Description: Between 1535 and 1558, Bishops Gardiner, Tunstal, and Bonner, the theologian Richard Smith, the layman Miles Huggarde, and other traditionalists mounted a spirited defense of Catholic teaching. Ellen Macek's The Loyal Opposition breaks new ground by analyzing the intellectual and theological basis of their polemics on the key issues of justification and the Eucharist. It demonstrates how they drew upon a blend of scholastic and humanistic elements to oppose religious innovation while simultaneously submitting to the schism with Rome. In conclusion, it reassesses the fatal weaknesses and enduring contributions of their position.
Review Quotes: «Macek has written a perceptive study of an important aspect of sixteenth-century English history. She has dealt with a complex and many-faceted topic yet has presented the material clearly and lucidly. The result is a major contribution to Tudor ecclesiastical history.» (Cecile Zinberg, The Sixteenth Century Journal)