A Supplication for the Beggars

A sharply worded pamphlet from the early Reformation, this work erupts onto the scene just before Thomas More’s rise to Lord Chancellor. Its author, a determined reformer, points a fierce finger at the beggars who line the streets on church charity, accusing them of exploiting piety for profit. Written in a direct, polemical style, the text blends biblical references with biting satire, making a clear case that the excesses of the clergy threaten the very foundations of true faith.

The pamphlet swiftly entered the public sphere, spawning a series of re‑issues that kept its controversial argument alive through decades of religious turmoil. Listeners will hear how it captures the anxiety of a nation caught between old authority and emerging reform, and how its urgent pleas for change echo the broader currents that would soon reshape English spirituality. The piece offers a vivid glimpse into the fierce debates that sparked a pivotal chapter of history.