Tudors Key Dates and Events

Question 1

1509

Answer 1

•Henry VIII becomes king as a young adult

The first grammar school is founded in London

Question 2

1517

Answer 2

• The commission of enquiry into land by Wolsey
• (Enclosure was the act of enclosing a number of small landholdings to create one larger farm. Once enclosed, use of land became restricted to the previous owners of individual plots, and it ceased to be common land for communal use. In England, the term enclosure is used for the process that eroded the ancient system of arable farming in open fields – this often meant that wealthy land owners could increase profits from enclosure while local farmers suffered).

Question 3

1525

Answer 3

• The Amicable Grant:
• In the early 1520’s, Charles declares war on France and Henry follows suit but needs lots of money to do so.
• In 1525, Wolsey ordered the implementation of the Amicable Grant, which was essentially a heavy tax, levied without parliamentary approval.
• A tax of up to 1/6 on secular goods and 1.3 on ecclesiastical possessions was implemented.
• Large opposition and violence, especially among cloth trade workers in East Anglia, led to Henry’s abrupt U-Turn. This angered Henry as it made him appear indecisive – this was the first in a series of events that eventually lead to Wolsey’s downfall.

Question 4

1527

Answer 4

• By 1527, Henry has become infatuated with Anne Boleyn, and desires an annulment with Catherine.
• Henry uses the Old Testament (Leviticus, Chapter 20, Verse 16) to justify his request for an annulment.
• “If a man shall take his brother’s wife; it is an impurity; he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless”

Question 5

1529

Answer 5

• Henry’s reformation parliament sat from 1529-36 and fundamentally changed the nature of parliament and English government. The king summoned it to settle what he called the “Great Matter” of his annulment from Catherine of Aragon, which Rome was blocking.
• 1529 also saw the fall of Wolsey. Wolsey retained Henry’s confidence until he failed to secure an annulment for the King. The Pope had decided that the case should be heard in Rome anyway, and it was rumoured that the Boleyn faction had persuaded Henry of Wolsey’s growing incompetence.
• Wolsey was arrested in 1529 and stripped of his government office and property – including his famous and lavish residence at Hampton Court. Henry then took this residence as his own.

Wolsey was allowed to keep his position as Archbishop of York, and so Wolsey sets off for Yorkshire for the first time. However when he arrives he is accused of treason and is summoned to London immediately. In a great deal of distress, Wolsey sets off for London where on the journey, he falls ill and dies at the age of 57.

Question 6

1531

Answer 6

• On 11th February 1531, convocation granted Henry VIII the title of “singular, protector, supreme lord, and even, so far as the law of Christ allows, supreme Head of the English Church and clergy”.
• George Boleyn, Lord Rochford and brother of Anne Boleyn played a prominent role in persuading the parliamentary convocation of 1531 to allow Henry’s supremacy on a scriptural basis.
• The Vagabonds act of 1530/1 was an act passed under Henry and is part of the Tudor poor laws of England. In full it was titled “Act how aged, poor and impotent persons, compelled to live by alms, shall be ordered; and how vagabonds and beggars shall be punished”.
• Under this Act, Vagabonds were subject to the harsher punishment of whipping, rather than the stocks. However it also created provisions for those who were unable to work due to sickness, age or disability.

Question 7

1532

Answer 7

•The third parliament of 1532 saw plan and purpose that had not been evident in earlier sessions.

The first act of Annates was passed, allowing only 5% of the money normally remitted to Rome. Annates were effectively church taxes that were collected and sent to Rome.

• The Supplication of the Ordinaries was a petition passed in parliament in 1532 as a result of grievances towards the prelate and clergy. “Ordinaries” refers to a cleric. This acted as the first real parliamentary attack on the church.
• Cranmer, in 1532 is appointed the new Archbishop of Canterbury and ordered to return to England. This appointment was possible secured by the Boleyn faction.

