Henry VIII: Wolsey & Church Reform Flashcards

1
Q

List Wolsey’s various religious roles

A
  • Due to Henry’s recommendation Pope Leo X made Wolsey:
  • Bishop of Lincoln (Feb 1514)
  • Archbishop of York (Sep 1514)
  • Cardinal (1515)
  • Bishop of Durham (1523)
  • Papal Legate, first as temporary position
  • Legatus a latere in 1524
  • Bishop of Winchester (1529)
  • Abbot of St Albans
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2
Q

What is a Papal Legate?

A
  • Someone appointed by the Pope to act on his behalf in a particular country, usually for a specified purpose on a limited timescale
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3
Q

What is a Legatus a latere?

A
  • Papal Legate but with additional powers, meaning he could act on behalf of the Pope
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4
Q

How important was Church reform to Wolsey?

A
  • Reformation was underway in Europe
  • Wolsey did not see reforms as major aspect of his work
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5
Q

List the things Wolsey did in relation to religion

A
  • Monitored monasteries
  • Promoted religious learning
  • Opposed spread of Protestant heresy in England
  • Gathered many religious titles
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6
Q

How did Wolsey streamline monasticism?

A

• As Papal Legate, Wolsey could:
- Instruct English bishops to carry out their duties more thoroughly
- Order inspections of quality of religious life in monasteries
- As a result, over 24 religious houses were dissolved

• In 1528, Wolsey drew more plans
- Closed monasteries with fewer than 6 inmates
- Combining monasteries with under 12

• Removed 8 unsuitable heads of monasteries

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7
Q

What was the purpose of dissolving/amalgamating monasteries?

A
  • Made monasticism more efficient
  • Money gained from closing monasteries should be used to improve religious education - instructions from Pope
  • Not an attack on Catholicism or monastic life, but set basis for Cromwell
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8
Q

How did Wolsey promote religious learning?

A

• Wolsey fell from power before establishing the plans below
- Planned to fund a school in Ipswich
- Planned to establish Cardinal College in Oxford

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9
Q

What was Wolsey’s purpose for promoting learning?

A
  • Wolsey wanted to improve quality of clergy, maybe to tackle anti-clericalism
  • Money gained from dissolving monasteries had to be used on education by instruction of Pope
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10
Q

How did Wolsey oppose Protestant heresy?

A

• Encouraged Henry to publicly oppose new ideas of Martin Luther
- Led to public burnings of Lutheran text
- Started in May 1521, when Wolsey was personally present, holding an unfinished manuscript of Henry VIII’s book against Luther
- Henry rewarded title ‘Defender of the Faith’ by Pope for book

• Arrests
- Those suspected of Protestant sympathies were arrested and punished
- Mostly from universities
- No one executed until 1530 after Wolsey’s fall

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11
Q

Why did Wolsey take such a stand against Protestant heresy?

A
  • He was Papal Legate and a cardinal representing the Catholic Church
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12
Q

Why did Wolsey receive criticism for his many religious titles?

A

• Wolsey gained several posts that gave him good income
- Bishop of Durham (1523)
- Bishop of Winchester (1529)
- Abbot of St Albans, one of wealthiest monasteries in England

• Absence
- Wolsey couldn’t fulfil all of these roles, but still gained income
- Guilty of twin vices of absenteeism and plurality (holding more than one office at a time)

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13
Q

Why was Wolsey a source of anti-clericalism?

A
  • Wolsey was wealthy and grand
  • Wolsey had many titles but did not carry out all of his duties
  • Wolsey had 2 illegitimate children
  • Wolsey lived openly with his mistress until 1519
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