Note 245 — Chapter V

Several references to the Anabaptists of the Low Countries are to be found in the Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII. Hackett, writing to Cromwell, says that “divers places are affected by this new sect of ‘rebaptisement,’” vii. p. 136. He tells about the shiploads of emigrants (pp. 165, 166), and says that they were so sympathised with, that it was difficult to enlist soldiers to fight against them; that the Regent had sent 10,000 ducats to help the Bishop of Münster to crush them (p. 167); and a wild report was current that Henry VIII. had sent money to the Anabaptists of Münster in revenge for the Pope’s refusing his divorce (p. 185).