Edward VI- Social impact of Religious and Economic change Flashcards
denunciation of images in London
1547
Shows the power radical protestants had in government
Injunctions issued
1547
radical in nature
attacked many popular catholic traditions- images, processions, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday (very radical)
again reflected the anti-Catholic nature of court
Somerset’s stance on regilion
while previously more conservative, his move to more radical Protestantism (reflective of Edwards)
he started the ball rolling of radical reforms however, within his ruling Cranmer was much more cautious
showed a sustained attack on popular religion
showed a willingness (exacerbated by Northumberland) to take church money when it benefitted the crown- this created widespread fear for the systemic stripping of the church
Religious radicals in Somerset’s court
John Hooper and Thomas Beacon
Dissolution of chantries and guilds
December 1547
further attack on popular catholic traditions, this change impacted the general public on a much wider scale
Money that originally went to these now went to the crown- needed to fun expensive foreign policies
Act of uniformity
1548
laid down the publication of the book of common prayer
Book of Common Prayer
1549
Written by a very hesitant Cranmer
Set out the single form of services for the Church of England (CofE) and translated them into English (not particularly radical just protestant)
Did not denounce Catholicism AND writings about the eucharist were very vague
Northumberland’s stance on religion
Also rather radical
is what caused his second coup (fear he’d be kicked out)
following this coup much more radical measures were taken to ensure Protestantism in England- this is partially because reformers were allowed to be radical (fit the Kings belief) and because England was in a slightly more stable position
radical clergy continued to gain influence during his reign
Cranmer’s lack of caution is likely due to government support
treason act
1552
questioning royal supremacy or the beliefs of the CofE become a crime
2nd act of uniformity
1552
church of England services are compulsory
Revised book of Common prayer
1552
much more radical version of its predecessor- Cranmer’s move away from caution
removed any remaining ‘conservative’ policies- Catholics had nothing left to accept
new sacrament services, made easier to understand
radical reforms of the communion service- ‘we do this in remembrance’ (clear denouncing of transubstantiation)
Zwinglianism influences
ban of popish vestments- simplicity
Zwinglianism
a specific type of radical Protestantism (more radical than Luther)
most important belief- eucharist was only a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice
developed in Switzerland
42 Articles of religion
1553
issued by Cranmer
define the essential faiths of the CofE
reflects Zwinglian influences
Kings death a few weeks later meant this was never implemented
Edward’s stance of religion
radical
as the head of the church, Edward thought it was his mission to destroy idolatry
Northumberland’s two fold strategy of the church
continue Somerset’s reforms
take money from the church
social impact of Somerset’s policies
dissolution of chantries disconnected society as it took money previously used for charity, feasts and celebrations.
Continued to take church resources which then created a wide-spread fear of what was to come
Northumberland and the churches wealth
systematic policy of asset stripping and extracting wealth from the church:
plundering of Bishoprics: combined Gloucester and Worcester dioceses with remaining estates going to the crown
Social impact of Northumberland’s religious policies
destruction of the societal aspect of churches, people began to leave less money to churches in their wills or for the church plate- aware that it would probably just go to the crown
caused a crisis of religion on a parish level, as things became plainer and as the crown took more, people were less eager to go
Crown takes church plate in 1553
climate of discontent (made it easy for Mary’s return to Catholicism)
Humanism in Edward’s reign
Although weakened by divisions in the 1530s, humanism still had a clear influence on the crown:
Edward was tutored by humanist John Chelle
Secretary of State William Cecil encouraged humanist scholars
Humanism continued to influence Cranmer- the 1547 injunctions stated that parish churches should all have a copy of The Paraphrase of Erasmus
How did Religious and intellectual ideas change in Edwards reign
an unpopular lean towards much more radical Protestantism, the longevity of these reforms unclear since Edward died so early however, a clear indicator is seen by Elizabeth. When returning England to Protestantism, she chose to reverse all religious policy up to the end of her father’s reign- therefore NONE of Edwards much more radical policies were returned to. Arguably Elizabeth chose this more tentative route because she did not have the power or authority over England that Edward did (Liz faced problems of legitimacy and gender which Edward did not)
Likewise, these reforms were very unpopular on a parish level which made it much easier for Mary to return
influence of humanism was similar to previous reigns
Economic inheritance from Henry VIII
bad
debasement of coinage in his reign already created a problem with inflation and wages
wars had left England in debt
Somerset’s economy
bad
inflation- continued to debase the coin to raise money to fight Scotland
low wages- made worse
enclosure- unpopular
bad harvests- 1548
Somerset and enclosure
believed it was the root of social issues
set up a commission to investigate, the commissioners did little but raise expectations
in an attempt to deter enclosure, Somerset introduced sheep taxation but that just put pressure on small farmers
Social impacts of Somerset’s economy
taxation made the wars very unpopular as well as unrest from small farmer who relied on sheep farming
hope raised by enclosure commissions but in reality, they changed nothing
literally caused 2 rebellions that he struggled to supress
