A Supplication for the Beggars

In the spring of 1529 a learned royal counselor set down a short but forceful pamphlet aimed at the growing tide of dissent in England. Written just before his promotion to Lord Chancellor, the tract attacks the practice of itinerant beggars who, he argues, carry with them dangerous reformist ideas and pamphlets that undermine the established faith. By linking these wanderers to the spread of heretical writings, the author seeks to rally both the king and the common people to defend the Church’s teachings.

The work presents a vivid picture of the early Reformation clash, warning that the new pamphlets challenge the sacraments and the authority of the clergy. It calls for a firm response rooted in loyalty to the crown and to traditional religious practice, reflecting the urgent anxieties of a court on the brink of profound change.