Edward VI- Social impact of Religious and Economic change

Question 1

denunciation of images in London

Answer 1

1547
Shows the power radical protestants had in government

Question 2

Injunctions issued

Answer 2

1547
radical in nature
attacked many popular catholic traditions- images, processions, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday (very radical)
again reflected the anti-Catholic nature of court

Question 3

Somerset’s stance on regilion

Answer 3

while previously more conservative, his move to more radical Protestantism (reflective of Edwards)
he started the ball rolling of radical reforms however, within his ruling Cranmer was much more cautious
showed a sustained attack on popular religion
showed a willingness (exacerbated by Northumberland) to take church money when it benefitted the crown- this created widespread fear for the systemic stripping of the church

Question 4

Religious radicals in Somerset’s court

Answer 4

John Hooper and Thomas Beacon

Question 5

Dissolution of chantries and guilds

Answer 5

December 1547
further attack on popular catholic traditions, this change impacted the general public on a much wider scale
Money that originally went to these now went to the crown- needed to fun expensive foreign policies

Question 6

Act of uniformity

Answer 6

1548
laid down the publication of the book of common prayer

Question 7

Book of Common Prayer

Answer 7

1549
Written by a very hesitant Cranmer
Set out the single form of services for the Church of England (CofE) and translated them into English (not particularly radical just protestant)
Did not denounce Catholicism AND writings about the eucharist were very vague

Question 8

Northumberland’s stance on religion

Answer 8

Also rather radical
is what caused his second coup (fear he’d be kicked out)
following this coup much more radical measures were taken to ensure Protestantism in England- this is partially because reformers were allowed to be radical (fit the Kings belief) and because England was in a slightly more stable position
radical clergy continued to gain influence during his reign
Cranmer’s lack of caution is likely due to government support

Question 9

treason act

Answer 9

1552
questioning royal supremacy or the beliefs of the CofE become a crime

Question 10

2nd act of uniformity

Answer 10

1552
church of England services are compulsory

Question 11

Revised book of Common prayer

Answer 11

1552
much more radical version of its predecessor- Cranmer’s move away from caution
removed any remaining ‘conservative’ policies- Catholics had nothing left to accept
new sacrament services, made easier to understand
radical reforms of the communion service- ‘we do this in remembrance’ (clear denouncing of transubstantiation)
Zwinglianism influences
ban of popish vestments- simplicity

Question 12

Zwinglianism

Answer 12

a specific type of radical Protestantism (more radical than Luther)
most important belief- eucharist was only a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice
developed in Switzerland

Question 13

42 Articles of religion

Answer 13

1553
issued by Cranmer
define the essential faiths of the CofE
reflects Zwinglian influences
Kings death a few weeks later meant this was never implemented

Question 14

Edward’s stance of religion

Answer 14

radical
as the head of the church, Edward thought it was his mission to destroy idolatry

Question 15

Northumberland’s two fold strategy of the church

Answer 15

continue Somerset’s reforms
take money from the church

Question 16

social impact of Somerset’s policies

Answer 16

dissolution of chantries disconnected society as it took money previously used for charity, feasts and celebrations.
Continued to take church resources which then created a wide-spread fear of what was to come

Question 17

Northumberland and the churches wealth

Answer 17

systematic policy of asset stripping and extracting wealth from the church:
plundering of Bishoprics: combined Gloucester and Worcester dioceses with remaining estates going to the crown

Question 18

Social impact of Northumberland’s religious policies

Answer 18

destruction of the societal aspect of churches, people began to leave less money to churches in their wills or for the church plate- aware that it would probably just go to the crown
caused a crisis of religion on a parish level, as things became plainer and as the crown took more, people were less eager to go
Crown takes church plate in 1553
climate of discontent (made it easy for Mary’s return to Catholicism)

Question 19

Humanism in Edward’s reign

Answer 19

Although weakened by divisions in the 1530s, humanism still had a clear influence on the crown:
Edward was tutored by humanist John Chelle
Secretary of State William Cecil encouraged humanist scholars
Humanism continued to influence Cranmer- the 1547 injunctions stated that parish churches should all have a copy of The Paraphrase of Erasmus

