Thomas Merke
Encyclopedia
Thomas Merke was an English priest
and Bishop of Carlisle
from 1397 to 1400. Educated at Oxford University, be became a Benedictine
monk
at Westminster Abbey
. He was consecrated bishop about 23 April 1397. He served Richard II
as ambassador to various German princes in 1397, was one of the commissioners who negotiated the dowry
of Isabella of Valois in 1398, and accompanied the king to Ireland in 1399. He supported Richard against the usurper Henry IV
and in 1400 was imprisoned in the Tower of London
and deprived of his bishopric as a result. He was, however, released and conditionally pardoned the following year, although not restored to the bishopric. He thereafter served as a deputy and acting bishop in the Diocese of Winchester
several times. He was one of those churchmen who sided against Pope Gregory XII
at Lucca
in 1408. He died in 1409.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
from 1397 to 1400. Educated at Oxford University, be became a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. He was consecrated bishop about 23 April 1397. He served Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
as ambassador to various German princes in 1397, was one of the commissioners who negotiated the dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
of Isabella of Valois in 1398, and accompanied the king to Ireland in 1399. He supported Richard against the usurper Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
and in 1400 was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
and deprived of his bishopric as a result. He was, however, released and conditionally pardoned the following year, although not restored to the bishopric. He thereafter served as a deputy and acting bishop in the Diocese of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
several times. He was one of those churchmen who sided against Pope Gregory XII
Pope Gregory XII
Pope Gregory XII , born Angelo Correr or Corraro, Pope from 1406 to 1415, succeeded Pope Innocent VII on 30 November 1406....
at Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
in 1408. He died in 1409.