THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES

Question 1

CONTEXT OF MONASTERIES

Answer 1

• In 1509, there were 800 monasteries and more than 10000 monks and nuns
• The abbeys, priories and friaries owned 1/3 of the land of England

Question 2

ROLE OF MONASTERIES

Answer 2

• Centers for religion where people served and prayed to God
• A safe place for travelers to stop, and places people stay if threatened
• Helps to administer local justice (30 monks were in the House of Justice and some advised Henry)
• Helped the poor, provided jobs for people, and homes for old people
• Businesses could rent land to farmers
• Act as hospitals and hospices
• Monks educated young nobility, ad acted as schools.

Question 3

REASON 1 FOR DISSOLUTION - Political motives - (PRIMARY)

Answer 3

• Henry thought that the monks and nuns were loyal to the Pope, and not to him, as they supported the Pilgrimage of Grace, so he could preserve his power. (doesn’t want repeat of prior actions like with Cromwell)
• They were also very rich so they could carry out demonstrations if they wanted to
• Some of the biggest opponents to Henry were abbots and monks, and Protestants were already able to close down monasteries in Scandinavia and Germany

Question 4

REASON 2 FOR DISSOLUTION - Religious reasons - (Secondary)

Answer 4

• Many reformers, including Cromwell and Cranmer, disapproved the religious practices taking place in monasteries. The monks were involved with drinking, gambling and women and violated their vow of celibacy
• Monastisation not mentioned in the Bible, so Cranmer wanted it closed down
• Cromwell held visitations in 1535-1536 and had evidence that monks exploited religious power

                       HOWEVER

• Some of the accusations were exaggerated to help facilitate the Dissolution, as only 12 out of 181 homosexual records were seen to be true

Question 5

REASON 3 FOR DISSOLUTION - Financial reasons (Tertiary) - Practical and essential for growth

Answer 5

• The monasteries were seen to be rich, as Cromwell’s “Valor Ecclesiasticus” of 1535 showed that they had insane amounts of wealth
• This can benefit Henry as:
  - It can pay for future wars and defence programs against Francis and Charles V
  - Made Henry financially independent from Parliament
  - Land can be sold and gifted now to improve Henry’s support

Question 6

TIMELINE

Answer 6

December 1534 - Henry had the idea to tax 10% of the monasteries’ wealth

1535 - Valor Ecclesiasticus investigations begin to find out how much to tax, and also a moral state of monasteries took place. Ordered its’ completion by 30 May 1535

March 1536 - First Act of Dissolution passed to monasteries

October 1536 - The Pilgrimage of Grace Uprising took place, to go against the closure of the monasteries

1538-1540 - Voluntary dissolution of larger monasteries

December 1539 - Second Act of Dissolution passed