Mid-Tudor Crisis Quiz

Who was the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1547?

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer

What document did he write in 1547 to be read out in all churches?

The ‘Homily on Obedience’

Why might this have been seen as necessary at this time?

The Homily told everyone it was their duty to obey the law and respect the authorities, and that chaos would follow if they did not. We can only infer that it was made because there was real fear of rebellion, a breakdown of law and order and the fall of the Tudor dynasty

Who was the new king, and how old was he at the time?

Edward VI, he was nine years old

Edward Seymour came to take over the government. How is he better known?

Duke of Somerset

Somerset took England to war against Scotland. Which other country immediately got involved (‘Auld Alliance!)?

France invaded, defending Scotland as usual in their ‘Auld Alliance’

What did Somerset foolishly do to try to raise money for this war, and how much money did he raise?

Somerset debased the coinage a further couple of times, raising £537,000

How Protestant was England as a country in 1547?

England was still mostly Catholic, although pockets of Protestantism were starting to build up in London and the south east

Who were these key Protestants of this period, by their initials: TC, JH, NR, HL?

Thomas Cranmer, John Hooper, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer

What attacks on three traditional Catholic festivals took place in 1547?

The use of ash was banned on Ash Wednesday, candles were banned at Candlemas and palm leaves were banned on Palm Sunday

What further attacks on Catholicism took place? Clues – icons, chantries, processions?

There was widespread iconoclasm (destruction of religious icons or images) in London, chantries were closed down and their property seized by the government, and Catholic parades and processions were banned

What is said to have been Somerset’s own view of religious reform?

Somerset himself was said to be cautious and moderate on religious reform

What very important book, written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, was published in May 1549?

Cranmer’s first ‘Book of Common Prayer’

This book is usually viewed as being moderate (despite ironically being the last straw that triggered the Western Rebellion!), which prominent Catholic bishop was actually quite happy with the book, and why?

Bishop Stephen Gardiner thought the book was pretty Catholic in character, particularly the section on the Eucharist (the taking of the bread and wine). The wording ‘take eat, this is my body’ suggested an acceptance that ‘Transubstantiation’ takes place – where the bread and wine literally turn into the body and blood of Jesus Christ

What else was quite conservative/traditional or even ‘Catholic’ about the Book of Common Prayer?

Most of the Book of Common Prayer’s text was an English version of the Catholic Latin services. The old vestments and much of the old ceremony was maintained

What were the more radical and new elements of this mainly moderate book?

Latin was replaced by English. The bread would no longer be held up and shown to the congregation (called the ‘Elevation of the Host’ and implying sacrifice) and now both the bread and the wine were for everyone (‘Communion in Both Kinds’) whereas previously only priests could have the wine

Where was the Western Rebellion?

The Western Rebellion was in the South West, mainly Devon and Cornwall

What were the motivations of the Western rebels?

Often described as the ‘prayer book rebellion’, but actually the rebels wanted a reversal of the entire Reformation. But there were also social grievances against local landowners, taxation and the social and economic effects of enclosure

What happened in the Western Rebellion?

The Western Rebellion caused real danger and trouble in the south west, not least because it came at the same time as Kett’s Rebellion. Eventually Lord Russell was able to defeat the rebels in battle near Exeter, but only with the help of foreign mercenaries

Where was Kett’s Rebellion?

Robert Kett’s Rebellion took place in East Anglia

What were the motivations of Robert Kett and his rebels?

Kett’s Rebellion was not really religious. Although there’s evidence that some of his ordinary rebels had Catholic motivations, we also know that the rebels at Norwich had services conducted with Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer. The main motivations were social grievances, hatred of local authorities and a wish for Somerset to take action against enclosures

What happened in Kett’s Rebellion?

The rebels defeated government forces at Norwich and began to take over East Anglia. Government forces were split as the Western Rebellion was also taking place at the same time. Foreign mercenaries were needed as part of the army that eventually brutally crushed the rebellion in late August 1549

What were Northumberland’s religious policies?

