Athenæ Oxonienses. The History of Oxford Writers. Vol. 1, p. 73

Ralph Radcliff

was born of, and descended from, an ancient Family of his name in Cheshire, received part of his Academical Education in this University, particularly, as I conceive, in Brasenose Coll. about the time of its first foundation, but whether he took a Degree it appears not. The genie of this Person being strangely addicted to the instruction of Youth, he obtained part of the Carme’s House at Huchin or Hitchin in Hertfordshire, an. 1538. being about that time dissolved, wherein he not only opened a School, but framed out a lower room into a Stage for his Scholars to act Latin and English Comedies, to the end that they might be emboldened for speaking and pronuntiation. Which practice being used by them several Years, his School was in great renown, he grew rich and was had in much veneration in the neighbourhood. He had many Tragedies, Comedies, Epistles, Orations, &c. laying by him in the time of K. Ed. 6. which, as he would often tell his Friends, he would never publish till they had remained by him 9 Years: And whether they were ever published, I cannot yet learn. The titles of some of his labours were these.

Dives and Lazarus, a Comedy.

Patient Greseld, Com.

Friendship of Titus and Gisippus, Com.

Chaucers Melibie, Com.

Job’s afflictions, Trag.

Delivery of Susanna from the Elders.

The burning of Sodom.

Pugna nominis & verbi.

De pueroum institutione.

Epistolae ad Tyrones.

Epigrammata, &c.

—With other things which may be seen in (n)(n) In lib de Script. Maj. Brit. cen. 8. nu 98. Baleus, Clar. 1553 who further tells us, that he was in great renown at Huchin in Fifteen hundred fifty and three, He lived several Years after, died and was buried there, but when, I cannot yet learn. One or more of his descendants, (for he was married and had issue) were Knights, particularly Sir Edw. Radcliff of Hitchin, living in the time of K. James 1.