Cranmer Readings: Profs. MacCuloch & Jaspar Ridley: 12/21/2022

Diarmaid McCulloch’s “Thomas Cranmer:” Chapter 8. A problem of survival: 1542-1546, 297-351. Dr. MacCulloch engages the problematic chronology of the Prebendaries’ Plot, summer 1543 to fall 1543. We hear of Henry’s long rumination on and knowledge of the charges against his ABC. It finally comes to a head in the reported meeting between Cranmer and Henry by the Lambeth Bridge and Henry’s famous challenge on the barge, “Aha! I know who is the greatest heretic in Kent!” He pulls out of his sleeve a copy of the charges: heresy. Cranmer is appointed by Henry to investigate himself (Cranmer), but it’s an investigation without teeth or ruthlessness. MacCulloch rumbles around on several dates in Sept 1543 for the famed exchange. Cranmer has appointed two examiners of the Prebendaries’ Plot, Cox and Hussey. But, they are allegedly secret Papists and didn’t dig very deeply. Morice smells the plot and works to gets Thomas Legh—who energetically and efficaciously investigates, finding incriminatory papers and communications of the plot to take down Cranmer. The success of exposure was due to Leigh, Butts, Denny and Morice but not Cranmer. The deep state operated back then too. Of note, Cranmer did not perform Henry’s marriage to Queen Catherine Parr—Wily Winchester officiated. Cranmer wasn’t even on the guests’ list it is alleged. Poor Tom. He should have resigned long ago like Latimer and Shaxton, but he was ever-the-loyalist-and-royalist. BTW, Wily’s fingerprints and footprints are discernible in this plot against Cranmer. Henry must have known that. Ridley, Jaspar. “Thomas Cranmer:” Chapter 19. The Revolts of 1549, 290-305. We are told of the Devonshire and Norfolk uprisings after receipt of the English BCP. Sermons—ghost-written with Cranmerian notes affixed in his hand—were used for his sermons at St. Paul’s variously. Bonner gets into the mix for holding Romanist Masses rather than the BCP. A commission is set up to examine Bonner who tries to make the examination about the bone-muncher-view of the sacrament. Cranmer takes the bait and asks Bonner if the nose, ears, and eyes of Jesus were in the bread and wine, a common Zwinglian attack (and our’s as well). Bonner is remanded to Marshalsea Prison for four long years, being deprived of his London episcopate. Bonner will be released in Mary's reign and will make a comeback as "Bloody Bonner."