How far England was Protestant by 1547

Question 1

What 3 time periods would you divide the period between 1529-47 up as for this question?

Answer 1

1. 1529-39 swing from Pope then towards Protestantism
2. Late 1530s-43 Catholicism (also in years leading up) and confusion
3. 1544-47 triumph of the reformed faction

Question 2

What evidence is there that England was becoming more Protestant between 1529-39?

Answer 2

Parliamentary laws give Henry power over the church 1529-35

1. 1553 Act in Reastraint of Appeals
2. 1534 Act of Supremacy

Swing towards Protestantism 1536-39

1. 1536 Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries
2. 1537 Matthew’s Bible
3. 1538 Royal Injunctions - engliah bible in 2 years
4. 1539 Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries

Question 3

What evidence is there against the idea that England was becoming more Protestant between 1529-39?

Answer 3

1529-35 No laws passed that attack Catholicism, only attachment to Rome

1537 Bishop’s Book while kept status of priests, purgatory, and mass vague, did not attack them

Dissolution of monasteries for Henry’s money for war - Henry still a Catholic, and head of the church

Other events which contradicted Protestant swing, leading into late 1530s-43 phase

Question 4

So was the 1529-39 Protestant, Catholic, other?

Answer 4

Overall more Protestant, but not significantly, and much confusion - break from Rome but still Catholic head of church. For local people some small changes e.g. English Bible

Question 5

What evidence is there that England was swinging back to Catholicism from the late 1530s-43?

Answer 5

1538 John Lambert executed for rejecting transubstantiation

1539 Act of Six Articles confirmed transubstantiation and forbade the taking of communion in both kinds

28th July 1540 Cromwell executed

1543 King’s Book defended transubstantiation and the Six Articles

Question 6

What evidence is there that the period from the late 1530s to 1543 was more a phase of confusion?

Answer 6

Henry gave protection to his Protestant archbishop, Cranmer, agaisnt accusations of heresy from the Catholic faction (control of own trial)

1543 King’s Book also attacked images and encouraged the reformed belief in preaching

1541 Catholic Catherine Howard beheaded

1539 Great Bible and Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries

Question 7

So were the late 1530s-43 Protestant, Catholic, other?

Answer 7

More Catholic than Protestant, but mostly confusion

Henry was even regretted having beheaded Cromwell

This period was all about Henry’s fickle nature and factionalism

Question 8

What evidence is there that from 1544-47 the reformist faction triumphed?

Answer 8

1544 Introduction of an English Litany

1544 Catholic Gardiner removed from list of regency councillors (wanted Pope back) and two others of teh conservative faction

1546 Norfolk (Howard) and son placed in tower (son executed)

King’s dry stamp controlled by John Denny (reformist and member of Privy Council) rewarded selves and Somerset = Lord Protestor

John Cheke (protestant humanist) made Edward’s tutor

Question 9

What evidence is there that the reformist faction did not utterly triumph?

Answer 9

1544 English Litany = optional

1544 Catholic Gardiner only removed because wanted Pope back, not because Henry was anti-Catholic (alhtough neverthelss was good news for reformist domination)

Henry still technically a Catholic (BUT Henry no longer in position to control church)

Question 10

Overall did the reformist faction triumph from 1544-47?

Answer 10

Yes - weighted heavily in favour of them on the regency council, Edward was being brought up Protestant, and Henry not in position to assert himself over the reformist faction