Chapter 11 - Religion, ideas and reform under Henry VIII Flashcards
What is Erasmianism?
The body of ideas associated with Erasmus and his followers. A blend of humanism and reform devised by More and Erasmus, swayed by Colet.
Who were the Oxford Reformers?
Some of the first Englishmen scholars to adopt Humanist ideas and approaches. Developed ideas within the framework of their religious beliefs to take an active role in the settlement of English religion.
What was More trying to achieve in education?
A generation of children and young scholars who had a range of interests and ideas available for them to study in order to form well-informed (religious/Christian) ideologies and opinions and have the ability to act on them and bring about change.
Is Renaissance Humanist thinking the same as the Reformation? Did it inspire the Reformation?
No it is not the same however Renaissance Humanist thinking did play a significant role in inspiring the Reformation as it initiated the questioning of Catholic principles of the general English public.
How influential was Erasmian humanism on the English population?
It did have some effect as it began to alter the way people thought but its scope was limited and much of the change that took place stemmed from the influence of new religious thinking rather than just humanism.
What happened between 1532 and 1540? Name 4 things.
- English church withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the papacy
- Monasteries dissolved
- Henry VII established as the supreme head of the church
- doctrines and practices altered
Who assisted Henry VIII?
Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer
Name 3 developed reasons for why the Church in England was weakened even before Henry broke with Rome.
Corruption
Anticlericalism
Decline of monasticism
What was the corruption regarding the church?
A range of offences and scandals. E.g. pluralism (receiving the profits of multiple posts), simony (purchase of Church office), non-residence (receiving profits of a post but not doing the duties). Many corrupt clergymen E.g. Cardinal Wolsey.
What was anticlericalism regarding the church?
Opposition to clergy’s political and social role. Lawyers objected to the influence of canon law, the law of the Church, clergy’s legal privileges. Clerical misconduct E.g. death of Richard Hunne. Disputes over things like Tithes.
What was the decline of monasticism regarding the church?
In the 1520s Wolsey dissolved around 20 houses to fund Cardinal College Oxford. Some thought monasticism had aged out and some of the larger monasteries had effectively become businesses with huge resources of land and buildings.
Who was Martin Luther? When was he active?
He was a German monk who challenged the Catholic church’s teaching on salvation → broadened into an attack on the papacy →gained support from secular German leaders who withdrew their territories from Catholicism.
His attack on the Catholic Church started in 1517. He died in 1546.
Was there a link between Humanism and the Reformation?
From 1529 a group of humanists helped shape royal policy but the most influential (More and Fisher) paid with their lives for opposing religious change. Some reformers had humanist connections but not all reformers were humanists and vice versa. But the humanist approach to reform persisted throughout Henry VIII’s reign.
Name 3 changes to the Church’s structure?
- King became the supreme head of the church (confirmed by the Act of Supremacy 1534)
- King appoints Cromwell Vicegerent in Spirituals in 1534. Cromwell was only second to the King and had considerable power over the Church but the post died with him.
- Six new dioceses created (one soon abolished) in attempt to improve Church’s administration
What was the start of the Dissolution of the Monasteries? Use the Latin term and date.
Valor Ecclesiasticus (1535 survey set up by Cromwell to reveal the Church’s wealth and what the Church could plunder).
What was the role of the four visitors?
They were sent around the country to inspect monastic institutions and find issues → found much to criticise (the most fair-minded, Tregonwell, often mixed this with praise for their holiness).
What was the aim of the 1536 Act?
The visitors found Cromwell enough evidence for Cromwell to justify the 1536 Act of Parliament to dissolve smaller monasteries (those with less than £200 income per annum). It was argued that the smaller houses had let standards slip.
What was the final date of the Dissolution of the Monasteries?
In 1539 an Act for dissolving the rest of the monasteries was passed. By March 1540 all the remaining religious houses had been dissolved.
What did the 1536 royal injunctions aim to end?
Immoral conduct, pilgrimages, holy days.
What about the second set of royal injunctions in 1538?
Veneration of relics and images, traditional worship.
How did Henry’s approach to an English Bible change and why?
The 1538 injunctions required parish churches to acquire an English Bible and encourage people to read it (but many couldn’t read and relied on the church and images for religious messages). The first edition of the Great Bible appeared in 1539 with a title page that depicted Henry handing over the Word of God to bishops and politicians.
What was the aim of the Act for the True Advancement of True Religion in 1543?
It restricted the public reading of the Bible to upper-class males. This was justified by saying that everyone else had increased in extreme and divisive opinions which compromised social order. (Henry just didn’t want the wrong people reading the wrong parts of the Bible.
