Thomas Becon and the politics of evangelical change in sixteenth-century England

Abstract

This work considers sixteenth century evangelicals’ vision of a ‘godly’ commonwealth within the broader context of political, religious, social, and intellectual changes in Tudor England. Using the Tudor clergyman and bestselling author, Thomas Becon, as a case study, I argue that evangelical views of the commonwealth were situation-dependent rather than uniform, fluctuating from individual to individual. It examines the ways commonwealth rhetoric was used by evangelicals and how that rhetoric developed and changed.

While this work draws from English Reformation historiography by acknowledging the chronology of reform, it engages with texts on poverty, gender, and the economy in order to demonstrate the intersection of commonwealth rhetoric with all facets of Tudor society. Further, the experience of exile and the languages of prophecy and friendship directly influenced commonwealth rhetoric and dictated the priorities, vocabulary, and political expression of the evangelicals. As sixteenth century England vacillated in its religious direction and priorities, the evangelicals were faced with a political conundrum and the tension between obedience and ‘lawful’ disobedience. There was ultimately a fundamental disagreement on the nature and criteria of obedience. This work makes a further contribution to the emerging conversation about English commonwealth politics by examining the important issues of obedience and disobedience within the evangelical community. It will analyse the specific ways in which evangelicals used rebel political rhetoric including ‘sedicious’ words, ‘raylings’ against authority, and treasonous euphemisms. A correct assessment of the issues surrounding the relationship between evangelicals and the commonwealth government will lead to a rediscovery of both the complexities of evangelical commonwealth rhetoric and the tension between the biblical command to submit to civil authorities and the injunction to ‘obey God rather than man’.

Date of Award	8 Dec 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Andrew Pettegree (Supervisor) & Jacqueline Rose (Supervisor)