Henry VIII including Society Flashcards
What social change was there to the gentry?
- “Gentility” was often acquired as a result of the proceeds of office, profession or business
- Knighthood = a sign of royal favour, assumed a knight would possess an outcome reflecting his status - about 5000 families
- Decreased from 375 knights in Henry VII’s reign to 200 in Henry VIII’s
- JPs increased
- Laymen roles generated income, bringing about landownership and gentry status
What was the structure of the gentry?
- More JPs participated in local administration - Members of the gentry drawn into unpaid administration on behalf of the crown
- Increasingly keen on sons acquiring legal training, allowing them to be better able to take on roles on the basis of local advancement
- Crown’s local administrators more likely to be laymen than clergymen
What was the nobility like under Henry VIII?
- Peerage increased under him, but by 1547, there were only 9 more peers of the realm - this was due to titles dying out and Acts of Attainder
- New peerages created through family relationships to the king, like Thomas Seymour, or through service at court/military - Henry created two new non-royal dukedoms, Norfolk and Suffolk
- Suffolk’s promotion was due to his close relationship with Henry, which was criticised by Erasmus
- Henry used the peerage and granting of lands to secure his throne, for example, John (Baron Russell) was given land in Devon after the execution of the Marquis of Exeter
What were commoners like under Henry VIII?
- Little change in the first half of the reign - However, with the rise of inflation and the imposition of the Amicable Grant 1525, there was opposition from common folk
- The social structure stayed the same
- Commoners owned little and ran the risk of employment instability
- There were few rebellions but social order could break down in certain areas
What was social order like on the Anglo-Welsh border?
- Lands were governed as part of the Principality of Wales along with the 4 bordering English counties, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, which came under the jurisdiction of the Council of Wales and the Marches, which was based at Ludlow, Shropshire
- This offered relatively cheap and local access to the law and could therefore be seen as a benefit to the area under its jurisdiction
What was social order like on the Anglo-Scottish border?
- Remained a problematic area - border was hard to police as much of it was remote and inhospitable in the winter months
- Both sides of border had a reputation for lawlessness - cattle and sheep rustling were rife and violence common - To deal with such problems, the border with Scotland was split into 3 marches, each under the jurisdiction of a warden - filling these posts could be difficult as use of a local noble family would run the risk of them exploiting their office to enhance their own power at the King’s expense - Henry had little time for such border magnate families as the Percies and the Dacres
- The other option was to appoint local officers from the gentry class (e.g. Thomas, Lord Wharton, recently raised to the peerage from humble origins in 1542) or those who were complete outsiders - These two groups were more likely to have complete loyalty to the king, but they had limited ability to influence the conduct of a local people who often saw themselves as owing a primary loyalty to a local magnate
What regional issues were there in Wales?
- Before 1536, Wales was a separate territory but under English control
- The Tudors were a Welsh family
- It comprised of marcher (border) lordships and the principality of Wales
- It had neither a single unified administrator or formal political link with England
- Henry VIII wanted to change this
When was the Laws in Wales Act?
1536
What did the Laws in Wales Act do?
- Divided Wales into shire counties which operated on the same basis as the English counterparts - Gave the Welsh shires direct representation in the House of Commons at Westminster for the first time
- Brought Wales into the same legal framework as England
- Wales became incorporated into England with little of a separate identity apart from the survival of the Welsh language in some parts of the country
- Control over Wales exercised on the Crown’s behalf by members of the aristocracy, and members of an anglicised Welsh gentry controlling county politics were elected to Parliament, becoming increasingly prominent within the legal profession
Which three English counties were palatinates?
Lancashire, Cheshire and Durham
What is a palatinate?
Where a county had its own jurisdiction from the rest of the kingdom
What were the realities of the palatinateships of Lancashire, Cheshire and Durham?
- In reality, Lancashire and Cheshire were dominated by the Crown
- Durham was still technically under the Bishop of Durham
When was the Act of Resuming Liberties to the Crown?
1536
What did the Act of Resuming Liberties to the Crown do?
Stripped the Bishop of most of his powers, although he was still able to operate some courts This change can be seen as evolutionary rather than revolutionary
What was the Council in the North?
