The Early English Reformation

1. Medieval Precedents SemperReformanda Wyclif & Lollardy Anticlericalism in the 16th Century Learned Society Humanism Ordinary Folk Early Protestant Reformers Germany Swiss Lands Diversity Among Protestants English Reformers Tyndale Biblical Translations Barnes, Bilney, Coverdale Cambridge, Germany The Early English Reformation The Papal Ass, Melanchthon, 1523; in English Translation, 1579

2. Medieval Precedents for Reform SemperReformanda As Old as the Christian Church Monastic Traditions Penitence, Poverty, Imitatio Christi Retreat from the World Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, Cistercians, Carthusians, Augustinians Mysticism & Anti-Intellectualism Norwich, Kempe Popular Piety Wyclif & Lollardy Criticism of the Church (Negative) Calls for Reform from Below (Positive) Biblicism, Christocentrism Ruins of Innisfallen Monastery, 12th-13th century, County Kerry, Ireland

3. Anticlericalism in the 16th Century Learned Society Christian Humanism Erasmus’ In Praise of Folly More’sUtopia; Colet’s Sermons Ad Fontes: Returning to the Sources Textual Criticism of the Bible Lorenzo Valla’s Annotations New Testament: 1516, ‘19, ‘22, ‘27, ‘35 ROMA: Radix OmniumMalorumAvaritia Ordinary Folk Antipapalism: Corruption; St. Peter’s Indulgences: Purgatory; Finance Power & Exemption of Clergy Hunne’s Case, 1514/5: Burial; Praemunire Murder; Heresy; Anticlericalism Erasmus’ New Testament, 1st Edition, Basel, 1516

4. Erasmus on Monks, In Praise of Folly And next these come those that commonly call themselves the religious and monks, most false in both titles, when both a great part of them are farthest from religion, and no men swarm thicker in all places than themselves. . . . nay, there is scarce an inn, wagon, or ship into which they intrude not, to the no small damage of the commonwealth of beggars. And yet, like pleasant fellows, with all this vileness, ignorance, rudeness, and impudence, they represent to us, for so they call it, the lives of the apostles. . . . And another great happiness they conceive in their names, while they call themselves Cordiliers, and among these too, some are Colletes, some Minors, some Minims, some Crossed; and again, these are Benedictines, those Bernardines; these Carmelites, those Augustines; these Williamites, and those Jacobines; as if it were not worth the while to be called Christians. . . . One shall show you a large trough full of all kinds of fish; another tumble you out so many bushels of prayers; another reckon you so many myriads of fasts, and fetch them up again in one dinner by eating till he cracks again; another produces more bundles of ceremonies than seven of the stoutest ships would be able to carry; another brags he has not touched a penny these three score years without two pair of gloves at least upon his hands; another wears a cowl so lined with grease that the poorest tarpaulin would not stoop to take it up; another will tell you he has lived these fifty-five years like a sponge, continually fastened to the same place; another is grown hoarse with his daily chanting; another has contracted a lethargy by his solitary living; and another the palsy in his tongue for want of speaking. But Christ, interrupting them in their vanities, which otherwise were endless, will ask them, "Whence this new kind of Jews? I acknowledge one commandment, which is truly mine, of which alone I hear nothing.”

5. Early Protestant Reformers Germany Erasmus (d. 1536) & Luther (d. 1546) Luther’s 95 Theses, 1517 (Indulgences) Salvation by Faith Alone Clerical Powers & Customs Use of Vernacular Language Doctrinal Revision of Sacraments Philip Melanchthon Blend of Humanism and Reform Need for Support of the Magistrates Swiss Lands Ulrich Zwingli (d. 1531) Protestant Militarism (Christian Soldier) Colloquy of Marburg, ’29; Eucharist Bodleian, MS Eng. The. B. 1, p. 798. (Late 16thc.)

6. English Reformers William Tyndale (b. c. 1492/4, d. 1536) From the West Country Connections to Bristol, Lollardy Translated Erasmus’ Handbook Clashes with Clergy, 1522-3 Parable of the Wicked Mammon, Antwerp, 1528 The Practice of Prelates, Antwerp, 1530 New Testament Translation from Greek Cologne, 1525 Worms, 1526 Antwerp, 1534 Old Testament Translation from Hebrew Pentateuch, 1530 Genesis, 1534 Jonas & Epistles, 1531, ‘34 Tyndale’s 1526 Translation; BL, C.188.a.17

7. English Reformers Con’t Thomas Bilney (d. 1531) Greek Scholarship Anticlerical Sermons Robert Barnes (d. 1540) Biblical Reading Evangelical Sermons Anglo-German Connections Miles Coverdale (d. 1569) Associate of Barnes Time on European Mainland, ‘28-> Coverdale Bible, ’35 White Horse Tavern, Cambridge “Little Germany” in the 1520s Bilney Pulled Down from Pulpit, 1527; From Foxe’s A&M, 1563