The Dissolution of the Monasteries

Causes - It had been done before

Wolsey had dissolved 29 religious houses during the 1520s that were ‘decayed’. He had legal and papal permission to do it & Henry was able to take the wealth - proving it was a good system to make more money for the crown. 

Causes - an end to opposition

Many of those who opposed the Break with Rome were orders of monks, Henry wanted to end this. He also desired complete control and wanted ‘imperial’ power - he didn’t want the monasteries to have an allegiance outside England.

Causes - church corruption & immorality

Cromwell sent inspectors to the monasteries & produced evidence proving the mass corruption of monks & nuns - the Comperta & Valor Ecclesiasticus - however much of this was fabricated & exaggerated.

Causes - European influence

Germany and Scandinavia had also begun dissolving religious houses as Luther argued monastic life was pointless & this greatly influenced Henry. These countries also helped to increase Erastian ideas which further influenced him.

Causes - patronage & greed

Both Cromwell & Cranmer were religious radicals and saw it as the perfect opportunity to advance their own careers by serving Henry well - Cromwell gained greatly from it. The 1st Act of the Dissolution closed down the smaller houses in 1536 & many nobles desired to buy the land - leading Henry to see this as a way to secure their support & further pacify opponents.

Causes - finance

The Valor Ecclesiasticus proved how rich the church was & Henry needed the money to help pay for defences against a potential catholic invasion & so he didn’t have to impose unpopular taxation after the failure of the Amicable Grant in the 1520s. Crown income more than doubled as a result as the insides of the monasteries were also sold off - grew to £250000.

Monasticism in England at the time

There were more than 850 religious houses in England & 5 main monastic orders: the Benedictines, the Cluniacs, the Carthusians, the Augustians & the Cisercians. Monks & nuns took vows of chastity, obedience & poverty & were often kept isolated in religious orders. A clear hierarchy also existed - the Abbot was respected and had lots of financial ability. Priories in the towns worked with the community & rural abbeys focused on prayer & learning. Libraries in the houses contained the vast majority of books in the country.

Cromwell’s visitations

He planned visitations to religious houses to ensure the proper conduction of affairs & they were a main cause of the pilgrimage of grace. His programme wasn’t finished until the end of 1535 as the Valor Ecclesiasticus was undertaken but the visitations provided more significant results. They were carried out by his trusted servants Thomas Legh & Richard Layton who allegedly used bullying tactics to gain info & gained a widespread bad reputation. However they did record the Comperta - lists of transgressions admitted by monks & nuns.

The Valor Ecclesiasticus

Was undertaken by Cromwell as an attempt to record all church property in England & Wales & also helped cause the pilgrimage of grace. It was done by unpaid groups of commissioners who asked questions and examined account books to build an accurate picture of the property owned. 

Key Events of the Dissolution

1535: the VE & the Comperta recorded

1536: the 1st Act of Dissolution passed - dissolved small monasteries with an annual income of below £200, the pilgrimage of grace (lasted until 1537)

1538-9: voluntary surrenders occurred

1539: the 2nd Act of Dissolution passed - dissolved all remaining monasteries & confirmed the dissolution of those which ‘voluntarily surrendered’ - in November the Abbots of Glastonbury, Colchester & Reading were hung drawn & quartered for high treason.

1540: Waltham Abbey was the last monastery to be dissolved.

The traditional view on the dissolution

Protestant historians argue Henry was on a moral crusade & set out to purify a corrupt institution by ridding England of monasticism.

The revisionist view on the dissolution

Modern historians argue it was merely a chance to take the wealth of the monasteries & the evidence of corruption within them was fabricated & exaggerated as an excuse/justification. 

Physical religious impact of the dissolution

Henry can be argued to have committed cultural vandalism as he destroyed magnificent churches & had their ornaments melted down, sold or destroyed. Books and images from the libraries were also destroyed. However, he did invest some of the wealth he earned into education - established Christ Church at Oxford & Trinity College at Cambridge.

