Cranmer stays with relatives in Waltham Holy…
1529 CE
Cranmer stays with relatives in Waltham Holy Cross in the summer of 1529 to avoid an outbreak of the plague in Cambridge.
Two of his Cambridge associates, Stephen Gardiner and Edward Foxe, join him.
The three discuss the annulment issue and Cranmer suggests putting aside the legal case in Rome in favor of a general canvassing of opinions from university theologians throughout Europe.
Henry shows much interest in the idea when Gardiner and Foxe present him this plan.
It is not known whether the king or his Lord Chancellor, Thomas More, explicitly approved the plan.
Eventually it is implemented and Cranmer is requested to join the royal team in Rome to gather opinions from the universities.
Edward Foxe coordinates the research effort and the team produces the Collectanea Satis Copiosa ("The Sufficiently Abundant Collections") and The Determinations, historical and theological support for the argument that the king exercises supreme jurisdiction within his realm.