3.2 Edward VI's Economy and Religion Flashcards
What was the 1549 Book of Common Prayer?
This translated the Bible into English and removed some Catholic ceremonies but still implied there was a greater presence during transubstantiation.
Written by Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Why was the Book of Common Prayer widely disliked?
To Catholics, the book was an attack on their culture, translating the Bible into English and removing some important ceremonies. This is what sparked the Western rebellion.
To Protestants, the book was not radical enough as it kept some Catholic procedures and implied a greater presence during transubstantiation (which was superstitious).
What caused the Western Rebellion 1549?
Religious grievances. The rebels wanted to reverse the religious reforms to bring back the traditional Catholic rituals and the Church’s communal services.
There was also resent towards the laws on enclosure.
What were the events of the Western Rebellion 1549?
6th June: Cornish rebels form near Bodmin
11th June: The Devon Rebellion begins at Sampford Courtenay
2nd July: The rebels besieged Exeter
17th August: The rebels are finally defeated at Sampford Courtenay
Why did the Western Rebellion reduce Somerset’s popularity further with the Council?
He was forced to rely on an army made up of mainly foreign mercenaries.
How did Somerset fail to stabilise the economy?
Blunders with foreign policy resulting in costly defeats.
Messy and indecisive enclosure laws which only stirred up peasants.
He further debased the coinage which worsened inflation.
What was the state of England’s economy when Northumberland rose to power?
The Great Debasement of 1544 had led to rise in inflation and had ruined the quality of the coinage system.
Somerset’s blunders had worsened the economic state of England. England was also still at war with Scotland and France.
There was a higher unemployment rate due to a growing population and increase in enclosure.
What did Northumberland do to try and stabilise England’s economy?
He quickly ended war with Scotland as an economic priority and sold Boulogne back to France for £133,333.
Northumberland set up a commission which drew up plans to sort out England’s debt. These plans were never executed as Northumberland was overthrown by Mary.
What was the 1552 Book of Common Prayer?
This was a more radical version than its 1549 counterpart and completely removed Catholic ceremonies such as Eucharist, exorcism, annotating etc.
This included the Black Rubric which sought to assure kneeling at the communion in a way that did not adore the host.
Strict punishment was enforced for those who denied it.
