HENRY VIII, KING OF ENGLAND (1491-1547)
A necessary doctrine and erudition for any Christen man, set furthe by the kynges majestie of Englande &c
1543RCIN 1053282
Following Henry’s break with Rome, several statements were issued defining the doctrine of the English Church. Also known as the King’s Book, this work was issued under Henry’s name in 1543. It had evolved from The Institution of a Christian Man, which had been published under the supervision of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. The prominent text at the top of the page left the reader in no doubt as to Henry’s position as head of the Church in England. In this new publication, Henry again asserted the presence of seven sacraments, as he had done against Luther in 1521.