Question 8

1533

Answer 8

• Anne announces her pregnancy which adds to the urgency of the annulment proceedings.
• Henry and Anne secretly marry on the 24/25 January 1533.
• Cranmer opens his court on the 10th may, inviting Henry and Catherine to appear – however Catherine does not appear or send a proxy.
• On 23rd May Cranmer announces that the marriage is against the word of God.
• He even threatened excommunication if Henry continued to see Catherine, and soon the 28th May, Cranmer announces the validity of Henry’s marriage to Anne.

On 7th September, Anne gives birth to Elizabeth.

Question 9

1534

Answer 9

• The Act of Supremacy in 1534 (which is still in place today) granted Henry and subsequent monarchs Royal Supremacy – this meant that he was declared Supreme Head of the Church in England.
• The Act was such that parliament were not granting a title which they could later withdraw, rather they were acknowledging Henry’s supremacy as a given fact.
• Later in 1534, the “Treasons Act” was declared, stating that to disavow the Act of Supremacy and deprive the King of his “dignity, title, or name” was treason.

Question 10

1536

Answer 10

• The Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act began the dissolution of the monasteries – the property from which went to the King. This could be seen as an act motivated by religious and economic reasons.
• Tyndale’s English Bible is published shortly before his death.
• The pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 was a rebellion caused by Henry and Cromwell’s rapid reformation efforts between 1535-6 as well as the build-up of constant local government intervention. The popular rising in Yorkshire against Henry VIII’s was primarily due to the break with the Roman Catholic Church, the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the policies of the King’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, as well as other specific political, social and economic grievances.
• There were three sets of government commissioners in the region overseeing the dissolution of the smaller monasteries, the collection of the 1534 subsidies and assessment of education standards among the clergy. The spark of rebellion was the arrival of the Bishop of Lincoln’s official at Louth on 2nd October. This became known as the Lincolnshire Rising.
• 1536 also saw the Act of Union – between the years of 1536-43, the English parliament passed a series of laws that became known as the Acts of Union. The Principality and land controlled by marcher Lords were now joined together to form a United Wales – Like England, Wales was now divided into shires.
• Anne Boleyn is executed on charges of adultery, incest and treason.
• Following this, Henry promptly marries Jane Seymour.
• The Act of 10 articles was published, staying somewhat in line with Catholic beliefs – however the language regarding the Eucharist was deliberately vague and 7 sacraments became 3 which reflected reformist views.

Question 11

1537

Answer 11

• Cromwell remodelled the Council of the North in 1537 to strengthen its powers, as it had not been enough to prevent the Pilgrimage of Grace.
• He gave the Council wide powers to hear and decide cases of felony, murder and treason.
• The Council played a large role in denouncing those who had been involved in the rebellion.
• It also became the voice of London, echoing law enforcements from Henry and his court.
• Edward VI is born – Jane Seymour dies shortly after childbirth.

Question 12

1538-39

Answer 12

Cromwell issues injunctions to the clergy (in both 1536 and 1538).

In these years the move towards Protestantism was seen to reach a peak.

In 1538, the shrine to Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, the most famous Saint’s shrine in the country, was destroyed.

In 1539, Henry authorised the English “Great Bible” – a copy of which was to be placed in every parish church. However, it did take around five years for most of these parishes to receive a copy – but regardless this was one of the most vital changes towards Protestantism, as it affected the population directly.

However in 1539, the pace of religious change under Henry slowed and even reversed. Henry was devoutly Catholic and had always been personally suspicious of reformist views and so the Act of 6 Articles was released, restoring previous Catholicism. Furthermore, Henry’s King’s Book pushed for traditional masses and rejected the idea that faith alone would lead to salvation.

Question 13

1540

Answer 13

• Cromwell eventually fell from power in 1540 for two main reasons:
• He had arranged Henry’s marriage to Anne of Cleves. Henry disliked Anne on sight, calling her the “Flanders Mare”.
• By this point, Henry had fallen for the young and beautiful Katherine Howard, the niece of the conservative Duke of Norfolk. The Duke of Norfolk used this and Henry’s dislike of Cleves in order to turn him against Cromwell.
• Consequently, Cromwell was executed in 1540.

