Religious Change under Henry Flashcards
What was the primary reason for Henry’s decision to break with Rome
His desire for a male heir
What were Henry’s personal religious beliefs?
Henry remained strictly orthodox Catholic in his personal religious conviction.
Which book, written by Henry, attacked Luther’s beliefs, and when was it published?
‘Assertio Septem Sacramentorum’ of ‘Defence of the 7 Sacraments’ in 1521
Which title was Henry granted by the Pope for his contribution to the Catholic faith?
Pope awarded Henry title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith)
Why did Henry seek to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon?
Through marriage to Catherine of Aragon, one daughter and no son - Catherine past child-bearing age, Henry has son through illegitimate mistresses / Henry fallen for Anne Boleyn. By 1527, prepared to end his marriage to Catherine.
How did Henry try to justify his decision to annul his marriage to Catherine?
Through Leviticus from the Old Testament, which stated that Henry could not marry his brother’s widow - the marriage therefore was never valid to begin with.
Who did Henry appoint to oversee the divorce, and in which year?
in 1527 Henry appointed Wolsey to oversee what he called the ‘great matter’ of his divorce from Catherine.
Why was Catherine willing to fight annulment proceedings?
She feared for the status of her daughter Mary.
Who did Catherine contact in order to try and challenge annulment proceedings?
Her nephew Charles V, the most powerful force in European politics, especially after his defeat of the French in battle in 1525, and his attack at Rome itself in May 1527.
What was significant about Catherine’s decision to plead with Charles V in regard to annulment proceedings?
As a result of Charles’ victory in Rome in May 1527, Pope Clement VII was effectively under the control of Charles and was therefore unlikely to grant an annulment which would displease both Catherine and Charles.
Who did Charles send to oversee annulment proceedings, and what was the result for Wolsey?
In 1528, Charles V send his legate Cardinal Campeggio to oversee annulment proceedings. However, Campeggio was under strict instructions to delay proceedings and therefore Wolsey’s attempts to find a solution were frustrated between 1527-29.
What was the result of Wolsey’s failure to secure an annulment for Henry.
Henry lost faith in Wolsey and the hope of an annulment, and his led to Wolsey’s eventual downfall in 1529.
What is indicative that Henry’s decision to break from Rome was political as opposed to driven by personal religious conviction?
Henry remained suspicious of reformist stances amongst his advisers Cromwell and Cranmer, and even Anne Boleyn herself subsequently to the break with Rome.
Who in particular did Henry commission to explore intellectual justification for the Break with Rome, and which work was published as a result?
Cranmer was one of the leading scholar commissioned, writing ‘Collectanea Satis Copiosa’ in 1530, which used English chroniclers, some dating back to the anglo-saxon period in order to argue that kingship was not reliant on papal authority.
Leading scholars other than Cranmer were sent to tour European universities - what were they seeking?
Legal and Theological justification for the Break with Rome.
When were the findings of leading scholars in regard to justification for the break with Rome presented to parliament, and which theory developed as a result?
The ideas of Cranmer and other leading scholars were presented to parliament in 1531, and led to the development of the theory of ‘Imperial Kingship’ which stated that kings had no authority other than God.
What was Henry’s personal view when it came to kingship, and which policies were influenced by this view?
Henry held an Erastian view of kingship which manifested itself in the 1533 Act in Restraint of Appeals, and the 1534 Act of Royal Supremacy.
What did the development of the theory supporting Henry’s supremacy allow him to do?
Attack the legal and financial power of the Pope in Rome.
How did Henry attack the Catholic Church and clergy in England?
He exploited clerical abuses such as nepotism, absenteeism, and pluralism in order to attack the English Clergy with a 100,000 praemunire fine in 1530.
When did convocation grant Henry the title of Supreme Head of the Church in England, and what phrase did they add onto the end of this title?
In 1531, adding ‘so far as Christ allows’
When was Cromwell’s Supplication of the Ordinaries, and what was it?
