Chapter 6

Question 1

religious beliefs/the Church under Henry VII’s reign

Answer 1

• During reign of Henry VII all English people belonged to Catholic Church and were under jurisdiction of the pope in Rome
• the parish Church (over 8000) was focus of religious experience
• Church provided the focus of popular entertainment (festivals)
• its guilds and confraternities offered charity

Question 2

Was the Church important for people of high social status

Answer 2

• the Church made it easier for the social and political elites to maintain social control through its encouragement of good behaviour, obedience and stress on the values of community
• the Church also provided employment opportunities
• for some (Cardinal Wolsey) opportunity to advances themselves socially through the attainment of high office in Church and State

Question 3

The political role of the Church - was the Pope significant

Answer 3

• political role of Church significant in terms of international relations and in domestic matters
• highest position held by Pope in Rome
• it is typical both of Henry VII’s carefulness and the Pope’s influence that he sought, through Thomas Morton, a dispensation to marry Elizabeth of York
• on other hand, successive popes did little at this time to interfere directly with the running of the Church in England = Erastian (state has authority over church)
• the papacy had no objection to the way in which Henry used the wealth of the Church to reward those churchmen to whom he had given high political office

Question 4

Provinces and Dioceses

Answer 4

• Church in England administered through two provinces = Canterbury and York, each under jurisdiction of an archbishop
• and seventeen dioceses, each under control of bishop
• dioceses like Winchester and Durham enjoyed considerable wealth
• common for senior churchmen to enjoy positions of significant influence and power within the kingdom

Question 5

who were the most senior clergymen/ how were they chosen + example

Answer 5

• was common for senior clergy to participate at a high level in the political process
• during much of medieval period = normal for most senior figures within Church in England to be drawn from senior ranks of the aristocracy
• Margaret Beaufort’s great uncle, for example, had been a cardinal and Bishop of Winchester

Question 6

which churchmen exercised the most power under Henry VII

Answer 6

• the two churchmen who exercised most power under Henry VII = John Morton + Richard Fox

Question 7

Clergymen

Answer 7

• some offices of state, especially that of the chancellor, were monopolised by clergymen
• most senior clergymen on whole = highly competent and conscientious professionals, often with legal training
• performed duties for both Church and state effectively

Question 8

Abbots

Answer 8

• heads of the wealthiest religious houses
• shared membership of the House of Lords with the bishops
• had to possess a range of management and administrative skills to keep their complex organisations running effectively, as well as demonstrating the spirituality necessary to maintain the reputation of their houses
• not all heads of house lived up to all of these demands, and criticisms of the monastic life were increasing

Question 9

evidence monasteries did not need reform

Answer 9

• 1509 = 850 religious houses (loads)
• ## 10,000 monks/nuns = significant proportion of population

Question 10

evidence monasteries did need reform

Answer 10

• declines in numbers i.e Rievaulx went from 200 to 20
• some houses had privileges and were exempt form inspection
• monks = complaints of not giving services properly, failure of leadership, complaints on quality/quantity of food
• Abbot Wallingford of St Albans Abbey let monks wander off to nunneries for inappropriate purposes
• rebuilding of monasteries e.g. Tower at fountains Abbey in Yorkshire