Social religious impact of the dissolution

Most monks & friars found alternative jobs within the church - 6500 out of 8000 - but some were still left in hardship & 2000 nuns were forced into poverty as they could neither marry or become priests. Monks & nuns were awarded a pension for life if the house could finance it but this was only £5 & £2 a year. 1800 monks were the worst off as they didn’t transfer to larger monasteries so received no pension & gave up monasticism. Indoor servants also lost jobs & faced poverty.

Economic impact of the dissolution

Henry squandered most of the money gained & from May 1543 there was a rush to sell land so that the profit could be spent on wars with Scotland & France - meaning few significant long term gains were made. However, he had no reason to believe that the future of the monarchy would depend on financial independence from parliament as in his experience it had always done what he wanted. Also, by 1547, over half of the land still remained in his possession & the crown had made £800000 from the sales - sparing the people from harsh taxation.

Social impact of the dissolution

The poor were heavily affected as they no longer received support from the monasteries & those who depended on them for alms were left hungry & suffering - however it’s likely this only aggravated an existing problem. The sale of lands transferred power to the laity & land ownership was extended down to lawyers & younger sons of landowning families. However most of the gentry who gained land were already established in the countryside - more had simply bought their way into local politics & general power in larger numbers occurred.

Positive effects of the dissolution on the monarchy

The money gained was used to fund wars & boost foreign policy. The church had owned a quarter of the land so the monarchy had more land than ever before & had less need for tax. Potential political enemies with questionable loyalty had been removed & the new gentry gaining land were loyal. Erastianism & English nationalism grew as Henry had more power & England had more independence than ever before.

Negative effects of the dissolution on the monarchy

It caused upset over the dislocation of religious provision - shown in the pilgrimage of grace. Poverty increased & the government had to make provisions for the poor. There was an increased risk of rebellion & nobles became more powerful - a new landed gentry emerged who could increasingly challenge the king’s power in parliament. Education expanded meaning more people were taught to think & question which could have caused problems.

The Lincolnshire Rising as a consequence of the dissolution

This was one of 3 significant rebellions between 1536 & 37, including the pilgrimage of grace. It was initially led by a shoemaker before the local gentry, priests & armed monks took up leadership. They drew up a list of articles at Lincoln & anger & violence erupted, causing the Bishop of Lincoln to be murdered. However it collapsed as the Duke of Suffolk’s army approached.

Religious causes of the pilgrimage of grace

The Dissolution was the main cause due to the anger it created & it’s spiritual, economic & social impact on monks and nuns. Anger at the suppression of the abbeys & monasteries, demands to remove Henry as head of the church & demands to get rid of heretical bishops & stop the draining of church wealth were also causes.

Other causes of the pilgrimage of grace

Many hated Cromwell for his misuse of power with the dissolution & called him an ‘evil genius’ - there was opposition to his taxes which had been introduced in times of peace. Food shortages & agricultural issues were a problem as well as nobles trying to gain power due to a dislike of base-born councillors. Many also demanded Maru be legitimised as an heir.

Events of the pilgrimage of grace

Robert Aske dispatched letters across the country calling on men to join him & a series of interconnected regional revolts occurred. 40000 people then made their way to Pontefract - they were all wearing the badge of the 5 wounds of Christ & called themselves Christ’s soldiers & took oaths to the movement. Henry called on Norfolk to talk them into a truce & they agreed to disperse on the 6th December.

Outcomes of the pilgrimage of grace

The rebels were pardoned, their demands were heard & changes were implemented due to pressures on the government but after more risings 200 were executed, including Aske. The Council of the North was established & Cromwell was weakened - Henry saw how disliked he was. Was spontaneous but it was kept organised with well armed & experienced soldiers & only one death which was accidental.

How serious was the pilgrimage of grace?

It was largely a peaceful protest and it was contained to the north. It wasn’t very well disciplined and the rebels were easily fooled. It came across more as an attack on Cromwell than on Henry as he orchestrated the dissolution & their aim was simply to pressure Henry into hearing their demands. Many nobles who were loyal to the crown didn’t participate.