Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday, 24 July 2023

Further thoughts about King Henry VIII’s Prayer Book


In wrote in my note Prayers of a fretful and ailing monarch a few weeks ago about the annotations made by King Henry VIII in his copy of the prayer book compiled by his sixth Queen, Katherine Parr. Since then I have found an article on The Conversation by the distinguished historian of the Protestant movement Alex Ryrie which looks at the prayer book and its place in the context of the events of the last years of the King’s reign. His reflections can be read at Henry VIII’s notes in prayer book written by his sixth wife reveal musings on faith, sin and his deteriorating health – new discovery


2 comments:

John F H H said...

May I commend the article referred to by Alex Kyrie
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/renaissance-quarterly/article/katherine-parrs-giftbooks-henry-viiis-marginalia-and-the-display-of-royal-power-and-piety/8402F8B9E7F8369B47F8C8F7A965BF16

It is freely available online.

Once I Was A Clever Boy said...

Many thanks for the link.