- Controlling the North created problems for Henry, particularly after his religious changes
- In 1536, the Council of the North was re-established as a permanent body in York with a professional staff - useful in 1549
What minor societal changes were made under Wolsey?
- Dissolved some redundant monasteries, using their endowments for educational purposes
- No one would have predicted the destruction of Catholic England
How popular were the religious changes in Henry’s society?
- In the 1530s Henry broke with Rome and became head of a new English Church - A small minority of people undoubtedly welcomed the religious change but there was no groundswell of popular support for the changes - There were executions of some who denied the royal supremacy, e.g. Sir Thomas More
How was the dissolution of the monasteries perceived in society?
- Cromwell’s dissolution of monasteries began in 1536 and his 1536 Royal Injunctions attacked many traditional Catholic practices, e.g. Holy days, pilgrimages and the veneration of relics - This provoked fears that these reforms might accompany an attack on parish churches - A major rebellion broke out in the autumn of 1536 in Lincolnshire and parts of North England; this became known as the Pilgrimage of Grace
What were the land loss consequences of religious upheaval?
- A huge amount of land was removed from the Church and taken by the Crown - This theoretically should have made the king more powerful, however, the expense of the warlike foreign policy of Henry’s final years led to the widespread sale of Church and monastic property, often at knock-down prices - This thereby increased both the size and wealth of the landholding gentry - By 1547 almost 2/3 of the monastic land acquired by the Crown had been sold off or granted away
What were the consequences for schools of religious upheaval?
- Many monasteries had been noted for their educational provision - With their demise, most monastic schools were lost also
What were the consequences for monks and nuns of religious upheaval?
- Many monks and nuns were rendered unemployed at a stroke - Some monks were able to secure employment as secular priests and many others received pensions - The position of nuns was very precarious
What were the consequences for monastery unemployment of religious upheaval?
- Some monasteries played a very considerable role in their communities, providing employment and business opportunities - Some major monastic churches, such as Durham, were the cathedrals of their dioceses - Many others doubled up as the local parish church - Dissolution was seen as a potential disaster and some communities went to considerable lengths to try to protect their monasteries
What were the main reasons for rebellion during Henry’s reign?
- Money/taxation - the Amicable Grant 1525 - Religion - the Reformation 1534 - defence of faith and dissolution of the monasteries - Food shortages and agrarian issues - poor harvests 1533-36 and enclosures - Opposition to Cromwell’s policies - saw it as an attack of the North - Aristocratic feuds - uprising planned by gentry in order to increase their power - also angry at the position of Anne Boleyn and Cromwell
What region of England was most discontented with the Reformation?
- Opposition to the Reformation was nationwide, but there was a big variation in the regional reactions to the changes Henry imposed - The North were the most unhappy with the changes and led the two major rebellions, which combined were the biggest in Tudor history
What were the two major rebellions of Henry’s reign?
- The Lincolnshire Rising - The Pilgrimage of Grace
When was the Pilgrimage of Grace?
8th October 1536 - 8th December 1536
Where did the Pilgrimage of Grace begin?
In the East Riding of Yorkshire
Who led the Pilgrimage of Grace?
Robert Aske
What were the causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace?
- Dissolution of the monasteries - it was clear that the dissolution of monasteries would have a number of undesirable effects, including loss of charitable and educational functions which some monasteries provided and possible loss of parish churches to monastic properties 2. Fear for parish churches and religious practices 3. Poverty - poverty protests signed by “Captain Poverty”
How did rebels show their dedication to religion?
- Used religious imagery - Wore badges of the 5 wounds of Christ - Called themselves “Christ’s soldiers” - Took oaths to the movement
What were the consequences of the Pilgrimage of Grace?
- It shook Henry - His own dealing with the rebellion was poor - he ignored warnings about the increase in resentment which he did not wish to hear - He was fortunate that the Duke of Norfolk showed common sense and flexibility in commanding the army which suppressed the rebellion on the issue of a pardon and the promise of dissolved monasteries being restored and a free parliament established (promises Henry did not plan on honouring) - The rebellion did not slow the pace of religious change despite its severity
When was the Lincolnshire Rising?
