(Nicholas), bishop of London, and a martyr to the reformation, was descended of an an- cient family, and born in the beginning of the 16th century, at Wilmontwick in Northumberland. From the grammar-school at Newcastle upon Tyne, he was sent to Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, in the year 1518, where he was supported by his uncle Dr Robert Rad- ley, fellow of Queen's college. In 1522 he took his first degree in arts; two years after, was elected fel- low; and, in 1525, he commenced master of arts. In 1527, having taken orders, he was sent by his uncle, for further improvement, to the Sorbonne at Paris; from thence he went to Louvain, and continued abroad till the year 1529. On his return to Cam- bridge he was chosen under-treasurer of the university; and, in 1533, was elected senior proctor. He then proceeded bachelor of divinity, and was chosen chap- lain of the university, orator, and magister gloriae. At this time he was much admired as a preacher and disputant. He lost his kind uncle in 1536; but was soon after patronised by Dr Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, who made him his domestic chaplain, and presented him to the vicarage of Herne in East Kent; where, we are told, he preached the doctrine of the Reformation. In 1540, having commenced doctor of divinity, he was made king's chaplain; and, in the same year, was elected master of his college in Cam- bridge. Soon after, Ridley was collated to a prebend in the church of Canterbury; and it was not long be- fore he was accused in the bishop's court, at the insti- gation of bishop Gardiner, of preaching against the doctrine of the Six Articles. The matter being re- ferred to Cranmer, Ridley was acquitted. In 1545 he was made a prebendary of Westminster abbey; in 1547 was presented, by the fellows of Pembroke-hall, to the living of Soham, in the diocese of Norwich; and the same year was consecrated bishop of Rochester. In 1550 he was translated to the see of London; in which year he was one of the commissioners for exa- mining bishop Gardiner, and concurred in his depri- vation. In the year 1552, our prelate returning from Cambridge, unfortunately for himself, paid a visit to the princess, afterwards queen Mary; to whom, prompted by his zeal for reformation, he expressed himself with too much freedom: for she was fear- lessly seated on the throne, when Ridley was doomed a victim to her revenge. With Cranmer and Latimer, he was burnt alive at Oxford, on the 16th of October 1555. RIG

1555. He wrote, 1. A treatise concerning images in churches. 2. Brief declaration of the Lord's Supper. 3. Certain godly and comfortable conferences between bishop Ridley and Mr Hugh Latimer, during their imprisonment. 4. A comparison between the comfortable doctrine of the Gospel, and the traditions of the Popish religion; and other works.