Topic 3.4 Flashcards
what was the impact of the break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries?
Between 1533-37, Henry renounced authority of the pope in Rome and created a Church in England of which he was the Supreme Head. The break with Rome was masterminded by Thomas Cromwell and reinforced by a series of Acts of Parliament, which legislated Henry’s actions and created a means through which opponents of the supremacy could be punished
what was the main result of the establishment of the royal supremacy?
the change in relationship between the English monarchy and its subjects
why did the change happen in the first place?
it was the best way for Henry VIII to achieve what he wanted: the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon
was Henry a religious reformer?
he was not but some of his advisers, such as Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had more radical religious views
which regions were more Catholic although there was a reformation?
North and South West of England
what was Thomas Cromwell appointed as?
Vicegerent in Spirituals
why was a vicegerent in spirituals so important?
The post was specially created for Cromwell and meant that he was Henry’s Deputy in all spiritual and religious matters, despite the fact that Cromwell was not a clergyman himself
how did Cromwell use his important post?
he used it to alter his reformist/evangelical doctrine and to launch a propaganda campaign in support of the supremacy through preaching in churches
were there new bishops appointed who shared the same religious views as Cromwell?
yes - one of them being Hugh Latimer
why was Henry 8 so prepared to support Cromwell’s policies and doctrines?
because they all helped undermine the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church and removed an alternative focus of obedience and loyalty which might rival henry’s own supremacy
what political impact did England have as a result of the break with Rome?
-Henry was determined to enforce obedience to his royal supremacy and changes that were made to the royal succession, which included his daughter Princess Mary being declared illegitimate
-The parliamentary legislation made it possible for Henry to claim that the break with Rome was legal because it had the support of the English people
what happened to the people who dared to disobey Henry?
they were to be breaking the law and could be punished accordingly
what had the act of supremacy done that ultimately resulted in ppl being punished for disobeying Henry?
it made provision for an oath to be taken
what was the 1574 treason act?
made it possible to prosecute those who refused to swear an oath as traitors
who were punished as a result of not taking an oath?
Thomas More, who had once been Henry’s chancellor, and John Fisher, bishop of Rochester, refused to accept supremacy and were both executed
what did the high-profile executions do?
they created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion
what emerged at court?
a conservative faction whose aim was to see the restoration of Catholicism
who were key members at the conservative faction?
duke of Norfolk, earl of derby, earl of Northumberland, lord Hussey
who did the people who wanted a restoration of catholicism see as their figurehead?
princess Mary - henry’s daughter - who was made illegitimate
what did the court-based plot 1535-6 aim to do?
it sought to remove Henry altogether and replace him with Mary instead
why is Richard rich significant?
he helped Cromwell in the organisation of the dissolution of the monasteries and was appointed as Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations
why was the dissolution of the monasteries so significant?
-monasteries formed an important part in the spiritual life of England, but they also played a valuable economic and social role in local society, particularly in the traditional north
-monks and nuns prayed for the souls of the dead in purgatory and also performed good works and were a particularly important part of life in socially and economically deprived parts of England where they provided support for the poor and care for the sick and elderly.
-also important centres of education and learning - before the printing press they were responsible for the copying and preservation of old texts and books.
-in addition monasteries were local employers and landlords - many farmers leased land from the monks and the monasteries also provided employment on their estates for both unskilled agricultural labourers and craftsmen.
did many men and women’s lives depend on the monasteries?
yes that’s the reason why their dissolution was so significant and fatal
what did monasteries represent in the eyes of reformists like Cromwell?
the corruption and wealth of the church
why were the monasteries disillusioned?
because the monks and nuns took orders from catholic orders (Spain, France, Italy) and owed obedience to the pope
how did Henry profit from disillusioning the monasteries?
by dissolving them he would get a valuable source of income - which he would be able to use in case of a Catholic invasion
were the monasteries wealthy?
yes very in fact
what was the valor Ecclesiasticus?
the value of the church
what did the valor do?
it surveyed all church property and revealed to Henry the wealth of the monasteries - between 1536-7, their dissolution raised £1.3 million
who undertook the visitations of the valor?
Thomas legh and richard layton
what was the commissioner’s remit?
to find evidence of corruption in the monasteries to use as evidence against them
what did the process of dissolution involve?
the destruction of the monasteries’ buildings - lead was stripped from the roofs and melted down and stained glass and images were smashed
as a result of the dissolutions how did people at louth and other communities feel and what did louth do?
- were worried and believed that their local parish churches were under threat too
- louth had recently built a costly new spire for their church and feared it was about to be destroyed
^ they rebelled
what was the spark for the first rebellion (Lincolnshire rebellion)?
dissolution of the monasteries (+ Henry’s overall religious direction) and the activities of government officials in the localities
who threatened centuries of beliefs that ultimately were the cause to all rebellions?
