Editing Thomas Cranmer (section)

==Support from the King (1543–1547)==
In 1543, several conservative clergymen in Kent banded together to attack and denounce two reformers, [[Richard Turner (reformer)|Richard Turner]] and [[John Bland (reformer)|John Bland]], before the [[Privy Council of England|Privy Council]]. They prepared articles to present to the council, but at the last moment, additional denunciations were added by Stephen Gardiner's nephew, [[Germain Gardiner]]. These new articles attacked Cranmer and listed his misdeeds back to 1541. This document and the following actions were the basis of the so-called [[Prebendaries' Plot]]. The articles were delivered to the Council in London and were probably read on 22 April 1543. The King most likely saw the articles against Cranmer that night. The Archbishop appeared unaware that an attack on his person was made. His commissioners in Lambeth dealt specifically with Turner's case where he was acquitted, much to the fury of the conservatives.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|pp=297–308}}</ref>

While the plot against Cranmer proceeded, the reformers were attacked on other fronts. On 20 April, the Convocation reconvened to consider revising the Bishops' Book. Cranmer presided over the sub-committees, but the conservatives were able to overturn many reforming ideas, including justification by faith ''alone''. On 5 May, the new revision called ''[[A Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christian Man]]'' or the King's Book was released. Doctrinally, it was far more conservative than the Bishops' Book. On 10 May, the reformers received another blow. Parliament passed the [[Act for the Advancement of True Religion]], which abolished "erroneous books" and restricted the reading of the Bible in English to those of noble status. Reformers were examined, forced to recant, or imprisoned from May to August.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|pp=308–311}}</ref>

For five months, Henry took no action on the accusations against his archbishop.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|p=316}}. It is unknown why Henry took so long to react to the charges against Cranmer. MacCulloch notes that it was Henry's nature to brood over the evidence against his archbishop. He also speculates that Cranmer's support of the King's Book made Henry consider whether the charges were serious. Another possibility is that in playing the situation out, Henry could observe the behaviour of the leading politicians until he was ready to intervene.</ref> The conspiracy was finally revealed to Cranmer by the King himself. According to Cranmer's secretary, [[Ralph Morice]], sometime in September 1543, the King showed Cranmer a paper summarising the accusations against him. An investigation was to be mounted and Cranmer was appointed chief investigator. Surprise raids were carried out, evidence gathered, and ringleaders identified. Typically, Cranmer put the clergymen involved in the conspiracy through immediate humiliation, but he eventually forgave them and continued to use their services. To show his trust in Cranmer, Henry gave Cranmer his ring. When the Privy Council arrested Cranmer at the end of November, the nobles were hampered by the symbol of the King's trust in him.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ridley|1962|pp=235–238}}</ref> Cranmer's victory ended with two second-rank leaders imprisoned and Germain Gardiner executed.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|pp=316–322}}</ref>

[[File:Thomas Cranmer.png|left|thumb|upright|Portrait of Cranmer painted by an unknown artist after [[Henry VIII]]'s death.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|p=362}}</ref> It was said that his beard signified his mourning of the King and his rejection of the old Church.]]
With the atmosphere in Cranmer's favour, he pursued quiet efforts to reform the Church, particularly the liturgy. On 27 May 1544, the first officially authorised vernacular service was published, the processional service of intercession known as the ''[[Exhortation and Litany]]''. It survives today with minor modifications in the ''[[Book of Common Prayer]]''. The traditional [[litany]] uses [[invocation]]s to saints, but Cranmer thoroughly reformed this aspect by providing no opportunity in the text for such [[veneration]]. Additional reformers were elected to the [[House of Commons of England|House of Commons]], and new legislation was introduced to curb the effects of the Act of the Six Articles and the Act for the Advancement of True Religion.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|pp=327–329, 347}}</ref>

In 1546, the conservatives in a coalition including Gardiner, the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Chancellor [[Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton|Wriothesley]], and the bishop of London, [[Edmund Bonner]], made one last attempt to challenge the reformers. Several reformers with links to Cranmer were targeted. Some, such as Lascelles, were burned at the stake. Powerful reform-minded nobles Edward Seymour and [[John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland|John Dudley]] returned to England from overseas and turned the tide against the conservatives. Two incidents tipped the balance. Gardiner was disgraced before the King when he refused to agree to exchange episcopal estates, and [[Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey|the son of the Duke of Norfolk]] was charged with treason and executed. There is no evidence that Cranmer played any part in these political games, and there were no further plots as the King's health ebbed in his final months. Cranmer performed his final duties for the King on 28 January 1547 when he gave a reformed statement of faith while gripping Henry's hand instead of giving him his [[last rites]]. Cranmer mourned Henry's death, and it was later said that he demonstrated his grief by growing a beard. The beard was also a sign of his break with the past. Continental reformers grew beards to mark their rejection of the old Church, and this significance of clerical beards was well understood in England. On 31 January, he was among the [[executor]]s of the King's final will that nominated Edward Seymour as [[Lord Protector]] and welcomed the boy king, [[Edward VI]].<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|1996|pp=352–361}}</ref>