Nicholas Ferrar Saint

Nicholas Ferrar (22 February 1592 – 4 December 1637) was an English scholar, courtier, businessman and man of religion. Ordained as a deacon in the Church of England, he retreated with his extended family to the manor of Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire, where he lived the rest of his life. One of the "metaphysical poets", the Revd George Herbert (1593–1633), on his deathbed sent Ferrar the manuscript of The Temple, telling him to publish the poems if he thought they might "turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul" and, "If not, let him burn it; for I and it are less than the least of God's mercies." Ferrar decided to publish them and Herbert's poems have remained in print ever since and are masterworks of the English language.