Henry VIII: Religion - Reform of the Church - Process of Dissolution

Question 1

Describe the 3 main steps Cromwell took in dissolving the monasteries?

Answer 1

• Gathered evidence showing that religious houses were unfit to continue
• Cromwell began to dissolve smaller monasteries
• Then moved to abolish the rest

Question 2

What was the Act of First Fruits and Tenths?

Answer 2

• Passed in 1534
• This act allowed Henry to tax the Church
• These were previously paid to Pope but moved to Henry
• Tax paid by bishops in first year in their position (first fruits) and a tenth of their income every year

Question 3

How did the Act of Supremacy help dissolve monasteries?

Answer 3

• Passed in 1534
• Gave Henry authority to supervise and reform all religious establishments in England

Question 4

What was the Valor Ecclesiasticus?

Answer 4

• Occurred in 1535
• Means ‘Value of the Church’
• Survey analysing the value of monastic lands and properties and to produce a report
• Cromwell sent a second set of commissioners to investigate moral and spiritual standards in monasteries, leading to Pilgrimage of Grace

Question 5

What was the Act for the Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries?

Answer 5

• Passed in 1536
• Dissolved smaller monasteries, those with an income of £200 per annum or less
• Presented as a method for improving quality of monasticism, claiming smaller ones let standards slip

Question 6

Describe the continuation of the dissolution during 1536-38

Answer 6

• Pilgrimage of Grace happened during 1536-37
• Heads of religious houses became involved in rebellion and voluntarily surrendered to Crown
• Closures continued, but some religious houses bribed officials to overlook them temporarily
• Opposition of Carthusian monks to dissolution led to their execution

Question 7

What was the Act for the Dissolution of the Larger Monasteries?

Answer 7

• Passed in 1539
• Extended closures to all religious houses except chantries
• Small private chapels where prayers were said for souls of the dead

Question 8

What was the Court of Augmentations?

Answer 8

• Established in 1540
• Handled property and income from dissolved monasteries
• Led by Richard Rich
• Later abolished