Thomas Arthur (dramatist) facts for kids

Thomas Arthur was an English writer and religious scholar who lived a long time ago, in the 1500s. He was known for his plays and his strong religious ideas during a time of big changes in England.

Who Was Thomas Arthur?

Thomas Arthur was an important English writer and religious thinker who lived in the 1500s. He was born in Norfolk, a county in England. He studied at Cambridge University, which is a very famous university. While he was there, he learned new ideas about religion from another student named Thomas Bilney.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Arthur became a fellow at St. John's College in February 1517 or 1518. At this time, he had already earned his Master of Arts degree. In 1518, he also worked as the head of St. Mary's Hostel, which was a place for students to live.

Religious Beliefs and Challenges

In the 1500s, there were many new ideas about religion spreading across Europe. Some of these ideas were different from the traditional teachings of the church. Thomas Arthur and his friend Thomas Bilney were interested in these new ideas, which were sometimes called "Protestant opinions."

In 1526, Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney faced challenges because of their beliefs. They were asked to publicly state that they did not agree with the ideas of Martin Luther, who was a key figure in the Protestant movement.

Later, in 1527, they were again questioned about their religious views. They appeared before important leaders, including Cardinal Wolsey. Both Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney agreed to follow the official church teachings at that time. However, Thomas Bilney later chose to stick to his strong beliefs, which led to serious consequences for him.

His Writings

Thomas Arthur was also a writer. He wrote several works, including:

• Microcosmus, which was a tragedy play.
• Mundus plumbeus, another tragedy play.
• In quosdam Psalmos, which was about some of the Psalms from the Bible.
• Homeliæ Christianæ, which were Christian sermons or talks.
• A translation of a book by Erasmus called De Milite Christiano. This book was about what it means to be a Christian soldier.

Later Life and Legacy

Thomas Arthur passed away in 1532 in a place called Walsingham. He lived during a time of great change in England, especially in religion. His life shows how people had to navigate new ideas and challenges during the 16th century.