Religious changes Flashcards
The course of Edward religious changes
1547: attack on Catholicism
1548: the lack of an official doctrine, but a period of uncontrolled radical Protestant activity
1549–52: the establishment of Protestant worship
1553: the establishment of a fully reformed Church
Edwards religious policies: Government
For:
-** July 1547:** royal injunctions: introduction of the book of homilies, clergy ordered to give sermons in English, chantries dissolved, removal of superstitious imagery
Feb 1548: all images removed
December 1548: proclamation to remove all remaining images
-1548 the treason act was repealed so radicals could talk more freely
- success of the campaign against the Scots meant more protestant measures could be brought in
Against:
- had to be slow and careful with reform (though sped up after somersets fall)
- 42 articles was drawn up but never became law bc Edward died
September 1548: limit to who could publicly preach
January 1549: Ban on public preaching
Edward religious policies: radical activity
support:
- attacks on alters and imagery
- Publication of pamphlets attacking mass
Opposition:
- Western rebellion 1549
- unrest in Oxfordshire and Hampshire
- Ketts rebellion (unrest even if not technically opp)
Edwards religious policies: locals reactions
Wills:
- showed only 8% were protestant in 1549 (Kent) and 27% in Suffolk suggesting that traditional religion had much appeal
Ingrained Catholicism
- catholic practices remained
- New prayer book caused unrest
Edward: First act of uniformity
- Sacraments lessened to just baptism, communion, confirmation, marriage and burial
- Clergy could marry
- singing for souls of the dead was ended
- English communion etc
- Laity could take both kinds of communion
Edwards religious policies: legislation
Mary’s religious policies: Aims
-undo the religious changes made since 1529
- restore papal authority
- restore traditional Catholic practices
- re-establish monasteries
- end clerical marriage
-persecute those who did not agree with her views
-secure a long-term future for Catholicism by marrying and having an heir.
Mary’s religious policies: Government
- The government initially refused to reappeal the heresy act (though this is more likely
- to be because of factional struggle)
- They did pass the repeal act restoring the situation to what it was in 1547 under the 6 articles
- Mary used the royal prerogative to
- 1554: injunctions like holy days and depriving married clergy/ removing protestant bishops
- Nov 1555: second act of repeal
- Feb 1555: burnings started
Mary’s religious policies: Impact of pole
Introduced measures to increase the popularity of catholisism:
- Bishops were ordered to make regular visitations and check clerical behaviour.
- The London Synod, which stressed the importance of priests being resident and the ending of pluralism, was established.
- Pole ordered new publications, including a Catholic New Testament and Book of Homilies.
- He wanted seminaries in every diocese.
- made attempts to control protestant lit and increase availability of catholic works
Mary’s religious policies: locals reactions
- Mass was sung even though it was still technically illegal
- chalices, alters and crosses reapeared
- large numbers turned out for Mary’s corrination
- stark contrast to LJG
- Mary did have to compramise on church land given to land owners
- in deavon, large sums of money for purchase of vestments and other catholic worship equiptment were quickley raised.
Mary’s religious policies: Radical action
- potentially Wyatts rebellion
- 800 protestants left but many wouldn’t be able to
- Mary’s age caused doubts on chance of an heir
Catholic persecution: John Foxe
- Acts and monuments by Foxe 1563 (or book of martyrs)
- suggests there was widespread opposision
- people argue that those who witnessed the burnings were so impressed by the dedication of the protestants that they converted but there is only evidence of 1 person
Catholic persecution: Impact of the burnings
- the Spanish ambassador expressed conserns that they would lead to unrest
- October 1555: Ridley and Latimer are burnt in oxford followed by Crammer in 1556 (a mistake as he agreed to convert but was burnt anyway)
Nobember 1555: burning of Gardener removing a restraining influence on Mary - 274 burnt in the last 3 years of her reign
- large numbers attended the burnings
- Victims had to have been reported by someone
Catholic persecution: JPs
- there were a number of letters sent to JPs in the south urging action suggesting hesitency
- there were other influences that likley prevented JP action even if they wanted too:
- war with france
- vagrancy laws
