Topic 3.4

Question 1

what was the impact of the break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

what was the main result of the establishment of the royal supremacy?

Answer 2

the change in relationship between the English monarchy and its subjects

Question 3

why did the change happen in the first place?

Answer 3

it was the best way for Henry VIII to achieve what he wanted: the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon

Question 4

was Henry a religious reformer?

Answer 4

he was not but some of his advisers, such as Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had more radical religious views

Question 5

which regions were more Catholic although there was a reformation?

Answer 5

North and South West of England

Question 6

what was Thomas Cromwell appointed as?

Answer 6

Vicegerent in Spirituals

Question 7

why was a vicegerent in spirituals so important?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

how did Cromwell use his important post?

Answer 8

he used it to alter his reformist/evangelical doctrine and to launch a propaganda campaign in support of the supremacy through preaching in churches

Question 9

were there new bishops appointed who shared the same religious views as Cromwell?

Answer 9

yes - one of them being Hugh Latimer

Question 10

why was Henry 8 so prepared to support Cromwell’s policies and doctrines?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what political impact did England have as a result of the break with Rome?

Answer 11

-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

Question 12

what happened to the people who dared to disobey Henry?

Answer 12

they were to be breaking the law and could be punished accordingly

Question 13

what had the act of supremacy done that ultimately resulted in ppl being punished for disobeying Henry?

Answer 13

it made provision for an oath to be taken

Question 14

what was the 1574 treason act?

Answer 14

made it possible to prosecute those who refused to swear an oath as traitors

Question 15

who were punished as a result of not taking an oath?

Answer 15

Thomas More, who had once been Henry’s chancellor, and John Fisher, bishop of Rochester, refused to accept supremacy and were both executed

Question 16

what did the high-profile executions do?

Answer 16

they created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion

Question 17

what emerged at court?

Answer 17

a conservative faction whose aim was to see the restoration of Catholicism

Question 18

who were key members at the conservative faction?

Answer 18

duke of Norfolk, earl of derby, earl of Northumberland, lord Hussey

Question 19

who did the people who wanted a restoration of catholicism see as their figurehead?

Answer 19

princess Mary - henry’s daughter - who was made illegitimate

Question 20

what did the court-based plot 1535-6 aim to do?

Answer 20

it sought to remove Henry altogether and replace him with Mary instead

Question 21

why is Richard rich significant?

Answer 21

he helped Cromwell in the organisation of the dissolution of the monasteries and was appointed as Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations

Question 22

why was the dissolution of the monasteries so significant?

Answer 22

-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.

Question 23

did many men and women’s lives depend on the monasteries?

Answer 23

yes that’s the reason why their dissolution was so significant and fatal

Question 24

what did monasteries represent in the eyes of reformists like Cromwell?

Answer 24

the corruption and wealth of the church

Question 25

why were the monasteries disillusioned?

Answer 25

because the monks and nuns took orders from catholic orders (Spain, France, Italy) and owed obedience to the pope

Question 26

how did Henry profit from disillusioning the monasteries?

Answer 26

by dissolving them he would get a valuable source of income - which he would be able to use in case of a Catholic invasion

Question 27

were the monasteries wealthy?

Answer 27

yes very in fact

Question 28

what was the valor Ecclesiasticus?

Answer 28

the value of the church

Question 29

what did the valor do?

Answer 29

it surveyed all church property and revealed to Henry the wealth of the monasteries - between 1536-7, their dissolution raised £1.3 million

Question 30

who undertook the visitations of the valor?

Answer 30

Thomas legh and richard layton

Question 31

what was the commissioner’s remit?

Answer 31

to find evidence of corruption in the monasteries to use as evidence against them

Question 32

what did the process of dissolution involve?

Answer 32

the destruction of the monasteries’ buildings - lead was stripped from the roofs and melted down and stained glass and images were smashed

Question 33

as a result of the dissolutions how did people at louth and other communities feel and what did louth do?

Answer 33

• 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

Question 34

what was the spark for the first rebellion (Lincolnshire rebellion)?

Answer 34

dissolution of the monasteries (+ Henry’s overall religious direction) and the activities of government officials in the localities

Question 35

who threatened centuries of beliefs that ultimately were the cause to all rebellions?

Answer 35

Cromwell and Cranmer.

Question 36

what did the religious reformation threaten?

Answer 36

the afterlife of many who believed in Catholic principles

Question 37

what does the name of the rebellion suggest?

Answer 37

“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

Question 38

what did the banner the rebels carried show?

Answer 38

The five wounds of Christ which he received during cruxifixction -> making it clear that they thought they were rebelling in God’s name

Question 39

how many of the pontefract articles the rebels drew were religious?

Answer 39

9/24 = 3/8

Question 40

were the economic and social grievances adding to the determination ppl had to rebel?

Answer 40

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

Question 41

what was the 1534 subsidy?

Answer 41

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.

Question 42

why was the subsidy act problematic and what else encouraged the rebellion (economically)?

