11 February 1526 A.D. *A Good Anglican Show* at St. Paul’s, London—Book-Burning, Fisher’s Sermon, and Service of Abjuration
11
February 1526 A.D. *A Good
Anglican Show* at St. Paul’s, London—Book-Burning, Fisher’s Sermon, and Service
of Abjuration
Place: St. Paul’s, London. Time: 0800 AM. Quinquagesima Sunday, 11 Feb 1526 A.D. Theme: a spectacular show of repudiation,
abjuration, and a good solid show of burning books. “Special scaffolds over the
stairs” were erected to hold approximately forty-plus ecclesiastical
dignitaries—36 abbots, mitred priors, bishops, chaplains, and doctors, all in
“damask and silk” (27). A special pulpit
was put above these seated dignitaries.
All this elevated for good theater.
Opposite the scaffold for the church dignitaries another special
scaffold was created for the religious criminals. Again, for visibility. A "good Anglican show."
In between the two scaffolds were “baskets of books” but, Prof. Clebsch informs us, not a lot given the determined search in London, Oxford and Cambridge. But there it all was. The candidates for abjuration: the Augustinian Friar Robert Barnes and five merchants. While Fisher preached, these six unfortunate chaps were forced to kneel, renounce their views (Clebsch does not specify what), and beg for forgiveness from the Crown and Church. Was it noisy? Yes. Some could not hear the sermon. While Fisher preached, the public service of abjuration continued. Wolsey departed just before the book-burning occurred. Since Cranmer remains a focus of interest and his intersection with the Reformation, we would infer that he surely knew of these events. Fisher’s sermon was—once again, like 1521, in that book-burning—was in English and designed for modern consumption. He viewed Lutheranism as “very dangerous,” an “ecclesiastical enemy,” and directed auditors to repudiate Luther, his sympathizers, writings and books. Although Prof. Clebsch does not mention it, it would be interesting to have an attendance list, including foreign ambassadors from the varied countries. Fisher’s sermon was later printed “because noise during the service left many unable to hear him” (28). In the sermon, he made a “remarkable offer,” to wit, “If any scrupled,” he would “meet privately and confidentially `that either eh shal [sic] make me a Lutheran/orels [sic] I shall enduce hym to be a catholyke” (28). Fisher believed that “abject submission to the Church” was the “cure” (28). A Lutheran was “the blind man” and a “heretic”, a “solitary,” and one “unseeing” akin to a “Turk” (29). Luther had denied the approved doctors and Christ’s promise to be with the Church. Luther was “carnal” and a violater of “monastic vows.” “Abominable heretics” and “dangerous revolutionaries.” “Destestors of cardinal virtues.” Prof. Clebsch summarizes the sermon as consisting of the “usual inconsequential invectives” (30). However, the point is to be noted: this was entirely in English and was quite a show. And poof! Lutheran documents went up in flames.
In between the two scaffolds were “baskets of books” but, Prof. Clebsch informs us, not a lot given the determined search in London, Oxford and Cambridge. But there it all was. The candidates for abjuration: the Augustinian Friar Robert Barnes and five merchants. While Fisher preached, these six unfortunate chaps were forced to kneel, renounce their views (Clebsch does not specify what), and beg for forgiveness from the Crown and Church. Was it noisy? Yes. Some could not hear the sermon. While Fisher preached, the public service of abjuration continued. Wolsey departed just before the book-burning occurred. Since Cranmer remains a focus of interest and his intersection with the Reformation, we would infer that he surely knew of these events. Fisher’s sermon was—once again, like 1521, in that book-burning—was in English and designed for modern consumption. He viewed Lutheranism as “very dangerous,” an “ecclesiastical enemy,” and directed auditors to repudiate Luther, his sympathizers, writings and books. Although Prof. Clebsch does not mention it, it would be interesting to have an attendance list, including foreign ambassadors from the varied countries. Fisher’s sermon was later printed “because noise during the service left many unable to hear him” (28). In the sermon, he made a “remarkable offer,” to wit, “If any scrupled,” he would “meet privately and confidentially `that either eh shal [sic] make me a Lutheran/orels [sic] I shall enduce hym to be a catholyke” (28). Fisher believed that “abject submission to the Church” was the “cure” (28). A Lutheran was “the blind man” and a “heretic”, a “solitary,” and one “unseeing” akin to a “Turk” (29). Luther had denied the approved doctors and Christ’s promise to be with the Church. Luther was “carnal” and a violater of “monastic vows.” “Abominable heretics” and “dangerous revolutionaries.” “Destestors of cardinal virtues.” Prof. Clebsch summarizes the sermon as consisting of the “usual inconsequential invectives” (30). However, the point is to be noted: this was entirely in English and was quite a show. And poof! Lutheran documents went up in flames.
Fisher’s two vernacular sermons of 1521 and 1526 were the
“official ecclesiastical and doctrinal policy of the English Throne and Church”
(31). As a result, English
Reformers/traditionalists began to interact with Fisher’s works. We have noted that Mr. Cranmer was
interacting with Fisher in 1528, per Diarmaid MacCulloch. We also know that Patrick Hamilton was put to
the flames c. 1 Mar 1528 in Scotland. The word was getting out—thanks to those
seeking to repress it. The Pope, Emperor
Charles VI, and Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey, Bishop Fisher, and Thomas More
were helping to advertise the Reformation, albeit seeking the opposite. The themes of justification by faith alone,
church authority, Scriptural authority, clerical celibacy, church control of
salvation, purgatory, vernacular Scriptures, image and saint veneration as
“efficacious” to salvation, free will, original sin—these matters were on the
scholars’ tables. William Tyndale,
Frith, Barnes, Joye and Roy were on these things. Patrick Hamilton was atop these things. All
this before 1529, when the “King’s Matter” gets greater press and Thomas
Cranmer becomes Henry’s hired advocate.
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