Seriousness of the opposition to religious change Flashcards
Who were the key figures in opposition to religious change?
- Sir Thomas Moore
- John Fisher
- Carthusians and Franciscans
- Elizabeth Barton
- (Robert Ask - Pilgrimage of Grace)
Why was Sir Thomas More important?
- MP
- Speaker of the House of Commons
- King’s councillor
- Chancellor for interrogation of heretics
- Wrote polemics against Martin Luther and Protestant reformation - influential
High position of power and close to Henry
What did Sir Thomas More believe/ do to oppose religious change?
Beliefs:
- Did not agree with divorce from Catherine
- Did not believe church should be under lay control
- Supported papal authority
Actions:
- Wrote polemics against Martin Luther and Protestant reformation
- Wrote pamphlets against heresy
- Resigned as Lord Chancellor after Act of Supremacy
- Refused to swear Oath of Supremacy
What evidence is there that Sir Thomas More not a threat to the King?
- Was for the reformation and modernisation of the Catholic church (with Pope’s permission)
- Under king’s rule - lack of power
- No threat to King’s well being
- Easily executed
Overall how much of a threat was Sir Thomas More’s opposition to religious change?
While influential, high position of power and close to king, his power came from the king, and he was easily dealt with
3/6
Why was John Fisher important?
- High-placed member of the Catholic Church
- A Chancellor in English church
- A cardinal by Pope Paul III
- Famous in Europe for well-constructed arguments against Martin Luther
Well connected, powerful, active, and outspoken
What did John Fisher believe/ do to oppose religious change?
Beliefs:
- Against the divorce
- Believed in powers given to the papacy
- Opposition to papacy was a mortal sin
Actions:
- Published 7 anti-divorce papers
- Headed anti-divorce convocation
- Aided Catherine - planned her defense and taught her how to act
- Secretly contacted Charles V to appeal to emperor to use force against Henry
- Refused to swear Oath of Supremacy
Evidence that Fisher wasn’t much of a threat?
Limited threat as easily arrested and taken down
Executed
No crusade from Rome in response
Overall how much of a threat was John Fisher’s opposition to religious change?
Pretty significant - very influential and outspoken, probably caused or at least aided failure of original divorce proceedings
However was easily dealt with
4/6
Why were the Carthusian monks and the Franciscan friars important?
- Highly regarded for spirituality and goodness
- Might stimulate others to follow suit
- London-based quarters
- C - Friary next to royal palace Greenwich
- F - centre at Charterhouse London
- Took three years to get Cs in line
- Treatment of Cs could be used as foreign propaganda
What did the Carthusians and Franciscans believe/ do to oppose religious change?
Beliefs:
- Disagreed with divorce
- Disagreed with break from Rome
Actions:
- Resisted changes
- Refused to swear Oath of Succession???
Evidence that the Cs and Fs were not a threat?
Not really - only that they were put down stealthily, but even then that only goes to show the care needed to diffuse that particular opposition bomb - luckily no crusades
Overall threat of Franciscans and Carthusians?
Significant - close to king, well connected, respected, took 3 years and stealthy plotting to put down
However due to tactful measures no significant backlash abroad OR support at home
5/6
What became of the Franciscans and the Carthusians?
Houses were closed, imprisoned and some executed, otehrs died of starvation rather than surrender
Why was Elizabeth Barton important?
- Holy Maid of Kent
- Respected by rich and poor
- Fear she would spark off discontent in Kent
- Difficult to contain because of religious element
- Direct heresy - said Henry would die ‘a villain’s death’ for dicorcing Catherine
