The Lost Network of Elizabeth Barton. Issue 2 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gertz, Genelle; Toscano, Pasquale
• Is Part Of: Reformation. Volume 26:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Elizabeth Barton -- reformation -- social network analysis -- revelations -- religious orders -- women visionaries -- late medieval mystics; Reformation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Reformation -- Periodicals; Church history -- 16th century -- Periodicals; Europe -- Civilization -- 16th century -- Periodicals; Europe -- History -- 1492-1648 -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 940.23
• DOI: 10.1080/13574175.2021.1977049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1357-4175

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study offers the first social network analysis of Elizabeth Barton (c.1506–34), the last medieval-style female visionary in England. Drawing from Thomas Cromwell's investigation in the State Papers, the study creates a hand-curated data set that, when entered into network visualization tools, shows the most prominent members of the network. Findings indicate that Barton was not the pawn of her confessor Edward Bocking (d. 1534), a claim made by the Henrician government and some historians. Equally important is the result that middling churchmen, rather than elite Tudor figures, were most responsible for distributing Barton's visions.