Support & Opposition for Edward's policies Flashcards
Was England Protestant by 1553?
9
England was legally protestant by the time of Edward’s death in 1553, but it didn’t mean everyone supported Protestantism. England was catholic by Henry’s death in 1547, and it’s likely their religion would have changed drastically in 6 years.
Legislation brought in such as the 2nd Act of Uniformity & the 2nd Prayer Book were only brought in a year before Edward’s death so didn’t have time to take effect.
3 legislation were required just to remove images, one in 1547, 48 and 49, suggesting that the task was not easy
Wills suggested very few were protestant. 8% were protestant in Kent 1549, 27% in Suffolk
Mainly only the south-east had any protestants. In york before 1550 only 2 wills were protestant, and 1 in the south-west
Paget, advisor to Somerset, in a letter to him, said: ‘the use of the new religion is not yet printed in the stomachs of 11 out of 12 parts of the realm’, referring to the areas of England.
Parliamentary Act said that the 2nd Book of Common Prayer 1552 was introduced due to ‘doubts about the proper form of worship’ from the 1st
Bishop Hooper found that over 50% of clergy in his diocese of Gloucester, less than 50% could recite the 10 commandments. ,’, Clergy themselves did not know Protestant teachings so wasn’t implemented properly.
Letter to John Calvin from a Theology teacher at Cambridge, Martin Bucer, said that ‘very few parishes have qualified clergymen’
Religious Unrest
Western Rebellion 1549 was religiously motivated. It started when parishioners demanded the Priest use the old Prayer Book to say mass. Rebels also demanded: Restoration of the 6 Articles Mass in Latin Images to be restored
Yorkshire Rising was also caused by Religious grievances
