Chapter 2- Religious Reformers and Conservatives Flashcards
What did humanists believe in?
Believed in basic principles of catholic faith,particularly in notion of free will. They sought to purify the ideas of religion from errors which had developed through translations.
What were the religious reformer groups during Henry’s reign?
Humanists
Lollards
Lutherans
Believers in royal supremacy
Who was Thomas More?
He was a lawyer,author,humanist and advisor to Henry VIII. He occupied many positions including Lord Chancellor after the fall of Wolsey. He became more conservative in his defence of the Catholic Church which led to his resignation as chancellor when he refused to acknowledge Anne as queen and her heirs.
What were the development of humanist ideas based on?
On published texts rather than religious beliefs. Humanists did not challenge the beliefs of Catholicism merely the practises. They sought to reform the church from within.
What helped the growth of literacy in the 16th century?
1) Increase in grammar schools in country towns
2) Growth of the printing press and availability of books
Who in the Tudor family was a humanist?
Margaret Beaufort , Henry’s grandmother, was influenced by humanism.
Henry and Catherine of Aragon also considered themselves humanists.
What was Lollardy?
Used to describe the followers of John Wycliff in the 14th century, it suggested that they were talking rubbish as if their tongues were too big for their mouths. John Wycliffe started the Lollard movement in the14th century and his followers shared his beliefs that questioned the role of priests as intermediaries between people and God. It became an underground movement, they may have conformed outwardly by attending the parish church but met in secret to share and discuss their ideas. Because it went underground it is difficult to say how widespread the movement was by the reign of Henry VIII.
What did Lollards believe in?
They believe that Christianity should be based on the Bible.
They went much further than humanists suggesting that everyone should have a bible of their own in English so that they could interpret it for themselves.
They rejected the idea that the priest was needed to be a go-between with God, you didn’t have to confess your sins to a priest.
Didn’t believe in transubstantiation.
Believed in predestination.
Why was Lollardy considered dangerous?
Because it attracted followers from the nobility and gentry including some members of the core.
When those who held views sympathetic to Wycliffe were banned from Oxford university where he had begun to preach they went into the provincial towns and spread ideas to a wider audience.
By the 16th century there were Lollard sympathisers in Leicester, Bristol, Coventry, London and in country areas in Kent and East Anglia.
Who were Lollards in Henry VIII’s reign?
Craftsmen and merchants
What was Lutheranism?
Protestantism based on the ideas of Martin Luther. Luther wanted to take the church back to its roots. His initial protest was against indulgences which he argued were corrupt.
What was the extent of Lutheranism during Henry’s reign?
Few in England where are attracted to the ideas of Luther. Certainly none of the nobility were supporters.
Who where two key individuals that were influenced by Lutheran ideas?
Thomas Cramner – who from about 1531, agreed with Lutheran ideas. He became Archbishop of Canterbury Canterbury and helped to secure the break from Rome.
Thomas Cromwell – who had become Henry’s first Minister and also helped to guide Parliament through the break with Rome was influenced by Martin Luther.
What did John Wycliffe argue in relation to the church and the monarchy?
That it was a sin to oppose the power of the king. Also he stated that those in the service of the church should have regard for the laws of the state.
Who was William Tyndale?
He translated the bible into English and arranged for its printing.he fled to the Netherlands to publish other works that challenged Catholic ideas. However, he was pursued by agents of Thomas More and burnt as a heretic in 1536.
