St. John Fisher’s a Godlie Treatisse Declaring the Benefites, and Great Commodities of Prayer, and Also the True Use Thereof: The Text, Its History and Pertinent Critical Notes.

231 Pages·012.867 MB·English

by  Cunningham, Thomas W

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FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
G raduate School of A rts and Sciences
_______ February 1* 19 $0
This dissertation prepared under my direction by
Rev, Thoms W, Cunningham
entitled St, John Fisher
Beneflies, and Great Commodities of Prayer$ and also the True
Use Thereof! The text. Its History and Pertinent Critical Notes,
has been accepted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
Degree of. Soetor of Philosophy •....................................................
__________ Charles Donahue________
( Faculty Adviser)
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SAINT JOHN FISHER* S
A GQDLIE treatisse declaring the benefites, and
GREAT COMMODITIES OF PRAYER, AND ALSO THE TRUE USE
THERQF
THE Text, Its H istory,. And Pertinent
C ritical Notes
BY
Reverend Thomas William uunningham
A.B., Seton Hall College, *51
A.M*, Fordham University, *45
DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENGLISH AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK
1950
ProQuest Number: 10992996
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TABLE'OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS................................ . ................................................ . iv
PREFACE................................................ ...................................................... v
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 1
I. THE AUTHOR AND HIS WORK......................................................... 5
II. THE HISTORY OF THE TEXT,A MD ALLIED QUESTIONS........ 27
III. THE TEXT..................... 54
I?. THE THOMISTIC BASIS OF SAINT JOHN FISHER’S WORK...........................12.8
APPENDIX A. . „ 148
The Edition Qf 1560
APPENDIX B. ...............................................................................................................160
The Edition of 1577
APPENDIX C................................................................................................. 162
The Edition of 1651
APPENDIX D........................................................ 170
The Edition of 1640
APPENDIX E........................................................................................................................185
W
Eafly H istorical Works Containing References to
Saint John Fisher
APPENDIX F........................................................................................................................186
The Literary Productions of Saint John Fisher
APPENDIX G........................................................................................................................192
Saint John Fisher and the Bible
APPENDIX H........................................................................................................................200
Saint John Fisher and ’’Dionysius”
BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................205
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Illu stratio n Page
I. Title-Page of the 1560 Edition......................................follow ing.. 55
II. Colophon and Coat of Arms of Cawood and Jugge..follow ing.. 147
III. Title-Page of the 1577 Edition........
I¥. Title-Page of the 1651 Edition...................
V.* Title-Page of the 1640 Edition. . . • ,
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PREFACE
The dissertation which follows represents a research journey into
the Tudor era of English history. The discussion revolves around a
dominant figure of that period, Saint John Fisher, and a forgotten
treatise on Prayer, w ritten by this great bishop and martyr. In its
preparation many and devious pathways of investigation were traveled.
The w riter, therefore, w ill ever remain grateful to those who guided his
footsteps in these scholarly peregrinations. He especially thanks
Professor Charles Donahue, Ph.D., Graduate ^chool, Fordham Oniversity,
for the latter*s consistent encouragement, direction and mentorship of
th is dissertation. He likewise thanks Professor Grover J. Cronin, Ph.D.,
Graduate School, Fordham U niversity, for the advice given on proper pro­
cedure. The w riter is grateful to Professor James E. Tobin, Ph.D.,
Queens College, formerly of Fordham Oniversity, for arousing his interest
in the Tudor period and the personalities of that age. Words of thanks
are also extended to a ll the members, past and present, of the English
Faculty, Graduate School, Fordham Oniversity, for their contributions
to the acquirement of a greater knowledge of English Language and Lit-^
erature on the w riter1s part; to Reverend Gustave Dumas,S.J., Dean, for
his many kind services from the in itia l day of m atriculation u ntil the
present hour; to Very Reverend John L. McNulty, Ph.D., President of
Seton Hall College, South Orange, for his understanding counsel. A debt
of gratitude is hereby acknowledged to the Curators of the Bodleian Lib­
rary, Oxford University, and the University Library, Cambridge, to the
Director of the Bibliotheque Nationals, Paris, to the Rev. Reginald Fuller,
Librarian, St. Edmund*s College, Ware, Herts, to the Reverend Charles
L. J
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r B. Murphy, Librarian, Seton Hall College, to the staffs of the PierponTJ
Morgan, Fordham University, Seton Hall College, Sew York City Public,
Hewark Public, Columbia University, and Immaculate Conception Seminary
Libraries for their cooperative assistance and the facilities placed at
the writer* s disposal.
A final but most sincere word of gratitude is directed to my par­
ents, and my brother, whose interest in my progress has lit the bright­
est torch of encouragement and direction in the sometimes shadowy journey.
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saint johm fisher* s
A GODLIE TREATISSE DECLARING THE BEEJEFITES, AND
GREAT COMMODITIES OF PRAYER, AND ALSO THE TfiUE USE
THEREOF
The Text, Its History, And Pertinent
C ritical Notes
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