Robert Ferrar

was born within the Vicaridge of Halyfax in Yorkshire (within four miles of which place he gave Lands to his near relations) and when a young man was made a Canon regular of the order of S. Austin, but in what Priory or Abbey I know not. Sure I am, that he having partly received his Academical education in Cambridge, did, when he had entred into the same order, retire to a nursery for the Canons thereof in Oxon, named S. Maries college, situated in the Parish of S. Michael and S. Peter in the Bayly, where I find him in 1526. in which year Tho. Garret Curate of Honey lane in London, and a forward and busie Lutheran did supply him with prohibited books, or books which were written against the R. Cath. Ch. and the members thereof, he being then esteemed one of that party that then opposed the established Church and Doctrine. In 1533. he, as a member of the said coll. of S. Mary, was admitted to the reading of the sentences, having a little before opposed in divinity, and about that time became chaplain to Dr. Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury, by whose example (as one (a)(a) Rob. Persons in The third part of a treatise entit. Of the three conversions of Eng. vol. 2. cap. 6. p. 336. saith) he learned to get himself a woman also under the name of a wife, and by his endeavours had some preserment in the Church. In 1547. he being then in great favour with Edward Duke of Somerset, he was by him (b)(b) See in Jo. [〈◊〉] his Acts and M [•] n. of the Church, under the year [〈◊〉] . appointed Bishop of S. Davids upon the removal of W. Barlow to the See of B. and Wells, and accordingly was consecrated thereunto the same year. But upon the fall of the said Duke in 1549. who was an upholder of him and his unworthy doings, were 56. Articles drawn up against him by some of his neighbours, viz. Hugh Rawlins Clerk, and one Tho. Lee, accusing him as an abuser of his authority, a maintainer of superstition, to be covetous, wilfully negligent, foolish, &c. All which he being not able to answer, was committed to safe custody in London, during the remaining part of the reign of K. Ed. 6. After Qu. Mary came to the Crown, it being fully understood that he was a Lutheran Heretick, as the men of those times stiled him, he was called before the Bishop of Winchester, and other commissioners for Ecclesiastical affairs; and after he had been divers times examined by them, he was condemned for certain propositions which he maintained, viz. (1) That any Priest or Religious man, after his vow, may lawfully marry. (2) That in the blessed Sacrament there remaineth the substance of bread and wine, together with the body and blood of Christ. (3) That it is no sacrifice propitiatory. (4) That only faith justifyeth, &c. Afterwards he was silenced and degraded, sent into Wales, and being committed to the secular power, was burn’d on the S. side of the Market-cross in the Town of Caermerthen, 30. March, in fifteen hundred fifty and five. 1555 The whole story of him you may read in the book of Acts and Monuments of the Church, &c. under the year 1555. where you’ll find his answer, (tho insufficient) to the said 56 articles, his articles also against a furnished information exhibited by Thomas Lee to the K. and Privy Council, with many of his Letters written during his imprisonment. From all which, and the story of him in the said Acts and Monuments, a man may easily perceive (as the Rom. Catholicks say) that the having a Woman to his Wife, was the chief motive that drew him to those opinions which he held.