Question 14

1544

Answer 14

• As a result of the Pope previously doing so, because of the religious reform that was taking place, Parliament grant Henry the title of “Defender of the Faith” in 1544.
• The third succession act returned both Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession behind Edward.

Question 15

1547

Answer 15

• On the 28th January 1547, Henry dies at the age of 55 – his death is hastened by poor health leading up to his demise, as well as his obesity.
• After the King’s death, his only legitimate son, Edward, inherits the crown at the age of 9. Due to his young age, Edward VI was mainly unable to exercise his own power.
• Henry’s will designated 16 executors to serve on a council of regency until Edward reached the age of 18. The executors chose Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford and Jane Seymour’s brother to be Lord Protector of the Realm.
• Cromwell’s First Book of Homilies was also published in 1547, containing 12 sermons – written predominantly by Cranmer. The intention was to educate the Liturgy of Christian teachings. The sermons focus primarily upon the character of God and the Justification by Faith.
• Chantries (a type of trust fund established during the pre-reformation medieval era for a priest/s to celebrate masses for the soul of the founder) were suppressed in a new act signed by Edward VI in 1547. The act, which was put forward mainly by Somerset, entirely suppressed 2,374 chantries and guild chapels, instituting inquiries to determine all of their possessions. Most of the money wrongfully ended up with Somerset, among Edward’s other advisors. The gold and silver plate of the money was melted down to silver plate mint coins in order to try and raise money (debasement). However this exacerbated inflation.
• The Vagrancy Act of 1547 stated that any able bodied person who was out of work for more than 3 days should be branded with a “V” and sold into slavery for two years. Other offences by the same individual resulted in a lifetime of slavery. Many local authorities refused to enact this legislation. The act also maintained the 1536 provision that children should be put to service, and stated that work should be provided for the aged poor.

Question 16

1549

Answer 16

The 1549 Act of Uniformity established the First Common Book of Prayer, which was largely the work of Cranmer and was a move towards Protestantism, influenced by Luther’s German works. Furthermore, the Act of Uniformity abolished Latin Mass which had been a vital part of Catholic Tradition.

Question 17

Describe the Western Rebellion

Answer 17

•The Western Rising was a result of tensions that had been building in Cornwall since 1547. Such tensions were due to government intrusion into the country and resentment over the religious reforms that were being imposed. The Government was represented by William Body who was closely linked to Cromwell. In 1547, Body summoned the clergy to hear the new injunctions but was met with demonstrations. Body was attacked and killed in 1548 by a mob led by a parish priest as he returned to London. The new prayer book sparked widespread and fast growing revolt, stretching government resources to the limit as people desperately wanted to return to the Act of 6 Articles.

Question 18

Describe Kett’s Rebellion

Answer 18

•The Kett’s rebellion of 1549 was motivated by both religious and economic issues. In contrast to the Western Rising, this rebellion was motivated by the slow movement of protestant ideals in Eastern England. Locals demanded better educated clergy. Economic issues sparked the rebellion however – “greedy landlords” enclosing land lead to public anger. The rebellion was essentially triggered by two local rivals – Robert Kett and John Flowerdew. Both had enclosed their land, and while rioting broke out on Flowerdew’s estate, Kett had the foresight to remove/dismantle his enclosure and offered himself up as a spokesperson for the rebels. Elton also suggests that the bad local government (especially in Norfolk), upholding Catholic traditions, lead to rebellion.

Question 19

1551

Answer 19

•The cloth trade was susceptible to booms and slumps and temporarily collapsed in 1551 as a result of the revaluation of the coinage.

Question 20

1552

Answer 20

• In March 1552, a second Act of Uniformity was passed. This made it an offence for any member of the clergy or laity not to attend a church service. Offenders could be fined or imprisoned. Cranmer’s new (second) ‘Book of Common Prayer’ became the official basis for Church of England services. All semblance of Catholicism was removed. The Eucharist was confirmed as consubstantiation. However, the more radical reformers found complaint with this as communicants were expected to kneel which some deemed to be idolatrous.

