Cranmer Readings: 10/16/2022

Diarmaid MacCulloch’s Thomas Cranmer. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996. Chapter 8. A problem of survival: 1542-1546 (pp.297-438). Prof. Mac takes us through the complex and complicated landscape of interpersonal connections in Kent, Canterbury, Oxford, Cambridge, the monastic connections (of angry monks evicted from closed down monasteries), and the academic connections in theology and law. The Prebendaries’ Plot of 1543 had a long pre-history including Robert Serles, Prebendary William Gardiner (no relation to Wily), Dr. London and Wily in the shadows. The network is thick and complicated. Unravelling this is what Prof. Mac attempts to do. Taking down Cranmer with articles of accusation will be done, but Henry will frustrate, foil and take down the plotters (300). Stay tuned. Ridley, Jaspar. Thomas Cranmer. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962. Chapter 18. The Book of Common Prayer, 272-289. Somerset and Cranmer proceed slowly through 1547, fearing an imputation of doing things in the new King’s name. The Homilies—3 from Cranmer—are creating theological indigestion for Wily Winchester. Cranmer and Ridley have a little chat with Gardiner offering him a seat on the Council if he’ll embrace the homilies. Gardiner rightly calls it a bribe—or a quid pro quo. Do this and get that. Horse-trading. Being a deceiver himself, he knows deceit when he sees it. Gardiner is as careful as Cranmer. However, Gardiner is having none of it and is indignant, getting him a room and bed in the Fleet prison. Things were moving slowly in 1548 but orders were given to get rid of images, as well as ashes for Ash Wednesday and palms for Palm Sunday. More and more, in London, (unauthorized) vernacular services were being tried in some sectors. Licenses in some cases were revoked. Don’t agree? Get in line and get your ticket to jail with which Dr. Cranmer concurred. Stay tuned. 1553 will come soon enough and he’ll get a taste of the Erastian medicine he gave others.