Reformation Volume Five 2000 Editorial

REFORMATION
Editorial · Volume Five · 2000

Volume 5 of REFORMATION is our second with Ashgate. We have been encouraged by the success of the first and look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship.

The essays included in this volume have all been submitted, refereed and then selected for the journal. It has been extremely encouraging to have received so many essays of high quality and we are sorry that more cannot be included. It has also been a pleasure to have obtained such a diverse range of essays on various aspects of the European Reformation. This volume provides an accurate representation of the range of interests and subjects we have always hoped the journal would be able to include.

Cathy Shrank [abstract] shows how Andrew Boorde, a major but often neglected author, negotiated the difficult transition precipitated by the English Reformation:
Andrew Bradstock [abstract] re-reads Thomas Müntzer's theological and political writings, arguing that all are dependent on an apocalyptic perspective;
Douglas Trevor [abstract] analyses John Donne's defence of James I's attempt to incorporate moderate Catholics into the body politic, Pseudo-Martyr (1610), showing how both king and poet tried to establish a via media;
Simon McKeown [abstract] examines a Dutch emblem book published in 1642 celebrating the triumphs of Gustavus Adolphus, illustrating how iconographic details were used to establish the Swedish king as the leader of the chosen people.

The four essays consider the Reformation in England, Germany and the Low Countries, and examine materials of relevance to literary scholars, theologians, historians and art historians. I hope readers from a variety of disciplines will be encouraged to enter into the lively debates REFORMATION hopes to facilitate. We would welcome submissions on any aspect of religion and its history between c.1450 and c.1650, as well as some from later periods.

I announced in the last edition that there would be a Tyndale Society prize of £150 for the best essay submitted to REFORMATION by a young scholar. We are delighted to announce further that the prize will now be sponsored by The Stationers' and Newspaper Makers' Company and will be known as The Stationers' and Newspaper Makers' Prize. This has been made possible through the generous interventions of Sir Edward Pickering, Bob Russell and Vernon Sullivan. The name of the first winner will be made public in the editorial to issue 6.

My thanks are due to a number of people who have helped with the production of this volume: The Tyndale Society for providing such generous support, and for being such reasonable and understanding patrons; Charlotte Dewhurst has been an efficient and patient presence as secretary of the Tyndale Society and has helped provide a necessary impetus at just the right time; David Daniell has been generous with his advice and encouragement, as well as with his time, helping to oversee the fruits of his original labours; Rachel Lynch and all at Ashgate have made it a pleasure to work with them; the advisory editors and all who I have called on for advice at various times should know how much I have valued their efficiency and prompt responses; as retiring reviews editor -- I am handing over these duties to Dr Thomas Betteridge of the University of Kingston-upon-Thames -- I would also like to thank all those who undertook these often undervalued labours with such good grace and speed.

-Andrew Hadfield

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