Cromwell and Cranmer.
what did the religious reformation threaten?
the afterlife of many who believed in Catholic principles
what does the name of the rebellion suggest?
“Pilgrimage of Grace” suggests a religious motivation: the rebels were modelling themselves on the traditional Catholic rite of peaceful pilgrimage -> reinforced by the oath they had to take
what did the banner the rebels carried show?
The five wounds of Christ which he received during cruxifixction -> making it clear that they thought they were rebelling in God’s name
how many of the pontefract articles the rebels drew were religious?
9/24 = 3/8
were the economic and social grievances adding to the determination ppl had to rebel?
yes - the northern parts of England often suffered from both social and economic hardships - these problems had become worse by the taxation in the 1534 subsidy
what was the 1534 subsidy?
In 1523 Parliament granted King Henry VIII a subsidy to finance the war in France, taxing everyone on lands, goods or wages down to a lower limit of £1, collected over a four-year period.
why was the subsidy act problematic and what else encouraged the rebellion (economically)?
the subsidy act hit the north hard because it coincided with two years of bad weather and bad harvests + there had been rumours of the government planning other taxes
why were the methods used to collect tax also adding to resentment?
commissioners were used to inquire each person’s ability to pay - meant that yet another gov commission was active in the region - adding to the resentment about levels of gov intrusion in the localities
what else added to the social and economic grievances?
entry fines: increasing entry fines placed an increasing burden on tenant farmers who were unable or unwilling to pay
enclosure: landlord could consolidate their estates -> tenant farmers were forced off their lands by their landlords
who was affected by the religious grievances?
all catholics (majority of the country and especially the northerns)
who was affected by the social and economic grievances?
poor peasants and agricultural workers (those who were mostly affected by the economic hardship)
which northern nobility/gentry became involved in the revolts of 1536?
sir Thomas Percy, Lord Hussey and lord Darcy
what were some political grievances?
rebels wanted to restore princess Mary to her royal succession and remove Cromwell from his powerful position, the repeal of 1534 act of supremacy and removal of Richard rich too
who was affected by the political grievances?
gentry
causes of Lincolnshire rebellion
-Caused by a local reaction to the rapid and radical changes that were being imposed by Henry and Cromwell in 1535-36.
-The trigger was the presence of government commissioners in the region that oversaw the dissolution of the smaller monasteries + visitation of the clergy.
-The spark for the rebellion was the arrival of the bishop of Lincoln’s office at Louth to carry out a visitation of the clergy.
events of Lincolnshire rebellion
-3000 people met together at Louth and the government officials were forced to flee.
-The trouble that had started at Louth now spread to Caistor and Horn Castle.
-On the 9th October rebellion seemed more serious - Dr Rayne, the chancellor of the Bishop of Lincoln, was killed by an angry mob.
-Rebels marched to Lincoln - 10,000 men had joined the rebellion.
-Lord Hussey and Lord Clinton fled instead of helping Henry with the turmoil caused by the rebels.
-Henry responded to rebels and threatened them that in the case that they were to fight the king’s army they would commit treason.
-Subsequently, gentry asked for a pardon.
Consequences of Lincolnshire rebellion
Local gentry became involved, 10,000 men, Involvement of members of the clergy and monks
Rebels in touch with men from Yorkshire - equally discontented with government policy, they were very organised
Potential threat, the rebellion had spread so quickly and attracted widespread support from all sections of society
the Lincolnshire rebellion was threatening in what ways?
While the Lincolnshire Rising did not last long, the revolt did represent a major threat to the government. This is because it wasn’t just common people. Nobles were also involved - a group of people whom the government had usually been able to rely on to support it.
Support from Monks at other non-dissolved Lincolnshire abbeys (Barlings, Bardney and Kirkstead) shows national concern - Executed in aftermath
Parish clergy/monk involvement - Church usually helped to control - reinforced ideas of obedience/ social hierarchy
Local Lincolnshire gentry involvement - Gentry took an active, not reluctant role - even gathering their own military musters
Size/speed took local gentry by surprise - Unable to cope - Took several days for support to materialise
In touch with men in Yorkshire (equally discontented with government policy) - Shows organisation
the Lincolnshire rebellion was not a threat in what ways?
Yorkshire commons not ready for the rise when the Lincolnshire Rising broke out/ Lincolnshire rebels ignored letter from Yorkshiremen telling them to delay
Predominantly Ordinary men/women of Louth - Leader was a shoemaker, Nicholas Melton and vicar of the church at Louth and a Louth monk - not much influence.
