duke of somerset

why was the duke of somerset characterised as a 'good' duke?

established court of requests at his own house to hear the cases of the poor
no tortures or burning
progressive social policy, abolishing enclosure and fixing rents
criticised wealthy men

july 1547

book of homilies and erasmus' paraphrases should be placed in every church
gardiner and bonner objected and imprisoned
in almost every parish church by 1549

what was the book of homilies?

contained protestant sermons

july 1547

orders given for clergy to preach in english, have an english bible and protestant literature in every church, and to remove superstitious images

november 1547

chantries act passed - act of dissolution revived, condemning all prayers for the dead

1547 - act of six articles repealed

removed catholic practices and leaving church without doctrine

1547 - treason act repealed

removed old heresy, treason, censorship, and proclamation laws
allowed free discussion of religion and free publishing and printing
government no longer had power to stop radical outbursts
protestant pamphlets attacked catholics

january - march 1548

series of proclamations to calm protestant unrest
government playing for time whilst cranmer wrote new prayer book
transubstantiation in force and catholic rites adhered to

11th february 1548

images to be removed from churches
very little opposition

24th april 1548

proclamation stating only authorised clergy could preach - several unauthorised protestant preachers

23rd september 1548

proclamation stating no preaching until new liturgy was introduced
government felt situation was slipping out of control

december 1548

first prayer book written by cranmer, outlining liturgy

january 1549

act of uniformity made book of common prayer official liturgy
effectively enforced despite small rebellions - main was western rebellion

november 1549

parliament removed all laws against clerical marriage and all ecclesiastical courts in the king's name

25th december 1549

proclamation issues ordering destruction of the remainder of images