A History of the Reformation (Vol. 2 of 2)

The International Theological Library

  EDITED BY

  CHARLES A. BRIGGS, D.D.,

  _Professor of Theological Encyclopædia and Symbolics,
  Union Theological Seminary, New York_;

  AND

  THE LATE STEWART D. F. SALMOND, D.D.,

  _Principal, and Professor of Systematic Theology and
  New Testament Exegesis,
  United Free Church College, Aberdeen_.


  A HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION.

  BY THOMAS M. LINDSAY,
  D.D., LL.D.

  IN TWO VOLUMES--VOL. II.




  INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY

  A HISTORY
  OF
  THE REFORMATION

  BY

  THOMAS M. LINDSAY, D.D., LL.D.
  PRINCIPAL, THE UNITED FREE CHURCH
  COLLEGE, GLASGOW

  IN TWO VOLUMES

  VOLUME II

  _THE REFORMATION IN SWITZERLAND, FRANCE
  THE NETHERLANDS, SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND
  THE ANABAPTIST AND SOCINIAN MOVEMENTS
  THE COUNTER-REFORMATION_

  WITH MAP OF THE REFORMATION AND
  COUNTER-REFORMATION (1520-1580).

  EDINBURGH
  T. & T. CLARK, 38 GEORGE STREET
  1907




PREFACE.


In this volume I have endeavoured to fulfil the promise made in the
former one to describe the Reformed Churches, the Anabaptist and
Socinian movements and the Counter-Reformation in the sixteenth century.

It has been based on a careful study of contemporary sources of
information, and no important fact has been recorded for which there is
not contemporary evidence. Full use has been made of work done by
predecessors in the same field. The sources and the later books
consulted have been named at the beginning of each chapter; but special
reference is due to the writings of Professor Pollard on the reigns of
Henry VIII. and Edward VI., and to those of MM. Lemonnier and Mariéjol
for the history of Protestantism in France. The sources consulted are,
for the most part, printed in Calendars of State Papers issued by the
various Governments of Europe, or in the correspondence of prominent men
and women of the sixteenth century, edited and published for Historical
and Archæological Societies; but the Calendar of State Papers, Domestic,
relating to the reigns of Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, is little
more than a brief account of the contents of the documents, and has to
be supplemented by reference to the original documents in the Record
Office.

The field covered in this volume is so extensive that the accounts of
the rise and progress of the Reformation in the various countries
included had to be very much condensed. I have purposely given a larger
space to the beginnings of each movement, believing them to be less
known and more deserving of study. One omission must be noted. Nothing
has been said directly about the Reformed Churches in Bohemia, Hungary,
and the neighbouring lands. It would have been easy to devote a few
pages to the subject: but such a brief description would have been
misleading. The rise, continuance, and decline of these Churches are so
inseparably connected with the peculiar social and political conditions
of the countries, that no adequate or informing account of them could be
given without largely exceeding the limits of space at my disposal.

After the volume had been fully printed, and addition or alteration was
impossible, two important documents bearing on subjects discussed came
into my hands too late for references in the text.

I have found that the Library of the Technical College in Glasgow
contains a copy, probably unique, of the famous Hymn-book of the
_Brethren_ published at Ulm in 1538. It is entitled: _Ein hubsch neu
Gesangbuch darinnen begrieffen die Kirchenordnung und Geseng die zür
Lants Kron und Fulneck in Behem, von der Christlichen Bruderschafft den
Piccarden, die bishero für Unchristen und Ketzer gehalten, gebraucht und
teglich Gutt zum Ehren gesungen werden._ Gedruckt zu Ulm bey Hans
Varnier. An. MDXXXVIII. I know of a copy of much later date in Nürnberg;
but of no perfect copy of this early impression. It is sufficient to say
that the book confirms what I have said of the character of the religion
of the _Brethren_.

Then in December 1906, Señor Henriques published at Lisbon the authentic
records of the trial of George Buchanan and two fellow professors in
the Coimbra College before the Inquisition. These records show that the
prosecution had not been instigated by the Jesuits, as was generally
conjectured, but was due to the malice of a former Principal of the
College. The statement made on p. 556 has therefore to be corrected.

The kindness of the publishers has provided an historical map, which I
trust will be found useful. It gives, I think for the first time, a
representation to the eye of the wide extent of the Anabaptist movement.
The red bars denote districts where contemporary documents attest the
existence of Anabaptist communities. At least four maps, representing
successive periods, would be needed to show with exactness the shifting
boundaries of the various confessions: one map can only give the general
results.

My thanks are again due to my colleague, Dr.