The reign of henry after 1529

Reasons for the pilgrimage of grace❓

Religious grievance

Personal enmity toward ministers

Economic and social grievance

Religious grievance

“Pilgrims” on a “pilgrimage”

Catholic banner, wounds of Christ

Majority of demands focus on restoring monasteries and returning to Catholicism, Aske being a devout Catholic

The crown claimed religion as a “cover”, concealing treasonous motive. Religion is, however, the most convincing factor

Personal enmity toward ministers

Terms called for ministers like Cromwell to receive punishment

Refer to ministers being “lowborn” showing other possible grievance

Justifies this by calling them “heretics”- shows overall religious links

Unlikely to express ill feeling toward the King, tried to reason with him and dispersed on his commans

Economic + social grievance

Wished for lowering a tax on livestock

Tax being “false” or extortion

Enclosure

Both gentry and commoners were combined, despite separate socioeconomic aims

How succesful was Henry’s wars with France and Scotland from 1540-47 (aims)❓

• Containing Scottish threat

• Lasting peace with Scotland

• Winning land and Glory with France

Containing Scottish threat

• Defeats James at the Battle of Salway Moss (1542). James dies of untreated illness shortly after.

• Many Scottish prisoners of war were taken, many Scots drowned in the river

• The Scottish nobles were taken back to London and became a pro-English faction

• A battle started as Henry’s attempts at diplomacy only led to greater enmity. He had neither Wolsey nor Cromwell to rely on

• James death was lucky

Creating lasting peace between (and potentially unifying) Scotland and England

• Treaty of Greenwich (1543) designed to create lasting peace through marriadge of Mary and Edward

• Treaty doesn’t last, Henry is unsuccessful in period of “Rough Wooing”

• He’s able to pillage and burn much of Scotlands large cities

• This aim was more of a speculation than a pressing aim

Winning land and glory with France

Formed an alliance with Charles V to take Paris,though Charles abandoned him (inevitable)

He mobilised an army of 48,000 men in France (largest ever assembled) and he managed to take Boulogne

It was very expensive to upkeep, leading to a total net loss, even with the 1546 peace treaty

Reasons for Henry’s break with Rome❓

• Desire to marry Anne Boleyn and father an heir

• Religious concerns

• Political pressure

Desire to father an heir and remarry

Anne was in her late 20s, whereas Catherine was 47. Anne was therefore more likely to produce and heir for Henry

Henry engaged in courtly love with Anne Anne refused to be Henry’s mistress, and didn’t sleep with him before marriadge, so he had to marry her to sate his desire

Catherine had Mary as the only surviving child, but Henry wanted a male heir

Anne Boleyn was sent away during anuolment negotiations

Henry had begun to educate his illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy

Religious reason

The bible states that “a man who marries his brothers widow will remain childless”

Henry reportedly had a dream where he realises this revelation, though this may be fabricated

Henry was religiously devoted, thoroughly reading and annotating his bible. He also explored humanist ideas showing his consciousness and willingness to change

Break was completed by Cromwell, who was radically Protestant, had allies in Zurich

Political reasons

Act of supremacy (1534) allowed Henry to become head of church so increased royal authority

He would be able to take monastery land

He had been undermined by Charles V, the Pope and Campeggio which was a slight to his image

He spent a long time trying to attain papal annulment, so power, status and wealth could not be his primary reason for breaking with Rome

How serious was opposition to religious changes❓

Opposition coming from Nobles + Administrative figures

Coming from spiritually important figures

militant opposition

Nobles + Administration

A conservative faction lead by Norfolk and Gardiner opposed religious change.

They were able to gain influence, though only in Henry’s later reign. Led to Cromwell’s education in 1540

Thomas Moore the high Chancellor refused to recognise Henry as the head of the church. He was executed in 1535, though this made him a Catholic matyr, motivating Catholics

Spiritual + religious opposition

Elizabeth Barton was a seer respected by laity (and even a handful of the elites). She predicted that if Henry annulled his marriadge with Catherine of Aragon he would be punished by God.

However she was executed in 1534 and under interrogation (and possibly torture) confessed to the falsehood of her claims

Order of Franciscans similarly opposed Henry religious change but were easily dispersed and recognised less

Militant opposition

The 1536 pilgrimage of grace is the largest Catholic rebellion, made up of 30,000 nobles+laity+clergy

Able to take Pontefract castle and hold significant control in the North

Henry was able to subdue the threat, but had to meet with Aske, agree to his terms and then persecute the rebel leaders once they had dispersed

Why were the monasteries dissolved❓

• Genuine need for reform

• Financial gain

• Combination of these reasons being pushed by reformers within the court

Evidence for genuine need for reform

Cases of priests and monks not fulfilling duties, being idle, committing sexual misconduct, having outside relations and abusing power coming from the Valor Eclisiastus

Financial gain

Cromwell telling Henry he could become “the richest man in Christendom”-increasngly important and threat came from HRE and France.

Wish for increased personal authority

Dissolution allowed him to take monastery land, which made up ¼
Many Catholics who would oppose Henry drew power from the monasteries, dissolving them would lessen their threat

He was already supreme head of the church in England, so power was already centralised. Dissolving the monasteries was an extension of this

To what extent was royal authority weak from 1540-1547❓

Henry’s physical decline

Vying factions within the court

Englands weakened economic position

Henry’s physical decline

Henry became increasingly overweight and developed leg ulcers and gout

He went on his final surveysmce of the country in 1541, Great Northern progress

After this he was practically bound to the palace

Despite his worsening condition he still had final say in matters, for example the execution of Catherine Howard and the sparing of Catherine Parr. She was able to persuade him, in this period he changed his mind a lot.

Decline in wealth and security of England

Economic insecurity caused by Henry’s rampant foreign policy and appetite for foreign war. He had neither Wolsey or Cromwell to act and diplomat or temper his desire.

Debasement of coinage led to rapid inflation

Factionalism within the court

Conservative vs reforming faction being the largest example of factional dispute

Cromwell’s 1540 execution is an example of its effects, Henry’s advisors being pitted against each other and losing his greatest asset

Attempt to arrest Catherine Parr in 1546

Served Henry occasionally, marriadge to Catherine Parr being organised by Norfolk

Henry still able to organise a regency government with moderate reformist leader (Somerset) and comprised of both (mostly) reformers and conservstives