Canon Richard Dixon: History of Church of England from the Abolition of ...

CANCELLATION CULTURE. MELANCHTHON'S BUTT-BLISTERS TO KING HENRY VIII. Uvedale, a Crumwellian agent, shuts down religious establishment. Ditto for Williams(153). Other surrenders are noted (154). Three Abbots of Reading, Colchester, and Glastonbury are attainted and executed (155). Abbot Whiting of Glastonbury, a model of decorum, was falsely accused of sacrilege. Egregiously, he was drawn, quartered, and body parts sent around the country (156). Of course, hustlers invaded and stripped Glastonbury—lead, windows, etc., sort of like Achan of Joshua 7, lusting for the Babylonish garments. In a change of subject, Dixon records the fever-blistering “Letter of Philip Melanchthon to the King.” It is more largely cited in Fox but make no mistake—this remonstration against the Six Articles may really be the face of the estranged, but still living Luther (159). Luther has been in Henry’s doghouse for some time, so Melanchthon may be Luther’s mask. It is strong. Melancthon does some analysis: it’s not Henry talking in the Six Articles, but the bishops for them (159-160). Fascinatingly, he cites Wily Winchester as the instigator behind the Six Articles. Switching subjects, a nameless "Apologist of the King" appears (161) giving the Royalist’s view of the Reformation as of 1539 (163). It's a warrantable and worthy read.