(1) The Political Role of the Church Flashcards
Church power
More land than King
Own tax and legal system (Canon Law)
Church gave King legitimacy
Church men typically advisors in Privy Council
Church was much more important for typical layman
Wolsey
ArchB of York and Lord Chancellor in 1515 and Cardinal
Cardinal, was Pope’s legatus a latere (could make some decisions for the Pope)
Shows great support from Pope to have this power
Liturgy
Services in Church
Wealth of Church
In 1520s Rome received around £4500 annually from tax and fees
Henry gained around £12,500 from church taxes annually
All paid Peter’s pence to Rome and tithe (1/10 of annual earnings to church)
Purgatory scares meant many left money to church (reduce time in purgatory)
Church courts
Non-attendance = fine
Breaking the social code e.g. adultery or slander ect = fine or imprison
Only Heresy was punishable by death
Pope+Cardinals set Canon Law
Abbots and bishops in House of Lords
Donations
Many would donate to show wealth and piety (large donations would have names ingraved in stone)
Monasteries
In 1509 = 850+
They held large rural holdings (employed locals to labour) and sold excess wool, grain ect
Monks worked within communities with sick and poor (Greek text=medical knowledge)
Educated nobility’s and gentry sons
Henry’s title
Defender of the faith 1521
After ‘In defence of the seven sacraments’ against Luther’s 95 theses