3.1 Edward VI - Religion

Question 1

when was the duke of somerset in power?

Answer 1

1547-1549

Question 2

how has the country changed religiously since Henry’s death?

Answer 2

• there is a lot more protestantism across England
• many protestants who left under the act of six articles returned under Edward
• Somerset relaxes censorship that allows Luther and Calvin’s works to be spread
• chantries are also finally dissolved

Question 3

what was the effect of Somerset’s dissolving of the act of 6 articles?

Answer 3

• religious confusion
• they started with the act of ten articles which was changed to the act of six articles and this was then dissolved
• this leaves people confused as to what they are supposed to believe in
• it has all happened in roughly a decade only

Question 4

what were some injunctions passed before the first religious settlement?

Answer 4

• injunctions against stained glass windows and ceremonies e.g. Palm Sunday, Ash Wednesday and image icons
• they were passed two years before the religious settlement so the protestant bill didn’t come as a surprise
• there was also a greater protestant presence in Edward’s council (Cranmer and Seymours)
• the very Catholic Bishop Gardiner was in the tower

Question 5

what was the first religious settlement and when was it?

Answer 5

1549
aimed to create a standard form of worship

• all members of church could take bread and wine
• however it was unclear if this was actually the blood and body of christ
• Cranmer produced the book of homilies (sermons) to get people to accept the new settlement and sent it to parishes across the coutnry

Question 6

what was an effect of the 1549 religious settlement?

Answer 6

Cranmer’s book of sermons led to the prayer book rebellion that took place in Devon and Cornwall

• concerns were mainly religious, demanded latin mass returned, a return of transubstantiation and for all ancient ceremonies to be restored
• but there was also the inability of the government to recognise regional differences as they had rejected the prayer book as they spoke Cornish
• also economic causes as they ripped down enclosure hedges
• they besieged Exeter but there was no attempt to march on London

Question 7

what is the background to the second act of uniformity?

Answer 7

• the more radical Duke of Northumberland has taken over from the Somerset
• protestant numbers are increasing even more in England
• 20% of London are now protestant
• Edward was old enough to make decisions

Question 8

what was the second act of uniformity and when was it?

Answer 8

1552
1. the treasons act
2. the second act of uniformity
3. the prayer book

1. the treasons act had been removed under Somerset but it was brought back making it illegal to question royal authority
2. much clearer than the first, made it clear that the church did not believe in transubstantiation and the church of england was unquestionably protestant
3. the new prayerbook did not mention conservative religious ceremonies (creeping to the cross, palm sunday), clergy dress was simplified along with the music, altars removed and replaced with communion tables. A year later in 1553 they released the 42 articles of religion that clarified the prayer book

Question 9

what was the effect of the second act of uniformity?

Answer 9

• edward died a year after meaning it cannot settle properly
• it attracted reformists from across Europe such as Bucer and Martyr
• many feared church wealth would be stripped again but there was no rebellion

Question 10

what is a statistic to suggest that protestantism was not that popular in England?

Answer 10

70% of wills in the north left money to the church in the reign of Henry VIII
32% of wills in the north left money to the church in the reign of Edward VI