“‘A sign you trust the Lord, my dying Lord’!

My hand as hard as possible, he wrings.”

To this world and the next the monarch clings,

In Christ, the hope of Henry 8th is stored.

His dearest friend, Lord of Canterbury

will lead England to its reformation.

A muddled martyr, renunciation

made. But then, the courageous contrary

proclaimed; all he achieved, he preached again,

promised to burn first the offending hand;

and did! The pain endured as he had planned.

A place in sacred history he obtained.

Every morning now at Matins Cranmer’s words

Dignify the offering priests send heavenwards.