History 3140 Term Paper Tudor England

8/3/2019 History 3140 Term Paper Tudor England

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The impact of Print and Publishing on Politics in Tudor England.

Submitted by: Dylan Harrington T00016053

History 3140

Professor Anne St. John-Stark

November 24 2011


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The three great elements of modern civilization: Gunpowder, Printing, and the Protestant

Religion Thomas Caryle

The impact of Print and Publishing on Politics in Tudor England.

With the invention of the printing press books and newspapers were

no longer exclusive to the upper classes. The aspect of printing

pamphlets allowed the spread of literacy and ideas to greater numbers

of Londoners who were better informed of the pending issues of the

day. These pamphlets were often critical of both the Catholic Church

and the English Crown. The Catholic Church was against the increase of

pamphlets or books that were critical of the church. The Catholic clergy

believed that their lifes work ---the interpretation of the bible-- was

exclusively the domain of the church. The church trained only clergy

members to read and interpret the ancient Latin texts that held the

word of god. Furthermore the church disliked Tyndales Englishtranslation of the New Testament bible since it contained pro

Protestant language translations. The power and influence of the early

press in Tudor England (1485 -1603) was immense; the impact of

printing allowed all classes to learn how to read.


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Across the Channel in Europe, Johannes Gutenberg (1397-1468)

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printed a variety of manuscripts, but most were were still written by

scribes and circulated in many Catholic countries, because there was no

profitable market for them outside of the Catholic Church. Only when

the first printings of the bible were pressed against parchment or

vellum these gave Guttenberg a substantial profit. He was then able to

print up many copies in less time than hand written versions. After

Gutenbergs death his invention remained the mainstay for more than500 years, and the system he invented gradually contributed to the

literary changes in London during the Tudor era. There was very little

religious learning before the printing of bibles, and that was confined to

the nobility or clergy. Only those who were trained at University in

theology were permitted to decipher the ancient Latin texts; a full copy

bible was extremely expensive and cost more than the average

clergymen could afford to spend. Hence, the small amount of people

who could both read and write in Latin. Printing press technology

lowered the overall cost of printing books, pamphlets and newssheets

making them affordable to a wider audience. A priest named William

Tyndale2

(Tyndale) who was a graduate from Cambridge University was

inspired by Martin Luthers German translation of the New Testament

bible; decided to translate the original Latin translation into common

1Father of the modern printing press. David Daniel, William Tyndale A Biography (Yale University Press, New

Haven, Connecticuet,1994), 62

William Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire in 1494. For about ten years he studied at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, a

college with a reputation for advanced studies in Latin and Greek. He was ordained into the Roman Catholic

Church which at that time reigned supreme. Site Geoff Thomas,William Tyndale and 'The Obedience of aChristian Man, http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?328 (06/01/2003)


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English and create a New Testament bible written in English3. The word

of God ceased to be sealed up in Latin; a language which very few of

the faithful could ever manage to read. When translated into English

the uneducated and faithful; could now study the bible in their ownfreedom without the interpretation of the clergy. Tyndale believed the

church was corrupt and wasnt teaching what was said in the bible.

Tyndale thought the best thing to do, was to give the poor citizens of

England gods word directly without needing the help of an

intermediary.

This idea clashed with the Catholic Church; the existing church said to

its parishioners you can rely on us to speed you into heaven.

Tyndale went against the wishes of the Catholic Church and even while

on the run from secular authorities continued to pursue his translation

of the bible into English. Tyndale had a dream of a common ploughboy

knowing more of the scripture than the average priest4, his dream was

about to come true.

