Bishop Gilbert Burnet: "The History of the Reformation of the Church of ...

After Henry’s death in Jan 1547, Burnet retails the internal haggling over who had the greatest power in the new King’s inner circle. There is some back-and-forth about power and power-sharing. By 13 March, the Protector holds his office by patent. “and, that he [King Edward VI] might be furnished with a council for his aid and assistance, he did, by the advice of his uncle and others, nobles, prelates, and wise men, accept of these persons for his counsellors: the archbishop of Canterbury; the lord St. John, president; the lord Russell, lord privy-seal; the marquis of Northampton, the earls of Warwick and Arundel, the lord " Seymour, the bishop of Durham, the lord Rich, sir Thomas Cheyney, sir John Gage, sir Anthony Browne, sir Anthony Wingfield, sir William Paget, sir William Petre, sir Ralph Sadler, sir John Baker, doctor Wotton, sir Anthony Denny, sir William Herbert, sir Edward North, sir Edward Montague, sir Edward Wotton, sir Edmund Peckham, sir Thomas Bromley, and sir Richard Southwell; giving the protector power to swear such other commissioners as he should think fit: and that he, with so many of the council as he should think meet, might annul and change what they thought fitting; restraining the council to act only by his advice and consent” (58).

Bishop Burnet next takes a tour through German affairs in/around 1547. The majority of German Princes are Protestant and Charles V seeks to resolve such by the Council of Trent, opening in Nov 1545 (without any Protestant theologians…that will go over well). An interregnum of peace is arranged c. 1544 at the Diet of Spire [sic]. The Turk on the southeast distracts the Imperialist’s eyes away from France, England, and the “German” problem. Peace with the Turk is gained in Oct 1545. Now, the Pope and Imperialist Caesar can get on with defining the “heretics,” the Protestants.