I think a lot is not well understood. Henry VIII was indeed one of the most Catholic Kings in Europe, and Archbishop Cranmer was his confessor. It would be wrong to say his theology did not change during his reign. He did while influenced by Anne Boelyn take the view that the Bible should be available in English, and indeed ordered it be done. He. Was profoundly influenced also by Sir Thomas More and his friend Erasmus, and knew much of Luther and did not agree with all of it. He died penitent, without a Pope, but not looking like a child of the reformation. Henry was reasonably literate, and viewed highly the worth of scholars and education. The one thing Henry did not intend to do was start a new church.