A Full Set of the Reformers of the Chuch of England
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Order of Contents
Introduction
The Burning of Thomas Cranmer
The Fathers of the English Church
Parker Society Publications
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. By Subject
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Introduction
About the Parker Society
The Parker Society publications are the standard set of the main writings of the early protestant reformers of the English Reformation. Most of the authors were reformed in their soteriology.
The Society was set up in 1841 and produced about 4 or 5 volumes a year till 1853 (see the publications in chronological order). The Society’s council included High-Church Anglicans, though was dominated by evangelicals. The Society itself was set up to counter the Anglo-Catholic influence of the Oxford Tractarian movement and the ever present, possible slide towards Romanism.
The Society’s name honors Matthew Parker (1504–1575), the Tudor Archbishop of Canterbury who was a historian of the English Church (see his works at PRDL & EEBO) and a manuscript collector. He left his valuable collection of manuscripts to a library subsequently named after him at Corpus Christi, Cambridge, which is now online.
For more detailed background on the Parker Society, see Peter Toon’s ‘The Parker Society’ (1977, 7 pp.).
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About the Set
Below is a full set of the Parker Society’s publications.. At the time this webpage was made in 2017, it is believed to be the only full set easily available on the net.
The volumes came to 56 in number, though there were various numberings of the volumes, making it sometimes difficult to account for and compile them all. For this reason we have not put them in order by their number in the series.
The 55th volume was a very detailed General Index to all the volumes, which will come in very handy in finding all the writers that wrote on a particular subject.
For more background on the authors and their specific writings than what is below, see Andrew Cinnamond’s, ‘The Reformed Treasures of the Parker Society’ (22 pp., with a bibliography).
Where an author has additional writings at Post-Reformation Digital Library (PRDL) or Early English Books Online-TCP (EEBO), they have been linked.
For a stimulating account of the English Reformation, see J.C. Ryle’s Five English Reformers, or Marcus Loane’s more in-depth, Masters of the English Reformation Buy (Banner of Truth, 2005, 320 pp.).
Also, for another account of the Parker Society publications and the eight volume set, The Fathers of the English Church (which includes English reformers from before the time period that the Parker Society published from), see William Cunningham, ‘Melanchthon & the Theology of the Church of England’ in The Reformers & the Theology of the Reformation (Edinburgh: T.&T. Clark, 1862), pp. 149-221.
While the English Reformers’ writings are generally very good and are treasures of the Church, one will sometimes come across full defenses of Episcopacy (for instance: Whitgift against Thomas Cartwright) and Baptismal Regeneration, which we do not recommend. See rather our pages on Presbyterianism and Baptismal Regeneration.
Please come to love these godly writers from the English Reformation, many of whom sealed their writings with their own ashes at the stake.
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The Burning of Thomas Cranmer
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Thomas Cranmer, one of the principal reformers of the English Church, after being in prison for three years under the Roman Catholic Bloody Mary, signed, “for fear of death, and to save my life,” a renunciation of the Biblical Protestant doctrines with his right hand. Before he was burned at the stake he was given opportunity to make known his renunciation to all. At the end of his speech, after repenting of his renunciation of Biblical truth, he said,
“Forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall first be punished. For if I may come to the fire, it shall be first burned. And as for the Pope, I refuse him, as Christ’s enemy and antichrist, with all his false doctrine.”
Then, stretching out his right hand, he held it unshrinkingly in the fire until it was burnt to a cinder, even before his body was injured, frequently exclaiming, “This unworthy right hand.”
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“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched”
Mark 9:43
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The Fathers of the English Church
The Fathers of the English Church, or a Selection from the Writings of the Reformers & Early Protestant Divines of the Church of England ed. Leigh Richmond (London: Printed for John Hatchard, 1807-1812) There are not tables of contents to the volumes.
vol. 1, Tyndale, Frith, Hamilton, Joy, Barnes
vol. 2, Ridley, Latimer, Edward VI
vol. 3, Cranmer
vol. 4, Ridley, Clement, Philpot, Rogers, Turner
vol. 5, Hooper
vol. 6, Bradford, Saunders, Lady Jane Grey
vol. 7, Jewell
vol. 8, Nowell, Parker, Geneva Bible & Liturgy, Haddon, Fox
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The Parker Society Publications
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By Author, Alphabetical
Bale, John – Examinations, Image of Both Churches PRDL EEBO
Bale (1495–1563) was an English bishop, historian and controversialist. The image of Both Churches is a commentary on Revelation, giving the confessional view that the Papacy is the Antichrist.
