De Brès beyond Le baston

Abstract

Guy de Brès, reformer of the southern Low Countries, was tried and condemned for heresy in 1567. In prison he was interrogated by François Richardot, bishop of Arras. De Brès’ notes and letters were published posthumously as Procedures tenues. As he had written Le baston de la foy chrestienne as a guide for the Reformed who had to defend their faith, now de Brès had to defend himself and use his knowledge of the Church Fathers. The critical edition of this work will show what material from Le baston returns and what knowledge he acquired that goes beyond his own anthology. We analyze his use of Scholastic authorities, of the first eucharistic controversy of Radbertus and Ratramus, and of a specific edition of the Opus imperfectum on the Gospel of Matthew, published in Antwerp and thus accessible to the itinerant preacher. De Brès had recourse to a range of treatises on the Lord’s Supper, which were translated into French, from various reformers. He had also developed the skills to go beyond works of reference, study a contemporaneous edition of a Church Father, and make an informed decision of its value.