English King Henry VIII’s 1521 Defense of the Seven Sacraments

by Alan Krieger, Theology and Philosophy Librarian

The Hesburgh Libraries has recently acquired a rare copy of the first Lyon (French) edition of King Henry VIII’s Regis Angliae Henrici huius nominis octavi Assertio septem sacramentorum adversus Martinum Lutherum (Lugduni, 1561), the English king’s defense of the Seven Sacraments which was first published in London in 1521.

This edition includes for the first time a scathing attack on the Protestant Reformation by Gabriel de Saconay (1527-1580), which elicited a reply from Jean Calvin. In his preface, Saconay offers a polemical summary of the previous 45 years, including discussions concerning Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli.

Also reproduced in the preface are letters by Erasmus and St. John Fisher concerning the work, as well as a letter from Pope Leo X that appeared in the preface of the first edition.

We have identified only six other North American holdings of this edition.

Published by

rbsc

Rare Books and Special Collections is located on the main floor of the Hesburgh Library at the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana, and is open to students, faculty, visiting researchers, and members of the community Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm (closed weekends and major holidays).