London had become active in all aspects of the book trade. The

advancement of print press technology allowed greater number of

pamphlets, newspapers and books to be produced per month. Literacy

rates increased greatly among the lower classes. The Stationers

Company and Registry, an old guild formed in 1404. The Company later

received a Royal Charter to print all books except those printed from

3Tyndale first approached Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall who rejected Tyndales idea due to his devout Catholic faith in

the belief that only the educated clergy had the right to read and interpret the bible. He banned Tyndale from

going ahead with such a translation. David Daniel, William Tyndale A Biography (Yale University Press, New Haven,

Connecticuet,1994)4'If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause that a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the

Scriptures than thou dost.' John Foxe,The Book of Martyrs, (John Day, London, England, 1563)


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the university presses5. The amount of printers based in London

reduced the cost of books. The demand for books increased, which

sped the advancement of the technology needed to print the items.

The once sluggish advance of book printing technology was now redhot as books, newssheets and pamphlets were printed, sold and

distributed to coffee houses and other vendors every day. There were

multiple printers and new print houses sprang up daily or weekly.

The profit margin was there to print many different pamphlets,

newssheets and books not just religious or scientific texts in Latin; early

modern romance such as Histories of Troy6

was accredited as being

the first book printed in English.

In 1525 Tyndale had left London to seek a publisher for his works in

Europe. He printed a translated English version of the New Testament

and had it smuggled it into England. Tyndales new bible was a huge

success; it was said that people were learning how to read just in order

to understand Tyndales book. Tyndales English bible became quite

popular7; the clerical and secular authorities in England did not like

Tyndales translating enterprise; his word usage implicitly supported

the reformers. His translations of Latin phrases into English were

explicit in promoting Lutheran doctrine. The new bible allowed the

illiterate to read study and ultimately form their own religious opinions

without the aid of the Catholic Church. This new book was subverting

the churches power over the people and ultimately over the King of

England.

5The Stationers and Registers Company was to enforce and set regulations of book publishing. All books publishers

had copyright over their works and no other publisher could publish the same book. John Stephen Morrill ed., The

Oxford Illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain (Oxford University Press, 1996)6

William Caxton, The Recuyell Of The Histories Of Troy (London, England 1475) Publisher unknown7

Tyndales English New Testament Bible was reprinted in1526, 1530 and 1534. John Stephen Morrill ed., TheOxford Illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain (Oxford University Press, 1996) 397-399


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Bishop Turnstall prohibited Tyndales New Testament English version

bible in 1526. Later the same year 6,000 copies were seized and later

burned by the Bishop Turnstall8. King Henry VIII (Henry) later banned

Tyndales New Testament English bible in 1530 in a royal proclamation

along with other books by the German scholar Martin Luther. Tyndale

wrote a paper entitled The Practyse of Prelates which opposed King

Henrys divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

Henry set aim directly at Tyndale for publishing a paper opposing his

grounds for a divorce and asked his most trusted advisor Sir Thomas

More9

(More) to bring him back to England. More labelled Tyndale a

heretic and his life was in grave danger from here on. He had angered

not only the Catholic Church but the King of England as well10

. With

Henrys support behind him More set about to control the hereticalbooks that were being printed and distributed throughout England.

Mores efforts led to a number of arrests and burnings of heretics. For a

while there was great cooperation between the church and the crown

against any criticism or opposition to the king. It appears Henry was

becoming quite sensitive to any opposition or criticisms to his

upcoming marriage to Anne Boleyn.8

This was the second recorded book burning by the Catholic Church in London, England; the first recorded event

was the burning of books by Martin Luther a few months before. David Cressy, Book Burning in Tudor and Stuart

England Sixteen Century Journal, XXXVI/2 (2005): 362.9Thomas More was a devout Catholic, lawyer and later one of King Henry VIII closest advisors. David Daniel,

William Tyndale A Biography (Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticuet,1994)10

William Tyndale was later caught in Antwerp in 1535 tried for heresy and executed by burning at the stake.