Half-hearted - when they were threatened with punishment, they quickly backed down - threat of treason
Duke of Suffolk led the king’s army well
Royal army (which Suffolk led) marched to Lincolnshire
Suffolk was able to persuade rebels to easily disband
what were reasons for the pilgrimage of grace?
- dissolution of monasteries + their impact upon the poor
- religious reform
what did the rebels of the pilgrimage of grace want?
the rebels wanted an end to the heresies of Martin Luther and other thinkers, the restoration of the powers of the pope and the reversal of the dissolution of the smaller monasteries
what did the rebels (POG) do at York?
the rebellion in East Riding had attracted 10,000 followers and the rebels were able to take over the city of York
what did aske issue at York?
a proclamation stating that the pilgrims’ peaceful intentions and their determination to protect the church
which castle did the rebels (POG) capture and who joined them after he tried defending this castle?
Pontefract Castle + Lord Darcy
who were some gentry/noble members involved in POG?
Lord Latimer, Sir Christopher Derby, lawyer Bowes
what castle did the North Yorkshire rebels capture? POG
Barnard castle
where else did rebellion break out? POG
Westmorland
where did rebels fail to attract more followers? POG
Carlisle
how great was the geographical extent of rebellion POG?
it covered most of the north and north east of England
why was rebellion less successful in Lancashire? POG
the earl of derby remained loyal to Henry as a result of being given exceptional powers
how great was POG?
30,000 rebels, it had ranks and well-trained fighters
how was the situation of henry’s military resources? POG
they were over stretched
what were gov’s error? POG
the duke of Suffolk was still restoring order in Lancashire and henry’s over-confidence had led him to send home a second army
^^ this allowed rebels 3 weeks in which to gather and prepare a strategy
what did duke of Norfolk and earl of Shrewsbury do as they marched north with an army of 8000?
because they were outnumbered they decided to negotiate with the rebels
^ there was a meeting between them held at pontefract
- nothing really materialised (5 articles were drawn by rebels and sent to Henry)
24 articles were drawn up
^^ there was a second meeting
-> the rebels asked for king’s pardon later which Norfolk was able to grant together with a promise to be held in the north of England and further negotiations on the fate of the monasteries
^ many rebels started going home as Norfolk had hoped.
what did the bigod’s rising come as a result of?
Henry tricking the rebels - the duke of Norfolk remained in London for more than the rebels had expected.
rumours began to circulate that the king was not going to keep his promises and was planning revenge instead.
when and how successful was the bigod rising?
in 1537, it was led by sir Francis bigod; Hallam and was unsuccessful
what did bigod and Hallam aim to do?
capture Scarborough and hull -> only a few rebels joined the leaders and bigod was captured in Cumberland
what did the rebels of the bigod rising attack?
Carlisle - it was put down by a force led by Dacre
where was unrest and how did Henry react? (BR)
yorkshire, Cumberland, Westmorland - he was excused to punish the rebels due to the unrest
what did the duke of Norfolk do (BR)?
he brutally suppressed the rebels - Carlisle rebels were hanged and trials and executions were conducted in Cumberland
what did some of the gentry do (BR)?
they turned against rebels to avoid punishment themselves
consequences of BR?
144 deaths including aske, Percy, Hussey and bigod
Why was POG not that threatening
it was not started by nobility
not much church involvement - only 38 monks, 6 abbots and 16 priests were executed for treason
earl of derby and Cliffords remained loyal
earl of northumberland was too ill to make a decisive part in events
rebels didn’t aim to remove Henry from the throne but rather they disapproved Cromwell’s policies
Henry was wise to use patronage to his benefit
why was POG a threat?
-the nr of rebels and the rapidity with which their armies gathered took the gov by surprise.
-duke of Suffolk was busy in Lincolnshire
-members of nobility and gentry joined
-rebels=well organised
-had contact with Lincolnshire rebels
-aske’s leadership allowed for the rebellion to attract even more rebels
-rebel’s army 30,000, gov army 8000
was aske a member of the gentry and what did he practice in London?
yes, law
was aske a committed catholic
yes
why was the name of the rebellion so significant?
“the pilgrimage of grace for the commonwealth”
^coz it was a clever piece of propaganda as it associated the protest with the catholic ritual of pilgrimage
why was aske an influential leader?
his proclamations and his charisma made the rebellion grow in size (he even made lord Darcy join)
what were some of aske’s mistakes?
his absolute conviction in the moral rightness of his protest meant he was too willing to accept concessions made by Norfolk
was bigod a committed catholic?
no instead he was rather a reformist
how did he become involved with POG?
he was captured at sea by rebels
what did bigod dislike?
supremacy
how did cromwell strengthen his and henry’s positions?
members of the conservative faction who got involved with the rebellion (and were against the reformations) could be executed - lord Darcy and Hussey
