12) Religion, ideas and reform (+ rebellion!)

According to the spec: renaissance ideas; reform of the Church; continuity and change by 1547...

Who was Thomas Wolsey and what were some of the positions he held?

Henry’s ‘chief minister’ and headed the day to day running of government.

Papal Legate, Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of York, Prince-Bishop of Durham, Abbot of St Albans.

Explain Wolsey as the epitome of anti-clericalism and provide specific examples…(2)

Absenteeism and Pluralism

Held multiple positions, and consequently could not carry out duties for all of them; E.g.Papal Legate, Lord Chancellor, Prince-Bishop of Durham, etc…

Simony

Earned much money from his right to award vacant ecclesiastical positions - sold them to people.

• plus awarded his influence to control ecclesiastical positions e.g. Abbess of Wilton (went against Henry’s instructions of appointment/ accelerated his fall) + Thomas Wynter as the See of Durham.

Explain Wolsey’s opposition/ sympathies of humanism… (4)

Opposition

• did not support English Bible.

Support

• supported improvements in education - built several new colleges and schools e.g. Cardinal College, Oxford University.

• reformed smaller monastic houses, using funds to promote religious education.

• Encouraged clergy to preach in English to further understanding.

Evidence for Henry being more powerful than Wolsey, even within the Church?

• Henry blocked Wolsey’s nominations for positions e.g. appointment of Wolsey’s illegitimate son, Thomas Winter to the see of Durham.

Did Wolsey contribute to an anti-Papal feeling within the Church?

• little evidence to support this…

• Active in promoting papal interests against Lutheranism.

  • organised a bonfire of Lutheran books at St Paul’s cross in 1521 and 1526.

  • persuaded the King to write book against Luther, which resulted in him being awarded title ‘defender of the faith’ in late 1521.

What year was John Colet’s sermon?

1511

Who was John Colet? Explain the events of his sermon in 1511…

• Humanist scholar and Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral.

• preached sermon to the assembled clergy in Convocation (church parliament);

  • attacked the abuses within the church, saying the clergy were greedy and ambitious and morally lax.

Why was John Colet’s sermon significant/ insignificant? (4)

Significant

• highlighted importance of the King’s role in dominating the church.

• reliance on its administrators too greatly forfeiting the spiritual needs of the Church.

Insignificant

• criticisms were generalised, traditional and exaggerated - often heard in Convocation from disgruntled clergy on occasion.

• issue of the secular clergy being tempted by the worldly things was the very reason why the regular clergy existed, being withdrawn from the world to focus on God.

Explain Sermo Echortatorious as an example of anti-clericalism… (3)

• specific example - did not follow general.

• published in 1510 by chancellor of York Minister, William Melton.

• complained too many priests were rude and ignorant.

Describe the Hunne case… What year was it? (4)

• 1514

• Richard Hunne was found dead in the Bishop of London’s prison.

• poorly dressed up a suicide - coroner ruled that Hunne was murdered.

• Seen as the work of a corrupt Church and provoked anti-clerical feeling + damaged reputation of the Church short-term.

Why was the Hunne case significant/ insignificant?

Issue was mainly of legal precedent & no riots or demonstrations against the church and response.

What year was the Standish Case? What was it an example of…explain it…(3)

1515

• Friar Standish, backed by parliament, attacked benefit of clergy - deeply unpopular with the Bishops.

• King called to give verdict & serious debate was opened up about the power of Church and State.

• reminded audience that English Kings were subject to no earthly superior.

Who was Thomas More?

• humanist & disciple of Erasmus - inspired by works against Catholic Church and clergy.

• writer calling for reform of Church; most famous work (Utopia - published in 1516) described an island designed to highlight the corruption in English society.

• 1529 - wrote lengthy in defence of Church in response to Fish.

What was the supplication of the beggars? When was it published and by whom?

Simon Fish - 1529

• scathing attack on alleged corruption of the clergy - claimed they were ‘hungry wolves’ who abused position to gain wealth and power. Argued that they failed in basic pastoral by misleading people.

• attacked doctrines of purgatory and indulgences + accused clergy of abusing power of State through their own legal courts/ taxes + accused them of treason by serving a foreign ruler.

What was the Supplication of the Beggars 1529 an example of?

• Anti-clericalism

• Anti-Papalism & in favour of erastian nature of the Church.