Becon (c. 1511–1567) was an English cleric and chaplain to Edward VI.
Writings, vol. 1: Sermons Meditations, Examinations
Writings, vol. 2: Letters, Treatises, Remains
Bradford (1510–1555) was an English Reformer, prebendary of St. Paul’s, and martyr under Bloody Mary, known for his words to John Leaf at the stake: “Be of good comfort brother; for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night!”
Bull, Henry – Prayers & Meditations
Bull (†1577) was an English Protestant theological writer, now remembered as an ally of John Foxe (remembered for Foxe’s Book of Martyrs) in documenting the history of his times.
Bullinger, Henry – PRDL
1st & 2nd Decades Word of God, Faith, Apostle’s Creed, Law, Commandments 1-7
3rd Decade Commandments 8-10, Ceremonial & Judicial Laws, Good Works, Sin
4th Decade Gospel, Repentance, Trinity, Providence, Prayer, Christ & Offices, Angels & Soul of Man
5th Decade Church, Ministry, Prayer, Sacraments, Various
Bullinger (1504–1575) was a Swiss reformer, the successor of Huldrych Zwingli as head of the Zurich church. He was also very influential in England. Each Decade is ten sermons, the total 50 intending to exposit the greater share of the Christian faith in systematic form.
Calfhill, James – Answer to Martiall’s Treatise of the Cross
Calfhill (1530?–1570) was an Anglican clergyman, academic and controversialist.
This was Calfhill’s major work, it being a response against the Roman Catholic John Martiall, who had dedicated his book to Queen Elizabeth on hearing that she had retained the cross in her chapel. Martiall replied against Calfhill, who was in turn responded to by William Fulke, below.
Cooper, Thomas – Against the Private Mass PRDL EEBO
Cooper (c. 1517–1594) was an English bishop, lexicographer, theologian, and writer.
Coverdale (1488–1569) was an English ecclesiastical reformer chiefly known as a Bible translator, preacher, Bishop of Exeter, proto-puritan and exile.
Cranmer, Thomas – PRDL
Miscellaneous Writings & Letters
Cranmer (1489–1556) was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. He was a chief author of the Book of Common Prayer and was burned at the stake under Bloody Mary.
Contra Stapleton, Martiall, Romanism
Fulke (1538–1589) was an English Puritan divine.
The Roman Catholic priest John Martiall had dedicated his book, A Treatise on the Cross, to Queen Elizabeth on hearing that she had retained the cross in her chapel. Calfhill, above, responded to this work. Martiall returned the response. This work of Fulke is a second response to Martiall.
Defence of Translating Scripture into English
Grindal, Edmund – Remains PRDL EEBO
Grindal (c. 1519–1583) was an English Protestant leader who successively held the posts of Bishop of London, Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Elizabeth I of England. He as sympathetic to the puritans.
Hooper (c. 1495-1500–1555) was a proponent of the English Reformation, an Anglican Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester, and a martyr at the stake under Bloody Mary. He is known as the ‘Father of Non-Conformity’.
Hutchinson, Roger – Works EEBO
Hutchinson (d. 1555)
Jewel, John – PRDL
Works, vol. 1, Sermon, Correspondence, Lord’s Supper
vol. 2, Lord’s Supper, Images, etc. Thessalonians, Sermons
vol. 3, Defence of Church of England
vol. 4, Holy Scriptures, Letters, etc.
Jewel (1522–1571) of Devon, England was Bishop of Salisbury, a professor at Oxford and a disciple of Peter Martyr Vermigli. Richard hooker, the Anglican Church’s most famous apologist, spoke of him as the “worthiest divine that Christendom hath bred for some hundreds of years.”
Latimer (c. 1487-1555) was a chaplain to King Edward VI. Before being burned at the stake by Bloody Mary, Latimer said to Ridley: “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
For background on these first two services of the Book of Common Prayer by Thomas Cranmer, see Wiki. The latter service had detailed input from Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr.
For the puritan perspective on these liturgies, see the Preface to the Westminster Directory of Public Worship.
