Depth 2: Challenging religious changes, 1533-1537

Question 1

What were the Benedictines and Cistercians?

Answer 1

• Followed rules of poverty, chastity and obedience

- Remote location centres learning + education

Question 2

Religious causes of the 1536 Rebellions?

Answer 2

• Wider discontent about religion aimed at Cromwell and Cranmer. Cromwells attacks on tradition threatened peoples beliefs and many thought catholic teachings would prepare them for afterlife. People scared + angry.
• ‘The Pilgrimage of Grace’ modelled trad. Catholic rite of peaceful pilgrimage. Felt they were rebelling in God’s name. Pontefract Articles, 9/24 grievances religious.
• Affected all members of society.
• Rebellion in Lincolnshire caused by local reaction to rapid and radical changes. 1535-36. Gov. focus on one region caused tension and rumours.

Question 3

Social + Economic causes of the 1536 rebellions?

Answer 3

• Tenants increasingly angry about demands by landlords. One grievance entry fines. Paid to Landlord when a tenant died and succeeded by heir.
• North suffered economic hardship. Taxation in the 1534 Subsidy. Gov. planning other taxes.
• The 1534 Subsidy = Subsidy Act was in 1534 justified taxation on grounds of peace as well as war. North had two years of bad weather + poor harvests.
• May be why poorer peasants and agricultural workers joined.

Question 4

Political causes of the 1536 rebellions?

Answer 4

• Northern nobility and gentry got involved. Thomas Percy, Lord Darcey and Lord Hussey. Pilgrimage. may be suggested to be a court based plot to restore Princess Mary to succession + remove Cromwell.
• Thomas Percy marched with 5000 men to York.
• Sir Thomas Percy’s brother (Henry Percy) did nothing to stop the rebels and surrender Wressle Castle to them. He was closely connected to conservatives.
• The Act of Uses, 1535. Henrys attempt to prevent landowners from avoiding financial demand made by the king as their feudal overlord. Monarch could take guardianship of tenants land when heir is a minor. Make more money for crown.
• Lord Derby did not rise

Question 5

How did the Lincolnshire rising begin?

Answer 5

1. Bishop of Lincoln’s officer arrived at Louth to carry out visitation. Armed men spent night guarding church + treasure.
2. Men of Louth angry about dissolution so marched to Legbourne nunnery and captured commissioners there to dissolve.
3. Rumours spread about seizing
4. 3000 people met at Louth and gov. commissioners forced to flee. Now spread to Caistor and Horncastle.
5. Dr Raynes, Chancellor of Bishop of Lincoln brought to Horncastle + killed by mob. Petition drawn up on 9th Oct. rebels’ main grievances were over the dissolution. ‘evil counsel’.

Question 6

“The Lincolnshire Rising was a serious threat to Henry VIII’s security”

Answer 6

• Gentry involved
• 10,000
• Local Nobility fled
• Local authorities couldn’t cope
• Rebels in touch men from Yorkshire

Question 7

“The Lincolnshire Rising was never a serious threat to Henry VIII’s security”

Answer 7

• Yorkshire commons not ready to rise
• Put down swiftly
• Royal army quickly marched
• Suffolk Herald persuaded rebels to go home
• Threatened them with punishment
• Rebels loyal to Henry

Question 8

What did the Lincolnshire rebels want?

Answer 8

• Monestry
• Land
• Tax
• Blame Cromwell + the rich
• New Bishops

Question 9

Key support of Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 9

• Robert Aske = 10,000 rebels
• William Stapulton, a lawyer = 2000-3000 rebels
• Robert Bowes, a lawyer and gentry = 4000-10,000 men
• Thomas Percy = 5000 rebels

Question 10

When did the Pilgrimage of Grace begin?

Answer 10

10th October 1536

Question 11

Three pieces of evidence supporting the Pilgrimage being a real threat and three it not being a threat?

Answer 11

+ 30,000 - 40,000 strong army run by Aske
+ Duke of Suffolk still restoring order in Lincolnshire
+ Members of Nobility and Gentry decided to join (Lord Darcey, Lord Hussey, Sir Robert Constable, Sir Ingram Percy and Sir Thomas Percy)

• Henry was biding/buying time in negotiations with the rebels presenting himself to be agreeing to their terms, which Aske bought.
• Tricked rebel army into being dispersed
• Nothing was ever put in writing so Henry could go back on his words.

