John Redman

The Reverend Dr John Redman was a Canon and Sub-Dean of Westminster and was buried in the north transept of Westminster Abbey. William Camden, in his guidebook published in 1600, says of him: John Redman D.D. Prebend of this Collegiate Church & Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, was released from this wearisome life in the 52nd year of his age, year of Our Lord 1551. And he prints what was presumably his gravestone inscription (no longer remaining by 1715):

John Redman is buried in this ground, expounder of holy scripture, renowned teacher. Tirelessly did he teach the people the heavenly sayings of Christ, as in words so in his life and manners. He was the first Rector of that college in Cambridge called by the name of the Trinity. Now is his body hidden beneath this marble slab, but his spirit, as I hope & pray, is with Christ in heaven. You, dearest reader, make the same prayer & be mindful of your own death; death is certain, the hour uncertain. But no more of that, and so live well & farewell. He lived 52 years. Year of Our Lord 1551 4th November.

Camden also gives the Latin, and English translation, of verses once written up on a "table" or board near the grave:

His bones here rest, shut in a chest Whom Redman men did call: Whose Christian name doth sound the same, Which grace especiall. The Hebrew speach doth thus us teach, That John betokens grave: Which he hath sent by Christs intent, Down from the heavenly place. Christ's grace him gave great store to have Of knowledge and fine wit: Doctrine profound in him was found, Christ made him therein fit. Christs grace away did him convaye, Alas from us to blisse: From this world vaine, where vice doth raigne, And all things are amisse. Wherein ordained to teach, his will to each, Most faithfully he used: Wherein he knew to defend the true, And which things were abused. Cunning full great and utterance feate He could in pulpit use: As a trumpets noise his heavenly voice, To heare would make men muse. What thing he taught, in deeds he wrought, That was his speciall care: Word, deed, and minde in him to finde Alike, it was not rare. The worlds pompe gay he contemn'd alway, And goods he set at naught: Rich to the poore he seemed ever more, Yet povertie him caught. A man most meeke and holy eeke, Simple as the child small: But great wise our Redman is, And so we may him call. In Christs kingdom and of an high rome, And great that man is named To the truth pure that doth endure, And hath his life well framed. By this meanes cleare it doth appeare, Our Redman great must bee; Which put in use his doctrine pure, As all men well might see. Christ was his love, he lived therefore The same, so that thereby: In life and word, he taught accord, An heavenly harmonie. His  thundering voice men did rejoice, To heare that heavenly sound: As lightning bright with vertues light, His deeds did much abound. O Christ above, so deare us love, LIke Redman more to send; Which may well preach, and the people reach, Their lives for to amend.

He was a son of William Redman of Yorkshire and his wife Margaret (Tunstall) and studied at Oxford, Cambridge and Paris. His brother was George. He was rector at Redmarshall in Durham and was known as a great preacher. He was a chaplain to Henry VIII and was appointed Canon of Westminster in 1540.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

Westminster Abbey Reformed 1540-1640, edited by C.S. Knighton and R. Mortimer, 2003