David Daniel, William Tyndale A Biography (Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticuet,1994)


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Before the letter incident Tyndale was looked upon favourably by some

of Henrys inner circle since in his translation of the bible, it was written

that Kings should be the head of the church11

. Henry at this time was

seeking a divorce from his wife and wanted to marry Anne Boleyn.Anne Boleyn was a Protestant. The Pope declined Henrys request for a

divorce. Henry went ahead and married Anne in 1532. With Anne now

Henrys wife she had greater influence on Henry to reject the Catholic

Church and accept Tyndales English bible.12

In 1534 King Henry VIII broke with the Church in Rome with the Act of

Supremacy which made him the head of the newly formed Church of

England. All men were expected to swear their loyalty to the king and

the new church, forsaking their allegiances to the Roman Catholic

Church. In 1535, Sir Thomas More refused to submit to the Act of

Supremacy and was executed for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII as

head of the English Church13

14

. King Henry issued the first official Act of

Supremacy in 1534. Henry declared that the King of England is the only

true head of the Church of England on earth

15

. Henry issued theTreason Act of 1534, which made it punishable by death to refuse to

acknowledge the king as such. With the new English Church came a

11 William Tyndale, The obedience of a Christian man (1528) publisher unknown,12

It is believed that Anne was the one to give King Henry VIII a copy of Tyndales book The Obedience of a Christian

man in 1529. David Daniel, William Tyndale A Biography (Yale University Press, 1994) 246-25113

John Stephen Morrill ed., The Oxford Illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain (Oxford University Press,1996) 271.

14Sir Thomas More refused to attend Anne Boleyns coronation, this was seen as a snub to Anne. Thomas More

refused to take the oath of supremacy before King Henry. He was brought up on charges of treason for his

refusal and executed in 1535. David Daniel, William Tyndale a Biography (Yale University Press, 1994) 247

15John Stephen Morrill ed., The Oxford Illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain (Oxford University Press,

1996) 271.


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new group of advisors to the king. Thomas Cranmer (Cranmer) was

appointed by Henry to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Anne Boleyn and

Cranmer petitioned Henry to have a bible placed in every church in

England. In 1537, the Mathew Bible16

appeared. It was not a newtranslation but simply a combination of older bibles put together; it was

more scholarly and obviously protestant. It caught on quickly and was

soon found to be the more popular bible out there. Henry made the

royal injunction of September 153817

. Now three years after Tyndales

death a translated English bible has been placed in every church in

England by King Henry VIIIs royal proclamation.

Henrys death, and Edward VI succession as King of England held the

Protestant faith together and prevented England from sliding

backwards into schism.

Edward VI succession to the throne was a catalyst for a number of

crucial Protestant improvements in the English Church.18

The reign of

Edward VI only lasted six short- but important- years. Edward VI

signature act was founding the Protestant Church structure in England

modeled after the ones in Switzerland and Germany, brought about by

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and the Duke of Somerset. Edward VI

reign was short lived. The measures put in place for the new Protestant

16It was called the Matthew Bible because it was said to be authored by Thomas Matthew which was a pen name

for John Rogers who was in turn a close friend of William Tyndale. John Stephen ed., The Oxford Illustrated history

of Tudor and Stuart Britain (Oxford University Press, 1996) 52

17 The proclamation of 1538 required that all English books be licensed by the PRIVY COUNCIL or its designee

before printing and distribution. This was to ensure Henry VIIIs particular brand of reformation. This Proclamation

was endorsed by both Edward VI and Mary I. John Stephen ed., The Oxford Illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart

Britain (Oxford University Press, 1996) 397

18Edward VI was raised a Protestant and introduced the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty Nine Articles these

gave the Protestant Church a distinct separate identity and structure from the Catholic Church. Anna Whitlock

Mary Tudor Princess, Bastard, Queen (Random House, New York, NY, 2010) 208


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English Church had not been able to form a solid foundation19

before

his death and the succession of his sister Mary Tudor.

Mary Tudor obtained the throne in 1553. Mary was a devout Catholic

and implemented a number of reforms on Protestant England. She

returned to public book burning and the burning of Protestant heretics.

