Instability and Consolidation: 'the Mid-Tudor Crisis', 1547–1563 - the Social Impact of Religious Changes Under Mary I

Question 1

Outline the main religious changes/events under Mary I

Answer 1

• October 1553, Mary’s first parliament
- First Act of Repeal, repealed religious laws passed in Edward VI’s reign
- Henrician order of service restored
- All married clergy could be deprived of livings
- Legal status of CofE upheld

• November 1554-January 1555, Mary’s third parliament
- Nov 1554 - Cardinal Pole becomes legate and Archbishop of Canterbury
- Councillors mad at Pole, didn’t want foreigner controlling English property
- Jan 1555 - Second Act of Repeal introduced: revoked royal supremacy and abolished all doctrinal legislation passed since 1529

• 1555
- Pope Julius III dies and succeeded by anti-Spanish Paul IV
- Paul IV calls Pole heretic
- War
- Paul IV against Spanish side of war, which England supports

• February 1555
- First burnings for heresy
- Around 300 burned by end of Mary’s reign

• 1556
- Cranmer is burnt

• 1555-1556, Pole’s legatine synod
- 12 decrees on clerical discipline
- Bishops to reside in their dioceses
- Cathedrals should have seminaries to train new priests

• April 1557
- Paul IV dismisses Pole as papal legate
- Mary doesn’t allow Pole to go to Rome to face charge
- Doesn’t recognise Peto and papal authority

• 17th November 1558
- Mary I dies

• 1563
- Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’ is published

Question 2

What religious challenges did Mary face at the start of her reign?

Answer 2

• Protestantism, although minority faith, had strong supporters in London and south
• Reformed Protestant Church of England was protected in Statute Law
• Many political elites benefitted financially from acquisition of monastic land

Question 3

When was Mary’s first parliament?

Answer 3

• October 1553

Question 4

What was the outcome of Mary’s first parliament?

Answer 4

• October 1553
• First Act of Repeal, repealed religious laws passed in Edward VI’s reign
• Henrician order of service restored
• Married clergy could be deprived of their livings
• Legal status of CofE upheld

Question 5

What was the First Act of Repeal and when was it passed?

Answer 5

• October 1553
• Repealed all religious changes made in Edward VI’s reign

Question 6

When was Mary’s third parliament?

Answer 6

• November 1554-January 1555

Question 7

What was the outcome of Mary’s third parliament?

Answer 7

• November 1554-January 1555

• Reginald Pole
- November 1554
- Pole becomes papal legate under Pope Julius III and Archbishop of Canterbury
- Councillors disapprove of Pole’s belief in returning monastic land and don’t want foreigner controlling English property

• Second Act of Repeal
- January 1555
- Revoked royal supremacy
- Reversed all doctrinal legislation passed since 1529

Question 8

When does Reginald Pole become papal legate and Archbishop of Canterbury? Which Pope gave him these positions?

Answer 8

• November 1554
• Pope Julius III

Question 9

What is the Second Act of Repeal and when was it passed?

Answer 9

• January 1555
• Revoked royal supremacy
• Reversed all doctrinal legislation passed since 1529

Question 10

When does Pope Julius III die?

Answer 10

• 1555

Question 11

Who replaces Pope Julius III?

Answer 11

• Paul IV

Question 12

Why does Pope Julius III’s death lead to issues?

Answer 12

• Replaced by anti-Spanish Pope Paul IV
• Paul IV against Spanish side of war, which broke out in 1555
• Paul IV calls Pole a heretic
• April 1557 - Paul IV dismisses Pole as papal legate and replaces him with William Peto
• Mary doesn’t let Pole go to Rome to face charge
• Mary doesn’t acknowledge papal authority and is at war with papacy

Question 13

When does Pope Paul IV dismiss Pole as papal legate? Who does he replace Pole with?

Answer 13

• April 1557
• William Peto

Question 14

When do the first burnings for heresy occur?

Answer 14

• February 1555

Question 15

How many Protestants were burned during Mary’s reign?

Answer 15

• Around 300

Question 16

What issues rose from the burnings of Protestants?

Answer 16

• Saw as act of martyrdom
• Although not much opposition outside of London

Question 17

When was Cranmer burnt?

Answer 17

• 1556

Question 18

What was the significance of Cranmer’s execution?

Answer 18

• He drove for the introduction of Protestantism from 1533 when he became Archbishop of Canterbury during Edward VI’s reign

Question 19

When was Pole’s legatine synod held?

Answer 19

• 1555-1556

Question 20

What was introduced by Pole’s legatine synod?

Answer 20

• 1555-1556
• 12 decrees on clerical discipline
• Bishops to reside in their dioceses
• Cathedrals should have seminaries to train new priests
• These didn’t materialise as Pole was later dismissed as legate in April 1557

Question 21

When does Mary I die?

Answer 21

• 17 November 1558

Question 22

When was Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’ published?

Answer 22

• 1563

Question 23

How was Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’ significant?

Answer 23

• Protestant propaganda that condemned Mary’s burnings
• Probably most widely read book in England apart from Bible