Trinity Hall : Doctrinale ecclesie contra blasfemias Wiclef

Netter, Thomas, approximately 1375-1430

Trinity Hall

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This manuscript contains a letter from Thomas Netter to Pope Martin V, as well as books one to four of his <i>Doctrinale antiquitatum fidei</i> with prologues and capitula lists. Thomas Netter of Walden (c. 1374-1430) was a Carmelite friar. He wrote the <i>Doctrinale</i> in the 1420s and presented it to Pope Martin V to whom he was confessor. The friars were the main opponents of Lollardy and Netter’s <i>Doctrinale</i> contained a major section against the heresies of John Wycliffe. Netter played a prominent role in heresy debates and trials, refuting Wycliffe, Hus, and their adherents by preaching against Lollardy.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The Trinity Hall manuscript was copied at the Carmelite convent in Ghent, dated 16 September 1500, and signed by the scribe, Livinus de Preestere (colophon, <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(390);return false;'>fol. 190v</a>). The manuscript was given to Trinity Hall by Robert Hare, 1551 (d. 1611). It has <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(24);return false;'>one illumination</a> of the Virgin holding the infant Jesus, with Netter kneeling at Mary’s feet.</p>