Robert Ferrar
Encyclopedia
Robert Ferrar was a Bishop of St David's
in Wales
.
He was prior of Nostell Priory
, embraced the English Reformation
, and was made Bishop of St. David's by Edward VI
. He suffered martyr
dom during the Marian Persecutions
.
that he was born in the reign of King Henry VII. It is assumed he was born in Yorkshire
because of his later connections with the county: He was found first living at Nostell Priory in Yorkshire in the 1520s. . On 24 May 1524, Ferrar was ordained successively as acolyte and subdeacon. On 24 September, four months later, he was ordained as deacon. After being ordained as a deacon all students participated in a profession, a promise to lead a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. Ferrar argued that to live chastely did entail a life of celibacy. From among the canons of Nostell he was chosen to receive the benefit of a university education sponsored by the Priory. From c.1525–1534 Ferrar was a student at the University of Cambridge
and University of Oxford
, where he became a Bachelor of Theology.
, and were later to become prominent as reformers and martyrs of the English church. These included Thomas Cranmer
, Hugh Latimer
, Thomas Bilney
and Robert Barnes. They were bold enough to preach new doctrines publicly, but were accused of heresy
and forced to conform with the traditional teaching. Also in 1528 the prior of St. Mary's college at Oxford was John Ramsey. Among his books was a copy of Erasmus's Enchiridion militis Christiani or “Handbook of the Christian Soldier.”
A group of scholars of New Cardinal College spread the teachings of the reformer among Oxford students. Because Lutheranism
was suspected within the college, a purge and search was ordered, and illegal reformist books were found. Ferrar was on John Foxe
's list as possessing forbidden books, leading to his first arrest. Ferrar formally applied for his degree in theology
in May 1533, which was granted.
After receiving his license, Ferrar preached in the towns and villages near Nostell Priory where he was based. In June 1538 Thomas Cromwell appointed Ferrar as Prior of St. Oswald. Ferrar left the priorship by 1539 and drops from sight for the next seven years. He, according to sources, did not preach during this time.
When Henry VIII
passed the Act of Six Articles Ferrar was a target for attack by those who sought to enforce it. He was summoned 10 September 1540 for the safety of his soul and heretical views. When he failed to appear he was excommunicated. He bought land in 1545 for agricultural and business purposes.
Upon his arrival, however, he moved for serious reforms. Ferrar pursued religious reform in his short term as bishop through parliamentary legislation, administration of ecclesiastical property, control over the cathedral chapter, supervision of clergy
, enforcing discipline through court, and direct approaches to the congregation through biblical preaching. This radical restructuring led to conflict between him and his clergy, particularly Rowland Meyrick
, appointed in 1550 as chancellor. A blame game ensued between them: Ferrar accused them of accepting bribes while his clergy
claimed praemunire
. This would eventually lead to his downfall when his clergy stood witness against Ferrar.
against himwith 56 articles . The accusations against him were under the categories of:
Under the first category, it was alleged that when he first became Bishop, he “appointed his chancellor by his letter of commission,” ignoring the king’s style and authority. In the second place, he was accused because he didn't rebuke people who prayed with beads in their hands when he met with them, knowing that it was superstitious. He was also accused of not speaking about enough godly things; instead it was said that he spoke of worldly things such as: “baking , brewing,” In addition, under category four he was accused that his church service wasn't paraphrased in English, and some of his churches did not have English bibles.
Ferrar responded twice to the charges made against him at Carmarthen
. Foxe's Book of Martyrs
contains a response, by an unknown writer, to the accusations made against Ferrar in 1551. This response is written in the style of a legal document, and was likely presented in 1552. An excerpt from this document reads,
The articles presented against Ferrar in 1551 were inconclusive, so the Privy Council
requested and examination of witnesses. It took place from 3 May to 7 May 1552. Ferrar was kept in London while the witnesses were being interviewed, so he would not affect how people answered the questions. Around 124 witnesses were interviewed.
The witness examinations were supposed to take place before three commissioners: Thomas Jones, John Wogan, and David Vaughan. Because so many witnesses were interviewed, over such a short period of time, the process of the commission was suspect. In November of 1552, Ferrar was able to present objections concerning witness testimony. Ferrar believed that certain witnesses were biased, because they were people who had shown hostility towards him in the past. Witnesses who may have been biased in their accusations against Ferrar included Roger Barlow, Griffith Dwnn, Thomas John Thomas, and John Evans.
About half the witnesses' testimony concerned how Ferrar was aware of the crimes committed by his officers and friends, but failed to punish them. Brown sees this as “a concerted attempt to blacken Ferrar's name through attacking the character of his supporters.” On the other hand, there were witnesses who denied the charges made against Ferrar. Roger Owen, a commissary of Ferrar, denied a few of the 56 articles.
