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First published by Allen Lane 1999

Published in Penguin Books 2001

This edition published 2001

Copyright © Diarmaid MacCulloch, 1999

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Cover: Coronation procession of King Edward VI; 1547; Black and White Illustration © Timewatch Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Cover design by Antonio Colaço

ISBN: 978-0-141-98508-4

Contents

List of illustrations

Abbreviations used in the text and bibliography

1. Dramatis Personae

2. King Josiah: Purifying the Realm

3. King Solomon: Building the Temple

4. The Afterlife of the Edwardian Reformation

Notes

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

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THE BEGINNING

TUDOR CHURCH MILITANT

PENGUIN BOOKS

‘A challenging, elegant and persuasive biography of an unjustly neglected king’ Jerry Brotton

‘MacCulloch plays his cards straight and indicates exactly the weight of each piece of evidence he presents. The pictures are more than decorative, and there is a fascinating detective story behind one image of Henry VIII on his deathbed. It is, moreover, a rare pleasure to read an academic who does not torture the English language. Judging from the footnotes, there is much more to come from Diarmaid MacCulloch. We can look forward to it’ Christopher Howse, Daily Telegraph

‘We’re lucky that MacCulloch is an elegant writer as well as a fine scholar with new and important material. In an age where our heritage industry freezes history, suspends debate, it is glorious to welcome back arguments that history persists, that it can be seen accurately but yet in utterly different ways’ Michael Pye, Scotsman

‘Thorough grounding in evidence, combined with that most difficult of historical skills - Janus-like looking at the past while refusing to allow knowledge of the future to colour interpretation - has produced a work that illustrates the best virtues of historical scholarship’ Christopher Webb, The Times Higher Education Supplement

‘MacCulloch argues with great elegance that the Edwardian Reformation was a crucial moment in the development of the Anglican Church and the forging of England’s Protestant identity … [a] provocative and sparkling (let’s say it, brilliant) read’ Robbie Millen, Spectator

‘This is another outstanding book on English Reformation history by the Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University … the author establishes his case by a detailed historical reconstruction, drawing on much fresh material, and he carries the reader along by his graphic style. There are also no less than 92 significant illustrations’ The Rev. Dr Roger Beckwith, English Churchman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diarmaid MacCulloch is Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University. His Thomas Cranmer (1996) won the Whitbread Biography Prize, the James Tait Black Prize and the Duff Cooper Prize; Reformation: Europe’s House Divided 1490–1700 (2004) won the Wolfson Prize and the British Academy Prize. A History of Christianity (2010), which was adapted into a six-part BBC television series, was awarded the Cundill and Hessel-Tiltman Prizes. His Gifford Lectures at the University of Edinburgh were published in 2013 as Silence: A Christian History. His most recent television series (2015) was Sex and the Church and his most recent book was All Things Made New (2016). He was knighted in 2012.

For Simon White

Abbreviations used in the text and bibliography

All primary and secondary works cited in the notes are abbreviated with reference to the bibliography, by title, author or editor. Likewise, see the bibliography for full bibliographical descriptions of specific works mentioned in the table below.

List of Illustrations

(Photographic acknowledgements in brackets)

Frontispiece: Edward VI, c. 1551 (The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg)

  1. Henry VIII in his last years (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

  2. The four evangelists stoning the Pope (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

  3. An allegory of the reign of Edward VI (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Mason F. 142–4])

  4. The title page of Thomas Sternhold’s metrical psalter (© British Library [Royal MS 17B xxv fol. 3v–4v])

  5. The title page of Christopher Lever’s The History of the Defendors of the Catholique Faith (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [4˚ L. 7 Th. BS])

  6. The future King Edward (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

  7. A page from an oration by Edward VI (© British Library [MS Harley 5087, ff. 86v–87r])

  8. Edward VI granting the charter to the governors of Bridewell (Private Collection. Photo: Bridgeman Art Library)

  9. Bishop Latimer preaching (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Mason F. 142–4])

10. ‘The downfall of the Pope’ (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Th. 4˚ Z 57, sig. Yib])

11. A page from Edward VI’s draft treatise against the papal supremacy (© British Library [MS Additional 5464, ff. 26v–27r])

12. Medieval stalls of the Knights of the Garter (reproduced by permission of the Deans and Canons of Windsor)

13. Mary Tudor (by courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London)

14. Sign manual of Edward VI (© Public Record Office Image Library [E.101/546/19, f. 64])

15. Edward’s draft for proposed succession arrangements (The Masters of the Bench of the Inner Temple [Petyt MS 538 Vol 47, f. 317]. Photo: Ian Bavington Jones)

