Parker Society's "Works of Thomas Cranmer," Vol. 2, 26ff.

1.     Life, State, and Story of Thomas Cranmer— Henry makes Dr. Cranmer the Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry always defended Dr. Cranmer, e.g. contrary to Steve Gardiner’s efforts. Dr. Cranmer’s was born to an ancient family in an Esquire’s home. He went to Cambridge and became a fellow of Jesus College. After the decease of his first wife, Joan, he was readmitted to Jesus College, became of Doctor of Divinity and public examiner of those proceeding to divinity degrees. The friars hated him, but were thankful later for Dr. Cranmer’s insistence on Biblical studies and knowledge, e.g. Dr. Barret. Dr. Cranmer was solicited by Cardinal Wolsey to be a fellow of the Cardinal’s College, Oxford but he declined the offer. The question of the King’s divorce with Catherine is discussed at Waltham with Wily Steve (Dr. of canon law) and Dr. Fox. Fox and Gardiner refer Dr. Cranmer’s suggestions to Henry. The King summons Dr. Cranmer and interrogates him. The King charges the Earl of Wiltshire to give lodgings and books to Dr. Cranmer so he can search the Scriptures, the ancient Fathers, the extent of the Pope’s authority in England, and to write up his views; the matter becomes one of Scripture over canon law; the marriage is found by God’s Word to be unlawful and the Pope’s authority nugatory in the case. Dr. Cranmer, Dr. Stokesley, Dr. Carne, Dr. Benet, the Earl of Wiltshire and others are sent to argue the case in Rome—to no avail. The English refuse to kiss the Pope’s foot. Later, Dr. Cranmer will become an ambassador to Charles V’s court. In 1533, Dr. Cranmer becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. Cranmer maintains his academic study: 5-9 AM—prayers and study; 9-noon—business including discourse with learned person; 12 PM—lunch and afterwards to 5 PM, studies; 5 PM—prayers; 530-7 PM—supper; 7-9 PM—studies. Dr. Cranmer is patient, forgiving, gentle, generous, kind, and, personally, constant in Reformational interests and the defense of Christ’s truth and Gospel. "Do unto my lord of Canterbury displeasure or a shrewd turn, and then you may be sure to have him your friend whiles he liveth." 1539—Six Articles passed, but Dr. Cranmer stoutly resists them for three days in Parliament, being opposed by the usual conservatives-traditionalists and malicious, ignorant, parish priests. Dr. Cranmer is up against significant opposition, malice and slanders; he almost is standing alone; Henry VIII repeatedly supports his ABC. Thomas Cromwell famously told Dr. Cranmer: "My lord of Canterbury, you are most happy of all men: for you may do and speak what you list, and, say what all men can against you, the king will never believe one word to your detriment or hindrance."  The famous story of the Prebendaries’ Plot is foiled and the second plot by the Council is retold wherein Henry protects his ABC by his signet ring to their shame and exposure. Reference is made to the literary duel between Dr. Cranmer and Wily Winchester of the doctrine of the sacrament, as set forth in five books. Henry VIII dies, Edward VI dies, Mary 1 is on the throne, and Dr. Cranmer is utterly defenseless now. Dr. Cranmer is accused of heresy and shipped off to Oxford for disputations, but, the end game is/always was recantation and death for heresy wrought in England. The ABC recants and has the misfortune of Spanish friars to plague him. Mary’s heart is set against Dr.Cranmer. Mary 1 designates Dr. Cole as the sermonizer for Dr. Cranmer’s scheduled death on 21 March 1556. Lord William of Thames, Lord Shandoys, Sir Thomas Bridges, and Sir John Brown are appointed as the executioners. Dr. Cole delivers his 3-pointed sermon with Dr. Cranmer on a platform/stage opposite the pulpit at St. Mary’s, Oxford. Of course, heretic is copiously applied with references to the appropriateness of burning heretic. Dr. Cole exhorts Dr. Cranmer to take his death patiently while commending his recantations and conversion. Dr. Cole promises that dirges and funerary Masses will be said for Dr. Cranmer. Cranmer is ready for the day. Dr. Cranmer prays, closing with the Lord’s Prayer, and expounds his faith in the Articles or Apostles’ Creed. He exhorts all to a contempt of the world, an obedience to the King and Queen, and to brotherly love. And then, boom! The revocation and recantation of the recantation. Pandemonium ensues and Cranmer is led to the stake. The Papists are choking, chafing and condemning Dr. Cranmer to hell.

Dr. Cranmer is exclaiming: "And as for the pope, I refuse him as Christ's enemy and antichrist, with all his false doctrine…And as for the sacrament, I believe as I have taught in my book against the bishop of Winchester; the which my book teacheth so true a doctrine of the sacrament, that shall stand at the last day before the judgment of God, where the papistical doctrine contrary thereto shall be ashamed to shew her face."

Our narrator ends this way: “And this was the end of this learned archbishop, whom, lest by evil subscribing he should have perished, by well recanting God preserved; and lest he should have lived longer with shame and reproof, it pleased God rather to take him away, to the glory of his name and profit of his church. So good was the Lord both to his church in fortifying the same with the testimony and blood of such a martyr: and so good also to the man, with this cross of tribulation to purge his offences in this world, not only of his recantation, but also of his standing against John Lambert, and M. Allen, or if there were any other with whose burning and blood his hands had been before any thing polluted. But especially he had to rejoice that, dying in such a cause, he was to be numbered amongst Christ's martyrs, much more worthy the name St Thomas of Canterbury than he whom the pope falsely before did canonize.”