Henry VIII & The Dissolution of Monasteries

Question 1

How much of the land in England did the Church own? (1)

Answer 1

30%

Question 2

Why were monasteries influential in English communities? (4)

Answer 2

They provided hospitals, charity, shelter and education.

Question 3

What year was Thomas Cromwell appointed Vicar-General? (1)

Answer 3

1535

Question 4

What did Cromwell ask to be published in 1535 and what did it reveal? (4)

Answer 4

• The Valor Ecclesiasticus (Value Of Church Property)
• A survey to establish how wealthy the monasteries were
• They were valued at £100,000 per year from land
• Valued at £25,000 from other means

Question 5

In what ways did the reports find the monasteries and monks to be corrupt? (5)

Answer 5

• Laziness and greed
• One monastery spent £250 (£80,000 modern day) a year on fish
• They did not fulfil their vows of chastity (described as ‘ravenous wolves’)
• They fathered children
• Employed servants

Question 6

When did the dissolution of the smaller monasteries start?

Answer 6

1536

Question 7

Which monasteries were closed first? (2)

Answer 7

300 religious houses (1) with income of less than £200 were closed first (1)

Question 8

When was the Act for the Dissolution of the Larger Monasteries passed?

Answer 8

1539

Question 9

How many monasteries were dissolved by 1540?

Answer 9

800 monasteries

Question 10

How much money did Henry usually earn a year and how much did the dissolution of monasteries get him? (3)

Answer 10

• Normal income was £100,000 a year

- The dissolution provided Henry with an additional £140,000 a year (1) between 1526 and 1547 (1).