Liturgical Services during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth
For background on the Book of Common Prayer during Elizabeth’s time, see Wiki.
Norden, John – Progress of Piety EEBO
John Norden (c. 1547 – 1625) was an English cartographer, chorographer, writer and antiquary.
Nowell, Alexander – Catechism PRDL EEBO
Nowell (c. 1517–1602) was an English Protestant theologian and clergyman. He served as Dean of St Paul’s during much of Elizabeth I’s reign. He was credited by Thomas Fuller (and his later revisers), with the accidental invention of bottled beer. Nowell’s nephew was William Whitaker.
Parker, Matthew – Correspondence PRDL EEBO
Parker (1504–1575) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder (with Thomas Cranmer and Richard Hooker) of a distinctive tradition of Anglican theological thought.
Philpot, John – Examinations & Writings EEBO
Philpot (1516 – 1555) was an archdeacon of Winchester and an English Protestant martyr whose story is recorded in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
Pilkington, James – Works PRDL
Pilkington (1520–1576) was the first Protestant Bishop of Durham from 1561 until his death in 1576. He founded Rivington Grammar School and was an Elizabethan author and orator.
Poetry during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, vol. 1 & 2
Private Prayers during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth
Ridley, Nicholas – Works PRDL EEBO
Ridley (c. 1500–1555) was an English Bishop of London who was burned at the stake by Bloody Mary. He defended certain ceremonies in the worship of the Church as indifferent against John Hooper.
Latimer said to Ridley before their burning: “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
Rogers, Thomas – An Exposition of the 39 Articles PRDL EEBO
Rogers was an Anglican clergyman and, unfortunately, an early opponent of Nicholas Bownde in the Sabbatarian controversy. Toplady praised Rogers’ Exposition.
Sandys, Edwin – Sermons, etc. EEBO
Sandys (1519–1588) was a Bishop of Worcester (1559–1570), London (1570–1576) and Archbishop of York (1576–1588) during the reign of Elizabeth I of England. He was one of the translators of the Bishops’ Bible and was imprisoned in the Tower of London under Bloody Mary.
Tyndale, William – PRDL
Expositions & Practice of Prelates
Answer to Thomas More, Lord’s Supper
Doctrinal Treatises & Introductions to Scripture
Tyndale (c. 1494–1536) translated the first Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English. He was a leading figure in the English Reformation and was executed for heresy. His final words were: “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.”
Whitgift, John – PRDL
Works, vol. 1, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 1-6
vol. 2, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 7-10
vol. 3, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 11-23, Sermons, Letters
Whitaker, William – Disputation on Holy Scripture Against the Papists Latin EEBO
Whitaker (1548–1595) was a prominent Protestant Calvinistic Anglican churchman, academic, and theologian, who was a leading divine at the University of Cambridge in the latter half of the sixteenth century. His uncle was Alexander Nowell, the Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral and catechist.
Woolton, John – Christian Manual EEBO
Woolton (1535?–1594) was an English bishop of Exeter.
Original Letters and the Zurich Letters Relative to the English Reformation, vol. 1 (1549-53), 2 (1548-58), 3 & 4 (1558-1602)
On the accession of queen Mary, more than a thousand of the Reformers sought refuge on the Continent, and many of them settled in Zurich. On the return of the Zurich exiles to England, at the accession of Elizabeth, in 1558, they maintained a correspondence with the minister and magistrates of Zurich.
The letters show the opinion of that time on subjects which afterwards produced such agitation and include letters to and from Sandys, Jewel, Gwalter, Foxe, Parkhurst, Calvin, Peter Martyr, Grindal, Zanchi, Bullinger, Coverdale, Beza, George Withers, Pilkington, Flacius, Farell, John Rainolds, George Buchanan, Queen Elizabeth, Swiss Cantons and others.
Here is the original Latin for the ‘Original Letters’ (1537-1558): Epistolae Tigurinaede Rebus Potissimum Ad Ecclesiae Anglicanae Reformationem Pertinentibus…
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By Subject
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Catechisms & Confession
Becon, Thomas – Catechism, etc.
