John Styrpe: "Memorials of the Most Reverent Father in God, Thomas Cranm...

Dr. Cranmer sends the king the news in those parts notably, on the conflict with the Turks to the southeast. Emperor Charles V issues a proclamation for a “general council, and a reformation to be had in Germany, for the controversies of the faith” (21). The Turks are still in Hungary and Charles wants Imperial unity. Hence, the proclamation, good news for the German Lutherans.  “That his imperial majesty declared peace throughout all Germany; enjoining, ‘that none should be molested for the cause of region, until the council should be called: or, in case there were none, until some other means should be found out by the states of the empire for healing the present divisions. And that he would use his utmost diligence, that a council should be denounced within six months, and the year after to be commenced. And that if this could not be obtained, then these matters should be referred to the imperial diets, to be handled there. That in the meantime all judicial proceedings relating to religion should be suspended; and that no lawsuits should hereafter be commenced against the protestants: and that in case any were, he com- manded that they should be void and null.’ This was published in the month of August this year.” (1532). Dr. Cranmer advises Henry on taxation of the states of the states of the empire. He goes in a secret embassy to the duke of Saxony, Frederick, and other Protestant princes. He confers with Spalatin. We infer here comfortably and with Cranmerian caution that Dr. Cranmer had the true estimate of things political, economic, commercial, and, for our interest, theological. He’s dealing with movers-and-shakers like Frederick and Spalatin.