page_title: British Anabaptism
section_title: The Lecherous Anabaptist
hierarchical_section_title: British Anabaptism / Perception / The Lecherous Anabaptist
caption_attribution_description: English: pamphlet from 1681
context_page_description: Anabaptists did not originate in England, but came from continental Europe to escape persecution from Switzerland. English Anabaptism, it did not touch the country as quickly as other countries since Henry VIII wanted to eradicate heresy quickly and wanted to push a unified religion in England. In fact, during his rule in 1535, Henry VIII had them deported out of England officially with a proclamation that, "Ordered Anabaptists to leave the realm within twelve days after parliament adjourned or suffer the penalty of death." In 1539 he pardoned Anabaptists with a similar proclamation to restore them to the Roman Catholic church. He wanted unity above all. While Henry VIII himself had broken away from the Catholic Church himself, Anabaptists did not face a welcoming country from the beginning of their coming to England. Both Henry and his Tudor successors have charged dissidents on the basis of Anabaptism, some of whom had not such convictions. Looking at primary sources, this means that just because they were charged as an Anabaptist does not mean they were one.
context_section_description: Most times, people described Anabaptists in negative terms. For instance, this pamphlet is describing the "Lecherous Anabaptist". This describes an account of an Anabaptist making inappropriate advances on a young Maid and exchanging a Bible for sexual favors, repeating the line, "For Frank twelve Geneva good Bibles did proffer, to lie with his Maid, but she slighted his offer." Stories like this were common, people took to a negative view of Anabaptists and tarnished their reputation with scathing literature and art work to bring down their reputations.
caption: pamphlet from 1681 concerning the Lecherous Anabaptist