16. Edward Seymour (reproduced by permission of the Marquess of Bath, Longleat House, Warminster, Wiltshire. Photo: The Photographic Survey, Courtauld Institute of Art)

17. A page from De furoribus Norfolciensium Ketto Duce (Annotated copy, in author’s possession)

18. Wymondham Abbey (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Top. Eccl. B.28, f. 48r])

19. The Duke of Somerset’s execution (© The Fotomas Index)

20. John Dudley (Private Collection. Photo: Weidenfeld & Nicolson Archives)

21. Coin minted by the Dudley government (Heberden Coin Room, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford)

22. Charles V (Prado, Madrid. Photo: AKG London)

23. Stephen Gardiner (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Poole Portrait No. 33])

24. A medal commemorating the coronation of Edward VI (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Eng. Hist C.52, f. 24])

25. Edward VI’s coronation procession (By permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC [Art File L 847 sl no. 9])

26. Nicholas Ridley, from S. Clark, The Marrow of Ecclesiastical Historie, 1650 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

27. Frame from Cullompton parish church (Photo: the author)

28. Preaching at Paul’s Cross (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Gough Gen. Top. 62/16b])

29. Illustration from John Bon and Mast Person (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [R.S.T.C. 3285.5; Bodl. STC Film 1746])

30. Archbishop Cranmer, from J. Boissard, Icones, 1645 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

31. Bernardino Ochino, from J. F. Rein, Das gesamte Augspurgische Evangelische Ministerium in Bildern und schriften von den ersten Jahren der Reformation Lutheri bis auf 1748 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

32. Westminster, 1641 (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Gough Maps. 23, f. 47a, item B])

33. The preaching place and Privy Garden, Whitehall (The British Architectural Library, RIBA, London)

34. Peter Martyr Vermigli, from S. Clark, The Marrow of Ecclesiastical Historie, 1650 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

35. A page from the Book of Common Prayer (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [S. Selden D. 40])

36. The Divinity School, Oxford University (© Oxford Picture Library/Chris Andrews)

37. Title-page of Thomas Cranmer’s Defence of the true and Catholic doctrine of the sacrament of the body and blood of our saviour Christ (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [B.2.16.Linc])

38. A page from the visitation articles for Norwich diocese (By permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC [STC 10285])

39. Illustration to a catechism from Eniautos, or a course of catechising, second edition, 1674

40. Edward VI at the opening of his last parliament, from The Dethick Register of the Order of the Garter (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

41. London Bridge from Southwark (The Guildhall Library, Corporation of London. Photo: Bridgeman Art Library)

42. Lambeth Palace (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Gough Maps 30, f. 45b])

43. Pages from John Proctor’s The fal of the late Arrian, 1549 (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Mason AA 72, sig. Aii])

44. Bishop John Fisher (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

45. Silk badge from the Pilgrimage of Grace (Reproduced by kind permission of the Baroness Herries)

46. Extract from an evangelical treatise (© British Library [Royal MS 17B xxv ff. 3v–4r])

47. Henry and Charles Brandon (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

48. William Parr (The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)

49. The burning of Anne Ayscough (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Mason F. 142–4, p. 1420])

50. Duke Humfrey’s Library (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Neg. Pr. 13143])

51. Monumental brass from Cobham, from M. Stephenson, A List of Palimpset Brasses in Great Britain, 1903

52. The burning of William Gardiner (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Mason F. 142–4, p. 1544])

53. The title-page of The true copy of a Prolog (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Tanner 78])

54. The Austin Friars Church, London (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Top.Eccl.b.24, f. 7r])

55. The Athanasian Creed from The Book of Common Prayer (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [CP 1552.d.1])

56. Bishop Bonner scourging a Protestant (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Bodl. Mason. F. 142–4, p. 2242])

57. Pages from Grafton’s editions of the Homilies (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [4˚ I 6. Th. Seld. (Grafton) and Tanner 216 (Whitchurch)])

58. A piece of tournament armour made for Robert Earl of Leicester (© The Board of Trustees of the Armouries VI.49)

59. Somerset House (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [MS Gough Maps 22, f. 52v, item C])

60. A painted board in Ludlow parish church, from H. M. Cautley, Royal Arms and Commandments in our Churches, 1934 (Mrs F. Cambridge)

61. Chancel of Hailes Church, looking east (The Council for the Care of Churches)

62. Chancel of Hailes Church, looking west (The Council for the Care of Churches)

63. Almsbox figure, Watton parish church, from H. M. Cautley, Norfolk Churches, 1949 (Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich)

