4 - dissolution of the monasteries & the pilgrimage of grace

Question 1

closure of smaller monasteries

Answer 1

1536

Question 2

closure of larger monasteries

Answer 2

1539-40

Question 3

Valor Ecclesiasticus (1535)

Answer 3

census which looked at the wealth of the Church

Question 4

When was the Valor Ecclesiasticus?

Answer 4

1535

Question 5

How did Cromwell describe the monasteries?

Answer 5

“decayed”

Question 6

Why did MPs vote for the Second Dissolution?

Answer 6

another Act was passed at the same time which would use the wealth to establish colleges & new bishoprics & other social benefits (they thought funds would go to a better use)

Question 7

religious motives for dissolution

Answer 7

• poor behaviour of monks in reports (exaggerated to persuade parliament)
• upheld religious beliefs in purgatory & offered prayers for dead (agst Protestantism)
• had been dissolved in Germany & Scandinavia
• had been criticised by writers, eg. Erasmus

Question 8

financial motives for dissolution

Answer 8

• Cromwell promised to make Henry “richest man in Christendom”
• ran out of inheritance
• feared invasion following break from Rome, needed to prepare for Catholic crusade
• used money to build fortifications along south coast
• meant H didn’t need to ask parliament for money (would be unpopular)
• gave lots of land (could be used to buy off opposition)

Question 9

Pilgrimage of Grace (1536)

Answer 9

• largest rebellion in Tudor England
• 40,000 men (greater than 8000 raised by Henry)
• involved much of northern England
• Oct 1536 - Feb 1537 (Bigod’s Rebellion suppressed in Cumberland)
• rebels took control of York & captured Pontefract Castle (major city & ‘gateway to the south’)
• Henry forced to negotiate & offered compromises

Question 10

When was the Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 10

1536

Question 11

How many men in the Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 11

40,000 (greater than 8000 raised by Henry)

Question 12

religious reasons for Pilgrimage of Grace

Answer 12

• timing of the revolt
• religious demands of the rebels
• marched with banner of the Five Wounds of Christ
• Pilgrim Oath
• restored some monasteries

Question 13

other reasons for Pilgrimage of Grace

Answer 13

• poor harvest in 1535-36
• enclosure was an issue around York & Lake District
• complaints about rents & entry fines
• disliked taxation in peacetime (1534 subsidy)
• complaints about Cromwell & other advisors
• anger over exclusion of Mary from the succession