Answer 42

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

Question 43

why were the methods used to collect tax also adding to resentment?

Answer 43

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

Question 44

what else added to the social and economic grievances?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

who was affected by the religious grievances?

Answer 45

all catholics (majority of the country and especially the northerns)

Question 46

who was affected by the social and economic grievances?

Answer 46

poor peasants and agricultural workers (those who were mostly affected by the economic hardship)

Question 47

which northern nobility/gentry became involved in the revolts of 1536?

Answer 47

sir Thomas Percy, Lord Hussey and lord Darcy

Question 48

what were some political grievances?

Answer 48

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

Question 49

who was affected by the political grievances?

Answer 49

gentry

Question 50

causes of Lincolnshire rebellion

Answer 50

-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.

Question 51

events of Lincolnshire rebellion

Answer 51

-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.

Question 52

Consequences of Lincolnshire rebellion

Answer 52

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

Question 53

the Lincolnshire rebellion was threatening in what ways?

Answer 53

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

Question 54

the Lincolnshire rebellion was not a threat in what ways?

Answer 54

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

Question 55

what were reasons for the pilgrimage of grace?

Answer 55

• dissolution of monasteries + their impact upon the poor
• religious reform

Question 56

what did the rebels of the pilgrimage of grace want?

Answer 56

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

Question 57

what did the rebels (POG) do at York?

Answer 57

the rebellion in East Riding had attracted 10,000 followers and the rebels were able to take over the city of York

Question 58

what did aske issue at York?

Answer 58

a proclamation stating that the pilgrims’ peaceful intentions and their determination to protect the church

Question 59

which castle did the rebels (POG) capture and who joined them after he tried defending this castle?

Answer 59

Pontefract Castle + Lord Darcy

Question 60

who were some gentry/noble members involved in POG?

Answer 60

Lord Latimer, Sir Christopher Derby, lawyer Bowes

Question 61

what castle did the North Yorkshire rebels capture? POG

Answer 61

Barnard castle

Question 62

where else did rebellion break out? POG

Answer 62

Westmorland

Question 63

where did rebels fail to attract more followers? POG

Answer 63

Carlisle

Question 64

how great was the geographical extent of rebellion POG?

Answer 64

it covered most of the north and north east of England

Question 65

why was rebellion less successful in Lancashire? POG

Answer 65

the earl of derby remained loyal to Henry as a result of being given exceptional powers

Question 66

how great was POG?

Answer 66

30,000 rebels, it had ranks and well-trained fighters

Question 67

how was the situation of henry’s military resources? POG

Answer 67

they were over stretched

Question 68

what were gov’s error? POG

Answer 68

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

Question 69

what did duke of Norfolk and earl of Shrewsbury do as they marched north with an army of 8000?

Answer 69

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.

Question 70

what did the bigod’s rising come as a result of?

Answer 70

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.

Question 71

when and how successful was the bigod rising?

Answer 71

in 1537, it was led by sir Francis bigod; Hallam and was unsuccessful

Question 72

what did bigod and Hallam aim to do?

Answer 72

capture Scarborough and hull -> only a few rebels joined the leaders and bigod was captured in Cumberland

Question 73

what did the rebels of the bigod rising attack?

Answer 73

Carlisle - it was put down by a force led by Dacre

Question 74

where was unrest and how did Henry react? (BR)

Answer 74

yorkshire, Cumberland, Westmorland - he was excused to punish the rebels due to the unrest

Question 75

what did the duke of Norfolk do (BR)?

Answer 75

he brutally suppressed the rebels - Carlisle rebels were hanged and trials and executions were conducted in Cumberland

Question 76

what did some of the gentry do (BR)?

Answer 76

they turned against rebels to avoid punishment themselves

Question 77

consequences of BR?

Answer 77

144 deaths including aske, Percy, Hussey and bigod

Question 78

Why was POG not that threatening

Answer 78

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

Question 79

why was POG a threat?

Answer 79

-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

Question 80

was aske a member of the gentry and what did he practice in London?

Answer 80

yes, law

Question 81

was aske a committed catholic

Answer 81

yes

Question 82

why was the name of the rebellion so significant?

Answer 82

“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

Question 83

why was aske an influential leader?

Answer 83

his proclamations and his charisma made the rebellion grow in size (he even made lord Darcy join)

Question 84

what were some of aske’s mistakes?

Answer 84

his absolute conviction in the moral rightness of his protest meant he was too willing to accept concessions made by Norfolk

Question 85

was bigod a committed catholic?

Answer 85

no instead he was rather a reformist

Question 86

how did he become involved with POG?

Answer 86

he was captured at sea by rebels

Question 87

what did bigod dislike?

Answer 87

supremacy

Question 88

how did cromwell strengthen his and henry’s positions?

Answer 88

members of the conservative faction who got involved with the rebellion (and were against the reformations) could be executed - lord Darcy and Hussey