She used the printing press to produce multiple copies of a new Sarum

primer that had her personal stamp of approval; all copies were printed

from her personal printer. Queen Marys regime was not opposed to

peoples possession of the Bible but possession of the Protestantversion was suspect and those who were found in possession of it were

subject to punishment. Most of the queens religious advisors were

more of the mind that, the true way of the Church, was to have the

people absorb the faith through the liturgy and have the people indulge

themselves in the ceremonies and sacraments of the Church, not in the

readings of the scripture.20

A few days after her coronation during a service at a London Church a

chaplain was dragged out of the pulpit by vagabonds and beaten. The

following Sunday the crowds were met by 200 soldiers to protect the

preacher. Derogatory anti catholic pamphlets littered the streets

around London calling upon Protestants to take up arms against Marys

government. The leading Protestant reformists clergy were arrested

and imprisoned, including Cranmer.


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In 1557 Mary used the Company of Stationers to enforce what the anti-

protestant laws that she had re-established21

. Mary worked hand in

hand with the Catholic Church to seize any printed works that were

critical of her or the Catholic Church.

One example of how the printingpress enabled opposing voices to be heard was the pamphleteer Martin

Marprelate; a fanatical Puritan who defied the licensing system, and set

up a private press22

. He printed off hundreds of copies of his pamphlets

opposing the Catholic bishops, mocking them with humour and witty

statements. His pamphlets quickly gained the attention of both the

people, and the church a second pamphlet appeared even bolder than

the first. In all seven pamphlets were published before the secret presswas shut down in 1589

23.

The acts of punishment did not seem to work. The burnings of heretics

were meant to scare the Protestants into submission to recant their

Protestant beliefs. But there burnings only seemed to draw the dead as

martyrs for the Protestant cause. Many Protestants chose to flee

England for other countries as colonies of Protestants quickly emergedin Geneva, Switzerland helping to keep the faith alive on the continent.

Many who fled England continued to struggle against Queen Marys

rule and published pamphlets attacking her.

One notable example is John Knox's book "First Blast of the Trumpet

against the Monstrous Regiment of Women" in which he rallies against

21Mary had parliament revive the Hersey Acts of 1382 which stated that heretical preachers should be arrested.

Anna Whitlock Mary Tudor Princess, Bastard, Queen (Random House, New York, NY, 2010) 103

22Martin Marprelate was a puritan and the puritan faith believed that the bible held the answer to the everyday

problems in life. They also believed that the Church of England was too close to Catholicism. BYU Broadcasting

Fires of Faith online streaming video running time:51 minutes: 57 seconds last accessed Nov.18 2011

(http://byutv.org/watch/410aac43-ef61-46a2-874d-0101c1baa0c3)

23The two culprits John Perry and Job Thorgmorton were caught and only John Perry being executed.

John Bennett Black The reign of Elizabeth 1558-1603 (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1969) 201-202


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women ruling over men.24

Queen Mary ordered anyone caught with

this book be sentenced to death without trial. Mary seemed to realise

that the harsh sentences imposed upon Protestants was causing more

harm than good, instead of bringing people back to the Catholic Churchthe burnings of heretics were harming her rule and the public opinion

of the Catholic Church in England. Marys rule ended in 1558....

In conclusion, there are three key points that can define how print and

publishing changed the bearing of politics in Tudor England. The first

point being the burning of books deemed heretical only caused them to

increase; in fact these books were now in high demand by the public.

The publicity of the book burnings only increased the value of thebooks and a greater effort was made to acquire them. There was

money to be made for the printing press operators from the European

mainland to publish books from condemned authors, due to the

Catholic Church creating a black market by outlawing them.

My second point, the quick output of printing runs and the selection of

print tracts available to be distributed quickly and cheaply. There was

very little to no chance of getting caught being the sole distributor ofthe material due to its small size. The pamphlets were circulated among

Londoners; this being precisely the modulus operandi wanted by the

author.

24 John Knox was not only attacking Queen Mary Tudor but also the other female rulers such as Mary of Guise,

Dowager Queen of Scotland and her daughter Mary, Queen of Scots. John Knox The first blast of the trumpet

against the monstruous regiment of women (publisher unknown, 1558)


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History 3140 Term Paper Tudor England