Chapter 14: The Social Impact of Religious and Economic Change under Edward VI Flashcards
Religious change, humanism, economic change, rebellions
What were Somerset’s religious aims?
- Cautious Protestantism
What changes to religion did Somerset make?
1547
- Feb - denunciation images in London - radical ideas e.g. Ridley - supported by protestant activists and govt
- July - Cranmer’s homilies - off the shelf sermons to encourage acceptance of change and obedience
- July - Injunctions - Radical govt attitudes - attack catholic features e.g. images, processions
- Dec - dissolution of chantries and guilds - money for foreign policy
- May 1549 - Book of Common Prayer - uniform approach to religious services
What were Northumberland’s aims in religious change?
- Continue protestant reform
- Plunder wealth
What changes to religion did Northumberland make?
- 1552 - Treason act - offence to question royal supremacy
- 1552 - 2nd book common prayer - radical revision - desire for greater simplicity
- 2nd act uniformity - offence for clergy and laity to not attend church
- 1553 - plunder church property - confiscate church plate, continues asset stripping
What was the impact of religious change on wills?
- According to some figures - 70% northern wills 1540-6 left money to a parish —> 32% under Edward
- Debated - many wills lost and most didn’t have one
What was the impact of religious change on church attendance?
- Decreased
- Decline in candidates for priesthood
- Crisis and manpower shortage
What was the impact of religious change on public opinions?
- Fear crown attack on church goods
What intellectual ways of thinking were present under Edward?
- Traditional evangelical humanism - Erasmus
- Radical protestantism
What was the impact of humanism?
- Influenced Cranmer
- 1547 injunctions - all parishes needed a Paraphrases of Erasmus
- Edward tutored by humanist
- Cecil encouraged humanist scholars
In what ways was more militant reform present?
- Under Northumberland - Hooper, movement gained ground but stopped by Edward’s death
What were Somerset’s aims about the economy?
- Combat inflation
- Taxes
- Agrarian issues
What economic changes did Somerset make to do with the coinage?
- Debased coinage - for scottish war - raised £537,000 - increased inflation
What economic changes did Somerset make to do with enclosure?
- Enclosure commissions - to investigate the problem - only raised the expectations of the poor and annoyed landowners
What economic changes did Somerset make to do with taxation?
- Taxation - sheep tax to stp enclosure, instead pressured small farmers
What economic changes did Northumberland make to do with foreign policy?
- Ended wars with France and Scotland
- Reduced expenditure
- Brought in £133,000 from France
What economic changes did Northumberland make about coinage?
- Debased once more then stopped
What economic changes did Northumberland make about the church?
- Melted church poste for bullion as a source of income
What economic changes did Northumberland make about shortcomings?
- Commission to analyse the shortcomings in finance administration with the aim of streamlining
What was trade and exploration like under Northumberland?
- Russia and West Africa
What policy did Northumberland have towards the poor?
- 1st poor law 1552
When was the western rebellion?
1549
Where did the western rebellion originate?
The western counties
What were the causes of the western rebellion?
- Prayer book in English
- Want to reverse religious reform
- Distrust between labourers and landowners
- Taxation especially the sheep tax
What were the events of the western rebellion?
- Burn the books
- Besiege Exeter
How was the western rebellion dealt with?
- Somerset took Edward
- Lord Russell defeated the rebels at Clyst Heath and finally Stampord Courtenay
- Notable rebels executed
What was the impact of the western rebellion?
- Government proven as being ineffective at controlling the lower classes
- King outraged at Somerset - lost favour
When was Kett’s rebellion?
1549
Where did Kett’s rebellion originate?
East Anglia
What were the causes of Kett’s rebellion?
- Hatred of local officials
- Abuse by landowners
- Local maladministration
- Wanted proposed reform about enclosure to be enacted
What were the events of Kett’s rebellion?
- Camped at Norwich
- Kett negotiated with civic authorities
- Norwich in rebel hands
- Rip out enclosed fences en route
How was Kett’s rebellion stopped?
- Northampton tried and fails to recapture Norwich
- Army along with foreign mercenaries sent with Warwick - brutally suppress it
- Kett hung
What was the impact of Kett’s rebellion?
- Lack of government control - 2 rebellions
