Edward VI: A Hero of the Reformation

Recently, I bought a book on king Edward VI of Britain by N. A. Woychuck, entitled "The British Josiah: Edward VI, the Most Godly King of England." While one reason I got it may be obvious ;-), the main reason is that I didn't know of anywhere else I could get a complete biography of this fabulous character of 450 years ago.

Edward VI has been more or less one of my heros since I learned of him. He became king in 1547 when he was nine years old, but unfortunately, died just before he turned sixteen (supposedly of tuberculosis; but perhaps by poisoning). He was one of the main movers involved in circulating the Bible to the common people. He is also known as one of the most just and compassionate kings in history!

His father, Henry VIII, had appointed a Privy Council to help Edward govern. Most of the book is in relation to this body, addressing the almost-continuous power struggles between its members. Dealing with the power struggles was perhaps Edward's greatest challenge.

Much of the book also describes Edward's education and family relations. He had two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, both of whom would become queens. One was very bad, the other very good, respectively.

Edward loved to write, and what is even more worth the while than the main book is a short booklet written by Edward himself, included as an appendix. This article is absolutely outstanding! It is entitled Against the Primacy of the Pope, and was intended to be distributed through England. Apparently, the public was rather adverse to the idea of the Reformation, even though Edward was extremely popular as a personality. Thus, Edward realized the only way to bring them to fully reject the Catholic persausion was to produce a thought-out, understandable booklet with his name physically attached. He completed this work when he was twelve. However, it was not published until shortly before his death, after which the infamous Bloody Mary came to the monarchy and restored Catholicism.

Edward's booklet is full of common sense and truth. It sounds to me like Ron Paul with a regal twist. In it, he addresses such subjects as, "Is Rome the Mother of All Churches?," "Contrast Between Jesus and Pope," and "Can a Lawful Council be Called by a Pope Seeking Election?," which shows the logical fallacy of stating that the Pope is superior to other bishops by the decree of a Council. Here is a passage from it:

"But to the matter in hand. I will ask, whether a lawful council can be called but by the pope? To which, I am sure, the papists will answer negatively. Then I ask, if the pope can call a Council before his election? To which I know they will reply, he cannot. If then no council is lawful without a pope, and that none who is laboring to be elected pope can assemble a council, then the council which confirms the pope as superior over the church, is not lawful, because it was not convocated by a pope, there being none elected."

Edward's escatological position is predictably Historicist. For example, he states near the end of the work he believes that the two eyes of the "little horn" of Daniel represent "the pope and Mahomet." His interpretation is unique in that he recognized that the Papal and Islamic systems, even though they often disagree, are of the same essential substance and origination.

Edward's greatest acheivements in England were to create schools and hospitals for the poor, to end officially-sanctioned idol worship, Mass, and other Catholic rituals, to reform the monetary system and end silver debasement (inflation), and to work to end the practice of executing religious "heretics," whether Protestant or Catholic. This last effort was almost unheard of in Europe at the time. Edward was a true champion of Biblical supremacy.

I am definitely grateful that God has raised up such people as king Edward VI in history to inspire us. Let us pray that we will be more like them, and continue to fulfill their vision and legacy! Let us also, like Edward, remember to consistently cry to God: "O Lord, save Thy people!"


-R. Josiah Magnuson