Monasteries And PoG Flashcards
1
Q
Financial Motivations of Smaller (Why dissolutions and examples of it being financially motivated)
A
- French+Scot war debts
- Suffolk protests against tax called the “Amicable Grant” (1525)
- Parliament = royal concessions
- Valor Ecclesiasticus commissioned (£136k pa)
- Abbot of Cockesford payed Cromwell £40 and ArchB Lee payed for Hexham
2
Q
Political Motivations of Smaller
A
- Commissioners had monks swear oaths to H, Anne and heirs
- Monks were respected amongst community and their opposition was scary
- Abbots in Lords could block future legislation (only after Larger Houses)
- Cromwell made Vicegerent of Spirituals 1535 (King’s deputy in Ecclesiastical matters) to further disentangled liberty of the Church
- Commissioners Legh, Layton were Cromwell’s associates
- Pushed Rome away and brings gentry closer
- Local gentry and noble power increases (can deal with opposition)
- Execution of 65 under Cromwell using nations JPs
- 1537 Yorkist Pole made Cardinal
3
Q
Reform Motivations of Smaller
A
- Prior of Maiden Bradley had 6 kids and license from Pope for whore
- Shulbrede prior had 7 women
- Leicester monk buggery
- Big houses like St Albans, Glastonbury and Bury better
- Both Unis investigated for virtue and loyalty as well
- Relics for gain, shaving heads, fasting condemned
- Visits were quick and biased
- Reports of Durham and Boxgrove were positive (only 10% sexual misconduct in 48 northern)
- Luther’s “De Votis Monasticus” and Barnes+Tyndale gave scriptural basis for monasteries
4
Q
Act for the Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries
A
- 1536
- H presented as reformer (Abbots pass the bill willingly)
- Houses under £200 pa (420 houses only 243 closed)
- Most monks/ nuns moved to larger houses (later dissolution intended?)
- Wealth amounted to £18k pa
- Most locals joined in but Whalley Abbey opposition
5
Q
Religious causes (PoG)
A
- Pontefract Articles wanted Pope+Monasteries
- 9/24 articles on religion (banner of Five Wounds)
- Monks encouraged it (Prior of Bridlington sent 2 monks)
- Abbot of Holm Cultram ordered tenants to join on death
6
Q
Socio-Economic causes (PoG)
A
- 1535/6 poor harvest (inflation and shortages)
- Rising tax and rent (Aske argued the economic benefits of monasteries)
- Article 13 called for an end to enclosure
- 1535 Statute of Uses required entry fees
7
Q
Political causes (PoG)
A
- Rebels attacked ministers not H
- Low-born status of Cromwell and Riche was disliked (Sawley pilgrims ballad)
8
Q
Lincolnshire Rising
A
- 1536
- October Louth locals protect Church plate (bell rang)
- 10k men marched to Lincoln behind 5 wounds (bishop of Lincoln’s Chancellor killed)
- Prior of Belchford led Horncastle group
- Rebels took oath to Henry and Church
- Demands of tax, monasteries, anti-Crom/Cran and repeal of Statute
9
Q
Pilgrimage of Grace
A
- Aske (lawyer) led and took York and Durham
- Bernard castle and Pontefract fell
- Total of 30k armed men risen
- Leaders were 40 gentry and 5 lords
- Oath of Honourable Men from all (H, Church, bad councillors)
- Norfolk’s 8k stalled and asked for demands (Pontefract Articles)
- 24 total: 3 eco (rent, tax enclosure), 6 political (councillors) and 9 religious (Pope, monasteries and church liberties)
- 16/26 northern houses restored by locals
- H agreed to York Parliament and discuss demands
- Aske invited to Christmas and all disbanded
10
Q
Bigod’s Rising
A
- Jan 1537 rebels took Hull (anger over lack of actions)
- Rebels hanged June
- H used as excuse to hang 179 leaders (inc Aske, Lord Darcy and Hussey)
- Rebel leader Bowes made head of Council of the North
11
Q
Motivations behind Dissolution of Larger Monasteries
A
- PoG shows monk opposition (H worried)
- H fears invasion and needs money for naval defence (June 1538 Treaty of Nice and Nov excommunication)
- Cromwell and Norfolk split the land of St Pancras
- H needed gentry support
- Visitations focused on superstition (Boxley Rood dismantled and sermons against images)
12
Q
Dissolution of the Larger Monasteries
A
- Spring 1539 legislation allows larger surrenders
- St Pancras Nov 1537 first to surrender (pensions for priors and abbots)
- Whalley abbey dissolved over treason charges (abbot Paslew executed March 1537)
- Abbot Blyton (Rievaulx) enjoyed lavish life (enjoyed pension)
13
Q
Opposition to Dissolution of Larger Monasteries
A
- Commissioner Thacker spent 3 months persuading one abbot
- Prior Wilson refused pension but gave in after prison and interrogation
- Abbot Cooke, Whiting and Becke executed 1539
- Commissioner Layton found Glastonbury “goodliest house” but later dig dirt and abbot Whiting executed
- Walsingham April 1537 plans to defend priory from suppression (11 executed)
- Aylesham 1537 sold plate before commissioners could get it
14
Q
Political and Social Consequences (Larger Monasteries)
A
- Hospitals and arms lost (1601 Poor Law to compensate)
- 16% English land transferred (fears of rent exploitation)
- Gentry power increases (greater power of Parliament and more calls for reform)
- 1540 Statue of Wills allowed passing of land from father to son (increases gentry power)
- Abbots removed from Lords (only 6 bishops replace them)
15
Q
Religious Consequences (Larger Monasteries)
A
- 8,000 monks into priesthood (good education)
- 1541 6 new bishoprics
- Gentry tied into reformation (counter-reformation unlikely)