Ferrar was sent to King's Bench Prison
in Southwark
when Queen Mary
took the throne in 1553. He was imprisoned with other bishops, including John Hooper
of Gloucester and Miles Coverdale of Exeter. On 14 February 1554 Bishop Gardiner charged Ferrar with violation of chastity
. "He was required to answer whether he believed in the lawfulness of clerical matrimony and in transubstantiation
. For some time Ferrar refused to answer. At another sitting Morgan
pronounced him contumacious, and condemned him." In March 1554, Ferrar officially lost his position as a bishop.
Unusually, Robert Ferrar is the subject of a modern poem called "The Martyrdom of Bishop Farrar" by the former Poet laureate, Ted Hughes
-1520’s: Ferrar lives in St. Oswald’s Monastery
-24 May 1524: Ordained acolyte and subdeacon at St. Oswald’s
-25 September 1524: Ordained as deacon
at St. Oswald’s
-1525-1534: Studies at Cambridge
and Oxford
acquiring a Bachelors degree in Theology
-1538-1539: Acts as Prior of St. Oswald’s
-1540: Ferrar is summoned under for heresy
under The Six Articles Act
-1547: Edward VI takes rule after Henry VIII
dies; Ferrar is appointed preacher to represent Edward during the Royal Visitation of 1547 to spread reforms
-Sometime in 1548: Ferrar is married to his wife, Elizabeth
-9 September 1548: Ferrar is consecrated as Bishop
of St. David’s, he had been appointed by Edward VI
-24 November 1548 - 14 March 1549: Ferrar attends House of Lords
and plays role in the passing of the Uniformity Act, instituting mandatory English prayer books
-1549: spends time traveling throughout his diocese preaching and spreading reforms under Edward VI
-1550: 1st born son Samuel
-1551: 2nd born Griffith
-Autumn 1551: 56 Articles presented to Privy Council
-1552: Statements are made on Ferrar’s behalf that he, “preached and taught the true doctrine of the Gospel
”
-May 1552: Commission of Witnesses interviewed
-November 1552: Ferrar presents objections to Witness testimony
-1553: Queen Mary
takes throne and Ferrar is sent to Bench Prison in Southwark
-1553: 3rd born Sage
-February 1554: Bishop Gardiner charges Ferrar with violation of chastity
-March 1554: Ferrar officially loses his position as Bishop
-13 March 1555: Ferrar is sentenced to death for his crimes
-30 March 1555: Ferrar is martyr
ed
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
He was prior of Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory is a Palladian house located in Nostell, near Crofton close to Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, approached by the Doncaster road from Wakefield...
, embraced the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, and was made Bishop of St. David's by Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
. He suffered martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
dom during the Marian Persecutions
Marian Persecutions
The Marian Persecutions were carried out against religious reformers, Protestants, and other dissenters for their heretical beliefs during the reign of Mary I of England. The excesses of this period were mythologized in the historical record of Foxe's Book of Martyrs...
.
Early life
There is no specific information on the date and place of Robert Ferrars birth, but he did state to Stephen GardinerStephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.-Early life:...
that he was born in the reign of King Henry VII. It is assumed he was born in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
because of his later connections with the county: He was found first living at Nostell Priory in Yorkshire in the 1520s. . On 24 May 1524, Ferrar was ordained successively as acolyte and subdeacon. On 24 September, four months later, he was ordained as deacon. After being ordained as a deacon all students participated in a profession, a promise to lead a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. Ferrar argued that to live chastely did entail a life of celibacy. From among the canons of Nostell he was chosen to receive the benefit of a university education sponsored by the Priory. From c.1525–1534 Ferrar was a student at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he became a Bachelor of Theology.
Influences
In 1526, while Ferrar was in Cambridge, a number of students took an interest in the teachings of Martin LutherMartin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, and were later to become prominent as reformers and martyrs of the English church. These included Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
, Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555, under Queen Mary, he was burnt at the stake, becoming one of the three Oxford Martyrs of Anglicanism.-Life:Latimer was born into a...
, Thomas Bilney
Thomas Bilney
Thomas Bilney was an English Christian martyr.- Education :Bilney was born in or after 1495 at or near Norwich. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating LL.B. and taking holy orders in 1519...
and Robert Barnes. They were bold enough to preach new doctrines publicly, but were accused of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
and forced to conform with the traditional teaching. Also in 1528 the prior of St. Mary's college at Oxford was John Ramsey. Among his books was a copy of Erasmus's Enchiridion militis Christiani or “Handbook of the Christian Soldier.”
