May 1948-1972 A.D. Athenagoras I—Constantinople’s 267th; Metropolitan of Corfu; Established Diocese in North America

4 May 1851 A.D. Dr. Arthur James Mason—Cranmer Scholar, Author of Thomas Cranmer, and a Brief Tour of Prof. Mason’s Bibliography of Cranmer

Mason, Arthur James. Thomas Cranmer.  London: Methuen & Co., 1898.  It is available at:  http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-ebook/dp/B00538MELC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376431920&sr=8-1&keywords=mason+thomas+cranmer

It is available online at:

http://books.google.com/books?id=s1ELAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=arthur+mason+thomas+cranmer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qa8KUomVDJP54APGy4GoBg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=arthur%20mason%20thomas%20cranmer&f=false

Available online at: http://archive.org/details/thomascranmer00masouoft  

Mr. Mason quotes Lord Houghton’s statement in the preface to Recantacyons that Mr. Cranmer was “the most mysterious personage of the British Reformation.”  We share the view.

Professor Mason gives a tour of his sources:

The first two are highly recommended by him. 

First, H. Jenkyn’s collection in the Parker Society.   We could only find three volumes for hardcopy at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Edited-Parker-Society/dp/1407702041/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1376432605&sr=8-11&keywords=cranmer+parker+society .  Cranmer, Thomas.  The Works of Thomas Cranmer, Vol. 1-3 (ed. Parker Society.  No location: Hardpress Publishing, 2012.  Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Edited-Parker-Society/dp/1407702041/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1376432605&sr=8-11&keywords=cranmer+parker+society  A few online resources are available at:  Cranmer, Thomas. Writings and isputations, vol. 1 (1844) PDF Cranmer, Thomas. Writings and Disputations, vol. 2 (1844) PDF [Internet Archive]

Secondly, Narratives of the Reformation (Camden Society).  No location: Ulan Press, 2012.  Mr. G.W. Bromiley, as we noted yesterday, also highly recommended this.  Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Narratives-Reformation-Camden-Society-Britain/dp/B00ARBTSV4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376357922&sr=8-1&keywords=narratives+of+the+reformation+%28camden+society%29

Allegedly, there is a “biography” somewhere by Mr. Ralph Morice.  We are searching.  It was written at Mr. (ABC) Matthew Parker’s request.  Also, Mr. Morice consulted with Mr. John Foxe. It may be found at the end of John Strype’s life of Cranmer.  Mr. Morice was the longtime and trusted secretary of Mr. Cranmer throughout his time as Canterbury.  Mr. Mason notes that Foxe speaks with “vivacity and picaresque force.”   

Misters Bp. Burnet and Rev. John Strype are “most useful to the student.”  Everyone cites these two must-haves/must-reads. 

Burnet, Gilbert.  History of the Reformation of the Church of England, 6 Volumes. No location: Ulan Press, 2012.  According to Mr. G.W. Bromiley, there are seven volumes. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/History-Reformation-Church-England-Volumes/dp/B00A9UTDQI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1375124672&sr=8-5&keywords=gilbert+burnet+history+of+reformation  They are available online at:  http://books.google.com/books?id=q88WAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=gilbert+burnet+history+of+the+reformation&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ec32Ub7EOpPa9QS264HYBQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=gilbert%20burnet%20history%20of%20the%20reformation&f=false  In 1679, Mr. Burnet says:  “…as eminent virtues, and as few faults in him as in any prelate, that has been in the Christian Church for many ages.”  In 1715, he nuances this with: “…if it had not been for Cranmer’s too feeble compliance in King Henry’s time, and the last inexcusable slip, he might well be proposed as one of the greatest patterns of history.”  

Strype, John. Memorials of the Most Reverend Father in God Thomas Cranmer: Sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Wherein the History of the Church, and the ... Greatly Illustrated; and Many Singular Matter. No location: Ulan Press, 2012.  In hardcopy, it is available at:  http://www.amazon.com/Memorials-Reverend-Father-Thomas-Cranmer/dp/B009PU77G6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375124947&sr=8-1&keywords=John+strype+cranmer .  It is available online at:  http://books.google.com/books?id=eA5IYYMsOA8C&pg=PA533&dq=john+strype+cranmer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=t9P2UYv4B4ma9gTLm4CQAg&ved=0CFIQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=john%20strype%20cranmer&f=false 

