Henry John Todd, M.A.: "The Life of Archbishop Cranmer," Ch. 5--1534-1535.

ARE TOM'S VIEWS ON JUSTIFICATION SLIPPING INTO THE PREACHING? SOME SHIFTS ARE DETECTED. HE'S NOT A NAIVE, ARTLESS WAIVE, BUT HE PLAYS REALPOLITIC. CHAPTER V. 1534 to 1535. Acts of Parliament abolishing the papal supremacy were passed. The Archbishop was a key player in the framing these Acts. His previous scholarly studies since 1529, inferably, were easily accessible and useable in the debates. Declarations of public bodies—submissions—to the same purpose were secured from bishops, clergy, Parliament, the two universities and all monasteries. Submit or else. Oaths of submission were required concerning the succession to the Crown, to wit, Anne was a Queen—end of story. Sir Thomas More and Bshop Fisher refuse to take the oaths The ever-astute and ever-crafty Archbishop proposes to Cromwell a carve-out, an end-run, that will preserve the lives of More and Fisher, but also will quell objections from Catherine, Mary, their factions and the nation. To wit, if More and Fisher sign on, others will sign on. The two were only objecting to the Preamble, not the balance of the Act. It was Realpolitic. But, Henry was (again) unwise but wise in his own eyes. Any claim by an historian that Cranmer was naïve, artless, etc., fail at this point. Arguably, it’s a shifty move. On another note, Cranmer intercedes for pardon from the king for the Convent at Canterbury in which some friars were agitating for the delusional and dishonest Nun of Kent. In the midst of the story, Todd inserts a note that Henry issues a proclamation for preaching the true Word of God against the see of Rome. It’s narrowly tailored, to wit, the Bishop of Rome has no Biblical authority for his claims over England. The archbishop obeys the proclamation by preaching. In addition to that, Cranmer slides in a Realpolitic-point in the sermons, a Reformed point, that Romish ceremonies, holy days, pilgrimages and the like do not remit sins. Oh! Oh! That was shifty. Only Christ does forgives and remits sins, not Romish ceremonies. Here’s an early indication that Cranmer holds to justification and remission by Christ alone. Cranmer writes a letter to Henry outlining the substance of his preachings, if not currying further favors.