John Strype's "Thomas Cranmer, Vol.1," vii

1.     Dedicatory and Preface, xi-xxxvii. The volume is dedicated to Archbishop Tillotson and went to press in 1694. Strype is an Anglican clergyman in an east London parish and was of Huguenot extraction. He speaks of his love for Dr. Cranmer and the methods, purposes, ends and personages of the English Reformation. He traveled and researched widely in English libraries, cathedrals, private collections, collegial and government collections. He speaks favorably on Foxe’s instincts as an historian and his Acts and Monuments. Reference is made to historical works by Fuller, Heylin the Arminian and Burnet of Salisbury. Otherwise, he laments an overall lack of historical works covering Henry, Edward and Mary. Aside from the mere love of history, which he evinces, he wants the “English nation…to value and esteem as we ought our reformed religion” (30). This influence “manners” by observing “discreet behavior, just management of matters..their zeal, their charity, their awe of God…” (30). He alludes to Papist historians, e.g. Parsons and Harpsfields , with “cankered minds” (34). He calls historians “history controllers” of the narrative. Strype proceeds chronologically over three volumes, with appendices at the end so as to not interrupt the narrative. As Calvinists, we would add we are on holy ground here with Rev. Strype, vis a vis the third commandment and the WSC.