Opposition to religious change

Question 1

Why couldnt religious conservatives mount a successful opposition to Henry’s reformation plans?

Answer 1

Because they didnt know that they were in ‘the reformation’ and they thought the break was ‘only temporary’

Question 2

Was opposition to religious change a real threat?

Answer 2

No because they left the real challenge too late

Question 3

Give 2 examples of high-profile resistance at court (towards Henry’s plans)

Answer 3

1. Thomas More

2. The Aragonese faction

Question 4

How was Thomas More a force of resistance (at court) against Henrys plans?

Answer 4

• He refused to take an oath, accepting the 1534 Succession act, that made Boleyns children the legitimate heirs to throne , and Catherines illegitimate

(Probably because it would go against popes authority)

Question 5

What was the fate of Thomas More?

Answer 5

He was accused of treason by Cromwell for allegedly not accepting Henry as head of the church, and executed

Question 6

How was the Aragonese faction a force of resistance (at court) against Henrys plans?

Answer 6

1. They were sympathetic to Catherine during divorce

2. Marys exclusion from succession pushed 2 members of faction, Darcy and Hussey, to take part in pilgrimage of grace

Question 7

Give evidence to suggest that the aragonese faction was/was not a threat

Answer 7

Was
- The leader, Courtenay, was executed due to an association with a Yorkist descendant

Was not
- From 1532, the stronger presence of Boleyn and supporters at court and the growing influence of Cromwell largely silenced them

Question 8

Give evidence for resistance within the clergy

Answer 8

1. John Fisher
2. Elizabeth Barton
3. Monastic resistance

Question 9

How was John Fisher a source of resistance (within clergy) against Henry’s plans?

Answer 9

1. Fisher refused to swear oath accepting divorce (like More) and directly told Henry that his actions were wrong

Question 10

Why did people start to support fishers cause/have sympathy for Fisher?

Answer 10

Because when the pope declared that Fisher was to be made cardinal, Henry accused Fisher of treason, tried and executed him
- this gave people reason to see Henry as a tyrant king

Question 11

Why was Elizabeth Barton a source of resistance?

Answer 11

She insisted that there would be disastrous consequences (death) if king married Boleyn (in visions)
- Carthusian monks developed idea into a wider campaign against Church changes, humanism and the Boleyn marriage and encouraged publishing of books containing Bartons visions (source of political resistance)

Question 12

How did Henry punish Barton and involved individuals?

Answer 12

Barton and her mentors were condemned by act of attainder andexecued in 1534

Question 13

Was Bartons resistance movement a threat?

Answer 13

YES as it was genuinely believed that an orchestrated campaign was being prepared

Question 14

Why were Carthusian monks a source of resistance?

Answer 14

Many Carthusian monks:

1. refused to accept divorce
2. resisted gov pressure to agree to declaration against authority of pope in 1534

Question 15

How did Henry punish Carthusian monks?

Answer 15

He passed a treason act, forcing monks to submit, arresting most reluctant and executing 18 of them

Question 16

Were Carthusian monks a threat?

Answer 16

YES, they were one of the strongest sources of clerical resistance as they were strongly defiant (especially in London, where government could be attacked directly)

Question 17

What was the most serious threat to royal authority during the Tudor period? (and give the date)

Answer 17

The pilgrimage of Grace in 1936

Question 18

What started the Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 18

Rumours that:

1. the king was going to close down all the churches in lincolnshire
2. taxes were going to increase

Question 19

Describe the major events of the pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 19

1. Rebels marched towards lincoln to present demands e.g. dismissal of Cromwell, in riots, but Earl of Suffolk prepares army against the rebels
2. Lincolnshire rebels disperse
3. Other rebels at Caistor move from York to Pontefract (led by Robert Aske), seizing a castle and formulating demands
4. Rebels move to Doncaster with 40,000 men
5. Henry VIII grants general pardon and a promise that parliament would consider demands

Question 20

What happened in 1537, that gave Henry an excuse to execute Robert Aske, and other rebel leaders?

Answer 20

Another rebellion

Question 21

Why was there little revolt against monastical changes in the 1930’s?

Answer 21

1. Because all changes made were legal, and therefore were approved by parliament
2. Because the generous pension given to monks reduced the chance of opposition