Books under Suspicion: Censorship and Tolerance of Revelatory Writing in Late Medieval England. Comment: English Exceptionalism Reconsidered
Dyan Elliott
During my graduate days, I remember asking thesis supervisor, the late Michael Sheehan, about activity of heretical inquisition in England. He was clearly taken aback, instantly responding that there no such activity. The sole exception Templar arrests, ensuing from a Continental swell so vast it could not but fail to trouble waters even serene island. felt duly chastised. Now, however, anyone who has read Kathryn Kerby-Fulton’s groundbreaking Books under Suspicion would have acknowledge question dismissed too quickly. But lest historiographical hindsight knock loudly, hasten add Father Sheehan simply enunciating reflexive seemingly impeccable and, until now, virtually unchallenged orthodoxy medieval historians. vigilance England’s monarchy and competence its episcopacy only kept heretics out saw England spared kind mystical excesses had been destabilizing Continent for centuries. This is why “sudden” appearance Lollardy, homegrown heresy, took everyone by surprise. Moreover, inclined accept this answer uncritically because corroborated everything knew internalized British Isles, generally, particular. These different “doxies” are as familiar wellfingered beads rosary. First, Irish “saved” Western civilization with their pure Latin, beautiful manuscripts, introduction word separation (thank God), all blessed readiness eventual conversion Scotland Northumbria subsequent reformation hopelessly corrupt church. English monasticism would, turn, offer up Bede, stood head shoulders above other plodding historians barbarian nations. It furnished Boniface, timely papal legate who, lucky Carolingian wannabes, right place at time anoint Pepin. Then Alcuin, intellectual motor behind renaissance. England, first development an estimable vernacular literature, produced Alfred, king remarkable enough foster precocity his own renaissance, despite unfavorable climate Viking (read Continental) madness—until letters were eventually snuffed more interference form Norman Conquest. (And Alfred undoubtedly learned than Charlemagne!) Yet once planted on sane soil, these marauders did quite well: they introduced singularly rational feudalism buttressed common law “with legs,” managed keep Cathars, still take over much Continent. Even rotten like John proved fortunate fall. disaster Bouvines eventuated Magna Carta, Europe’s charter rights, addition providing France taste decently run bu-
Journal of British Studies