Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Mandell Creighton's five-volume study of the papacy during the Reformation was first published between 1882 and 1894. Lytton Strachey paid an indirect compliment to Creighton's work by remarking that 'the biscuit is certainly dry; but at any rate there are no weevils'. Creighton (1843-1901) was an academic and an ordained Anglican. Having studied at Oxford and spent time in the parish of Embleton in Northumberland, he was appointed the first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge, became Bishop of Peterborough and ended his career as Bishop of London. Volume 1 (1882) describes the developments within the Catholic church that led to the 'Babylonian Captivity of the Popes' in Avignon, and then focuses on the Council of Constance (1414-18). Creighton juxtaposes very detailed accounts of the various popes with a narrative of the early reformation movements across Europe, from Oxford and Paris to Bohemia.

Mandell Creighton's five-volume study of the papacy during the Reformation was first published between 1882 and 1894. Lytton Strachey paid an indirect compliment to Creighton's work by remarking that 'the biscuit is certainly dry; but at any rate there are no weevils'. Creighton (1843-1901) was an academic and an ordained Anglican. Having studied at Oxford and spent time in the parish of Embleton in Northumberland, he was appointed the first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge, became Bishop of Peterborough and ended his career as Bishop of London. Volume 2 (1882) focuses on the controversial Council of Basel (1431-49) and its struggle with Eugenius IV over the crucial issue of papal authority as against both conciliar rule and the secular powers of Europe. The volume ends with the death in 1464 of Pius II.

Mandell Creighton's five-volume study of the papacy during the Reformation was first published between 1882 and 1894. Lytton Strachey paid an indirect compliment to Creighton's work by remarking that 'the biscuit is certainly dry; but at any rate there are no weevils'. Creighton (1843-1901) was an academic and an ordained Anglican. Having studied at Oxford and spent time in the parish of Embleton in Northumberland, he was appointed the first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge, became Bishop of Peterborough and ended his career as Bishop of London. Volume 3 (1887) concentrates on the half-century preceding the Reformation. This was a period of papal decline from the learned and energetic Pius II to a state of degeneracy and corruption which Luther and others attempted to reform. The volume ends with a detailed account of Alexander VI, the Borgia pope.

Mandell Creighton's five-volume study of the papacy during the Reformation was first published between 1882 and 1894. Lytton Strachey paid an indirect compliment to Creighton's work by remarking that 'the biscuit is certainly dry; but at any rate there are no weevils'. Creighton (1843-1901) was an academic and an ordained Anglican. Having studied at Oxford and spent time in the parish of Embleton in Northumberland, he was appointed the first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge, became Bishop of Peterborough and ended his career as Bishop of London. Volume 4 (1887) continues the account of Alexander VI and his son Cesare Borgia. In 1503 Julius II, the 'Warrior Pope' was elected, and Creighton gives a full narrative of the wars and alliances that the papacy subsequently became embroiled in. He also describes the sessions of the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-17), and the succession of Leo X.

Mandell Creighton's five-volume study of the papacy during the Reformation was first published between 1882 and 1894. Lytton Strachey paid an indirect compliment to Creighton's work by remarking that 'the biscuit is certainly dry; but at any rate there are no weevils'. Creighton (1843-1901) was an academic and an ordained Anglican. Having studied at Oxford and spent time in the parish of Embleton in Northumberland, he was appointed the first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge, became Bishop of Peterborough and ended his career as Bishop of London. In Volume 5 (1894) Creighton focuses on the beginnings of humanism and the different strands of the Reformation movement in Germany. He discusses Luther's leading role in the movement, and the reaction of the papacy to him. The volume closes with the sack of Rome by Charles V's troops and Clement VII's flight to Orvieto in 1527.