A group of scholars of New Cardinal College spread the teachings of the reformer among Oxford students. Because Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
was suspected within the college, a purge and search was ordered, and illegal reformist books were found. Ferrar was on John Foxe
John Foxe
John Foxe was an English historian and martyrologist, the author of what is popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs, , an account of Christian martyrs throughout Western history but emphasizing the sufferings of English Protestants and proto-Protestants from the fourteenth century through the...
's list as possessing forbidden books, leading to his first arrest. Ferrar formally applied for his degree in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in May 1533, which was granted.
After receiving his license, Ferrar preached in the towns and villages near Nostell Priory where he was based. In June 1538 Thomas Cromwell appointed Ferrar as Prior of St. Oswald. Ferrar left the priorship by 1539 and drops from sight for the next seven years. He, according to sources, did not preach during this time.
When Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
passed the Act of Six Articles Ferrar was a target for attack by those who sought to enforce it. He was summoned 10 September 1540 for the safety of his soul and heretical views. When he failed to appear he was excommunicated. He bought land in 1545 for agricultural and business purposes.
Ferrar as bishop
In 1547 Edward VI took the throne, and Ferrar was released from prison with the repeal of the Six Articles. He was then appointed as a preacher to represent Edward during the Royal Visitation of 1547. Ferrar worked to bring reforms, such as the addition of the English Bible, the exposure of idolatry, and other “superstitious” activities, throughout several dioceses in England and Wales. Soon after, Ferrar was appointed as the Bishop of St. David's diocese by Edward VI on Sunday, September 9, 1548. It is unclear why, but it was several months between Ferrar’s consecration and his arrival at St. David's.Upon his arrival, however, he moved for serious reforms. Ferrar pursued religious reform in his short term as bishop through parliamentary legislation, administration of ecclesiastical property, control over the cathedral chapter, supervision of clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, enforcing discipline through court, and direct approaches to the congregation through biblical preaching. This radical restructuring led to conflict between him and his clergy, particularly Rowland Meyrick
Rowland Meyrick
-Life:Born at Bodargan in the parish of Llangadwaladr, Anglesey, in 1505, he was the second son of Meyric ab Llewelyn ab Heylin, by Margaret daughter of Rowland ab Hywl, rector of Aberffraw in the same county. He was named after his maternal grandfather, and educated at St Edward Hall, Oxford. He...
, appointed in 1550 as chancellor. A blame game ensued between them: Ferrar accused them of accepting bribes while his clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
claimed praemunire
Praemunire
In English history, Praemunire or Praemunire facias was a law that prohibited the assertion or maintenance of papal jurisdiction, imperial or foreign, or some other alien jurisdiction or claim of supremacy in England, against the supremacy of the Monarch...
. This would eventually lead to his downfall when his clergy stood witness against Ferrar.
Decline from bishop
Formal trouble arouse for Ferrar when his canons at St. David's put together an indictmentIndictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
against himwith 56 articles . The accusations against him were under the categories of:
- Abuse of his authority;
- Maintenance of superstition contrary to the King's ordinances and injunctions;
- Wilful negligence; and
- Folly.
Under the first category, it was alleged that when he first became Bishop, he “appointed his chancellor by his letter of commission,” ignoring the king’s style and authority. In the second place, he was accused because he didn't rebuke people who prayed with beads in their hands when he met with them, knowing that it was superstitious. He was also accused of not speaking about enough godly things; instead it was said that he spoke of worldly things such as: “baking , brewing,” In addition, under category four he was accused that his church service wasn't paraphrased in English, and some of his churches did not have English bibles.
Ferrar responded twice to the charges made against him at Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
. Foxe's Book of Martyrs
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
The Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, more accurately Acts and Monuments, is an account from a Protestant point of view of Christian church history and martyrology...
contains a response, by an unknown writer, to the accusations made against Ferrar in 1551. This response is written in the style of a legal document, and was likely presented in 1552. An excerpt from this document reads,
- “The said bishop allegeth that he hath not ... used any superstitions of papistry, as it is untruly surmised against him; but hath and doth, to the uttermost of his power, wit, and cunning, set forth, preach, and teach, the true doctrine of the Gospel.”
The articles presented against Ferrar in 1551 were inconclusive, so the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
requested and examination of witnesses. It took place from 3 May to 7 May 1552. Ferrar was kept in London while the witnesses were being interviewed, so he would not affect how people answered the questions. Around 124 witnesses were interviewed.
The witness examinations were supposed to take place before three commissioners: Thomas Jones, John Wogan, and David Vaughan. Because so many witnesses were interviewed, over such a short period of time, the process of the commission was suspect. In November of 1552, Ferrar was able to present objections concerning witness testimony. Ferrar believed that certain witnesses were biased, because they were people who had shown hostility towards him in the past. Witnesses who may have been biased in their accusations against Ferrar included Roger Barlow, Griffith Dwnn, Thomas John Thomas, and John Evans.
