Weaknesses of the Church in 1520s Flashcards
Reformation of the Church
State the 4 main weaknesses of the Church during the 1520s.
- Corruption
- Anticlericalism
- Decline of Monasticism
- Protestantism/ Reformist ideals
Explain the Anticlericalism in the Churches during 1520s
Opposition to the political + social importance of the Clergy
Some common lawyers objected the influence of cannon law(law of church) + There were objections to legal privileges of clergy. Certainly instances of clerical misconduct which casted considerable criticism - thw worst example/case being ‘The Case of Richard Hunne
The Case of Richard Hunne
he was a London merchant + came into conflict w the church refusing to pay mortuary fees and was found dead in his cell + they claimed he hung himself yet the London coroner found it was impossible for him to have hung himself thus the church was actually responsible framing git as suicide but was murder + wolsey was forced to beg for forgiveness from parliament on behalf of the church.
How far did Reformist ideas contribute to the divorce/Break w Rome?
-In 1529 Henry dismissed Wolsey + replaced w chancellor sir Thomas Moore a humanist schollar
- In 1529 Henry summoned parliament a body guaranteed to voice there anti-clerical concerns
- Henry was influenced by Anne’s acquaintance w a group of reformist writers including the 2 cambraide writers which is significant (William Tyndale + Simon Fish) and it’d thought Anne also gae these books to Henry.
State the Reformation of the Church Key chronology(dates acts were passed etc)
1532 - Act to restrain Annates
1533 - Act of Restraint of Appeals
1534 - Act of Succession
1534 - Act of Supremacy
1534 - Treason Act
1535 - Compilation of Valor Ecclesiasticus (Start of ‘visitations’ to monasteries)
1536 - First set of Royal Injunctions + Act to Dissolve smaller monasteries
1539 - Act to Dissolve the remaining monasteries +First edition of ‘The Great Bible’
1540 - All religious houses dissolved
1543 - Act for the advancement of ‘True Religion’
What is Humanism?
Humanists believed human experience + rational thinking provides the only source of both knowledge + moral code to live by thus reject idea that knowledge is revealed by books like bible or God or Pope.
Also believed t was possible to improve human behaviours through education + importance of education amongst clergy + that certain catholic practise such as venerating saints + selling indulgences were against the teachings of the Bible.
How far did Humanism Challenge the Church?
Renaissance ideas in intellectual life+culture had a tentative appearance but its under Henry V111’s reign they began flourishing particularly within elite groups of Tudor society.
-Moore (was a patron of humanism + friends w Erasmus
- Erasmus (wrote several humanist books + spent much time at court of Henry V111 + was professor at Cambridge for 5 years.
Henry V111 - Patronised humanists such as Moore + Erasmus + was also needed well educated diplomats for abroad.
Knowledge of classical learning increased amongst elite groups
Growing No of schools became influenced + founded by humanists approaches to education
Henry found himself as a promoter of humanism + new ideas
The crown needed those well educated /read diplomats for forgein policy + communications.
How Far did Lutheranism challenge the church?
Luther agued the church should be taken back to its roots + questioned various aspects of the church that he argued were corrupt + had no spiritual basis.
Christianity was to do with the inner world of people rather than outward show + he argued good works do not benefit your soul only inner faith could dot hat. He also said salvation could not be archived through good works either + Luther argued people should be able to read the bible in English/own language +promoted its translation + called for clergy to openly revolt against the pope even using military force if necessary!
Luther’s ideas attracted limited support in England as support was confined to south-east +London as in Cambridge there was a group of scholars who promoted these such as Cranmer. However overall didnt pose/trigger as any major threat to church.
