Foxe was ordained deacon by Nicholas Ridley on 24 June 1550 , and his circle of friends , associates , and supporters included John Hooper , William Turner , John Rogers , William Cecil , and most importantly John Bale , who was to become a close friend and `` certainly encouraged , very probably guided , Foxe in the composition of his first martyrology .
Foxe was ordained deacon by Nicholas Ridley on June 24 , 1550 .