In the mid-1670s, a French translation appeared of Nicholas Sanders' De origine et progressu schismatio Anglicani libri tres (1585). Sanders attacked the English Reformation which he considered the political act of a corrupt king. Several of Gilbert Burnet's friends wished him to publish a rebuttal of the work so in 1679 the first volume of this work was published, covering the reign of Henry VIII. Vol. II, appearing in 1681, covers the reign of Elizabeth. Vol. III consists of corrections and additional material. Parliament voted thanks for Burnet after the publication of the first volume and, in 1680, Oxford awarded Burnet the degree of doctor of divinity. Burnet's literary reputation was greatly enhanced by this publication which remained the standard reference work in the field for over a century. Catholics, not surprisingly, dispute some of its content.
