Jasper Ridley: "Thomas Cranmer:" Ch. 11--Calais and Lambert, 166ff.

WILL THE REAL DR. CRANMER PLEASE STAND UP? The Troubles in Calais: The Case of Lambert, 166-174. Calais, 26 miles wide and 6 miles deep in northern France opposite Dover, belonged to Canterbury. Deputy Lisle was originally on good terms with Dr. Cranmer. William Peterson was Cranmer’s Commissary, a traditionalist who repressed heretical books. By 1537, the relationship between Cranmer and Lisle was deteriorating, once for refusing Lisle’s request to denounce anti-Romanist priests. Adam Damplip, once a chaplain to Fisher and former student of Pole’s in Italy, “became converted to extreme Protestant doctrines” (167) and was in Calais helping reformers. Ridley does not define “reformers” in this context. Damplip was sent to Cranmer for evaluation. On 18 Aug 1538, Cranmer writes Crumwell, “As concerning Damplip at Calais, he utterly denieth that he ever he taught of said that the very body and blood of Christ was not presently in the Sacrament of the Altar, and confesseth the same to be really there; but he saith, that the controversy between him and the Prior was because he confuted the opinion of the transubstantiation, and therein I think he taught the truth” (168). Hence, by 1538, it appears that Dr. Cranmer denied transubstantiation (DPV, as a term per se, but perhaps affirming impanation in a medievalist sense?). In 1551, Cranmer wrote in the Answer to Smith: “I confession of myself, that not long before I wrote the said Catechism [DPV, Justus Jonas’ 1548 Catechism] I was in error of the Real Presence, as I was many years past in divers other errors: as of transubstantiation, of the sacrifice propitiatory of the priests in the mass, of pilgrimages, Purgatory, pardons, and many other superstitions and errors that came from Rome” (169). Yet, at his trail in 1555, he claims he held two views not three as accused, to wit, Rome’s, Luther’s, and Zwingli’s. Another good reason to aver Dr. Cranmer denied transubstantiation was his 3-day-hold-out-debate over the Six Articles in 1539. Will the real Dr. Cranmer please standup? By 1538, German Protestants are in London and he has communications with Partridge who is peddling Bullinger’s book to the King, Crumwell and himself. But then, comes the trial of Lambert and his role in it. What does the jury think?

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