Chapter 11 - Change and Continuity in Doctrine in 1536

Question 1

Religion for the masses following the break

Answer 1

• Liturgy remained unchanged
• Church services after 1539 remained focused on the Eucharist
• Services were still in Latin
• Churches making some effort to educate the laity, parishes where clergy lacked education were not
• Sermons were not a part of the Catholic church
• Teaching still reflected Catholic beliefs surrounding Mass
• The practice of the Litany was still common, in which the laity were led in a procession in which they sang in Latin and confessed their sins, praying for God to protect England and the monarchy

Question 2

John Lambert

Answer 2

▪ John Lambert was put on trial by the Duke of Norfolk for heresy
▪ The king stepped in and questioned Lambert, stating for the court his own views on the importance of the Eucharist and transubstantiation
▪ On the day Lambert was burnt, Henry issued a proclamation that upheld transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and condemned heretical literature

Question 3

John Lambert

Answer 3

• John Lambert was put on trial by the Duke of Norfolk for heresy
• The king stepped in and questioned Lambert, stating for the court his own views on the importance of the Eucharist and transubstantiation
• On the day Lambert was burnt, Henry issued a proclamation that upheld transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and condemned heretical literature

Question 4

The English Bible

Answer 4

• In Cromwell’s injunctions, 1536, it was required for every parish church to have an English Bible
• Shortly after the Matthew bible was published, it was introduced to every parish church in England and Wales
• The frontispiece showed Henry as Supreme head
• Henry became cautions of translations by Tyndale as he favoured a more protestant view
• Those who favoured a more conservative or catholic view believed that the bible was being misrepresented in these translations
• Bishop Gardiner insisted that scripture could not become widely available because people could begin to misinterpret it and come up with their own ides of religion
• Henry agreed, acknowledging that the easiest way to keep control of his country was to limit the number of people with power over religious views

Question 5

The Ten Articles

Answer 5

• First attempt to provide the new Church of England with a definable set of beliefs
• These were intended to provide some difference from the original Catholic beliefs but remain familiar in as many ways as possible
• The Act of the Ten Articles, passed in July, faced criticism as it was said to be lacking specificity in all of the 7 Sacraments and it’s alignment was more protestant than many would have liked
• The Articles were:
  1. That Holy Scriptures and the three Creeds are the basis and summary of a true Christian faith.
  2. That baptism conveys remission of sins and the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, and is absolutely necessary as well for children as adults.
  3. That penance consists of contrition, confession, and reformation, and is necessary to salvation.
  4. That the body and blood of Christ are really present in the elements of the eucharist.
  5. That justification is remission of sin and reconciliation to God by the merits of Christ; but good works are necessary.
  6. That images are useful as remembrances, but are not objects of worship.
  7. That saints are to be honoured as examples of life, and as furthering our prayers.
  8. That saints may be invoked as intercessors, and their holydays observed
  9. That ceremonies are to be observed for the sake of their mystical signification, and as conducive to devotion
  10. That prayers for the dead are good and useful, but the efficacy of papal pardon, and of soul-masses offered at certain localities, is negatived.
• There was little that could be seen as overtly Lutheran
• The article on the Eucharist however does not directly mention transubstantiation
• The authority for the Ten Articles was Henry’s alone, in August, Cromwell made the Articles binding

Question 6

The Bishop’s book

Answer 6

• Before the Pilgrimage of Grace was over, Cromwell called together a number of Bishops to determine religious law
• These debates led to the publication of the 1537 Bishop’s book
• This was much more Lutheran in its views, salvation by faith was emphasised and transubstantiation was not mentioned
• Henry authorised its usage but revoked this three years later, providing a detailed critique on the book

1537

Question 7

The Six Articles

Answer 7

• Passed into law the key beliefs of the church as Henry feared it had strayed too far into Protestantism
• This was intended as a defence against Heresy
• The Six Articles
  1. Upheld the doctrine of transubstantiation
  2. Defended communion in one kind
  3. Upheld private Mass
  4. Upheld auricular confession
  5. Forbade clergy to marry
  6. Held that vows of chastity were binding under divine law
• Intended to inform foreign rulers that Henry was still Catholic, setting The Church of England up as Catholicism without the Pope

Question 8

The King’s book

Answer 8

• A new version of the Bishop’s book was drawn up, this was called the King’s book
• This was written by the bishops but had a preface by the king when it was released
• Clearly emphasised the importance of the Creed, the seven sacraments, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer
• Bishops who were involved with writing this book were disliked by evangelical reformers at the time
• Far more openly conservative than the original Bishop’s book
• Explicitly rejected Lutheran views in justification by faith

Question 9

The King’s book

Answer 9

• A new version of the Bishop’s book was drawn up, this was called the King’s book
• This was written by the bishops but had a preface by the king when it was released
• Clearly emphasised the importance of the Creed, the seven sacraments, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer
• Bishops who were involved with writing this book were disliked by evangelical reformers at the time
• Far more openly conservative than the original Bishop’s book
• Explicitly rejected Lutheran views in justification by faith

Question 10

Henry’s final religious moves

Answer 10

• The Act for the Advancement of True Religion
  * Abolished erroneous books
  * Restricted the reading of the bible in English
• English Litany and the King’s Prymer
  * Produced to provide a guide for schoolmasters in religion
• Cranmer produced a book of Homilies
  * Short sermons written by himself and other bishops
  * For the use in church
• The attack on chantries
  * Using much the same methods as with the monasteries
  * Chantries were dissolved in steps, the money used to fund the war between France and Scotland.