(3)The Dissolution of The Monasteries Flashcards
Role of the Monasteries
In 1535 they played large part in social life, Abbots sat in HoL, labourers were employed, food produced, education to nobility+gentries sons and medicine
Political causes for dissolutions
Abbots were presented great opposition to break and being in the HoL meant they had large influence
Henry also had no control over the Order’s centres (based in Europe)
Henry needed money to fight and set up a system of patronage to ensure gentry+nobility support against yorkist threats
The break was popular with nobility in HoL but dissolutions would be even more so - however they needed evidence to show corruption before closing them
Religious causes of dissolutions
Commissioners sent out in 1535 were to access the financial and moral behaviour
They found monks to be greedy, lazy and having sexual relations (children ect) and the same was said for Nuns
However the Nuns has children before becoming Nuns (widows) and only around 1/30 monks confessed to homosexuality
Dissolution of the smaller monasteries
1536 - 300 houses who’s total income was below £200 annually
This wasn’t an attack as most monks offered positions in larger institutions (apparently insured better behaviour-little evidence to support) 67/300 were exempt
Many locals stole church’s gold ect (e.g. Roche Abbey)
Dissolution of the larger monasteries
1538 commissioners sent to larger institutions - through bribery, bullying and offering Abbots large pensions they surrendered
1539 Act of Parliament legalised voluntary surrender to King - not all gave up(Abbots of Colchester, Reading and Glastonbury) but falsified evidence was made to show treason and theft
1536-1540 800 religious houses removed, Abbott’s received large pensions and monks made chantry priests
Lincolnshire Rising
1536 - started with Lincolnshire and then spread within northern reasons (collectively=Pilgrimage of Grace
The visitations were unpopular as monastic houses typically v.popular within community (Locality in Lincolnshire seized the Lincolnshire bishop’s rep and the royal commissioners)
4th Oct crowed killed an official of Bishop of Lincoln
Pilgrimage of Grace
Suffolk was sent with King’s army to ‘meet the rebels’ - gentry getting scared told all to disperse and sued for pardon
Lincolnshire Articles wanted End to dissolutions, removal of tax on sheep+cattle, removal of low-born advisors and removal of several bishops
Power of the rebels
Earl of Cumberland besieged, Barnard Castle yielded and Lord Darcy gave up Pontefract Castle(key castle voluntarily)
Darcy, ArchB of York and 40 knights/gentlemen stood with the rebels
Norfolk and the rebels
Norfolk with largest private army (8,000 fully trained men) tried negotiating as he feared they may defeat him
It was agreed for a truce while their petition reached London - Aske was invited to court to further discuss the petition and was assured no dissolutions would occur in the mean time
Religious and socioeconomic factors affecting PoG
Monasteries and Rome were core to the lay community so they obviously were unhappy at the break (religious symbolism ect)
Poor harvest 1535+36, enclosures angered many (where common land was taken away from farming)
Taxes around farmers renting land was another reason and H wanted tax payment when land passed from father to son (1536 Statute of Uses)
Political reasoning
Many of the rebels weren’t acting against the King - they were concerned rich and Cromwell were poorly advising him
King’s response
Aske spent Christmas at court negotiating the free parliament that would meet in York with H present
H didn’t keep to his word but there was nothing rebels could do - Sir Bigod became new leader and seized Hull but was arrested
King reacted by 144 executions including Aske, Bigod, Darcy, Hussey and Percy
Dissolution effect
Monastic land sold to Gentry to gain support (sold cheaply) and money spent on defences
Abbots removed and Bishops replaced them (chosen based on compliance=H more power)
8,000 new priests consisting of well educated monks
Henry founded some new grammar schools and colleges with new wealth
1 of the 4 new courts was Augmentations - dealt with selling land and treasures
