An exploration of the opposition of a Lollard-like group of free-willers to the official teaching of the Edwardian church on predestination... Theirs is a fascinating story... raises some extremely interesting questions about the true nature of the English Church of the period. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW
This study traces the mainstream of early English reaction to thespread of the predestinarian doctrines of the continental reformerswhich began to dominate England's Protestant leadership during theEdwardian years. Through an examination of both familiar sources anduntapped local records, Dr Penny that finds a mature alternative toGenevan theology existed by the reign of Mary Tudor, led by of a coreof `freewill men' who, in Lollard fashion, looked to the scripturesin English for their beliefs, rather than to the new ecclesiastical establishment and state officialdom.
Dr Penny describes in detail the interaction between radical andreformed and the state of intellectual warfare over election and predestination which developed between them, and sheds additional light on the careers of both freewill leaders and major figures in the main Protestant camp, including the Oxford martyrs.
D. ANDREW PENNY is assistant professor of history at The King's College, Edmonton, Canada.