Bishop Gilbert Burnet: History of the Reformation of the Church of Engla...

Burnet takes a tour of numerous Lollards tried in the 1400s, most abjuring, some not. Burnet does the 150-year flyover at 30,000 feet. We would interject Prof. David Daniell’s note that England, of all the European nations, was the most abusive and cruel in relation to Lollards and vernacular Bibles. Archbishop Warham and London’s Fitzjames, 1509-1519, have episcopal registration entries against the “heretics” with their standard Lollard objections. The 1400 Preamble gives strong hints that Wycliffism was amongst clergy, schoolteachers and others. Burnet gives the impression that Luther was nearwise late to the game. Charges against Lollards were often “hyped” with other charges, notably, from the clerical side. Occasionally, the civil courts saw through the ruses, ruling that the person was in “error” not “heresy.” Tyndale’s books in 1526 but that excited More to take pen in hand, with London’s license to read the heretical literature. Longland of Lincoln was notoriously vicious against Lollards and Lutherans. The King, craving a name in his imperialism, appoints his staff to write the “Seven Sacraments” with More as the sorter, not writer, of the volume. Henry's work is done by his staff. Henry gets the notorious attaboy from the Lil’ Man of Rome. English Papes enthuse to the book, especially the clergy.