1. Thomas Bilney
EXPLANATORY NOTES
1. THOMAS BILNEY
3 from a child: from childhood.
both laws: civil law and canon law.
cross-keeper: one who retains a large crucifix and carries it in procession.
Luciferous: Satanic.
5 bore the swing: possessed complete control.
called me to knowledge: converted me to evangelical faith.
6 school: Scholastic.
I knew a man . . . and such fooleries: on Hugh Latimer's reminiscences concerning Thomas Bilney, see Selected Sermons of Hugh Latimer, ed.
Allan G. Chester (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press for the Folger Shakespeare Library, 1968), 120 – 1, 167.
words and examples . . . suffer his passion: Matthew 26 – 7.
New Testament of Tyndale's translation, and the Obedience of a Christian Man: see entry for William Tyndale, in the Glossary of Persons.
doctors, civil and canon: learned individuals with a mastery of civil or canon law.
7 of: from.
story of Haukes: see Narrative 12.
put away his wife: divorced.
four orders of friars: the most important orders of mendicant brothers were the Franciscans (Grey Friars), Carmelites (White Friars), Dominicans
(Black Friars), and Augustine (or Augustinian, or Austin) Friars.
was at a point: was determined.
Doctor Pelles . . . Chancellor: Doctor Thomas Pelles, chancellor of the diocese of Norwich.
9 guildhall: the governmental seat of a town or city.
philosophy: natural philosophy (i.e., the study of natural bodies).
'Fear not . . . holy one of Israel': Isaiah 43: 1 – 3.
tables: tablets of paper or wax.
10 Lollards' Pit: a site where Lollards and others condemned for heresy were burnt alive.
tarrying: awaiting.
11 collation: a homily based upon comparison of biblical texts.
'Hear my prayer . . . living be justified': Psalm 143: 1 – 2.