On this day in history, 2nd October 1528, English reformer and Bible translator William Tyndale published his book The Obedience of the Christian Man and How Christian Rulers Ought to Govern. In his book, Tyndale wrote that rulers were accountable to God, not the Pope.
As I have written before, Anne Boleyn owned a copy of this book, as well as Tyndale’s New Testament. She had intended to show Henry VIII and had marked key passages for his attention. However, one of her ladies, Anne Gainsford, borrowed the book and it ended up being confiscated from her suitor, George Zouche, and shown to the King. It would, of course, have been seen as potentially heretical. Henry VIII read the book and declared “This book is for me and all kings to read.”
Also on this day in history…
- 1452 – Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, was born at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire. Click here to read more.
- 1536 – Start of the Lincolnshire Rising, the beginning of the Pilgrimage of Grace. It was sparked off by a sermon at evensong on the 1st October at St James’s Church, Louth, and by a visitation from a registrar on 2nd October. Click here to read more.
Considering how helpful this book actually was to ALL Kings, Emperors and other rulers (whatever their titles) I am surprised that it was not more popular.
Of course, the Pope probably didn’t like the idea of a suggestion that HE was not the last word when it came to God’s will on Earth, thus, it was heretical.
Not am Ann fan TBH but the treatment of. Her was disgusting. Men. Ruled .. and it’s horrible
Thank god I’m irish woman. It wouldn’t happen