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4 Reading the confessional divide

  • Geoff Baker
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Reading and politics in early modern England
This chapter is in the book Reading and politics in early modern England

Abstract

This chapter analyses William Blundell's entries on devotional writing and religious histories in his commonplace books. It considers how Blundell used his reading to bolster his own religious beliefs and discusses religious beliefs based on his engagement with the Bible and other devotional works. The analysis of his commonplace books indicates that certain aspects of Catholicism caused him problems, particularly the details of saints' lives. This chapter also describes how Blundell read and rewrote Catholic and Protestant history to add credibility to the former.

Abstract

This chapter analyses William Blundell's entries on devotional writing and religious histories in his commonplace books. It considers how Blundell used his reading to bolster his own religious beliefs and discusses religious beliefs based on his engagement with the Bible and other devotional works. The analysis of his commonplace books indicates that certain aspects of Catholicism caused him problems, particularly the details of saints' lives. This chapter also describes how Blundell read and rewrote Catholic and Protestant history to add credibility to the former.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front matter i
  2. Dedication v
  3. Contents vii
  4. Acknowledgements ix
  5. List of abbreviations xi
  6. Note on dates and style xiii
  7. Introduction 1
  8. Part I: Family, Friends and Connections
  9. 1 William Blundell’s family and friends 34
  10. 2 William Blundell and the wider world 76
  11. Part II: Reading and reflections
  12. 3 Reading and the construction of commonplaces 102
  13. 4 Reading the confessional divide 136
  14. 5 A Catholic approach to the world 171
  15. Conclusion 208
  16. Appendix 213
  17. Select bibliography 214
  18. Index 229
https://doi.org/10.7765/9781847792655.00013

Chapters in this book

  1. Front matter i
  2. Dedication v
  3. Contents vii
  4. Acknowledgements ix
  5. List of abbreviations xi
  6. Note on dates and style xiii
  7. Introduction 1
  8. Part I: Family, Friends and Connections
  9. 1 William Blundell’s family and friends 34
  10. 2 William Blundell and the wider world 76
  11. Part II: Reading and reflections
  12. 3 Reading and the construction of commonplaces 102
  13. 4 Reading the confessional divide 136
  14. 5 A Catholic approach to the world 171
  15. Conclusion 208
  16. Appendix 213
  17. Select bibliography 214
  18. Index 229
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