Dissolution of the Monasteries Flashcards
Why were the Monasteries dissolved?
Assumed they’d be loyal to the Pope
Wealthiest institutions in England
Held 1/4 of cultivated land
How many religious houses were dissolved?
Over 800 by 1540
Had been 850 in 1509
When did Cromwell begin taking steps to dissolve the monasteries?
1535
What first steps were taken against the monasteries in 1535?
All religious houses to be examined by a representative of Cromwell
Valor Ecclesiasticus
What was the Valor Ecclesiasticus (1535)?
Legh and Layton evaluated all of the church’s property
Returned findings of clergy’s moral shortcomings
When was the First Act of Suppression?
1536
What did the First Act of Suppression do?
Dissolved 419 houses with less than £200 yearly income
176 saved by Henry through bribes and connections
What happened between the first and second Acts of Suppression?
Cromwell’s representatives bullied abbots into surrendering their property to the Crown
What did the Second Act of Suppression do?
Validated all voluntary surrenders as part of a legal act which was illegal to challenge
What happened to the Abbot of Glastonbury?
He was executed for resisting Cromwell’s men’s demands
When was the Second Act of Suppression?
1539
How was Henry threatened as a result of dissolving monasteries?
Revolts in the North from 1536-37
The Pilgrimage of Grace
What was the Pilgrimage of Grace?
1536 - 35,000 disciplined men
Demanding “special punishment” for Henry’s “evil advisers”
Who was involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace?
Led by lawyer Robert Aske
Involved lots of northern nobles as well as commoners
How did the Pilgrimage of Grace end?
Henry said he’d received the pilgrims’ demands
He promised them a pardon but issued 15 arrests