Describe the support for the church up to 1529? (5)

• Church seen to protect people from evil and give them hope of salvation - felt secure in traditions.

• Church building continued - E.g. completion of Louth Spire + construction of bell tower at Evesham Abbey.

• printing presses continued to produce conservative works e.g. ‘A Work for Householder's’ was a best seller.

• most people still left money/ goods to guilds & confraternities + churches.

• 1511-12 - only 4 ignorant priests were found through visitations and limited corruption was found.

List the conclusions about the state of the Church up to 1529…

• anti-clericalism became more vocalised BUT still strong desire to improve church from within.

• Humanists became increasingly influential but remained supportive of church as an institution.

• Popular support for Catholic Church remained high - little evidence of reformation movement.

Motivations for Henry to break from Rome? (4)

• desire for an heir, increase of power, plus recognition of financial benefits.

• Anne Boleyn: ideas of Tyndale and Fish as well as encouraging him to divorce Catherine for an heir.

• Thomas Cranmer gave H evidence to support his right to take over the Supremacy of the Church.

• role of humanists and protestants.

Dates/ Acts of the First Reformation Parliament 1529-32?

1531 - Clergy collectively accused of praemunire (asserting Papal jurisdiction in England) and fined - forced acknowledgement that king was ‘Supreme head of the English Church’.

1532 - Act in Conditional Restraint of Annates.

1532 - Supplication Against the Ordinaries.

May 1532 - Submission of the Clergy - formal surrender of the Church’s independent law-making function.

explain the Act in Conditional Restraint of Annates?

designed to increase pressure on the papacy by witholding conditionally the first year’s income from the office of Bishop.

explain the Supplication of the Ordinaries?

a form of petition addressed to the king by the H of C against alleged abuses of ordinary jurisdiction exercised by archbishops/bishops = designed to increase anti-clerical pressure.

Key dates for the second Reformation Parliament 1533-34?

Act in Restraint of Appeals - April 1533

Act of Succession - April 1534

Act of Supremacy - November 1534

Treason Act - Novermber 1534

explain the Act in Restraint of appeals?

declared the monarch possessed an imperial jurisdiction which was not subject to any foreign power - declared that appeals regarding Church court decisions couldn’t be made to Rome (applied Catherine and marriage annulment ruling).

explain the act of succession? (3)

1) Henry’s marriage to C of A was void;

2) succession should be vested in the children of his marriage to Anne;

3) denying the validity of his marriage to Anne was treasonable;

explain Act of Supremacy 1534?

gave legislative force to the royal supremacy, stated king is “Supreme Head of the Church of England” - officially established the break from Rome.

explain the Treason Act 1534?

stated treason could be committed by the spoken word as well as by deed etc… - treasonable to describe the king as ‘heretic’ or ‘usurper of the Crown’.

Changes to the Church’s structure under new reforms? (3)

• Henry became Supreme Head of the Church

• King appoints Cromwell Vicegerent in Spirituals, second only to the King and outranks all clergymen.

• 6 new dioceses created (1 soon abolished).

How did HVIII ensure loyalty? (3)

• all adult males required to swear an oath to the Act of supremacy 1534 - declared Pope had no God given authority in England.

• Sermons and pamphlets supporting the king were published e.g. by Latimer and Shaxton.

• opposition that did exist was dealt with e.g. Bishop John Fisher executed for refusing to recognise HVIII + Holy Maid of Kent executed April 1534 for prophesying HVIII’s death….

Why was opposition to religious reforms limited? (5/6)

• little impact on local affairs in general - insurrections only occurred at rumors of monasteries and parish churches being affected.

  • changes such as English Bible in every church highlighted national identity of new Church.

• King already divinely ordained?

• frightened into submission due to executions of high profile opponents + requirement of oaths to the supremacy/succession.

• Cromwell managed change well: controlled pulpits, printing presses - JP’s worked to enforce changes.

• opposition limited in the North as sparsely populated.

Motivation behind dissolution of the monasteries? (2/3)

• wealthy (income x3 the value of royal estates) and undertook key roles in society.

• evidence of monastic decay and poor moral standards + seen as loyal to the Pope.

  • doctrine of Purgatory was rejected by Protestants = monasteries unnecessary?

Brief overview of the beginning process of the dissolution of the monasteries?

