英格蘭宗教改革是一個「由上而下」、官方啟動的信仰改宗運動。由於不是出自民間對天主教會的不滿，因此在推動新教的過程中，宣傳說服的工作格外重要。在亨利八世的官方宣傳中，除了傳統的文字宣傳外，還有一種英格蘭格外興盛的宣傳管道──戲劇宣傳。都鐸政府利用人們熟悉的巡迴劇團，將新創作的「宣傳劇」呈現在庶民大眾眼前。透過刻意設計的演出，教皇與天主教會成為了十惡不赦的外國勢力，而建立國教會的亨利國王，化身為信仰堅定的國家捍衛者。亨利八世利用戲劇為新教改革宣傳，這樣的論點早為許多史學家所提及。但囿於史料分散、搜羅不易，一直沒有人能提出確切的證據證明。「早期英格蘭戲劇資料中心」以30 年的時間搜集1642 年以前英格蘭各地的戲劇相關資料。在其努力之下，當時的表演、犒賞記錄陸續問世。在新整理出爐的史料支持下，我們於是得以重建宗教改革宣傳史中的戲劇宣傳。都鐸王室是一個弱勢的政權，但也是一個手腕高明、善於運用民氣的政權。與羅馬決裂、建立自己的英格蘭國教會，這等充滿危險的舉動，因為亨利八世及身邊大臣的操作得宜，讓英格蘭在步步危機中驚險度過。雖然曾有過區域性的反抗，並且有不少學者質疑新教落實地方的程度，但從「政治層面」看，亨利八世的改宗運動是成功的：他保住了政權，並且讓英格蘭臣民在形式上接受了新的信仰。英格蘭宗教改革的成功固然與亨利的各項賞罰政策有關，但他的「說服」功夫也不容忽略。亨利八世，尤其在克倫威爾主政時期，動用眾多文膽為官方政策辯護。他們採用的官方宣傳除了傳統的文宣小冊之外，還有運用劇作家與劇團的戲劇宣傳。沒有官方宣傳就沒有最後宗教改革的成功。而研究官方宣傳就不能忽略戲劇宣傳在其中扮演的吃重角色。戲劇宣傳在英格蘭宗教改革中所發揮的功能因此是瞭解此一信仰改宗運動不可或缺的環節。

The Reformation in England was a reformation from above, initiated by the government. As it did not stem from popular dissatisfaction with the Roman Catholic Church, persuasion became of vital importance; the Tudor regime needed to tell its people why England must break with Rome. Apart from traditional written propaganda, there was a special propaganda device available in England: drama. Playing troupes patronized by the Tudor government traveled around the country to promote the new faith. In the polemical plays they presented, the Pope and Catholic clergy were described as devilish foreign powers, while King Henry, who established the Anglican Church, was portrayed as a firm defender of the true faith. Many scholars have suggested that drama was adopted by Henry VIII to promote Protestantism; however, detailed evidence was lacking due to the scantiness of dramatic records. This difficulty was recently solved by “The Records of Early English Drama,” a center located at University of Toronto, which has spent more than 30 years collecting records of English drama before 1642. We thus now have various records of performances and payments, which make a reconstruction of the dramatic propaganda of the English Reformation feasible. Henry VIII was not as powerful as other European monarchs. However, he was clever enough to realize the strength of people; he broke with Rome, establishing his own Anglican Church through the support of the public. The actions taken by Henry VIII were dangerous; his regime survived these trials through the clever manipulation of his ministers. In spite of some regional resistance and some questions about the “real conversion” of the English populace, the Reformation in England was successful, for the King and his government survived. Henry’s success was certainly due in part to his policy of enforcement; however, the function of official propaganda was also important. Henry VIII, with the aid of Thomas Cromwell in particular, devoted much energy to persuade the English people. Apart from pamphlets, a more conventional way of persuasion, polemical drama, carried by itinerant troupes, was also employed. The official Reformation of Henry VIII could not have been achieved without successful propaganda. And anyone interested in the role of propaganda in promoting the Reformation shall not neglect the importance of dramatic propaganda.

英格蘭宗教改革；宣傳；《約翰王》；約翰．貝爾；巡迴劇團

the English Reformation; propaganda; King Johan; John Bale; itinerant playing company