Question 12

What was asked for in rebels aims/demands?

Answer 12

• end to the heresies of Luther
• restoration of the powers of the Pope
• reversal of dissolution
• 24 complaints was drew up

Question 13

What was the extent of the repression?

Answer 13

• at least 144 executed e.g. Aske, Lords Darcy + Harcey, Sir Robert Constable, Sir Thomas Percy + Sir Frances Bigod.
• Percy estates put in royal hands
• Clerics executed e.g. Adam Sedbar, Abbot of Jervaulx + William Thirsk
• Executed 74 of rebels who attacked Carisle in 1537.
• Aske hang in chains from a gibbet

Question 14

Robert Aske’s role in the challenge?

Answer 14

• ‘The Pilgrimage of Grace for the Commonwealth’
• acted as a military captain
• Try keep things peaceful
• Speak + negotiate with gentry and nobility
• Demands organised by him
• Balance demands between gentry and commons.

Question 15

Francis Bigods role in the challenge?

Answer 15

• Gentry leader of rebellion.
• 16th Jan. 1537, Bigod + Hallam tried to start a new rebellion in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
• failed to raise much local power
• Was not a Catholic
• Captured at Cumberland 10th Feb. Tried + executed at Tower of London 2nd June 1537.

Question 16

Thomas Cromwells role in the suppression?

Answer 16

• One of main targets for rebels
• reinforce royal authority in the North
• Use rebellion to purge the remaining rival claimants to throne
• removed conservative elements at court, who were a threat to him

Question 17

Henry VIII’s role in the suppression?

Answer 17

Take part in trick negations with the rebels by false promises such as a Northern parliament
- Allow the Duke of Norfolk to deal with the rebels

Question 18

Duke of Norfolks role in the suppression?

Answer 18

• exploited increasing divisions and distrust between the commons and former gentry by recruiting former leading rebels into his council e.g. Sir Ralph Ellerker.
• Persuaded former leading rebels to go to court.
• Declared martial law
• Played the roles of both negotiator and enforcer reassuring royal power

Question 19

The extent of the repression in 1537?

Answer 19

• Henry had excuse to take revenge on rebels in punishments

- Executed Gentry, nobles, ringleaders and even a royal agent who pointed out to rebels they had a military advantage

Question 20

Robert Aske background?

Answer 20

• Born c1500 to a gentry family in Yorkshire.
• Third son so would not inherit land
• Trained at Gary’s inn London as a Lawyer.

Question 21

Sir Francis Bigod’s background?

Answer 21

• Member of Yorkshire Gentry
• Worked for Wolsey
• Became Evangelical in the 1530s (Protestant)
• translated religious works from Latin
• Implementing Cromwell’s reforms in Yorkshire
• Tried to escape by sea, but was captured by rebels so decided to support the Pilgrims.

Question 22

When did Sir Thomas Cromwell loose power?

Answer 22

1540, Duke of Norfolk and Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester brought him to his downfall.

Question 23

What did Cromwell make monasteries be presented as?

Answer 23

1537, now associated with treason and disbedience to Henry’s supremacy. Cromwell encouraged ‘voluntary’ closures.

Question 24

What was passed in 1539?

Answer 24

The Act of Suppression of Religious Houses

Question 25

What was published in 1539?

Answer 25

The Great Bible

Question 26

Events of Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 26

• 10th October Beverley
• 16th October 10,000 East Riding Rebels taken York.
  Restored two religious houses.
• 19th October they capture Hull and Pontefract castle. Lord Darcey asks Henrys help, but is persuaded to join.
• North rebels 11th October, supported by Lord Latimer + Sir Christopher Derby + Lawyer Robert Bowes. Barnard castle captured. Met up with Aske.
• Rebels mustered in Westmorland + Cumberland. 16th October rebellion broke out there.
• 19th October 4 more rebel hosts marched on Carlisle.
• 21st October army resigned Skipton castle trapping Henry Clifford(Earl of Northumberland).

Question 27

What was the Reformation?

Answer 27

A movement for religious reform in Europe under the influence of reformers Luther, Zwingli and Calvin. It aimed at reforming the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 28

What was the break with Rome?

Answer 28

Removal of Pope from power in England.

Question 29

How important was religion in the lives of the people?