1st October 1536 - 11th October 1536
What were the causes of the Lincolnshire Rising?
- 3 government officials were working on dissolving smaller monasteries, collecting subsidy, inspecting the clergy and enforcing new laws - Rumours started that they were after much more - gold, jewels, plate and extra taxes
What happened in the Lincolnshire Rising?
- The rising started in Louth on 1st October, moving across the country to Lincoln - Grew to include gentry, priests and even armed monks - 10,000 people joined together and several lists of articles/grievances were drawn up
Who led the Lincolnshire Rising?
Nicholas Melton, a shoemaker who called himself “Captain Cobbler”
How was the Lincolnshire Rising suppressed?
- The Duke of Suffolk’s army arrived and the rebels dispersed - The gentry ran for cover and sought forgiveness and the commons collapsed into confusion - Few rebels who remained were sent home when the Government’s Herald arrived on 11th October
Define Reformation
A movement in Europe at the start of the 16th century that reformed that changed the Catholic church and its problems to establish a newly reformed Protestant Church
Define ‘The Break With Rome’
- removed the power of the Pope in England - the technical and legal change in the status of the English Church
Define ‘Divorce’
- A statement used to describe the end of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon - Divorce is not allowed, even today, in the Catholic Church
Define ‘Annulment’
- the term used to describe the divorce - an annulment states that the marriage was not legal in the first place - only the Pope has the power to grant this
What are 4 criticism of the Catholic Church before the Reformation?
1 - Support fell for the Papacy 2 - Decline in respect for religious orders 3 - Criticism of images and pilgrimages 4 - Early problems of the Church (Pluralism, Absenteeism, Anti-clericalism and Lollards)
What are 4 pieces of evidence that the Church was healthy before the reformation?
1 - There was significant support for Parish Churches, shown in the donations from wills 2 - Sacraments were still largely popular and supported 3 - Religious Guilds were still strongly supported 4 - Intercession still gained mass support and there were continued foundation of Chantry in England
How did Henry use the Bible to support his annulment?
- He used the Old Testament, Leviticus Chapter 20 Verse 16 - Here it stated, “If a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an impurity; he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless (sonless).”
How did Catherine of Aragon’s supporters use the Bible to challenge the Annulment?
- Catherine used the book of Deuteronomy, which stated it was a man’s duty to marry his brother’s wife after his death and have children on his brother’s behalf - Catherine’s followers also argued that the Leviticus argument that Henry used was only applicable when a Brother was still alive
What was William Tyndale’s book?
‘Obedience of a Christian Man’
What was Simon Fish’s book?
‘Supplication of the Beggars’
What was Christopher St Germaine’s book?
‘Doctor and Student’
What did William Tydale argue?
He used evidence form the Old Testament to defend the power and authority of Kings in their own country; excluding ‘foreign’ powers such as the Pope
What did Simon Fish argue?
He argued against the ‘greedy and over-fed clerics’
What did Chrisopher St Germain Argue?
He emphasised the role of the State in controlling the Church, thus acknowledging Henry VIII’s right to govern the Church in England
What was the Charge of Preamunire and what year did this happen?
- 1530 - This was a law banning the support of the Pope in England - Henry charged 15 of the upper clergy with supporting Wolsey’s abuse of power against the King
What was the Supplication of the Ordinaries and what year did this happen?
- 1532 - It was a petition calling the King to deal with the abuses and corruption of the clergy - This led Cromwell to be invited to join Henry’s inner circle
What was the Act for Submission of the Clergy and what year did this happen?
- 1532 - This was a document giving him power to veto Church laws and to choose bishops (even if not approved by Rome)
What was the Act of Annates and what year did this happen?
- 1532 - Despite opposition, parliament passed and act preventing the payment of Annates to Rome, suspended for 1 year.
What was the Act of Restraint of Appeals and what year did this happen?
- 1533 - This was passed by parliament denying Henry’s subject’s the right to appeal to the Pope against the decision in English Church Courts - This effectively prevented Catherine of Aragon from seeking Pope arbitration when the divorce case came before the courts
What was the Act of Supremacy and when did this happen?
