Jaspar Ridley: "Thomas Cranmer," Ch. 12--Six Articles, 187ff.

SIX ARTICLES. FLIP-FLOP TOM. Cranmer lost credibility with Reformers, gained distrust from Papists, and diminished respect from Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas, Burkhardt and other Lutherans. It was another low-light by Dr. Cranmer in conduct of, exegesis of, and favor of Biblical and historical exegesis according to the Zeitgeist—Henry’s Zeitgeist. Dr. Cranmer gave a quiet directive to Ales Alesius, the Scots Lutheran, to get out of England, lest he suffer the penal sanctions. Off he went to Wittenberg. Also, Margaret Cranmer was on the next boat out also, since, both Thomas and Margaret, under these conditions could have been hanged. Had England known of Tom’s secret marriage, things might have been different. What did Henry or Crumwell know of Margaret? As for the 6 Whips, So apostolic of Henry, Parliament, the episcopal bench and the Church of England. The Papists are smelling weakness and blood in the water. Cranmer even acts vigorously in enforcing the Act—another violation of his own conscience and, in our view, sheer cowardice and worship of the English Pope—Henry. Henry is concerned about the rapprochement of Francis 1 and Charles V. Anne of Cleves is the political chip to gain alliance with the Germans. In this context, our sell-out Bishop advocates for the Great Bible and we read his Preface of 1540, citing Chrysostom and Gregory of Nazianzus contra: the general Papist-blackout and Bible-obstructionism. By 1539, Cranmer is involved in the closures of great monasteries including the refoundation at Christ Church, Canterbury.