Religion under Mary I - 1553-1558 Flashcards
What was the situation in 1553- Mary I’s reign?
- The measures undertaken by Edward VI’s government supposedly resulted in England becoming even more closely identified with Protestantism, although after less than twenty years of haphazard reformation, it would be wrong to believe that Catholic beliefs and practices had died out completely by 1553.
- But Mary held the Catholic faith dear, and one of her priorities would be to return her kingdom to the Catholic fold officially, by reinstating the Pope as head of the Church in England.
What were the Religious changes from 1549-1543?
- In 15 53, Parliament passed an Act of Repeal which undid all of the Edwardian Reformation, revived the Mass, ritual worship and clerical celibacy, and implicitly reaffirmed the traditional doctrine of the Lord’s Supper (transubstantiation). This restored the Church to what it had been in 15 47 under the Act of Six Articles (15 39).
- The same year, Mary gave up the title of Supreme Head of the Church.
- In 15 54, the Royal Injunctions were issued, ordering bishops to suppress heresy and remove married clergy.
- In 15 54, Parliament passed the Second Act of Repeal, which undid all anti-papal legislation since 1529 and the Henrician Reformation.
What was the Nature of opposition from 1553-1558?
COMPLIANCE
• Compliance
o Although Mary’s reign is famed for the burning of Protestants, implying that opposition was rife, in fact there was generally compliance to her religious changes.
o This may partly be due to the mass exodus of Protestants to Germany and Switzerland (estimated at 800).
o The reinstatement of the heresy laws in 15 54 ensured compliance, as Protestants could now be arrested and executed.
o In all, about 300 people were executed during Mary’s reign
• Parliament
o In Autumn 15 53, Parliament met and refused to repeal the Act of Supremacy
o In 15 54, Parliament initially rejected the reintroduction of the heresy laws, but agreed when promised that former monastic lands would not be restored to Church ownership
o Generally, however, there was compliance in Parliament, passing the Acts of Repeal (15 53 and 15 54)
What was the Nature of opposition from 1553-1558?
REBELLION
• Rebellion
o Whilst it is generally agreed that Wyatt’s Rebellion of 15 54 was motivated by political considerations (namely, the royal marriage of Mary to Philip of Spain), there were elements of the rebellion that link to the religious change.
o Some of the rebellions taking part did not wish to see a Catholic restoration, as implied in the contemporary book of the rising, The Historie of Wyates Rebellion by John Proctor in 15 54 (though this was commissioned by Government to portray religion, rather than the marriage, as the motivation).
o Some gentry at court had begun as early as 15 53 to discuss a Protestant succession, replacing Mary with Elizabeth, whom they would marry to Edward Courtenay, the Earl of Devon.
o The plot was defeated through the discovery of Simon Renard (the Imperial Ambassador), the loyalty of three of the four locations (Herefordshire, Devon and Leicestershire), meaning that it was limited to Kent and the actions of the Duke of Norfolk.
o However, the changes introduced by Mary did not spark any religiously-motivated rebellion in the same vein as the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536) and the Western Rebellion (1549).
What was the Nature of opposition from 1553-1558?
CLERGY
• Clergy
o From the first month of Mary’s reign (August 15 53) many prominent Protestant clergy were deprived of their livings.
o A number of high profile members of the clergy were arrested in September 15 53, including Archbishop Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, John Hooper, Nicholas Ridley and John Rogers.
o In 15 54, Gardiner deprived the Protestant bishops of Gloucester, Hereford, Lincoln and Rochester, and the Archbishop of York, of their sees. They were all replaced by committed Catholics.
o In 15 55, Bishops Ridley and Latimer were executed in Oxford.
o In 15 55, Cranmer was deprived of the see of Canterbury, and Reginald Pole was named as Archbishop of Canterbury.
o In 15 56, Cranmer was burnt at the stake in Oxford.
What was the Nature of opposition from 1553-1558?
PARLIAMENT
• Parliament
o In Autumn 15 53, Parliament met and refused to repeal the Act of Supremacy.
o In 15 54, Parliament initially rejected the reintroduction of the heresy laws, but agreed when promised that former monastic lands would not be restored to Church ownership.
o Generally, however, there was compliance in Parliament, passing the Acts of Repeal (1553 and 1554).