- 1534 - This acknowledged the King as the head of the Church and any denial of royal supremacy was counted as treason punishable by death - This was the final removal of Papal power in England
What was the Treason Act and when did this happen?
- 1534 - This was used to enforce the Act of Supremacy - denial of royal supremacy was punishable by death - Denial could be through deed, act or spoken word
What was the First Act of Succession and what year did this happen?
- 1534 - Declared the marriage to Catherine invalid and therefore made Mary illegitimate - Succession to the throne was now going to be the children of Henry VII and Anne Boleyn - The whole nation was to swear an oath to observe the Act of Succession, to deny succession was treasonable - This act led to the downfall of Thomas More
What was the Act for First Fruits and Tenths and when did this happen?
- 1534 - Clerical taxes were to go to the King and not the Pope
What were 5 reasons that Henry decided upon the dissolution of the monasteries?
1 - It reduced the opponents to the break from Rome (especially Franciscans and Carthusians) 2 - Henry didn’t like monasteries being dedicated to outside of England (the ‘imperial idea’) 3 - Financial motives - the church had huge financial resources and there was a concern for a Catholic crusade 4 - Patronage and greed - the dissolution brought great wealth to Henry 5 - Continental influence - the same was being done in Germany
How did the Act of First Fruits and Tenths help dissolve the monasteries?
- Allowed Henry to tax the Church - These taxes were previously paid to the Church and Pope when someone was appointed (first fruit) and then a tenth of their income after that yearly
How did the Act of Supremacy help Henry get rid of the monasteries?
It gave Henry the power to supervise and reform all religious establishments in England
What did Cromwell do in 1535 to close monasteries?
- Sent out commissioners to survey the value of monastic lands and properties to produce a report, the ‘Valour Eccesiaticus’ (value of the church) - He also sent out a second set of commissioners to investigate the moral and spiritual standards in monasteries
What was the Act for the Dissolution of Smaller Monasteries and when did this happen?
- 1536 - It was based on Cromwell’s findings and closed all religious houses with lands valued under £200 a year - New commissioners were sent out to supervise this, but this triggered the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire rebellion
What happened in 1536-37 to aid the closure of the monasteries?
The opposition of the Carthusian Monks to the dissolution of their establishments led to their execution by Henry
What was the Act of Dissolution of Larger Monasteries and what year did this happen?
- 1539 - This act extended the closure to all religious houses except chantries (which were small private chapels in which prayers were said for the souls of dead)
What was established in 1540 and what did this aim to do?
- the Court of Augmentations - Richard Rich was the Chancellor - aimed to handle the property and income from the dissolved monasteries
What was the impact of closing monasteries on Monastic buildings
- Henry was charged with cultural vandalism for destroying Gothic buildings and books - Henry invested some of the money into education, creating new cathedral schools in Canterbury, Carlisle, Bristol and Chester - Christ Church Oxford and Trinity College Cambridge were established
What was the impact of closing monasteries on Monks and Friars?
- The majority found alternative jobs in the church - 6500/8000 moved on with their pension
What was the impact of closing monasteries on Nuns?
2000 nuns were not allowed to marry or become priests
What was the impact of closing monasteries on the poor?
- There was a detrimental effect upon an already worsening problem - however Dickens argues in ‘The English Reformation’,’the theory that the suppression of the monasteries had a major cause of urban decay has nothing to commend it’
What was the impact of closing monasteries on Henry’s profit?
- Henry was charged with squandering wealth - May 1543, there was a rush to sell land with all the profit going on wars with Scotland and France - Just over 1/2 of monastic lands remained in his possession until 1547, showing he wasn’t completely reckless - 1547 - the Crown made £800,000 from sales and saved harsh taxation
How much had Crown income grown by by 1540?
By 1540, Crown income had doubled from 120,000 to £250,000 Per Annum
What did the reselling of Monastic land value at?
£1.3 million
What position was Thomas Cromwell given in 1531?
1531 - a place King’s Royal Council
What position was Thomas Cromwell given in 1532?
1532 - Master of the King’s Jewels, giving him access to the King’s private rooms in the palace
What position was Thomas Cromwell given in 1533?
1533 - Chancellor of the Exchequer and Master of the Rolls, leading roles in the legal system
What position was Thomas Cromwell given in 1535?
1535 - Vicar General (created for Cromwell), gave him the power to institute Church reform
What position was Thomas Cromwell given in 1536?
1536 - Lord Privy Seal and Principle Secretary of the Royal Council, also became a Baron
What position was Thomas Cromwell given in 1540?
1540 - Lord Great Chamberlain and Earl of Essex
What did Thomas Cromwell do to aid the annulment?
- He took over from Wolsey in management of the divorce - Between 1532 and 1536, he devised a strategy for the divorce and drafted a series of Acts that destroyed the power of Rome - He created the Church of England and gave Henry unprecedented power and status as a monarch
Who did Thomas Cranmer replace within the Church?
- Archbishop Warham in 1532 - Henry asked for his replacement to be Cranmer despite him not having a role within the Church
What was Archbishop Cranmer’s role and why did Henry appoint him?
- Archbishop of Canterbury - Henry chose him to put pressure on the Pope to allow his divorce and also saw advantages of having a supporter as a key English Churchman
What did Cranmer do to help the reformation?
- authorised the much desired royal divorce after the 1533 Act of Restraint and Appeals prohibited Catherine from appealing to the Pope
Name 4 key people/groups that opposed Henry VIII’s changes
- John Fisher - Carthusian Monks - Elizabeth Baron - Thomas More
Why and how did John Fisher oppose Henry?
- He believed the powers of the Pope were God-given - He also believed that denial of Pope supremacy was sinful - He opposed by being a close friend with HRE Charles V’s active ambassador in England and urging for a direct armed intervention from Charles V - His threat level is shown by his immediate execution
Why and how did Carthusian Monks oppose Henry?
- They followed strict Catholic religious orders - 1532- 33 they refused to accept the divorce - 1534 - resisted government pressure to agree a declaration against the power of the Pope - they had large numbers but many were placed in prisons with poor conditions
Why and how did Elizabeth Baron oppose Henry?
- She had visions of the Virgin Mary against Anne Boleyn - She rallied against the King in person when he visited Canterbury - She was executed with 5 of her followers, with this execution being considered a ‘political necessity’
Why and how did Thomas More oppose Henry?
- More was a devout Catholic, even when appointed Lord Chancellor - He resigned his post after the Submission of the Clergy - Also refused to take the Oath of Succession (recognising Mary as illegitimate) and was therefore executed
What 3 different forms of opposition were there?
- Open challenge - Remaining loyal to Catholicism (continuing practices) - Only acting upon government changes when forced to do so
Why were the key reasons that there was a lack of opposition to the Reformation in England?
- The unclear end result - Fear of government actions - Many ordinary people did not notice the changes
How was the Law of Treason (1534) used to suppress opposition to the Reformation?
This Act (1534) made it treasonable to: - attempt the death of the King, Queen or heir by malicious act - to call the King (words or writing) ‘heretic’, ‘tyrant’, ‘infidel’ or ‘usurper’. - to seize royal castles, ships, ordnance or munitions People would be killed violently to create fear
How was Royal Correspondence used to suppress opposition to the Reformation?
- Cromwell used JPs to send letters to him of those in their district that were still supporting the Pope - on 3rd April 1535, he wrote to bishops ordering the clergy to preach royal supremacy - he followed this up with a command to sheriffs to ensure that Bishops carried out this duty
How was propaganda used to suppress opposition to the Reformation?
- Using the printing press, large scale propaganda was produced - this was easy to read and understand for common people - it expressed new laws and reasoning behind changes - It was distributed throughout the country
How were Oaths used to suppress opposition to the Reformation?
- They were used to test an individuals religious and political commitment - Government made an enormous effort to get all important men to swear the first Act of Succession oath
What was the Lincolnshire Rising?
- Sunday 1st October - After rumours that Henry’s men were on their way to demolish churches and steal the town’s silver the town’s vicar, Thomas Kendall, led people to barricade themselves for the Church’s protection - Nicholas Melton led the movement and it manages to capture Lincoln Cathedral and involve the Gentry - They requested several things, but Henry sent the Duke of Suffolk to deal with the rising - As soon as it is clear that the rebellion can go no further, the gentry refused to lead any further and the rebellion collapsed
Summarise the causes Pilgrimage of Grace
- 16th October 1536 - The rising was inspired by the recent events in Lincolnshire - The rebels called themselves ‘pilgrims’ and created the rising to protect Almighty God, his fiath and the Holy Church from reformation
Summarise the events of the Pilgrimage of Grace
- A lawyer named Robert Aske led several thousand men into York taking the city unopposed - They wore badges and carried banners depicting the five wounds suffered by Christ at his crucifixion - Members of the gentry were recruited to the rising, some joining out of shared conviction that Henry’s reforms were going to far - The pilgrims captured Pontefract castle and its defender Lord Darcy to their side
What were the consequences/actions of the Pilgrimage of Grace?
- Aske and his followers stood down and drew up some requests, asking mainly for the reestablishment of the monasteries, Mary to be legitimate and a parliament to be held at York or Nottingham - The Duke of Norfolk promised to take these to the King but got nothing but empty promises - In January 1567, a new rebellion led by Sir Francis Biggert started which gave Henry and excuse to punish the North for the PoG - The Duke of Norfolk was sent to pacify the region and 178 people were executed - Aske was charged with raising the rebellion and was hanged in York on the 12th July 1537
What evidence was there that the Pilgrimage of Grace was a threat?
- The scale of the rebellion - 40,000 men - Cromwell was less powerful after this, falling in 1540 - The rebellion spread over 6 states in the North - It involved the Gentry and other people in power such as the Duke of Norfolk - Henry did implement some more conservative measures in the Bishops Book after the rebellion
What evidence is there that the rebellion was not a threat?
- The dissolution of the monasteries continued to happen, and worsened in 1539 - Henry did not have to use much force, first only giving a pardon - Cromwell survived the attack and continued in power for 3 more years - Henry’s promises never happened and the reformation continued
What are 3 signs that England was still Catholic upon the death of Henry?
- Six Articles Act of 1539 - The fall of Cromwell in 1540, and his replacement the Pro-Catholic Conservative faction - The main doctrines in the English Church remained Catholic
What were the signs that England was Protestant upon Henry’s death?
- Cranmer remained Archbishop of Canterbury and survived attempts by the conservative faction to discredit him - Catherine Parr, Henry’s last wife was also interested in reformist ideas - The country remained entirely separated from the Pope’s control, with English bibles being available and the worshipping of Saints being reduced significantly
What was the 6 Articles Act and what year did this happen?
- 1539 - This brought a temporary end to the gradual process of introducing Protestant beliefs - It enforced Catholic beliefs upon: - Eucharist (bread and wine become Jesus) - Communion (bread was only for the laity) - Seven Sacraments essential for salvation - The need for Priests to remain celibate
Which doctrines remained Catholic at Henry’s death?
- still a belief in Transubstantiation and Eucharist - all 7 Catholic sacraments remained in force - confession remained an essential part of devotion - Clergy could not marry
Which doctrines of the Church of England had elements of Protestantism?
- Cranmer introduced English elements into services - The Great Bible of 1539 was introduced to replace the Latin version as an authorised English translation - There was much less emphasis on Saints and the laity were forbidden to go on pilgrimages to worship saints - Saints days reduced to 25
Why was it difficult to define the religion in England upon Henry’s death in 1547?
1 - Ordinary people left no record of what they believed as many were illiterate. Even if they did, at this time there was no clear ‘Catholic’ or ‘Protestant’ side, just conflicting ideas 2 - Many people who accepted Henry as the head of the Church were not enthusiastic for Protestantism, so we cannot accurately see how strong the belief was at his death 3 - Many people who had adhered to the change welcomed the reversion back to Catholicism in Mary’s reign 4 - There had been many Catholic squabbles previously in history so people of this time didn’t know the extent of change or what the final result would be
When was William Tyndale’s Bible burnt?
- 1530 - This was seen as an attack against heresy
When were the Clergy accused of Praemunire?
- December 1530 - This attacked the power of the Catholic church through ecclesiastical courts in England.
Why is the Convocation of Canterbury significant in terms of religious event?
- He was one of the first to recognise Henry as Head of the Church ‘so far as the law of Christ allows’ - This marked how far the Church was willing to go in allowing Henry more power.
Were annulments hard to obtain by the Pope?
- No - Louis XII of France had secured one - This tells us that Henry was not alone in his ideas
Guy on the problems of Henry’s annulment?
- ‘much of Henry VIII’s trouble sprang from his egoism’
How much money did Henry gain from the dissolution of the monasteries?
- £1.3million from 1536-47
How much of monastic lands were in the Crown’s hands by 1547?
- only around 1/3 of monastic property wsa left in crown lands by 1547
What was the affect of the dissoluion of the monasteries on the clergy?
- 7000 were dispossessed - abbots disappeared from the house of Lords
What title was Henry’s illegitimate son given in 1525? What does this show?
- Duke of Richmond - This highlights that Henry was worried about his lack of a male heir, potentially setting up his son to become king
How many rebels were in the Pilgrimage of Grace?
- 40,000
Who were the Lollards?
- these were followers of John Wycliffe - They condemned transubstantiation - wrote the first English bible
What was Wolsey’s background?
- Butcher’s son - He was educated at Oxford University -Wolsey then entered the Church before his political career developed
What was Wolsey’s first major role?
A Royal almoner
When did Wolsey become Chief Minister?
1513 - just before the end of the first French war.
When did Wolsey become Lord Chancellor?
1515
When was Wolsey made Cardinal of England by the Pope?
1516
When was Wolsey made Papal Legate by the Pope?
1518
What other church roles did Wolsey hold?
He appointed himself Bishop of Durham and Bishop of Winchester
What was the importance of Chief Minister?
- In charge of government finances: taxes and spending - Day-to-day control of government: decision making and problem solving - Control of appointments to jobs in national, regional and local government
What was the importance of Lord Chancellor?
- In charge of England’s legal system: courts, laws, justice and punishments - In charge of the Court of Star Chamber - In charge of the Court of Chancery: could interfere with wills, inheritances and properties
What was the Court of Star Chamber?
This Created by Henry VII with Sanction of parliament in 1487, and intended to end perversion of English justice by powerful nobles who used intimidation and bribery to win favourable verdicts in court cases. King Councillors sat as judges, more equitable & amenable to royal will.
What is the Court of Chancery?
- The main court of law in England - Wolsey could oversee all cases in this court and he tried to use it to uphold ‘fair justice’ - It dealt with cases such as enclosure, contracts and things left in wills
What was the main problem with the Court of Chancery?
It became overloaded with cases. This meant that many cases were not heard or had to be dismissed.
What was the importance of the title of Cardinal?
Cardinal was a senior representative to the Pope in Rome. It put him in charge of taxation to the church, appointments to church jobs, and the church laws, courts and punishments
What was the importance of the title of Papal Legate?
Papal Legate allowed the bearer to be the Pope in their country, giving Wolsey powers simulacra to the Pope in England which he would later attempt to use to his advantage. It was a rare title.
What groups/who was opposed to Wolsey?
- Parliament - the nobility - the Boleyn faction - Duke of Buckingham - Earl of Surrey
Why did parliament oppose Wolsey?
- His ‘excessive’ taxation angered the gentry of England - the nation was financially unable to sustain the war. - Wolsey had passed measures that took away benefit to landowners - actions against engrossing and enclosure. - The case of Richard Hunne also angered representatives.
Why did the Boleyn faction oppose Wolsey?
- Religious differences - Wolsey was a Catholic and the Boleyn faction were staunch protestants. - Wolsey’s ideas conflicted with that of Boleyn’s (Abbess of Wilton) leading to a battle for influence.
Why did the nobility dislike Wolsey?
- He was a butcher’s son - “promoted beyond his station”. New men were generally despised by the nobility. - Wolsey’s power and influence were far greater than theirs, making him a career threat. - He passed measures which disadvantaged the nobility. Promoting new men, measures against engrossing, improving and encouraging the use of the court of star chamber, etc.
