4. the english reformation- suppression of monasteries Flashcards
What significant changes did Henry VIII make to the Church?
Henry VIII made significant changes to the Church between 1534 and 1535.
Who were the key figures in the reform of the English Church?
Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell were the key figures in the reform of the English Church.
What was the Treason Act?
The Treason Act made it illegal to speak out against the king or queen.
What role did bishops have under Cromwell’s reforms?
Bishops could be given new laws and made to carry them out.
What was required of monastic orders during the reforms?
Monastic orders had to swear a new Oath of Allegiance.
What was Valor Ecclesiasticus?
Valor Ecclesiasticus was a new commission set up by Cromwell to evaluate the wealth of the entire English Church.
What were historians’ views on Cromwell’s evaluation of Church wealth?
Many historians suggest it was an excuse to seize the wealth of the Church, while others argue that Henry and Cromwell believed in the necessity of reform.
What was the outcome of the Visitations?
The Visitations were an evaluation of the wealth of the Church.
How was the Dissolution of the Monasteries carried out?
The Dissolution of the Monasteries was carried out quickly and easily by Cromwell and Henry VIII.
What were the Visitations?
The Visitations were an evaluation of the wealth of every monastery in the country.
Who appointed the commissioners for the Visitations?
Cromwell appointed six commissioners to examine every monastery in England.
What was the task of the commissioners?
The commissioners had the task of accounting for the value and worth of everything within a given monastery and reporting back to Cromwell.
What was the aim of the commissioners during the Visitations?
The aim was to consider whether each monastery was doing its job properly, specifically if the monks were sufficiently pious and if the monastery was charitable.
What was the nature of the report from the Visitations?
The report was extremely critical of the monasteries, citing evidence of laziness, ungodliness, and even sexual corruption.
Did the report have any positive elements?
Yes, it praised a monastery in Durham, but it seems the commissioners were instructed to find faults where possible.
What did the results of the Visitations lead to?
The results led to the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
What fundamental principle allowed Henry and Cromwell to attack the monasteries?
The principle was that Protestant and reformist beliefs did not allow for the existence of Purgatory.
What was the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act?
It was an act from 1536 that dissolved 243 out of 419 smaller monasteries deemed not to be doing a good job.
What happened to the wealth from the dissolved monasteries?
All the wealth went to the Crown.
How did the dissolution of monasteries affect ordinary people?
It directly affected ordinary people and was deeply unpopular, leading in part to the Pilgrimage of Grace.
What happened after the smaller monasteries were dissolved?
Visitations then started to take in the larger monasteries.
What did some abbots offer in exchange for generous pensions?
Some abbots offered to voluntarily surrender their monasteries in exchange for their monks and nuns being offered generous pensions.
What significant act was passed in 1539 regarding monasteries?
In 1539, the second Dissolution Act was passed and within a year all of the small monasteries were closed.
What happened to the friaries after the dissolution of monasteries?
The friaries were closed, and the majority of the friars were given permission to become secular priests instead.
What was a major consequence of the dissolution of monasteries?
The dissolution saw the destruction of many buildings and had a huge impact on the peasantry.
What indicates that the dissolution was not only spiritually motivated?
The fact that everything of value was stripped from the monasteries, including lead from roofs and items that could be sold.
What happened to ancient relics and precious items during the dissolution?
Ancient relics and precious items were melted down for raw materials like gold and silver. The libraries of the monasteries were destroyed, losing thousands of precious books.
What role did monasteries play in their communities?
Monasteries provided housing, education, poor relief, and maintained roads and local areas.
How did monasteries contribute to the local economy?
They were big customers for fisheries and farmers and employed servants, craftsmen, and laborers.
What actions were taken to save monastic buildings?
Wealthy people bought monastic buildings and donated them to the community.
What advantage did members of the gentry have during the dissolution?
Many members of the gentry were able to buy land at much lower than market value for their own profit.