Northumberland’s time was more radically Protestant, in line with the views of the growing Edward VI. Catholic bishops were replaced by Protestants, altars were replaced by communion tables and the it was official government policy to plunder the wealth of the Church

What vital religious development happened in 1552 (a book!)?

Cranmer’s revised Book of Common Prayer, which was now much more radically Protestant. Catholics could no longer find anything acceptable in the new ceremonies, all services were rewritten, there was a ban on ‘popish’ vestments and church music was scaled right back

What were Northumberland’s actions in foreign policy?

Northumberland ended Somerset’s costly wars against Scotland and France, and sold Boulogne to France for £133,333

What name is given to the plot by Northumberland (and Edward VI) to alter the line of succession, and what did the plan involve?

The ‘Devise’, which involved declaring Mary to be illegitimate and placing Northumberland’s Protestant daughter-in-law Lady Jane Grey on the throne

Who nevertheless became the next ‘proper’ Queen of England in 1553?

Queen Mary I

What happened in many churches even before Mary had the chance to do anything, and what does this tell us about England in 1553?

People started spontaneously restoring altars, Catholic decorations and icons of the saints and the Virgin Mary into churches before the law had even changed. This seems to show the continuing popularity of Catholicism among the general public

How was land a factor that delayed Mary’s restoration of Catholicism?

Mary insisted that all land taken from the Church during the Dissolution of the Monasteries must be returned to the Church, but this was not really possible and eventually she had to reluctantly give up on it

What was the legal issue that further delayed Mary’s restoration of Catholicism?

The official restoration of the Catholic Church needed a legal framework to undo the work of Henry VIII and Edward VI, but Mary at first refused to accept that Parliament or the courts could rule on religious matters at all

How did Mary cement an alliance with the world’s most powerful country?

She married King Philip II of Spain in 1554

Where did the Wyatt Rebellion take place?

The rebellion took place in Kent, led by Thomas Wyatt and his 3,000 men. The plan had been for four simultaneous uprisings around the country but the Kent one was the only one that went ahead

What motivated Thomas Wyatt and his rebels?

The main motivation of Wyatt’s Rebellion has always been said to be xenophobia i.e. anger at plans for Mary to marry the King of Spain and worries that the marriage would make England a Spanish colony. It seems that the rebels also came from a largely Protestant enclave around Maidstone. There were also social grievances as a result of the decline of the local cloth industry, while some of the rebels had been important local gentry who’d lost their jobs

What happened with Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Wyatt had 3,000 men and managed to defeat the Duke of Norfolk’s force in battle. At that point he could even have caused huge danger by marching on London, but he hesitated and the chance was lost. When he did attack London it had been re-fortified and he was defeated. He was later executed

Mary didn’t really trust the Privy Council. Who were her most trusted advisers that she preferred to work with instead?

Mary worked most closely with Cardinal Reginald Pole, as well as the Holy Roman Empire’s ambassador Simon Renard. She trusted Bishop Gardiner a little less as she felt he hadn’t done enough to stick up for her mother Catherine of Aragon

How was Mary unlucky with what happened at the Vatican in 1555?

Mary was unlucky that when Pope Julius III died in 1555 he was replaced by the fiercely anti-Spanish Pope Paul IV. So ironically Mary’s marriage meant she ended up on the opposition of the Vatican!

Describe Mary’s relationship with Parliament?

Mary had a difficult relationship with Parliament. 80 MPs opposed her religious policies, and she also suffered defeat in her attempts to confiscate the property of Protestant exiles. Parliament also refused Philip a coronation, refused to exempt him from law and refused to exclude Elizabeth from the succession. Mary was intelligent enough not to pursue these points

How many Protestants were burned by Mary?

289 Protestants were burned at the stake

In what ways could this policy be said to have been counter-productive?