Answer 29

• Dominated lives of the people for 900 years. People donated.
• Church added a welcome in both physical and spiritual richness to the often harsh lives of the people.
• Church was responsible for ensuring people led a good life to shorten time in Purgatory and make it more likely the should would reach heaven.

Question 30

What was the 1532 Act in Conditional Restraint of Annates?

Answer 30

• All religious taxes paid went to Henry not the Pope. These were Annates (religious money), which is yearly paid
• Clergy could not pass church laws without Henry’s agreement. They could not call convocation (church parliament) or pass canon (church) laws without Henrys permission

Question 31

What was the 1533 Act in Restraint of Appeals?

Answer 31

• Stopped legal appeals in Church court cases being sent to Rome.
• Rulers of England had no super but God = Imperial Kingship.
• Statue law.

Question 32

What was the 1534 Act of Supremacy?

Answer 32

• HVIII head of English Church. Henry right came from God.

- First allegiance to Henry not Papacy

Question 33

What was the 1534 Treason Act?

Answer 33

• Made it possible to prosecute those who refused to swear the oath as traitors e.g. Sir Thomas More and John Fisher.

Question 34

What was the 1534 Act of Succession?

Answer 34

• Declared that HVIII first marriage with Cathrine had never been valid + his heirs were to be Henry and Anne’s children, not the disinherited Princess Mary.

Question 35

What was the 1536 Act for Extinguishing the Authority of the Bishop of Rome?

Answer 35

• Tied all previous acts together but added one other law being anyone who defended the former powers of the Pope would have their property confiscated.

Question 36

John Fisher?

Answer 36

• 19th October 1469 to 22nd June 1535.
• English Roman Catholic, Cardinal + Martyr
• Mounted scaffold and spoke last words then Executed in Tower of London.

Question 37

When was the Break with Rome?

Answer 37

1533-1537

Question 38

Opposition to the break with Rome?

Answer 38

• North of England. Many Rebel demands in 1536 focused on the reversal of these changes. Targeted Cromwell and Sir Richard Rich as the men to blame.
• Also south west of England but only to an extent.
• Those who dared to disobey Henry were breaking the law and could be punished due to the parliamentary legislation.
• Sir Thomas More, Henry’s chancellor and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester refused to accept supremacy and were both executed in 1535.
• In court a conservative faction emerged whose aim was to see the restoration of Catholicism. Members being Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk; Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby; Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland; Thomas, Lord Darcy and John, Lord Hussey. Saw Princess Mary, Henry’s daughter, as natural figurehead. Plot to replace Henry.

Question 39

What did Henry appoint Cromwell to be in 1535?

Answer 39

Henry appointed Cromwell to be Vicegerent in spirituals. His vicegerency gave Cromwell enormous power over the Church, and he used his power to alter its doctrine.

Question 40

Who was appointed to what in break from Rome?

Answer 40

New Bishops were appointed who shared Cromwell’s religious views, such as Hugh Latimer.

Question 41

The control of preaching in Churches?

Answer 41

• Preaching was controlled through government licences, and clergy were ordered to give sermons against the Pope and in support of Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn.
• April 1535, royal letters were sent to all Bishops, nobility and JP’s, ordering them to imprison clergymen who continued to preach in support of the Pope’s authority.

Question 42

Doctrinal changes to churches?

Answer 42

Act of Ten Articles (1536) was the first attempt to define the doctrine of the new English church. Mostly in line with Catholic belief, but the Article on the Eucharist was deliberately ambiguous in its language. No. sacraments considered necessary for the salvation of the soul was decrease from Seven to three.

Question 43

Attacks on traditional religious practices?

Answer 43

• Cromwell issued a set of injunctions (instructions) to the English Clergy in 1536, which attacked traditional Catholic practices e.g. pilgrimages, emphasis placed on relics and images, and the worship of saints. Holy days also banned.

Question 44

The 1535 Valor Eccelsiasticus?

Answer 44

• was a survey of the finances of the church in England, Wales and English controlled parts of Ireland made in 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII
• Dissolution raised £1.3 million
• Surveyed all church property

Question 45

The Visitations of the Monasteries?

Answer 45

• Commissioners did these visitations appointed by Cromwell e.g. Thomas Legh + Layton to find evidence of corruption to use against the church.

Question 46

The dissolution of the monasteries 1536?

Answer 46

• Monasteries worth less than £200 per annum.

- Dissolution involved destruction of the monasteries buildings, roofs, stained glass, images etc.