[.ca] Thomas More's Prayer Book: A Facsimile Reproduction of ... (ISBN 0300001797)

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Sir Thomas More was an outstanding figure of England during the beginning of the Tudor Renaissance times, that really flourished in the following generation under Elizabeth. More was Lord Chancellor of England under Henry VIII, following Wolsey, during a truly turbulent times. Henry was finalising his break with the Roman church and trying to legitimise his ill-fated marriage with Anne Boleyn. More was considered by and large the intellectual leading light of England; when he tried to quietly distance himself from the king and go into graceful exile in silence, those given to intrigue argued (probably correctly) that More could not hide behind his silence, for that silence was in fact a rather loud proclamation against the king. More was ultimately tried for treason and, after false witnesses were brought against him, sentenced to die at the Tower, one of a long line whose blood would flow over the church/state issues under the Tudors. Sir Thomas More was imprisoned for a time at the Tower as the case against him was developed by the court (and while they pressured him to sign the new Oath of Allegiance, an act that might have saved his life). More's integrity of faith would not permit him to do so -- so convinced was he that the absolute authority of the church could not be overruled by earthly princes, he went to his death rather than betray his beliefs. At his execution, he stated, 'I remain the King's good subject, but God's first.' While at the Tower, More had with him the prayer book provided in facsimile form here, part of the Yale University Elizabethean Club Series, a companion to the Complete Works of St. Thomas More, also by Yale University. The facsimile edition is important, for it includes not only the words that made up More's primary prayers and devotions, but also it includes the personal annotations by More as he continued in the Tower under sentence of death. The facsimile provides the modern student access to More's handwritten insights, the official text, and the wood-cuts and graphics of the original. More's book consists of two primary sections -- The Book of Hours, and the Psalter. The Book of Hours was a typical one for the time, including prayers and hymns in Latin, but often introduced by English sections. Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary are included. These pages are included in colour facsimile, as the colourations are important. The Psalter is included in grayscale facsimile. This includes musical notations and markings. There is a brief introductory essay by Louise Martz and Richard Sylvester that gives information on contents, binding, printing, and provenance, as well as a discussion of the margin notations made by More, the dating, translation (some of the handwriting is hard to read) and significance. The editors also include other handwritten pieces by More, including a letter to King Henry VIII. The facsimile pages are produced here in actual size, from the book in the possession of the Yale libraries. More's comments relate to the psalms and prayers directly, but also relate to his state of mind, particularly his grief and despair at times. Many of the psalms are penitential; many call on God at times of distress, making them very apropos for More's condition. This is a must for any student of More, English history, and spirituality in time of crisis.