Cranmer Studies

Rev. Dr. Gerald Bray, “Documents of the English Reformation:” Tyndale in his Preface to the Pentateuch (1530) details the ignorance of clerks in the west, his troubles here, his move to London, his failed employment from the Prelate of London, and his realization that he must move abroad if he desired to translate the Bible. Never forget the Lollardy tradition in England and Rome’s stiff opposition to vernaculars (34). Rev. Dr. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, “Theology of English Reformers:” Latimer is not backing off from preaching sin, repentance and conversion, just as Jonah did not trim and tailor the message to his auditors (140). Margot Johnson’s “Thomas Cranmer: 500th Commemoration of his Birth:” 8. Cranmer’s Baptismal Liturgy—Stephen W. Sykes, 122-143. Stephen advocates for a “participatory hermeneutic” in reading Cranmer’s baptismal rite of 1552 and the gently revised 1662 rite. A hermeneutic that involves “overt” (his word) doctrinal content. Diarmaid McCulloch’s “Thomas Cranmer:” Prof. Mac comments on the 6-year conflict between Lisle of Calais and Dr. Cranmer. Cranmer is back on his heels over the Six Articles (which, as a good Erastian) he now supports, but is also having a fallout with Osiander over “Lutheran novelties” (255). Leslie Williams’ “Emblem of Faith Untouched: A Short Life of Thomas Cranmer:” Williams is about to describe the hypersonic bullet-train of April-May 1536 with Anne’s trial for treason due to adultery, her trial, her beheading, Cranmer’s “nullity” gig, Harry’s marriage to Jane Seymour, and Jane’s coronation (51). Latimer had due cause for lamenting the manifold wickednesses and transgressions of his native land. Those two months get worse with every retelling of it. Ridley, Jaspar. Thomas Cranmer: We hear of 72,000 people hanged under Henry’s regime, some 2.5% of England’s population at the time--about 2,8 million. Cranmer, as a member of the Council, cannot be absolved of his complicity, no matter how much he alleged loyalty to Henry by his toadying (216), or, at least how Ridley sees it. We definitely are on board in some instances, yeah, more than just “some.” The men of the hour were the Bilneys, Latimers, Lamberts, Wisharts and the Tyndales. Some outsiders viewed Cranmer as tepid and lukewarm.