English works of John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester (1469-1535) : sermons and other writings, 1520-1535

Bishop John Fisher was a scholar and theologian of European reputation, famous as a preacher and author of the first sermon-sequence to be printed in English. He was beheaded for his opposition to Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and pursued after his death by the enmity of the king, who suppressed his books and sought to blacken his name. John Fisher's English writings are distinctive for their structured elegance and clarity. This new edition contains sermons written during the last fifteen years of Fisher's life, including a previously unpublished eyewitness account of the Field of Cloth of Gold celebrations, and devotional works composed while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. Contents......Page 12 List of Illustrations......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 15 General Editorial Practice......Page 18 Editions......Page 19 1. A BRIEF LIFE OF JOHN FISHER......Page 23 The Medieval Sermon Tradition......Page 33 John Fisher and the Early Sixteenth Century......Page 39 Structure and Style in Fisher's Sermons......Page 44 John Fisher and the Critics......Page 53 3. PREACHING AT PAUL'S CROSS......Page 59 Introduction to John Fisher's Controversial Sermons......Page 65 The sermon... made agayn the pernicious doctryn of Martin luther [1521]......Page 94 Commentary......Page 115 A sermon... concernynge certayne heretickes [1526]......Page 162 Commentary......Page 192 Introduction......Page 228 Here after ensueth two fruytfull Sermons [1520/1]......Page 243 Commentary......Page 271 Introduction......Page 306 A Sermon... Preached vpon a good Friday......Page 317 Commentary......Page 341 Introduction......Page 367 A spirituall consolation [1534–5]......Page 385 Commentary......Page 393 The wayes to perfect Religion [1534–5]......Page 403 Commentary......Page 418 Appendix 1: Heresies, Doctrinal Controversies, and and Church Councils......Page 429 Appendix 2: A Prayer to God the Father, written in the Tower of London......Page 438 Bibliography......Page 444 Index of Biblical References......Page 474 C......Page 478 G......Page 479 M......Page 480 S......Page 481 Z......Page 482 This Volume Contains Works Printed For The First Time Since The 16th Century, By One Of The Most Distinguished Churchmen And Celebrated Preachers Of His Time. He Was Beheaded By Henry Viii For His Opposition To The King's Divorce To Catherine Of Aragon. 1. A Brief Life Of John Fisher -- 2. English Works Of John Fisher: General Introduction. The Medieval Sermon Tradition. John Fisher And The Early Sixteenth Century. Structure And Style In Fisher's Sermons. John Fisher And The Critics -- 3. Preaching At Paul's Cross -- 4. Preaching Against Luther. Introduction To John Fisher's Controversial Sermons. The Sermon ... Made Agayn The Pernicious Doctryn Of Martin Luther [1521]. A Sermon ... Concernynge Certayne Heretickes [1526] -- 5. Two Fruitful Sermons. Here After Ensueth Two Fruytfull Sermons [1520/1] -- 6. A Sermon Preached On Good Friday. A Sermon ... Preached Vpon A Good Friday -- 7. Tower Writings. A Spirituall Consolation [1534-5]. The Wayes To Perfect Religion [1534-5]. App. 1. Heresies, Doctrinal Controversies, And Church Councils -- App. 2. A Prayer To God The Father, Written In The Tower Of London. Edited By Cecilia A. Hatt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [425]-455) And Indexes. "Bishop John Fisher was a scholar and theologian of European reputation, famous as a preacher and author of the first sermon-sequence to be printed in English. He was beheaded for his refusal to take Henry VIII's Oath of Supremacy and pursued after his death by the enmity of the king, who suppressed his books and sought to blacken his name." "The figure of John Fisher links the age of late medieval piety with the growth of Christian humanism and the new learning which, as a friend of Erasmus, he introduced as chancellor of Cambridge University. His English writings are distinctive for their structured elegance and clarity. This new edition contains sermons written during the last fifteen years of Fisher's life, including a previously unpublished eyewitness account of the Field of Cloth of Gold celebrations, and devotional works composed while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London."--BOOK JACKET Bishop John Fisher was a scholar and theologian of European reputation, famous as a preacher and author of the first sermon-sequence to be printed in English. He was beheaded for his opposition to Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and pursued after his death by the enmity of the king, who surpressed his books and sought to blacken his name. The figure of John Fisher links the age of late medieval piety with the growth of Christian humanism and the new learning, which, as a friend of Erasmus, he introduced as chancellor of Cambridge University. His English writings are distinctive for their structured elegance and clarity. This new edition contains sermons written during the last fifteen years of Fisher's life, including a previously unpublished eyewitness account of the Field of Cloth of Gold celebrations, and devotional works composed while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. John Fisher, bishop of Rochester and Chancellor of Cambridge University, was one of the most distinguished churchmen of his time and a celebrated preacher. He was beheaded by Henry VIII for his opposition to the king's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Henry subsequently suppressed Fisher's published works and tried to blacken his reputation. This edition of Fisher's writings contains works printed for the first time since the sixteenth century All contractions, in English and Latin, have been expanded without comment.