Cranmer Studies

Rev. Dr. Gerald Bray, “Documents of the English Reformation:” Tyndale in his Preface to the Bible advises the Bible reader to read every syllable as applying to the reader for comfort, warning, and instruction (38). We’re on holy ground here with Tyndale who breathes simplicity, biblicality and authenticity. This may be better than Cranmer's most highly valued Preface to the Great Bible. That question is pending. Rev. Dr. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, “Theology of English Reformers:” Reformed meant to address “deformed” in BCP-formulation. Dr. Cranmer complained that the axed up Sarum liturgy and little-to-no Bible and that in Latin too. Diarmaid McCulloch’s “Thomas Cranmer:” Prof. Mac gives some context on Cranmer’s Preface to the Great Bible, a commissioned piece by Harry that Harry used in a speech to Parliament in 1545. Cranmer alludes to the spur for slow readers and the bridle for rash readers, polarities, with Cram and Henry's shared fears about the danger of Bible reading. Cram also refers to Chyrsostom and Gregory of Nazianzus, but bypasses the Anglo-Saxon Bibles found in the close monastic libraries and bypasses the known tradition of the Wycliffians. How strategic and tactical to avoid the Anglo-Romanists (without the Roman Pope but with an English Pope). Cram was not an artless fellow. Arthur Innes: “Cranmer and the Reformation in England:” one gets a history of the Bibles from 1536 to the Great Bible of 1539-1540. Leslie Williams’ “Emblem of Faith Untouched: A Short Life of Thomas Cranmer:” 9. Doctrine, 55-61. We learn that Henry and Crumwell were gouging Cram on some land deals and exchanges. Cram is on the losing end of those fights, acclaiming his (tactical) trust in His Majesty. Ridley, Jaspar. “Thomas Cranmer:” We hear how Cranmer writes and passes a note to Harry about sexual adulteries of Katherine Howard, done at a Mass at Hampton Palace on All Souls’ Day, 1541. Audley and Hertford begged off leaving Cram the difficult duty. 3 months later, Katherine would go to the scaffold also and lose her head (220).