About half the witnesses' testimony concerned how Ferrar was aware of the crimes committed by his officers and friends, but failed to punish them. Brown sees this as “a concerted attempt to blacken Ferrar's name through attacking the character of his supporters.” On the other hand, there were witnesses who denied the charges made against Ferrar. Roger Owen, a commissary of Ferrar, denied a few of the 56 articles.
Ferrar was sent to King's Bench Prison
King's Bench Prison
The King's Bench Prison was a prison in Southwark, south London, from medieval times until it closed in 1880. It took its name from the King's Bench court of law in which cases of defamation, bankruptcy and other misdemeanours were heard; as such, the prison was often used as a debtor's prison...
in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
when Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
took the throne in 1553. He was imprisoned with other bishops, including John Hooper
John Hooper
John Hooper, Johan Hoper, was an English churchman, Anglican Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester. A Protestant Reformer, he was killed during the Marian Persecutions.-Biography:...
of Gloucester and Miles Coverdale of Exeter. On 14 February 1554 Bishop Gardiner charged Ferrar with violation of chastity
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
. "He was required to answer whether he believed in the lawfulness of clerical matrimony and in transubstantiation
Transubstantiation
In Roman Catholic theology, transubstantiation means the change, in the Eucharist, of the substance of wheat bread and grape wine into the substance of the Body and Blood, respectively, of Jesus, while all that is accessible to the senses remains as before.The Eastern Orthodox...
. For some time Ferrar refused to answer. At another sitting Morgan
Henry Morgan (bishop)
Henry Morgan was a Welsh lawyer and churchman, bishop of St Davids in the reign of Mary of England.-Life:He was born in Dewisland, Pembrokeshire, and became a student in the University of Oxford in 1515. He proceeded B.C.L. 10 July 1522, and D.C.L. 17 July 1525, and soon after became principal of...
pronounced him contumacious, and condemned him." In March 1554, Ferrar officially lost his position as a bishop.
Death
Robert Ferrar’s desire was to die as a “true bearer of the cross of Christ”. The martyrdom of Ferrar took place on 30 March 1555 on the market square (now Nott's square) in Carmarthen. He received this secular execution publicly as an example to any who were wishing to conform to Robert’s doctrines. His doctrines were deemed inadequate and brought many accusations upon him. "On 30 he was burnt on the south side of the market cross, if he (the audience) saw him once to stir in the pains of his burning, he should then give no credit to his doctrine. Ferrar never moved, but stood firm, holding up his burned hands. So he continued till one Richard Graveli (poss Gravell, Gravelle), with a staff, dashed him upon the head and so struck him down."Unusually, Robert Ferrar is the subject of a modern poem called "The Martyrdom of Bishop Farrar" by the former Poet laureate, Ted Hughes
Progeny
Ferrar's son, Samuel obtained preferment in the diocese of St. David's. His daughter married Lewis Williams, rector of Narberth.Timeline
-1485-1509: Ferrar is born sometime under the reign of Henry VIIHenry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
-1520’s: Ferrar lives in St. Oswald’s Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
-24 May 1524: Ordained acolyte and subdeacon at St. Oswald’s
-25 September 1524: Ordained as deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
at St. Oswald’s
-1525-1534: Studies at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
acquiring a Bachelors degree in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
-1538-1539: Acts as Prior of St. Oswald’s
-1540: Ferrar is summoned under for heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
under The Six Articles Act
-1547: Edward VI takes rule after Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
dies; Ferrar is appointed preacher to represent Edward during the Royal Visitation of 1547 to spread reforms
-Sometime in 1548: Ferrar is married to his wife, Elizabeth
-9 September 1548: Ferrar is consecrated as Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of St. David’s, he had been appointed by Edward VI
-24 November 1548 - 14 March 1549: Ferrar attends House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and plays role in the passing of the Uniformity Act, instituting mandatory English prayer books
-1549: spends time traveling throughout his diocese preaching and spreading reforms under Edward VI
-1550: 1st born son Samuel
-1551: 2nd born Griffith
-Autumn 1551: 56 Articles presented to Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
-1552: Statements are made on Ferrar’s behalf that he, “preached and taught the true doctrine of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
”
-May 1552: Commission of Witnesses interviewed
-November 1552: Ferrar presents objections to Witness testimony
-1553: Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
takes throne and Ferrar is sent to Bench Prison in Southwark
-1553: 3rd born Sage
-February 1554: Bishop Gardiner charges Ferrar with violation of chastity
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
-March 1554: Ferrar officially loses his position as Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
-13 March 1555: Ferrar is sentenced to death for his crimes
-30 March 1555: Ferrar is martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed
