Henry VIII - Reformation

Question 1

Why did Henry VIII break with Rome?

Answer 1

Lack of a male heir
Role of the Boleyn faction (Infatuation with Anne Boleyn - wrote her love letters despite hating letter writing + Boleyn was close with a group of reformist writers, influencing Henry’s views on religion)
State of the church
Reformist ideas (suited Henry’s purposes)
Need to increase revenue
Desire for power
Henry’s conscience (he had married his brother’s wife, which was against the word of God, explaining why God had given him no male heir)

Question 2

Why was the Reformation successful?

Answer 2

Mostly done through Parliament - lent it legitimacy and was a key reason why it did not create too much opposition

Was reinforced through a network of spies and informants and the ruthless pursuit of anyone who disagreed with the fundamentals of it.

Question 3

Why had the image of monasteries deteriorated by Tudor times?

Answer 3

Heads of monasteries (called abbots or priors) were particularly well off and usually maintained a separate household and a standard of life considerably above the rest. they sat in Parliament and were often members of the government.

By Tudor times, monasteries were no longer as deeply respected as they had been. many monks and nuns enjoyed similar pleasures to normal people: sex, servants, and luxuries.

Question 4

What were the main functions of monasteries?

Answer 4

Prayers for the souls of the dead (ease their souls through purgatory)
Hospitality
Sanctuary
Education
Alms (charity) for the poor

Question 5

Causes of the dissolution: the ‘imperial’ idea

Answer 5

The idea of monasteries owing an allegiance to parent institutions outside England became unacceptable to Henry, especially after the Act in Restraint of Appeals to Rome and the Act of Supremacy - evidence of Henry’s growing sense of xenophobia

Question 6

Causes of the dissolution: financial motives

Answer 6

The financial resources of the crown were huge. While the Crown’s finances were healthy enough, there was a clear concern about the possibility of a Catholic Crusade (especially in view of the Pope’s excommunication of Henry, calling on Francis I and Charles V to attack England in the name of the Catholic Church).

A massive building programme of fortifications was undertaken and monastic wealth helped to pay for it. Money from the church also gave Cromwell the chance to free Henry from the need to impose taxation again.

Question 7

Causes of the dissolution: patronage and greed

Answer 7

Following the 1536 Act in particular, the laity gained an increasing appetite for land. Even Catholics such as Norfolk were quick to cash in on sales of monastic land.

This, in turn, served a useful political purpose for Henry by pacifying potential critics of his break with Rome.

Question 8

Causes of the dissolution: continental influence

Answer 8

Religious houses were being dissolved in Germany and Scandinavia, giving a model of what was possible in England.

Question 9

Causes of the dissolution: losing purpose

Answer 9

One of the main functions of Monasteries had been saying prayers for the dead. this was not in line with Protestant beliefs, making monasteries an anomaly.

Their functions of scribing and caring for the poor were also starting to be looked after by other institutions

Question 10

Causes of the dissolution: end to opponents of the break with Rome

Answer 10

some of the most vociferous Opponents of Henry’s recent legislation had come from monastic houses, especially the Franciscans and Carthusians