Cromwell’s supplication of the Ordinaries, in 1532, was a petition presented to parliament, advising the king to take action on clerical abuses of the church.
Which Archbishop of Canterbury died in 1532, and who was appointed instead?
William Wareham died and was replaced by Cranmer.
When did Henry and Anne secretly marry?
Anne was pregnant by this point and so they secretly married in January 1533.
Who led convocation in discussions over the validity of Henry’s marriage to Catherine in April 1533, and what was the result?
Cranmer led convocation in discussions, and they favoured the king.
What did the decision of convocation to favour the king allow Cranmer to do, and why could Catherine not appeal to the Pope?
Cranmer was able to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine, and the 1533 Act in Restraint of Appeals made it illegal for her to appeal directly to the Pope.
What were the main changes to religion between 1536-39?
The dissolution of the monasteries, an attack on pilgrimages, and an attack on the superstitious belief in purgatory.
Who masterminded the dissolution of the monasteries?
Cromwell
How were the monasteries viewed by reformists?
For reformers, the monasteries represented the wealth and corruption of the Catholic Church as well as an embodiment of superstitious beliefs such as that in purgatory.
What was the Valor Ecclesiasticus?
In 1535, the Valor Ecclesiasticus assessed the value of monastic property.
How much did the Dissolution raise for the crown between 1536-47?
1.3 million
What followed the Valor Ecclesiasticus, and what was the purpose?
Visitations of the monasteries followed the Valor Ecclesiasticus in order to seek evidence for the corruption of the church. The Valor and evidence found in visitations were used in conjunction to justify the Dissolution of the Smaller monasteries in 1536.
How were ‘Smaller Monasteries’ defined?
Those which earned less than £200 per annum.
How did the dissolution of the larger monasteries go ahead despite the Pilgrimage of Grace as a reaction to the Dissolution of the Smaller monasteries?
Through a combination of bribery and threats. the 1539 act which followed simply acted as a confirmation of what had already taken place.
Why was the Dissolution of the Monasteries irreversible?
The crown sold 2/3 of monastic land, largely to gentry and nobility who had a vested interest in reformation, and were therefore unlikely to surrender their estates.
Cromwell appointed Bishops who shared his views, give an example
Bishop Latimer
Describe Protestant aspects of the Act of 10 Articles, which was largely Catholic.
The number of sacraments was reduced from 7 to 3, and the language used to describe the Eucharist was deliberately ambiguous.
What did Cromwell’s injunctions in 1536/38 entail?
They discouraged pilgrimages and the emphasis placed on the worship of relics and saints. The injunctions promoted an English Bible, which was key to evangelical thought.
When did the move towards a Protestant Church under Henry reach a peak, and what acts as evidence for this?
in 1538-39 - in 1538 the Shrine to Thomas Becket at Canterbury was destroyed.
Henry authorised the English ‘Great Bible’ in 1539, which was enforced in all parish churches, although it took 5 years for most to gain a copy.
Why did the pace of religious change slow, and even reverse from 1539?
Henry remained suspicious of reformist views, especially regarding the Eucharist, and the Conservative influence remained strong at court. As Cromwell’s influence began to fade, the Conservative faction held the upper hand.
Henry was excommunicated in 1538, leading him to move away from an evangelical direction.
In which year was the Bishops Book published and how did move away from a Protestant direction?
It was published in 1537 and restored the 4 sacraments omitted from the Act of 10 Articles.
Whose trial did Henry preside over personally in 1538 and what was the result?
The trial of the evangelical John Lambert, which resulted in his execution for heresy.
Describe the Act of 6 Articles of 1539
The Act of 6 Articles undermined Protestant reform up until this point, affirming Henry’s Catholic beliefs, enforcing transubstantiation and promoting celibacy amongst priests.
When was Cromwell executed, and how did Catholic reform continue subsequently to his death?
1543 Kings Book, emphasised traditional beliefs in Masses for the dead and rejected idea faith alone led to salvation.