64. Pulpit of Wells Cathedral (reproduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Wells. Photo: R. Neale)

65. Royal arms of Edward VI, from H. M. Cautley, Royal Arms and Commandments in our Churches, 1934 (Mrs F. Cambridge)

66. Monument to Bishop Hooper (Photo: the author)

67. Martin Bucer, from J. Boissard, Icones quinquaginta virorum, 1645 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

68. Heinrich Bullinger, from J. Boissard, Icones, 1645 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

69. Philipp Melanchthon, from J. Boissard, Icones, 1645 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

70. Sketches of John Calvin (Bibliothèque Publique, Geneva. Photo: Edimedia)

71. The White Ladies Church, Frankfurt, 1628 (Photo: Institut für Stadtgeschichte, Frankfurt am Main)

72. Statue of John Knox (St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh)

73. The burning of Archbishop Cranmer (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [P.1.4. Th.Seld., p. 726)

74. A page from a tract by Archdeacon Philpot (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Mason F. 142–4, p. 2067])

75. Jan Laski, from S. Clark, The Marrow of Ecclesiastical Historie, 1650 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

76. A page from The first blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of women (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Crynes 860])

77. Catherine Parr (by courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London)

78. Elizabeth I at prayer (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Tanner 285])

79. Design for a monument to Edward VI (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [H. Colvin, History of the King’s Works, vol. 3, pt. I, pl. 8])

80. John Foxe (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

81. Henry VIII, Edward VI and the Privy Council (by courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London)

82. King Ahasuerus Consulting the Records, original drawing by Maarten van Heemskerck, 1563 (Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen) and later engraving by Philip Galle from The History of Esther, 1564 (Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

83. Tomb of Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, Salisbury Cathedral (© Steve Day)

84. William Camden, from J. Boissard, Icones, 1645 (Photo: History of Art Library, University of Oxford)

85. Title-page of J. Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward the sixt

86. Archbishop William Laud, from The History of the Grand Rebellion (anon.), 1713

87. St Margaret’s Church, Westminster (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster)

88. Robert Dudley (by courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London)

89. William Cecil (The Bodleian Library, Oxford [Poole Portrait No. 38])

90. Portrait of Prince Henry, before alteration (Collection of Mrs P. A. Tritton, Parham Park. Photo: The Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge); portrait of Prince Henry, after alteration (The Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge)

91. Stool in the Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh, from W. Andrews, Bygone Church Life in Scotland, 1899

92. Title-page of the ‘Bishops’ Bible’, 1595 (reproduced by permission of the Bible Society’s Library, in Cambridge University Library)

Acknowledgements

The basis of this book is the series of Birkbeck Lectures which I delivered in the University of Cambridge in Lent Term 1998. I must thank the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, for doing me the great honour of inviting me to give the Birkbeck Lectures for 1997–8, and for their warm welcome and hospitality while I was delivering the lectures. My four visits to Cambridge were a thoroughly enjoyable experience. My colleagues in the Theology Faculty of Oxford University and the Master and Fellows of St Cross College kindly afforded me a term of sabbatical leave in order to research and write, and during that time I was particularly assisted by the helpfulness of the staff of the Bodleian Library. Subsequently, Bodleian staff, especially Mrs S.C.N. Harris, and Mrs N. Collyer of the History of Art Library of the University of Oxford, have given cheerfully of their time in helping me track down illustrative material. I am also much indebted to the kindness of Mr Nick Mayhew of St Cross College and Dr Catherine Hall for particular illustrations.

Many friends have generously shared their knowledge with me during the course of my research. In particular, I am very grateful to Lisa Richardson for permission to quote from her thesis, to Margaret Aston for allowing me to use illustrations from her book The King’s Bedpost, and to Ethan Shagan and Richard Hoyle for their invaluable part in pointing me to important manuscript material, while Norman Scarfe’s gift of a first edition of Sir John Hayward’s biography of Edward VI was an act of princely generosity. Robert Baldock provided advice and guidance at an early stage of this project, and he will know how much I appreciate his help. Penguin have made the production stages of this book a pleasure rather than a trial, and I am especially thankful to Stuart Proffitt for his friendly interest in it. As ever, I owe a great debt to Mark Achurch for tolerating the obsessions, chiefly with Tudor England, which went into creating this book.

All quotations in the main text have been modernized; as in previous books, I have adopted the spelling ‘Strassburg’ for the modern Strasbourg, given the overwhelmingly German character of the sixteenth-century city. Original spelling is retained in notes.

Diarmaid MacCulloch

St Cross College, Oxford, December 1998