgiving.

After the difputations were ended, the Bifhop very folidly determined against Tranfubftantiation; and the oblation of Chrift in the fupper.-This was more than a mere fcholaftic exercife: for the Papifts had been worsted in a public difputation at Oxford; and it was thought proper to appoint the fame at Cambridge, that the Papifts there might likewife have an opportunity of defending their opinions, if they could. TRUTH has ever the advantage by being fairly EXAMINED INTO. Langdale, one of the Difputants, and for his zeal made Archdeacon of Chichefter by Queen Mary, drew up a pretended refutation of Dr. Ridley's determination: but with this fufpicion of unfairness in his account of managing the difpute, that tho' he had the King's licence for printing it in Paris, 1553, yet it was not printed till three years after, when Langdale was very fecure that Ridley could make no reply. However, Pilkington, another of the Difputants, and afterwards Bishop of Durham, fays, that the Bishop made all things fo clear in his determination, and the auditors were fo convinced, that fome of them would have turned Archbishop Cranmer's book on that subject. into Latin.

The time was now drawing near, when the new reformed book of Common Prayer, which had received the authority of the Council and Parliament, was appointed to be used: the Princefs Mary abfolutely refufed it, and, indeed, all obedience to King Edward's laws. Encouraged by her example, and the connivance of fome of the Bishops, and milled by papiftical Priests, there were many places where this book, fo ftrictly enjoined, was either not known at all, or not ufed, or at leaft very feldon and irreverently. Whereupon the King fent letters to

the

the Bishops, reprimanding their negligence, and charging them, on their allegiance, to do their duty herein. On the 11th of Auguft, Boner, the Bishop of London, was fummoned before the Council on this account: his remifness was complained of; and he was ordered to preach at St. Paul's Cross on the rft of September, and once every quarter for the future: the points he was to handle were given him, viz. the heinoufnefs of rebellion; that true religion, confifted not in ceremonies; that yet men were to obey the Magiftrate in the ufe of them, and principally, that the King was no lefs a King on account of his minority, and the people equally bound to obey him.-The Bifhop did touch upon all the points enjoined him, excepting that of the King's age, of which he said not one word: instead thereof, he diverted his difcourfe to another fubject, the manner of Chrift's prefence in the facrament, afferting the grofs corporeal prefence; which he did with many fharp reflections on those who were of another mind. Information was foon made against him, by Latimer, Hoper, and others, that as he had wholly omitted to speak about the King's age, fo he had but touched the other points flightly; and advanced many things which tended to ftir up diforder and diffention. Upon this information, a commiffion iffued to the Archbishop, the Bishop of Rochester, and others, to impower any four, three, or two of them, to call Boner before them, and with due examination and procefs according to law and juftice, to hear the faid matters fummarily, and give determinate fentence therein. Seven feffions were held upon this commiffion; Boner behaved with great infolence, abufing the witneffes and the audience, endeavouring to divert them to a difputation on the Corporeal Prefence; and at last appealed from them to the King. His indecent behaviour was extraordinary, fwearing at Sir Thomas Smith, giving him the lie, and defying him; and his outrageous contempt of the King's Commiffioners, occafioned his being committed prifoner to the Marshalfea. His continued contumacy, and refufing to make them farther anfwer, or fubmit to their jurifdiction, made them proceed to fentence of deprivation. He appealed to the King, as a fhift, if poffible, to elude the sentence; on which occafion the Bishop of Rochester quoted a text of St. John: He that doeth evil hateth the light. The dangerous rebellious temper he manifefted, occafioned his being fent back to the Marfhallea.

Upon the confirmation of the fentence against Boner, the Council were not unprovided with a proper perfon to fill the important fee of London. Ridley, being efteemed both the most learned and most thoroughly zealous for the Reformation, was pitched upon to be the man. It was alfo thought needless

to have two Bishopricks fo near one another as London and Westminster; the latter therefore was now fuppressed, ́ and united to the fee of London.

It has been objected to Dr. Ridley, that he flattered the Protector, and that he had a view to the Bishoprick of London for himself, in the deprivation of Boner: but these things are spoken without proof, and contrary to probability. For when he was put into commiffion to examine Boner, he had fo very lately offended the Protector, that it was not likely he should defire to be employed again: and if employed, 'and Boner fhould be found worthy of deprivation, he could not imagine his intereft was fo great with the Protector, as to fucceed him in the fee of London. And that he got this Bifhoprick for his reward, as if in confequence of his views and schemes, is moft improbable, because betwixt his appointment to examine Boner,' and his promotion to the vacant fee, there happened fo great a revolution at Court, that it was not likely that Ridley fhould be promoted by the Earl of Warwick, in confequence of a fcheme concerted between Ridley and the late Protector.