Question 21

Describe the 42 articles, 1553

Answer 21

•The Forty-Two Articles were intended to summarise Anglican doctrine, as it now existed under the reign of Edward VI, who favoured a Protestant faith. Largely the work of Thomas Cranmer, they were to be short formularies that would demonstrate the faith revealed in Scripture and the existing Catholic creeds.

Question 22

Describe the reign of Lady Jane Grey - how it came about and how it ended

Answer 22

• In Edward’s will he had left the throne to “the lady Fraunceses heirs males, if she have any such issue before my death to the Lady Jane and her heirs males.” Therefore, Edward (whether intentionally or not), had left the throne to her eldest daughter, Jane, disinheriting both his half-sisters and overturning both an Act of Parliament and Henry’s will.
• Lady Jane Grey became queen not only as a result of Edward’s will, which was seen as the most vital factor, but also by Northumberland’s influence. Northumberland knew that if Mary were to inherit the throne, he would be exiled from power, or worse: executed. And so he used his sons’ marriage to Lady Jane Grey to strengthen his influence over her succession.
• However Mary had popular support not only among the population but among high up figures in the gentry. Furthermore, Henry’s will would have granted the throne to Mary. Those who had conformed to the succession of Lady Jane Grey began to change their mind, and provided armed men to support their cause – Northumberland was forced to leave the safety of London to deal with this threat, and in his absence, the Privy Council began to change allegiance to Mary. On 18th July, it issued a proclamation for the arrest of Northumberland and the following day it declared openly for Mary. Lady Jane Grey held the throne for only 9 days before her execution. Cranmer was also charged with treason through his support of Jane in Edward’s will.

Question 23

1553-54

Answer 23

Laws were passed that confirmed Mary’s legitimacy (1553) and Elizabeth’s right to the throne should Mary die childless (1554). By doing this, Parliament removed any threat there may have been for challenges to the throne and for the country to descend into a civil war.

In 1554, Mary marries Phillip II of Spain (her first cousin, once removed).

It was this marriage that ultimately sparked the Wyatt Rebellion of 1554. The plot began at court by men who were concerned about Mary’s proposed marriage to Phillip II of Spain as opposed to the English Edward Courtenay. The main plotters were all protestant and included Sir Peter Carew, Henry Grey and Sir Thomas Wyatt. They feared England becoming a Spanish satellite state, and would be dragged into Spanish wars. Wyatt used anti-Spanish propaganda in order to gain supporters, which was easy as the public were already very xenophobic. However he concealed the ultimate plan, which was to depose of Mary. He attracted 3000 supporters by 28th January 1554. There was sympathy towards Wyatt’s views and at the time, the government were struggling to raise an army. The proximity of the Wyatt rebellion to London, and the queen herself meant that it posed a serious threat. Wyatt managed to pass through many defences by encouraging Londoners to join his cause, and it was only because of his supporters’ eventual doubt and the Earl of Pembroke’s defences that they were stopped. The rebellion represented a real threat to Mary not only because defences had not been strong enough, but because high up figures clearly did not support her cause.

Question 24

1555

Answer 24

The English church returns to Rome and Parliament also restored the old heresy laws. This resulted in leading Protestants being tried for heresy, being found guilty and executed. The first burning at the stake took place on February 4th 1555. On February 9th, John Hooper, former Bishop of Gloucester, was burned in Gloucester. By March 1556, Ridley, Latimer and Cranmer had all been burned at the stake. Eventually 274 Protestants were executed in the reign of ‘Bloody’ Mary.

In 1555, the Muscovy (or Russian) company was chartered. It was the first chartered joint stock company where different stocks could be bought by shareholders. It was seen as a precursor to the type of business that would soon flourish throughout England. The Muscovy Company had a monopoly on trade between England and Muscovy, and it survived as a company until the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Question 25

1558

Answer 25

•Mary thought herself pregnant again with a baby due in March 1558. She decreed in her will that her husband be the regent during the minority of her child. However no child was born and Mary was forced to accept that Elizabeth was her lawful successor. Mary was weak and ill from May 1558. In pain, possibly from ovarian cysts or uterine cancer, she died on 17 November 1558 aged 42 at St. James’s Palace, during an influenza epidemic that also claimed the life of Reginald Pole later the same day. She was succeeded by her half-sister.

