Some more on Cranmerian biographies beyond those previously noted.
Two 17th century benchmark-biographies have held the field and appear in almost all bibliographies on Mr. (ABC) Thomas Cranmer.
They are Mr. (rev) John Strype (1694) and Mr. (bp) Gilbert Burnet (1679). Mr. Burnet’s view of Cranmer is, allegedly, not as laudatory as Mr. Strype’s. Mr. Burnet wrote shortly after the “excitements of revolutionary politics.” Mr. Strype did as well.
Burnet, Gilbert. History of the Reformation of the Church of England, 6 Volumes. No location: Ulan Press, 2012. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/
In 1679, Mr. Burnet says: “…as eminent virtues, and as few faults in him as in any prelate, that has been in the Christian Church for many ages.” In 1715, he nuances this with: “…if it had not been for Cranmer’s too feeble compliance in King Henry’s time, and the last inexcusable slip, he might well be proposed as one of the greatest patterns of history.” This was Mr. Ridley's editorial selection as a summary of Mr. Cranmer.
In 1694, Mr. John Strype speaks of “the first Protestant Archbishop of this Kingdom and the greatest instrument under God of the happy Reformation of the Church of England.” Repeatedly, Mr. Strype calls Mr. Cranmer “the good Archbishop.” Mr. Strype was more laudatory.
Of note, acclamations by Mr. Strype of “Protestant,” “Archbishop”, and the “Happy Reformation” are connected to the Church of England. While that may seem rather self-evident, one must remember the self-loathing Tractarians and Anglo-Catholics who abominate and excoriate such terms.
Strype, John. Memorials of the Most Reverend Father in God Thomas Cranmer: Sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Wherein the History of the Church, and the ... Greatly Illustrated; and Many Singular Matter. No location: Ulan Press, 2012. In hardcopy, it is available at: http://www.amazon.com/
Mr. Strype has written other suitable works on the Reformation as well.
Both Misters Burnet and Strype would remain the unchallenged and governing biographies of Mr. Cranmer in the late 17th to the 19th centuries.
Mr. Ridley, 1962, states the above biographies by Misters Strype and Burnet held the field. Mr. Ridley say that Thomas Cranmer’s “Protestantism and his loyalism endeared him to both Whigs and Tories.” Despite the 19th century Tractarian efforts to impugn Protestantism, it is interesting to see Mr. Ridley characterize Mr. Cranmer as a “Protestant.” A "Protestant" for all parties. For Anglo-Romewardizers this is nearwise akin to cursing or swearing in public or private. Generally, one gets a "harrumph! harrumph!" with tones of a high dudgeon, especially when theological matters are raised.
By the early 19th century, two biographers would cross swords—it would appear—in a rehash and a reworking of the old views, Romewardizing v. Protestantizing. The disputants in this 19th century go-around would be Mr. John Lingard v. Mr. Henry John Todd. Mr. Lingard in one corner of the boxing ring and Mr. Todd in the other corner.
Mr. Lingard, according to Mr. Ridley, reportedly rehashes the old Romanist attitudes and arguments put forward earlier by Misters Harpsfield and Sanders. To wit: the consecration oath, Mr. John Lambert’s burning at the stake, the recantation and related issues. Mr. Ridley thinks Mr. Lingard is a mere rehash. Further review is warranted.
Lingard, John. A True Account of the Gunpowder-Plot, Extr. from Dr. Lingard's History of England, and Dodd's Church History, with Notes by Vindicator. No location: Ulan Press, 2012. There are several others as well. The particular hardcopy volume is available at: http://www.amazon.com/
Lingard, John. History of England. London: George Bell, 1906. It is available online at: http://books.google.com/
Mr. Henry John Todd, seated in the other corner for the 19th century boxing match and representing the Protestant cause, wrote a number of volumes.
Todd, Henry John. Archbishop Cranmer, 2 Volumes. Ulan Press, 2010. Available in hardcopy at: http://www.amazon.com/
Todd, Henry John. A Reply to Dr. [J.] Lingard's Vindication of His History of England, As Far As Respects Archbishop Cranmer. Ulan Press, 2012. Available in hardcopy at: http://www.amazon.com/
Todd, Henry John. A Vindication of the Most Reverend Thomas Cranmer, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: And Therewith of the Reformation in England, Against Some of the ... the Rev. Dr. Milner, and Charles Butler. Ulan, 2010. Available in hardcopy at: http://www.amazon.com/
Charming. Mutual standoffs? "Ding, and the boxers are at it again...two heavy-weights trading blows..." Suitable for serious readers of Cranmer.
According to Mr. Ridley, a slight shift occurred in the 19th century. Allegedly, this shift concerned Mr. Cranmer’s “subservience to an autocratic monarch.” But, this seems rather odd and old as well. See Mr. Gilbert Burnet above. Mr. Hallam in 1829 is the purported sponsor of this wider shift. Mr. Hallam apparently shocked many Englishmen. We are not convinced that a shift, in fact, occurred. In what sense did the shift occur? Tractarianism? Oxbridgensians? A shift amongst academics and elites? Amongst the rank-and-file Churchmen? We leave the question hanging. We know Mr. Ridley's view. What saith Mr. Diarmaid MacCulloch?
Hallam, Henry. The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII to the Death of George II, Volume 4. Ulan Press, 2012. Available in hardcopy at: http://www.amazon.com/
In 1827, Mr. Hallam said:
“If casting away all prejudice on either side, we weigh the character of this prelate in equal balance, he will appear far indeed removed from the turpitude imputed to him by his enemies, yet not entitled to any extraordinary veneration. Though it is most eminently true of Cranmer that his faults were always the effect of circumstances, and not of intention, yet this palliating consideration is rather weakened when we recollect that he consented to place himself in a station where those circumstances occurred."
As you may see, there is some reading to be done if serious views of Mr. Cranmer, his work, and his legacy are to be had.
No comments:
Post a Comment