It appears that Ridley's patent to the Bishoprick of London was during life; the terms of the patent are thefe“ For the fingular learning in the facred Scriptures, and moft approved manners with which the faid Nicholas, late Bishop of Rochefter, is endued; and becaufe according to the com"mendation of our Saviour, we judge him above all others "worthy to be put over many things, who hath been found

faithful over few, we of our grace and mere motion, "have granted to him the Bifhoprick of London, to have, to "hold, and occupy the fame, durante vitâ fuâ naturali.”—We fhould like to know whether the fame form be retained in the patents of our Bishops in thefe times: it is fo excellent that we hope it is not difufed.,

In this high ftation his behaviour was with great dignity; for it was benevolent, ufeful, and exemplary. With refpect to his predeceffor," he was very careful to do him no injury in his goods, taking not one pennyworth of his moveables, which he found in the palace, and gave him leave to, move whatever was his; and what he knew to be his, tho' not taken away according to this leave, he carefully preferved for Boner's ufe. Boner had bought a quantity of lead for the repairs of his houfe and church, which Ridley employed to the ufes defigned, but paid Boner for it. And that none might fuffer innocently by his promotion, he paid fifty three or fifty five pounds to Boner's own jervants, which fum was due to them from their Mafter, for liveries and wages. Nor did his predeceffor's mother, or fifter, who lived near the epifcopal palace at Fulham, mifs the

honour

honour or the benefit of the Bishop of London's board. He always fent for them to dinner and fupper, and placed Mrs. Boner at the upper end of his table, never difplacing her, though even any of the King's Council dined with him, as they often did: not frowning upon her misfortunes, but courteously alleviating them, with all the honour and tenderness he could thew to her, faying, "By your Lordship's favour, this place of right and cuftom is for my mother Boner;" as if he had fucceeded to the relation, as well as to the office of her fon.

With respect to himself, he was mortified, and given to prayer and contemplation: with refpect to his family, careful and inftructive. His mode of life was, as foon as he rofe and dreffed himself, to continue in private prayer half an hour; then, unlefs other business interrupted him, he retired to his ftudy, where he continued till ten of the clock, at which hour he came to common prayer with the family, and there daily read a lecture to them, beginning at the Acts of the Apostles, and fo going. regularly through St. Paul's Epiftles, giving to every one who could read, a new Teftament, and hiring them to learn by heart fome chofen chapters.-After prayers he went to dinner, where he was not very forward to begin difcourfe, but when occafion was adminiftered, he entered into it with great wifdom and difcretion, and fometimes, if the cafe required, merrily. This conversation he would indulge for an hour after dinner, or elfe in playing at chefs. The hour for unbending being spent, he returned to his ftudy, where he continued till five, except Suiters, or business abroad, required otherwife. Then he went to common prayer ás in the morning, after which he fupped: then diverting himself for another hour after fupper, as he did after dinner, he went back to his ftudy, and continued there till eleven at night, when he retired to private prayer, and then went to bed.

The firft affair of confequence in which we find the Bishop of London engaged, was in a commiffion with the Archbishop, and feveral others, to receive the Bishop of Winchefter's fubmiffion to the King, or to deprive him. The Court were inclined to treat him with tenderness, and to releafe him from his long imprisonment; and would have done it, upon his fubmiffion to the King, and acknowlegement of his errors; but this he continued to the laft to refufe, and with fo much obftinacy and rudeness, that he was at length deprived. Winchester appealed to the King; but the Council confirmed the fentence of the Commiffioners, and came to this refolution, "That forafmuch as it appeared, he had at all times, before the Judges of his caufe, ufed himself unreverently to the King's Majefty, and flanderfully to his Council, and especially yesterday, being the

B 3

day

day of his judgment given against him, he called his Judges Hereticks and Sacramentaries, they being here the King's Commiffioners, and of his Highnefs's Council; it was therefore concluded, by the whole board, that he should be removed from the lodging he hath now in the Tower, to a meaner lodging, and none to wait upon him, but one by the Lieutenant's appointment; that no one fhould be permitted to vifit him; and that he fhould be deprived of the ufe of pen, ink, or paper."

To this fucceeded another affair, much more troublesome, in which Dr. Ridley was concerned, and that was his difpute with Hopèr, Elect of Gloucester, about Veftments.

When the Six Article Act of Henry VIII. took place, John Hoper, Profeffor of Divinity in Oxford, was obliged to quit the Univerfity he went abroad, and fpent the remainder of that reign at Bafil and Zurich. Early in King Edward's reign he came home, became very popular for his manners, and preaching, and was named in Council to the then vacant fee of Gloucefter. When he came to be confecrated, he objected to the vestments appointed to be ufcd at that folemnity; and to the final clause in the oath, So help me God, and all Saints! The Archbishop told him, that these things were enjoined by statute, and that it was not in his power to difpenfe with them, without incurring a premunire. Upon this Hoper gets his Patron, the Earl of Warwick, to write to the Archbishop, and to tell him in the King's name, and at the King's request, that there fhould be no danger in difpenfing with thefe things; and beging him, not to charge the Elect with an oath burthenfome to his confcience. The Archbishop refufed to comply. Hoper then addressed himself more particularly, and as he thought, with fome profpect of fuccefs, to the Bishop of London, who was to affift in the confecration. Here likewife he was difappointed. Ridley was as averfe from difpenfing with the laws as Cranmer. Hoper, in the next place, made ufe of his intereft at Court; and he fo far fucceeded, as to obtain a letter from the King to both the Bishops, in which they were fully difpenfed with, and difcharged from all manner of damages, penalties, and forfeitures, which they might incur by omitting any of the rites and ceremonies to offenfive to Hoper's confcience. But all this was without effect, and only ferved to difplease the Bifhops, who thought Hoper's conduct required correction rather than indulgence. With refpect to the offenfive part of the oath, the King himself ftruck out with his own hand, the words all Saints: but with respect to the habits, the Council, who liked the man, when their endeavours failed of bringing over the Bishops, laboured on the other fide to perfuade Hoper to

his oppofition. For this purpofe Ridley was appointed to

confer