Nowell, Alexander – Catechism
Rogers, Thomas – An Exposition of the 39 Articles
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Christian Life See also Miscellaneous
Norden, John – Progress of Piety
Woolton, John – Christian Manual
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Church
Whitgift, John
Works, vol. 1, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 1-6
vol. 2, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 7-10
vol. 3, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 11-23, Sermons, Letters
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Commentaries
Bale, John – An Image of Both Churches, being an Exposition of Revelation
Jewel, John – Works, vol. 2, Lord’s Supper, Images, etc. Thessalonians, Sermons
Tyndale, William
Expositions & Practice of Prelates
Doctrinal Treatises & Introductions to Scripture
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Index
General Index to All the Volumes
If you are interested in a certain topic, find all of the writers in the series that spoke to that topic. The Index is well done and is detailed.
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Letters
Bradford, John – Writings, vol. 2: Letters, Treatises, Remains
Cranmer, Thomas – Miscellaneous Writings & Letters
Jewel, John – Works, vol. 1, Sermon, Correspondence, Lord’s Supper
Parker, Matthew – Correspondence
Whitgift, John – vol. 3, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 11-23, Sermons, Letters
Original Letters and the Zurich Letters Relative to the English Reformation, vol. 1 (1549-53), 2 (1548-58), 3 & 4 (1558-1602)
Here is the original Latin for the ‘Original Letters’ (1537-1558): Epistolae Tigurinaede Rebus Potissimum Ad Ecclesiae Anglicanae Reformationem Pertinentibus…
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Liturgies
For the puritan perspective on these liturgies, see the Preface to the Westminster Directory of Public Worship.
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Liturgical Services during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth
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Lord’s Supper
Cooper, Thomas – Against the Private Mass
Cranmer, Thomas – Lord’s Supper
Jewel, John
Works, vol. 1, Sermon, Correspondence, Lord’s Supper
vol. 2, Lord’s Supper, Images, etc. Thessalonians, Sermons
Tyndale, William – Answer to Thomas More, Lord’s Supper
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Miscellaneous See also Sermons
Becon, Thomas
Bradford, John
Writings, vol. 1: Sermons, Meditations, Examinations
Writings, vol. 2: Letters, Treatises, Remains
Coverdale, Myles
Cranmer, Thomas – Miscellaneous Writings & Letters
Grindal, Edmund – Remains
Hooper, John
Hutchinson, Roger – Works
Latimer, Hugh – vol. 2, Sermons & Remains
Philpot, John – Examinations & Writings
Pilkington, James – Works
Ridley, Nicholas – Works
Tyndale, William – Doctrinal Treatises & Introductions to Scripture
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Poetry
Poetry during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, vol. 1 & 2
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Prayers & Meditations
Becon, Thomas – Prayers & Other Pieces
Bradford, John – Writings, vol. 1: Sermons Meditations, Examinations
Bull, Henry – Prayers & Meditations
Private Prayers during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth
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Romanism
Calfhill, James – Answer to Martiall’s Treatise of the Cross
Fulke, William – Contra Stapleton, Martiall, Romanism
Tyndale, William
Expositions & Practice of Prelates
Answer to Thomas More, Lord’s Supper
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Scripture
Fulke, William – Defence of Translating Scripture into English
Whittaker, William – Disputation on Holy Scripture Against the Papists
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Sermons
Bradford, John – Writings, vol. 1: Sermons Meditations, Examinations
Jewel, John
Works, vol. 1, Sermon, Correspondence, Lord’s Supper
vol. 2, Lord’s Supper, Images, etc. Thessalonians, Sermons
Latimer, Hugh
Sandys, Edwin – Sermons, etc.
Whitgift, John – vol. 3, Contra T. Cartwright, Tracts 11-23, Sermons, Letters
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Systematic Theology See also the many doctrinal works under Miscellaneous
Bullinger, Henry
1st & 2nd Decades Word of God, Faith, Apostle’s Creed, Law, Commandments 1-7
3rd Decade Commandments 8-10, Ceremonial & Judicial Laws, Good Works, Sin
4th Decade Gospel, Repentance, Trinity, Providence, Prayer, Christ & Offices, Angels & Soul of Man
5th Decade Church, Ministry, Prayer, Sacraments, Various
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Related Pages
History of the English Reformation & Puritan Era
Sincere Free Offer of the Gospel Quotes – 1500’s
The History of Psalm Singing in the Anglican Church
The Lack of Responsive Readings in English Puritan Orders of Service