Richard Davies (bishop)

Being a reformer he took refuge at Geneva during the reign of Mary, returning to England and to parochial work after the accession of Elizabeth in 1558.

As a bishop, Davies was an earnest reformer, very industrious, active and liberal, but not very scrupulous with regard to the property of the church.

[1] He was a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches, was very friendly with Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, and was regarded both by Parker and by William Cecil, Lord Burghley, as a trustworthy adviser on Welsh concerns.

[1] Famous for his oratory abilities, he was renowned for having an embarrassing speech impediment which earned him the affectionate nickname of Biffe.The nickname Biffe derived from the ancient Celtic word for fool from which we now take the word buffoon.

[citation needed] Another of the bishops friends was Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex.