Chapter 4 Flashcards
What was the main anti-clerical critisism
Church exploiting the devotion of pilgrims, and granting indulgences at key religous sites
case study for anger over excessive mortuary fees in c1529
Richard Hunne was taken to the Archbishop’s court for refusing to give his baby’s christening robes as a mortuary fee
Why is it difficult to estimate how widespread anti-clericalism was in c1529
much of the evidence comes from the 1530s when henry was looking for means by which to criticize the Church
how widespread and so threatening was anti-clericalism
- Low-level ‘grumbling’ had been around for centuries, but no one sought to reform it
- As majority of people deeply attached to the Church
What is simony
sale of an ecclesiastical title to whomever paid the most, rather than most qualified
what is nepotism
promotion of one’s family member to a lucrative position rather than who most qualified
key example of how Cardinal Wolsey was nepotisitc and had poor behaviour as a clergyman
- took a vow of chastity but had a son
- promoted to Provost of Beverly and Dean of Wells
- Both had large incomes, with landed property
What was abseenteeism/pluralism
preists having rights to more than one parish, and so employing a partly-educated cleric to take services, but still taking income from both
what were the main complaints about the behaviour of the clergy in c1529
not upholding vow of chastity, greed, laziness, and sexual improperiety
what could priests do if charged with a crime, that was incredibly frowned upon
claim ‘benefit of the clergy’, and escape harsher senteces by being tried in a church court, not a crown one
apart from members of the clergy, who could escape the harsher punishments of crown courts and be charged in Church courts
Wealthy people who could recite latin ‘neck verses’