Todd, Henry John. Archbishop Cranmer, 2 Volumes. Ulan Press, 2010.  Available in hardcopy at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Life-Archbishop-Cranmer-Volume/dp/1147103828/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1375125644&sr=8-5&keywords=todd+archbishop+cranmer.  It is available online at: http://books.google.com/books?id=zmkmGlnvbNgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=john+henry+todd+archbishop+cranmer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NND2UZ2vL4Pc9QSI2YBg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=john%20henry%20todd%20archbishop%20cranmer&f=false  

Todd, Henry John. A Reply to Dr. [J.] Lingard's Vindication of His History of England, As Far As Respects Archbishop Cranmer.  Ulan Press, 2012. Available in hardcopy at:  http://www.amazon.com/Lingards-Vindication-History-Respects-Archbishop/dp/B00AP6SVG4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375125644&sr=8-1&keywords=todd+archbishop+cranmer It is available online at:  http://books.google.com/books?id=IrrkAJHRGagC&printsec=frontcover&dq=john+henry+todd+archbishop+cranmer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NND2UZ2vL4Pc9QSI2YBg&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=john%20henry%20todd%20archbishop%20cranmer&f=false

Todd, Henry John. A Vindication of the Most Reverend Thomas Cranmer, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: And Therewith of the Reformation in England, Against Some of the ... the Rev. Dr. Milner, and Charles Butler.  Ulan, 2010.  Available in hardcopy at:  http://www.amazon.com/Vindication-Reverend-Cranmer-Archbishop-Canterbury/dp/B009P5NHS8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1375125644&sr=8-3&keywords=todd+archbishop+cranmer  It is available online at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JVALAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=john+henry+todd+archbishop+cranmer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vdD2UZ6IF4OE8gSB-ICYBQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=john%20henry%20todd%20archbishop%20cranmer&f=false

Hook. Life of Cranmer.  We were unable to locate this.

Mr. Mason also speaks glowingly of Mr. (rev.) Richard Watson Dixon’s work.  We read his volume on Elizabeth and he is full and scholarly. On the other hand, Prof. Bromiley takes Dixon to task several times, implying he was too fault-finding.  That assessment is pending. Mr. Mason quotes Mr. Dixon:  “…because the more deeply Cranmer’s character and career are studied, the more attractive they make themselves to be.”   

Dixon, Richard Watson. History of the Church of England: From the Aboltion of the Roman Jurisdiction, Vols. 1-6.  No location: Ulan, 2012. http://www.amazon.com/History-Church-England-Abolition-Jurisdiction/dp/B00A7NWP62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376434679&sr=8-1&keywords=richard+watson+dixon+history+of+the+church+of+england  We located one online at:  http://books.google.com/books?id=x1MdBR593-0C&pg=PP8&dq=r.w.dixon+history+of+the+church+of+england&hl=en&sa=X&ei=S7kKUrOFGK354APkgIHYCg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=r.w.dixon%20history%20of%20the%20church%20of%20england&f=false .  A small taste of these delicious volumes are suggested by the preface of the online version:  

“The First Volume contains the period from the Fall of Wolsey to the end of the Pilgrimage of Grace. It gives for the first time the whole history of the struggle between the King, aided by the Parliament, and the Clergy, which ended with the submission of the latter. It contains the various acts by which the Roman jurisdiction was ended: the fullest account of the troubles of More, Fisher, Houghton, and others under the new acts of Supreme Head and verbal treason. The examination of the evidence on which the religious houses are commonly believed to have been condemned, the first part of the Monastic Suppression, and the Pilgrimage of Grace, are among the chief contents of this volume: and of the whole work it is a principal feature to afford a sufficient treatment of the various visitations, injunctions, articles, and formularies that appeared in the course of the Reformation.”

“The Second Volume continues and concludes, from the former volume, the history of the Monastic Suppression, an event which has never before been treated in a consecutive manner. It exhibits fully, for the first time, the various negotiations between Henry and the Protestants; and for the first time divides by their years and assigns to their causes the religious persecutions of Henry's later years. It embraces the Irish Reformation, and the affairs of Scotland and of the Continent, as they affected England: it gives a full account of the compilation of the Third English Confession, which it compares with the Second: it traces the Liturgic Reformation to the point at which it arrived within the period. The volume is furnished with an Index to the two first volumes.”