Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 37.djvu/333

 merely acted under his master's orders. He was hanged at Tyburn on 13 March, together with Cuffe, and suffered 'with a most undaunted resolution.' In a short speech at the gallows he expressed the hope that 'such as had unwarily espoused this unhappy cause' might receive a pardon (State Trials, i. 1413-14, 1446-9; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1598-1601 pp. 546-98, 1601-3 pp. 1-2, 1117). His confiscated goods in Herefordshire were valued at 461l. 10s. 2d.

Meyrick married about 1584 Elizabeth or Margaret, daughter of Ieuan Lewis of Cladestry, Radnorshire, and widow of John Gwyn of Llanelwedd; she inherited the estates of both her father and first husband. By her Meyrick left a son, Roland, and a daughter, Margaret, wife of Sir John Vaughan, earl of Carberry. Both children were subsequently restored in blood, and seem to have been granted out of their father's confiscated estates lands at Lucton and Eyton in Herefordshire. Lady Meyrick died in 1625.

 MEYRICK, JOHN (1538–1599), bishop of Sodor and Man, natural son of Owen ab Huw ab Owen ab Meyric of Bodeon, Anglesey, and Gwenllian, daughter of Evan of Penrhyn Deudraeth, Merionethshire, became scholar of Winchester College in 1550, was admitted scholar of New College, Oxford, in July 1555, and fellow on 5 July 1557. He graduated B. A. on 12 Dec. 1558, M. A. on 26 June 1562, and served as junior proctor in 1565. In 1570 he was presented to the college living of Hornchurch, Essex, and in 1575, on the nomination of Henry Stanley, fourth earl Derby, elected bishop of Sodor and Man, the queen assenting on 5 Nov. and again on 13 April 1576. He was consecrated at Lambeth on 15 April 1576 by Grindal, archbishop of Canterbury, the diocese of York, in which Man is, being then vacant. Meyrick held the bishopric for twenty-three years, but his position involved many hardships which he detailed in a letter to Lord Burghley. He also furnished Camden with an account of the Isle of Man, preserved in Cotton MS. Julius F. 10, part of which is printed in Camden's 'Britannia,' ii. 390. Meyrick died on 7 Nov. 1599.

Two of Meyrick's half-brothers were also educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. One, William, was admitted scholar of New College, Oxford, on 9 March 1565-6, fellow on 9 March 1567-8, graduating B.C.L. on 28 Jan. 1573-4, and D.C.L. on 5 July 1582, and was subsequently chantor, commissary, and chancellor of Bangor, when he vacated his fellowship, and rector of Llanvechell. He died in 1605. The other, Maurice (1563-1640), was admitted scholar of New College on 31 March 1582, aged 19, and fellow on 31 March 1584, graduated B..A. on 27 Oct. 1585, and M.A. on 2 June 1589, was subsequently steward of New College and registrar of the university, 1600-8; he resigned his fellowship in August 1595. By his wife, Jane, daughter of Lewis Evans, he was father of Sir William Meyrick (d. 1668), judge of the prerogative court of Canterbury, who is separately noticed.

 MEYRICK, JOHN (d. 1638), English ambassador to Russia, was the second son of William Meyrick or Merick, at one time of Gloucester, but afterwards of London. The father became one of the original members of the Russia or Muscovy Company, which was founded by Cabot in 1554, and before 1567 seems to have acted as agent of the company in Russia. John's youth was spent at the factory of English merchants at Moscow. In 1584 he became the agent of the London Russia Company at Jaroslavl, and in May 1592 he was filling a like position at Moscow. By 1596 he had been admitted to membership of the London company, and had entered into partnership with his elder brother, Richard, who lived in Leadenhall Street. Through 1596 and 1597 Meyrick forwarded from Russia much political intelligence to Queen Elizabeth, and on 14 March 1598 he reported the Tsar Fedor Ivanovitch's death. In 1600 he came home in the company of Mikulin who was sent as Russian ambassador to England. The new tsar, Boris Godounoff, was anxious to find an English bride for his eldest son, and in February 1601–2 Meyrick was despatched as ambassador to the tsar with instructions to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, but to treat the matrimonial proposals evasively. Meyrick was honourably received by the emperor at the Kremlin Palace. He translated Elizabeth's