Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Tudor Courtier John Gage Secretly Preserved Catholic Text

John Gage, a courtier under Henry VIII, is believed to have covertly saved a Catholic text during the English Reformation, defying royal orders.

Gage left Henry VIII's court in 1533, possibly due to disapproval of the king's break with the Catholic Church. He later became involved in the dissolution of monasteries.

A new study suggests Gage preserved a fragment of Nicholas Love's "Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ" instead of destroying it. This was part of an effort to preserve Catholic literature.

Researchers found the missing pages and matched them to a medieval manuscript. Gage's signature appears on the manuscript, indicating his ownership of the Catholic text.

Nicholas Love's "Mirror" was a significant 15th-century work, balancing orthodox and heterodox beliefs, and became a point of contention during the Reformation.

Despite its controversial status, at least 65 copies of the "Mirror" survive, showing its value to some.

Gage held high-ranking positions, including comptroller of the royal household. He rose to prominence with Thomas Cromwell's help.

Gage maintained his Catholic faith throughout the Reformation, navigating a turbulent court and surviving political shifts.

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