1535 - Cromwell ordered the Valor Ecclesasticus which showed income of monastic lands amounted to £160,000 > sent out visitations which ‘reported’ tales of depravity and immorality (used to justify dissolution).

• in Spring 1536, smaller monasteries (income of less than £200 p/a) dissolved - 300 dissolved, 67 were saved.

After Pilgrimage of Grace in 1535, some monasteries were implicated = gov decided total dissolution as its aim.

explain events of dissolution of monasteries pt.2 (after 1535)? (2/4)

• some abbots surrendered freely (sold off gold and land first BUT Cromwell discouraged this by offering forms of surrender with generous pensions for abbots).

• 1539 - Second Dissolution Act - declared voluntary surrenders legal + some were not voluntary e.g. Priory of Lenton and Abbey of Woburn were passed into royal hands by force.

  • e.g. Autumn 1539 - Abbeys of Glastonbury forced to dissolve (Abbot of Glastonbury executed on abbey grounds).

  • e.g. Nov 1539 - Thomas Legh and Robert Layton ordered to dissolve OR alter all remaining houses.

Final dissolution figures?

• last remaining monastery (Waltham Abbey) surrendered in March 1540.

• 800 monasteries dissolved in less than 5 years.

Outline main opposition movements to the dissolution of the monasteries?

• Lincolnshire Rising - October 1536

• Pilgrimage of Grace - October 1536

• Cumberland Rising/Bigod’s Rebellion - January 1537

Explain Lincolnshire Rising in 1536? (3)

• began in Louth

• 10,000 marched on Lincoln with gentry support and backed by Lord Hussey.

• Royal army under command of Duke of Suffolk led to dispersal of forces.

Explain Pilgrimage of Grace 1536? (4)

• led by Robert Aske - 30,000 rebelled - demanded for removal of councillors + restoration of Catholicism + restoration of monasteries.

• had noble support from Lord Darcy and the Percy family - appealed to Charles V for help + Pope ordered Cardinal Pole to organise an invasion.

• rebels (30,000) included experienced soldiers, held key castles e.g. Pontefract = outnumbered 8,000 strong royal forces.

• Henry agreed to their demands to quell rebellion but did not keep them!

Explain Cumberland Rising/Bigod’s rebellion 1537? (3)

• main purpose was to try force Henry to keep previous promises.

• royal army defeated rebels easily - 178 were executed.

• Lord Darcy and Lord Hussey beheaded - Robert Aske hung and Percy family forced to name Henry as heir to all their estates.

Perhaps religious motives for rebellions?

• loss of charitable and educational functions + fear of possible loss of parish churches that were monastic properties?

  • evidenced by rebel attempted to restore some of the previously suppressed religious houses.

• Fear for traditional religious practices - 1536 royal injunctions… - these had discouraged celebration of locally important saints (e.g. St Wilfrid) + against pilgrimage + rumors that church plate and jewels had been confiscated.

Perhaps secular motives for rebellions? (5)

• ordinary rebels generally more motivated by economic greivances e.g. resentment of taxations.

• rebellions based in N - resentment due to loss of monastic lands to the southern gentry.

• Crown’s attempt to impose Duke of Suffolk upon Lincolnshire as great magnate may have sparked initial rebellion?

• brought about by courtly conspiracy in support of C of A who’d died in Jan 1536 which motive to restore Princess Mary as heir (argued by Geoffrey Elton).

• Extensions of rebellion in Cumberland and Westmorland linked to tenants’ grievances.

Key Acts (changes) to doctrine outlined?

Act of Ten Articles - 1536

Bishop’s Book - 1537

Act of Six Articles - 1539

King’s Book - 1543

Explain the act of ten articles 1536? (3)

• deemed only 3 sacraments necessary for salvation (baptism, penance and eucharist).

• praying to saints for remission of sins was rejected BUT praying to saints for other purposes allowed!

• ambiguous doc as both Protestant/Catholic influences.

Explain bishop’s book 1537?

• restored the other 4 sacraments BUT were given a lower status.

• more conservative (Catholic influence).

Explain the Act of Six Articles 1539? (3)

• reasserted key Catholic doctrine - denial of transubstantiation deemed heretical!

• impact: 2 reform bishops resigned their posts!

• influenced clearly more Catholic.

Explain the King’s Book 1543?

• revised Bishop’s Book - reasserted traditional Catholic doctrine further e.g. restricted Bible reading.