Introduction Preface and acknowledgements vi
Among the great blessings of this mortal life, very near to family and
friends, one must rank the aid, comfort, encouragement, and support
rendered by the myriad people and institutions that make the production
of a book a reality. This affinity becomes more true when the author
finds many friends and family among those who have been abetters,
comforters and cheerleaders in the enterprise. Honor of place in the
academic arena must go to Professor William J. Tighe of Muhlenburg
College, whose constant support, vast memory, familiarity with sources
and grand companionship have never ceased to animate this work. He
provided insight right up to the end, reading the manuscript both as it
originally appeared as a dissertation, and now in its much altered and I
hope improved version. Along with Bill I need to single out those who at
various stages of its life also read the manuscript and provided both
criticism and encouragement. Professor Frank James (president of
Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida) supplied
bibliographic and correctives in my knowledge of Peter Martyr Vermigli,
especially as regards his Eucharistic thought. Torrance Kirby (McGill
University) graciously provided both insight and a copy of his
forthcoming article ‘Relics of the Amorites’ for my perusal. John Craig
(Simon Fraser University), kindly supplied me with his entry on Jewel to
the new DNBas well as use of his paper ‘Erasmus or Calvin? The
Politics of Book Purchase in the English Parish, 1538–1640.’ Professors
Norm Jones (Utah State University) and Daniel Eppley (McMurray
University) freely gave numerous criticisms and suggestions. Professors
Donald Kelley, Phyllis Mack, and Maurice Lee, all of Rutgers University,
read this when it was but a meager dissertation, and each helped me
when I made the transition from the study of Medieval Europe to the
disciplines of an Early Modern historian. Numerous others aided in
other respects: Fr Keith Wyer, rector of St Peter’s Church Berrynarbor
and the churches of Berrynarbor parish was most kind with his insights
about the topography and situation of Jewel’s earliest years; Mr Joseph
Sirotnak twice provided me free airfare to England for research; Dr Bob
Schuettinger played my gracious host during my time in Oxford in 2003;
Mr Mark Kelly, over numerous pints, allowed me to bounce my thoughts
off him and was gracious with his insights; Professor Richard Rex whose
comments over lunch led me to look into a certain item regarding
Thomas Harding; Professor Tom Freeman provided insights on all things