Question 26

1559

Answer 26

• The chief business of the 1559 Parliament was the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. General revulsion at the burning of heretics under Mary, the return of Marian exiles, and Elizabeth’s known Protestant sympathies combined to produce a distinctly Protestant House of Commons.
• The Acts of Uniformity and Supremacy undid Mary’s return to the Papal fold, and proclaimed Elizabeth Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The Prayer Book approved in Parliament in 1559 was basically that of Edward VI. Furthermore, when parliament requested that Elizabeth marry, she utilized the idea of her being “married to the nation” – an idea that was popular amongst the public and helped to cement her position of power. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement included a set of injunctions, which included instructions on what the clergy should wear, which caused considerable controversy. Clergy members were to preach at least four times a year, all parishes were to have an English Bible, and Elizabeth through the settlement made it evident that she did not agree with clerical marriage.

On 2nd April, the peace treaty of Cateau-Cambresis was signed with France. This decreased the likelihood of a French-led Catholic invasion.

Question 27

1563

Answer 27

• Convocation amends the Act of 42 articles to the Act of 39 articles. However Elizabeth refuses to pass article 29, which denied the real presence of Christ in communion, until 1571.
• Act for the relief of the poor.

Question 28

1568

Answer 28

• The arrival of Mary Queen of Scots in England.
• The northern revolt (revolt of the northern earls) was the last serious revolt in the Tudor period:
• In short, Norfolk planned to marry Mary Queen of Scots in order to cement a position of power and overthrow Elizabeth, however Norfolk was forced to surrender himself to the Queen. The Catholic Westmoreland and Northumberland then marched to Durham Cathedral where they celebrated Catholic Mass, which was prohibited. They then made their way towards Mary with the view to freeing her, picking up more rebels and soldiers on their way. However, on 24 November they turned round and somewhat disbanded. It is unclear as to exactly what caused this, it’s widely thought to have been a general lack of co-ordination and purpose. It was only when a royal army of 10,000 men was sent North to the rebels that they disbanded and fled altogether. Northumberland though, who had tried to flee to Scotland, was caught and executed.

Question 29

1570

Answer 29

Elizabeth Excommunicated

Question 30

1571

Answer 30

• The Ridolfi plot was a plot in 1571 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. The plot was hatched and planned by Roberto di Ridolfi, an international banker who was able to travel between Brussels, Rome and Madrid to gather support without attracting too much suspicion. This was only one of multiple plots uncovered to replace Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots.
• Treasons Act reinstated - It became high treason to intend bodily harm to the Queen, or to levy war against her, or incite others to levy war against her, or to say that she ought not to enjoy the Crown, or publish in writing that she is a heretic, tyrant or usurper, or to claim a right to the Crown or usurp it during the Queen’s life, or to assert that somebody else has the right of succession to the throne, or to say that the laws enacted by Parliament do not govern the succession to the throne.

Question 31

1572

Answer 31

•Poor Law Act - called for offenders to be burned through the ear for a first offence and that persistent beggars should be hanged. However, the Act also made the first clear distinction between the “professional beggar” and those unemployed through no fault of their own.

Question 32

1583

Answer 32

Discovery of the Throckmorton Plot - Throckmorton confessed his involvement in a plot to overthrow the Queen and restore the Catholic Church in England. An invasion led by Henry I, Duke of Guise, would have been coupled with an orchestrated uprising of Catholics within the country.

Question 33

1585

Answer 33

• War with Spain
• English sends military help to the Netherlands
• Act for the Queen’s surety – Any person found to be guilty of rebellion or invasion against the Queen would be killed.

Question 34

1587

Answer 34

Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

Question 35

1588

Answer 35

Spanish Armada is defeated – would probably have succeeded if it weren’t for the weather – could be said was a real potential threat to the crown.