Henry VIII - Opposition to Religious Change

What form of opposition did Sir Thomas More pose?

- Replaced Wolsey as Chancellor in 1529.

- 1534 - Refused to swear an oath supporting the First Succession Act.

- Executed on loose charges of treason.

What form of opposition did the Aragonese Faction pose?

- Pre-1534 - Opposition to the Church expressed sympathy to Catherine of Aragon during the Divorce.

- Small group of nobles, led by Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, and Lords Darcy and Hussey.

- CoA's exclusion from the 2nd Succession Act in 1536 led Darcy and Hussey into supporting the Pilgrimage of Grace, both were executed for treason.

- Association to Reginald Pole, a distant cousin who was a descendant of Yorkist Kings, brought about Courtenay's execution in 1539.

What form of opposition did Bishop Fisher pose?

- Bishop of Rochester since 1504.

- Preached that Henry's actions towards Catherine of Aragon were wrong.

- Pope declared Fisher was to become a Cardinal, Henry executed Fisher for high treason.

What form of opposition did Elizabeth Barton, the Nun of Kent pose?

- Apparently saw visions, left under the protection of Dr Edward Bocking.

- By 1530 - Bocking developed the visions into a wider campaign against the changes to the Chruch and the marriage to Anne Boleyn.

- Established links with More, Fisher, Courtenay, Hussey and the Carthusian Monks.

- Arrested Sept 1533, confessed her visions for false, executed April 1534.

What form of opposition did Monastic Resistance pose?

- Biggest example of Monastic resistance - Carthusian Monks.

- 1532-33 - refused to accept the divorce, 1534 - resisted Government pressure to sign a declaration again the authority of the Pope.

- After the passage of The Treason Act 1533, monks were forced to submit, 18 were executed.