Part V. Prisoners in the Reformation Era (1501-1600).
If you could spend an afternoon with just one person from the Reformation, who would you choose? The Reformation was an era of well-known names, heroes and heroines on both sides of the Catholic/Protestant divide. The fire of their faith could not be quenched. The zeal with which they faced imprisonment and even met death has become a testimony to all subsequent ages. It would be the opportunity of a life time to talk with almost any of them.
Six half-hour programs vividly bring to life the Reformation, its colorful leaders, and history-shaping turning points.
For myself, I would be torn between Knox and Tyndale. Luther wrote so much and so much has been written about that I feel as if I already know him. Although much has also been written about Knox and Tyndale, too, I still cannot form as clear an estimate of either as I wish. Probably I would opt to sit down with Tyndale.
Who would you pick?
William Tyndale’s (1494-1536) Poignant Prison Letter.
John Fisher (1469-1535) Points Others to Heaven from His Prison Cell.
Thomas More (1478-1535) Meditates on Choice While Awaiting Execution.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) Translates the Bible While in Protective Custody.
Philip of Moscow (1507-1569) Assassinated in Prison for Rebuking Ivan the Terrible.
John Knox (1510-1572) Pulls an Oar as a Galley Slave.
Anne Askew (1521-1546) Holds Her Own Against the Men Who Examine Her.
Guido de Brès (1522-1567) Comforts His Wife from Death Row.
Edmund Campion (1540-1581) Defends His Mission at His Arraignment.
John of the Cross (1542-1591) Paraphrases Solomon in His Dungeon.
Henry Barrow (1550-1593) Bullied at His “Arraignment.”
Robert Southwell (1561-1595) Writes Baroque Poems in Prison.
