Previously, we blogged about the Right Reverend Rowland Meyrick. We descend from him,*. One of his claims to fame is his enmity with Bishop Robert Ferrar. The Right Reverend Meyrick - for this - is immortalized in Foxes Book of Martyrs.
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| The Book of Martyrs 1653 edition |
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| John Foxe |
The Actes and Monuments, popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs, is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by Protestant English historian John Foxe, first published in 1563 by John Day. It includes a polemical account of the sufferings of Protestants under the Catholic Church, with particular emphasis on England and Scotland. Wikipedia
Right Reverend Roland Merrick
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| St David's Cathedral |
About 1547 he was appointed chancellor of the diocese of Wells, and in 1550 became canon and chancellor of St David's Cathedral. In this capacity he took a leading part in the struggle between the chapter and Bishop Robert Ferrar.
The bishop on his appointment in 1550 found malpractice and theft of church property; and in a letter to the lord chancellor Thomas Goodrich accused Meyrick of 'shameless whoredom'; the details were recorded by John Foxe in his Acts and Monuments.
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| St. David's Tower and south transept |
Meyrick consequently refused to acknowledge the bishop's authority to make a visitation of the cathedral, and led the chapter in a factious opposition. Articles were exhibited against the bishop, containing vague accusations and Ferrar was on a charge of praemunire (the offense of asserting or maintaining papal jurisdiction in England) committed to prison.
He remained there until Mary I of England came to the throne, and he was sent to the stake for another series of offences. Of the bishop's three bitterest enemies, Thomas Young and George Constantine asked for his pardon before his martyrdom in 1555, but Meyrick did not. -
Read more: WikipediaFor this obstinacy, Reverend Meyrick made it into Foxes Book of Martyrs.
276. ROBERT FERRAR
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| Dr. Robert Ferrar |
The history of Dr. Robert Ferrar, bishop of St. David's in Wales, who most constantly gave his life for the testimony of the truth, March the thirtieth, A. D. 1555.
The day after Laurence's death, which was the thirtieth of the month of March, followed the worthy and constant martyrdom of the bishop of St. David's in Wales, called Robert Ferrar, who was the next bishop in this catalog of Christian martyrs, that suffered after Master Hooper.
This aforesaid Ferrar, by the favor and good will of the lord protector, was first called and promoted to that dignity. This man I may well call twice a martyr, not only for the cruel death of the fire, which he suffered almost constantly in the days of Queen Mary, unto the shedding of his blood, but also for divers other injuries and molestations in King Edward's time, which he no less firmly than unworthily sustained at the hands of his enemies, after the fall of the duke of Somerset.
Of these his vexations and troubles, with the wrangling articles and information laid against him, to the number of fifty-six, and of the malice conceived against him by certain covetous canons of the church of Caermarthen, and what were the proceedings of both parts, as well of the innocent, as of the crafty adversaries, and what were their names, in their articles against him, in order here followeth.
George Constantine; David Walter, his servant; Thomas Young, chanter of the cathedral church, who was afterward archbishop of York; Rowland Meyrike, doctor of law, who was afterward bishop of Bangor; Thomas Lee, and Hugh Rawlins, &c.Martyrdom of Bishop Robert Ferrar
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| Martyrdom of Robert Ferrar |
Thus this godly bishop, being condemned and degraded, was committed to the secular power, who not long after was brought to the place of execution in the town of Caermarthen, where he, in the market place in the south side of the market-cross, the thirtieth day of March, being Saturday next before Passion Sunday, most constantly sustained the torments and passion of the fire.
Touching the which constancy of this blessed martyr, this is moreover to be added and noted, that one named Richard Jones, a knight's son, coming to Master Ferrar a little before his death, seemed to lament the painfulness of the death he had to suffer: unto whom the bishop answered again to this effect, saying, that if he saw him once to stir in the pains of his burning, he should then give no credit to his doctrine.
And as he said, so he right. well performed the same; for so patiently he stood that he never moved, but even as he stood, (holding up his stumps,) so still he continued, till one Richard Gravell with a staff dashed him upon the head, and so struck him down.
Foxes Book of Martyrs Case #276.
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
Terms of relationship - grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousin, etc. - are used here generically to include relatives such as fourth great grandfathers, great grand uncles, second cousins twice removed, etc.
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