Dangerous positions : anti-episcopal martyrology and the fashioning of pietistic protest in England, c.1520-1560
This thesis. looks at a group of texts, that it has identified as English Protestant~ antI-epIscopal martyrologies, in their social context. It examines the dIalogue In print and manuscript between Protestant reformers in Tudor England and the bishops who opposed them. I argue that an analysis of the polemlical texts which contributed to this dialogue demonstrates the strongly antI-epIscopal stance adopted by English Protestants from the early sixteenth century to the accession of Elizabeth I. The texts I probe have been little studled eIther by historians or literary critics, and this has resulted in their literary discourses, as well as their importance as contributions to the development of the English Reformation, being overlooked. The reason for this neglect is that commentators have failed to identify the way in which they limned Protestant martyrological stances for their characters. Furthermore the context common to all these texts - a systematic opposition to the judicial, economic and political powers of the bishops in England, which was being carefully developed by Protestant propagandists from as early as 1520 - has not previously been discussed. The thesis makes equal use of historical and literary
Sauvage, Matthew Elliot
English and Drama ; antI-epIscopal martyrologies ; Protestantism ; Tudor England ; Reform
Dangerous positions : anti-episcopal martyrology and the fashioning of pietistic protest in England, c.1520-1560. This thesis. looks at a group of texts, that it has identified as English Protestant~ antI-epIscopal martyrologies, in their social context. It examines the dIalogue In print and manuscript between Protestant reformers in Tudor England and the bishops who opposed them. I argue that an analysis of the polemlical texts which contributed to this dialogue demonstrates the strongly antI-epIscopal stance adopted by English Protestants from the early sixteenth century to the accession of Elizabeth I. The texts I probe have been little studled eIther by historians or literary critics, and this has resulted in their literary discourses, as well as their importance as contributions to the development of the English Reformation, being overlooked. The reason for this neglect is that commentators have failed to identify the way in which they limned Protestant martyrological stances for their characters. Furthermore the context common to all these texts - a systematic opposition to the judicial, economic and political powers of the bishops in England, which was being carefully developed by Protestant propagandists from as early as 1520 - has not previously been discussed. The thesis makes equal use of historical and literary
dangerous position anti episcopal fashion protest england thesis look group text identify english protestant anti episcopal social_context examines dialogue print_manuscript protestant reformer tudor england bishop oppose them argue analysis text contribute dialogue demonstrates strongly anti episcopal stance adopt english protestants accession elizabeth texts probe little either historian literary_critic result literary discourse well importance contribution development english_reformation overlook reason neglect commentator fail identify way protestant stance character furthermore context common texts systematic opposition judicial economic_political power bishop england carefully develop protestant propagandist early previously discuss make equal use historical_literary