When was a conciliar form of government in place?
1509 - 1514
What factors were important in ending the conciliar form of government?
1 - Henry wasn’t impressed by some of his Father’s senior councillors not supporting a war in France 2 - Henry became more attuned to governing, asserting his right to control decision-making 3 - Henry surrounded himself with like-minded people who all believed in the ‘old-guard’ 4 - He became particularly impressed by Wolsey and his effective management of the French campaign
Who were Henry VIII’s ‘minions’
A group of young courtiers who enjoyed Henry’s personal favour
What was Wolsey’s method of dealing with ‘the minions’?
- Eltham ordinances - Moved nobles who did not like him away as diplomats or war officials. - Took actions to weaken the influence of the nobility - Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Surrey.
When were the Eltham Ordinances? What did they do?
January 1526, Wolsey wanted to reduce household expenditure and so reduced the number of Gentlemen in the Privy chamber - an area that he could not control
What is the Groom of the Stool and what did Wolsey do to this role?
Groom of the Stool - the most intimate of the English Monarch’s courtiers ( a lot of confidence was placed in this role) Wolsey replaced Sir William Compton with a more compliant Henry Norris.
Why did Wolsey remain in Henry’s favour?
- By holding the posts of Cardinal/Papal Legate and Chief Minister, he was the means through which Henry could control the Church - His multiple power bases = could effectively and quickly carry out what Henry wanted with little opposition, and also meant he had more opportunities, means and methods to act flexibly - It was in the interest of both Wolsey’s masters that they support his power bases as long as their interests, aims and policies remained aligned.
In what ways were Henry and the Pope aligned?
Through the defeat of heresy (especially Protestantism) and pro-Spanish, anti-French alliance
What were Wolsey’s methods in dealing with over powerful nobles? (4)
- Duke of Buckingham - Ordered him to London where he was arrested for treason and later executed. - Earl of Surrey - Forced onto the jury presiding over Buckingham’s case, was forced to sign his friend’s death warrant. - Minions - Eltham Ordinances moved them out of the ear of the king (privy chamber) and were replaced by pro-Wolsey nobles or not at all. - Some of the nobility were sent away as ambassadors to foreign courts or put in charge of elements of the military in times of war.
Why could Wolsey not overcome the Boleyn faction?
Henry was “in love” with Boleyn. This infatuation and her manipulative denial to become Henry’s mistress put Henry into her control, Wolsey being rather unable to do the same.
Who was the Earl of Surrey?
Nobleman with wealth, lands and power. Was the nobilities favourite replacement for Wolsey - was respected and intellectual. Was forced to sign his friend’s (the Duke of Buckingham) death warrant.
What were Wolsey’s legal reforms?
- Court of Star Chamber encouraged to use. The poor were given a voice to prosecute powerful nobles. This ensured an increased case-load from 12 cases a year to over 120. The result was the establishment of overflow courts.
What did Wolsey do to the tax system?
Reformed it so it was now based on personal income known as the parliamentary subsidy. Before it was a fixed rate which didn’t account for inflation.
What were Wolsey’s religious reforms?
- Wolsey reformed religious houses, closing those with fewer than 6 monks. - He reinstated benefit of the clergy where you only had to recite a psalm to prove you were a member of the church. This allowed you to be tried by church courts which were more lenient. - Wolsey actively moved against the protestant faction, encouraging book burning and the isolation of sympathisers. Executions were, however, not commonplace.
What were Wolsey’s reforms to government (vaguely proposed or completed)?
- Henry was in agreement with Wolsey to reform the state of government away from privy chamber amongst other measures. He did only change the privy chamber through the Eltham Ordinances.
Who was Richard Hunne?
A London merchant who, when he registered his dead baby son for burial, was asked by the priest to pay for it not in money but by giving the insistent priest his baby’s christening robes, which Hunne refused - causing the priest to sue Hunne in a church court. Hunne counter-sued, accusing the priest of Praemunire. Hunne was also caught sheltering a heretic and then was found dead in his cell (murdered)
