Edward was a sickly youth of ten years old, but his reign is noted for the progress of reform in the Church, and especially for the issue of the _Book of Common Prayer_, which must be considered of literary importance, as, although with decided modifications, and an interruption in its use during the brief reign of Mary, it has been the ritual of worship in the Anglican Church ever since.
It superseded the Latin services--of which it was mainly a translation rearranged and modified--finally and completely, and containing, as it does, the whole body of doctrine, it was the first clear manifesto of the creeds and usages of that Church, and a strong bond of union among its members.
OTHER WRITERS OF THE PERIOD.
_Thomas Tusser_, 1527-1580: published, in 1557, "A Hundreth Good Points of Husbandrie," afterward enlarged and called, "Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandrie, united to as many of Good Huswiferie;" especially valuable as a picture of rural life and labor in that age.
Alexander Barklay, died 1552: translated into English poetry the _Ship of Fools_, by Sebastian Brandt, of Basle.
Reginald Pecock, Bishop of St.Asaph and of Chichester: published, in 1449, "The Repressor of Overmuch Blaming of the Clergy." He attacked the Lollards, but was suspected of heresy himself, and deprived of his bishopric.
John Fisher, 1459-1535: was made Bishop of Rochester in 1504; opposed the Reformation, and refused to approve of Henry's divorce from Catherine of Arragon; was executed by the king.

The Pope sent him a cardinal's hat while he was lying under sentence.

Henry said he would not leave him a head to put it on.

Wrote principally sermons and theological treatises.
Hugh Latimer, 1472-1555: was made Bishop of Worcester in 1535.

An ardent supporter of the Reformation, who, by a rude, homely eloquence, influenced many people.