The burnings were deeply unpopular among ordinary people and made the Protestants look like brave martyrs. It also greatly strengthened the resolve and self-belief of Protestantism, and gave them a heroic example and a unifying point that they would use for centuries afterwards

Describe Mary’s financial reforms

Mary extended the power of the Court of Exchequer and published a new Book of Rates to dramatically raise customs revenues. She also laid careful plans for recoinage to solve the problems caused by the various debasements. The Chancellor Sir Walter Mildmay implemented further reforms in 1554, originally ordered by Northumberland. Mary also turned down Edward’s last tax subsidy, which gained her popularity but lost her money

Describe Mary’s Naval reforms

Mary completely reorganised the administration of the navy, built six new warships, repaired many others and allocated £14,000 to the navy. She also reformed the method of raising an army, which John Guy called a ‘landmark in English military organisation’

Describe Mary’s reforms in towns, and of poor relief

Mary tried to guarantee strong local government and a uniform system of running towns up and down the land. Mary also responded effectively to bad harvests, converting pasture land to tillage and enforcing laws against grain hoarders

What was the unfortunate thing about Mary’s reforms, with regards to her later poor reputation?

Unfortunately for Mary she died after only five years on the throne and so it was only in Elizabeth’s reign that the benefits of these reforms were felt, meaning that Mary has often not had the credit for them

What was Elizabeth’s main priority when she became queen?

Elizabeth’s main priority was religion

What are the four Acts and laws that make up the Elizabethan Religious Settlement?

The Act of Supremacy, the Act of Uniformity, the Royal Injunctions (all 1559) and the Thirty Nine Articles (1563)

Briefly describe the type of Church that Elizabeth wanted?

She wanted an independent Protestant Church with Bible, Prayer Book and services in English and with otherwise fairly traditional ceremonies and services that everyone went to together and accepted, without arguments, divisions and controversies. She wanted elements of compromise between reform and tradition

Which Swiss reformer’s ideas was the doctrine of the Church of England based on?

John Calvin, which meant that the Church of England was Calvinist, which is very firmly Protestant

Who was Elizabeth’s first Archbishop of Canterbury, and how can we tell that he must have been moderate?

Matthew Parker, who was so moderate that he survived Mary’s reign without even having to leave the country, and who didn’t even want to be Archbishop of Canterbury

What is a Puritan?

A ‘Puritan’ is a hardline Protestant who is determined to ‘purify’ the Church of England of all traces of Catholicism

What treaty was signed in April 1559, and what were its terms?

The Treaty of Cateau Cambresis was mainly a treaty between France and Spain, but it did also say that England could have Calais back providing they didn’t oppose France for the next eight years

What foreign policy situation arose for Elizabeth virtually immediately in her reign?

Francis II came to the French throne and sent a French Army to Scotland, the land of his wife Mary Queen of Scots

Who was the Scottish Protestant who appealed to England for help?

John Knox appealed for help

Which of Elizabeth’s Privy Councillors led the attempts to persuade her?

William Cecil led the Privy Council in insisting that England send an army up to Scotland to deal with the French

How might Elizabeth be said to have been ‘lucky’ in Scotland?

The intervention was going extremely badly and England was suffering defeats until, luckily for Elizabeth, Francis II got ill and died and the French forces withdrew

What was the situation that Elizabeth got involved in 1562 in France, and who was the Privy Councillor this time that persuaded her?

The French Crown seemed weak after two kings had died in quick succession, and Protestantism was gaining a foothold in France. Robert Dudley persuaded Elizabeth to directly intervene in France to help the French Protestants (Huguenots)

Describe the intervention in France

Unfortunately the Huguenot army was defeated, their leader was captured and the English were driven out of France

What treaty was England forced to sign with France after this, and what did this mean?

England was then forced to sign the humiliating Treaty of Troyes, which confirmed that Calais was lost forever

On becoming Queen, who did Elizabeth appoint as her Principal Secretary (kind of her ‘second in command’)?

Sir William Cecil

Name some of the other key Privy Councillors Elizabeth worked with, in that great team she put together

Robert Dudley, Sir Walter Mildmay, Sir Francis Knollys, Sir Ralph Sadler, Sir Christopher Hatton, (slightly later Sir Francis Walsingham, from 1573)

What very serious disease did Elizabeth nearly die from in 1562?

Smallpox