Church and State: Henry V Flashcards
Name some Henry V’s leading churchmen.
Robert Hallum (Bishop of Salisbury), Henry Chichele (Archbishop of Canterbury), Thomas Langley (Bishop of Durham), Henry Beaufort (Bishop of Winchester), Simon Islip, John Thoresby, William of Wykeham, Archbishop Arundel.
What was special about Henry’s churchmen?
They were university educated - graduates in civil or canon law and practiced in the prerogative courts of Canterbury (a linear progression to the king’s office).
They all had experience in public affairs.
How did Henry’s church deal with the threat of Lollardy?
Their strategy was not a philosophical refutation but used practical knowledge that defended the real, visible church through preaching to encourage orthodoxy.
What evidence is there displaying Henry’s personal piety?
The ‘Gesta Henrici Quinti’ - a source that displays Henry’s personal piety and habit of personal prayer.
His foundations at Syon (Bridgettines) and Sheen (Carthusians).
What liturgical changes did Henry make?
Ritual and public worship (to advocate uniformity): after the victory at Agincourt, Henry was received by London as a divine figure being cheered by angels and prophets.
He pushed music: his own Chapel Royal became a place for musical invention. John Pyamour was an English composer who was technically very advanced, English music renown throughout Europe.
Chichele added new feasts of national and military saints: Saint George promoted to a double feast in November 1415 - feasts were public and universal = conformity.
What was the general direction of religious change under Henry?
More ceremonies, an introduction of more feasts and cults, more elaborate music and an emphasis on public worship through processions.
What were the aims of the monastic foundations at Sheen and Syon?
They fundamentally aimed to place the English monarchy at the spiritual centre of English life.
They were instrumental in the war effort: to Henry prayers win wars.
What was introduced at the Convocation of 1416?
Chichele’s new measures for dealing with the Lollards.
Persuasion was the first measure - Archbishop Arundel’s examination of William Thorpe focused on debate, heresy trials were a last resort.
Lollardy was linked to the regime - church and state becoming inseparable under Henry: Lollards = felons.
Why was a diocese better than the aristocracy for governance?
A diocese was not a hereditary position as bishops were appointed every generation (often promoted by the king).
Bishops were loyal men - often from humble backgrounds, university educated and knew the administration (civil law graduates and practiced law in Courts of Canterbury).
What was Henry Chichele’s progression to royal office?
He was a civil law graduate from New College, Oxford.
Later practiced law in the Courts of Canterbury and was noticed.
He entered royal service in January 1404 as an envoy to the Roman Curia and executed further diplomatic missions as the Crown representative at the Council of Pisa in January 1409 (schism).
1414: he rose to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury and enforced policy according to royal will (supported Henry’s monastic foundations, liturgical innovation through new saints’ days).