Question 20

How did Religious and intellectual ideas change in Edwards reign

Answer 20

an unpopular lean towards much more radical Protestantism, the longevity of these reforms unclear since Edward died so early however, a clear indicator is seen by Elizabeth. When returning England to Protestantism, she chose to reverse all religious policy up to the end of her father’s reign- therefore NONE of Edwards much more radical policies were returned to. Arguably Elizabeth chose this more tentative route because she did not have the power or authority over England that Edward did (Liz faced problems of legitimacy and gender which Edward did not)
Likewise, these reforms were very unpopular on a parish level which made it much easier for Mary to return
influence of humanism was similar to previous reigns

Question 21

Economic inheritance from Henry VIII

Answer 21

bad
debasement of coinage in his reign already created a problem with inflation and wages
wars had left England in debt

Question 22

Somerset’s economy

Answer 22

bad
inflation- continued to debase the coin to raise money to fight Scotland
low wages- made worse
enclosure- unpopular
bad harvests- 1548

Question 23

Somerset and enclosure

Answer 23

believed it was the root of social issues
set up a commission to investigate, the commissioners did little but raise expectations
in an attempt to deter enclosure, Somerset introduced sheep taxation but that just put pressure on small farmers

Question 24

Social impacts of Somerset’s economy

Answer 24

taxation made the wars very unpopular as well as unrest from small farmer who relied on sheep farming
hope raised by enclosure commissions but in reality, they changed nothing
literally caused 2 rebellions that he struggled to supress

Question 25

Northumberland’s economy

Answer 25

Crown finances are bolstered by the end of the wars, French payment for Boulogne and taking from the church
debased the coinage one more time and then stopped that policy- helped ease inflation
plans to streamline financial administration were made but never fully implemented due to Edward’s death

Question 26

social impact of Northumberland’s economy

Answer 26

-crown finances improved
-end of war and debasing the coinage helped ease inflation
However, the dubious methods of taking from the church were immensely unpopular (arguable Northumberland simply saw this as another form of revenue)

Question 27

When was the western rebellion

Answer 27

summer 1549

Question 28

societal causes of the western rebellion

Answer 28

-grievances with local government (Cornwall) and their Bishop for pushing for new land reforms
-The gentry used societal divisions to seize more land from people for enclosure
-because this rebellion was caused by anger at the gentry, many did not support it which ultimately led to its downfall
-sheep tax

Question 29

Religious causes for the western rebellion

Answer 29

1547 act of uniformity and the following prayer book- very unpopular
grievances ran deeper than this, upset with the stripping of the churches money and traditions as set out by the injunctions and dissolution of guilds
this rebellion is also know as the prayer book rebellion

Question 30

events of the western rebellion

Answer 30

Archdeacon William Body is murdered in 1548 (associated with the religious reforms)
Rebels set up camp in Bodmin
Send a list of demands to the King (some show a lack of respect for him)
very catholic leaning demands
joined by rebels from Devon and an armed camp is set up

Question 31

ending of the western rebellion

Answer 31

Lord Russel is sent to stop the some 6,000 rebels- this takes him a month to do (even with the aid of the local gentry)

Question 32

what does the western rebellion show

Answer 32

big societal discontent with new religious reforms
potentially that the power of the crown has diminished as it took a month for this rebellion to be stopped- shows Somerset’s lack of successful governing

Question 33

When was kett’s rebellion

Answer 33

summer 1549

Question 34

causes of kett’s rebellion

Answer 34

Societal reasons
anger over enclosure mainly but also some religious grievances
led by Robert Kett (landowner)

Question 35

Events of Kett’s rebellion

Answer 35

rebels launch an attack on Norwich in July
16,000 rebels by the time they reach Norwich
sent demands to the king, which were rejected
set us cases to discuss illegal enclosure while in Norwich

Question 36

Ending of kett’s rebellion

Answer 36

rebels defeat the first royal attack, led by Warwick
following this, mercenaries are hired and then attack again

Question 37

battle of Dussindale

Answer 37

August 1549
rebellion finally stopped but not without lots of mercenary support

Question 38

what did kett’s rebellion show

Answer 38

the ineffective ruling of Somerset
societal grievances were just, if not more, prominent as religious ones

Question 39

How did English society and economy change under Somerset and with what effects?

Answer 39

-Society became increasingly unstable as seen through the two rebellions
-religious reforms were unpopular but partially because of the societal disruptions as well
-after Henry, problems with inflation and enclosure were only accentuated through debasement of the coinage and Somerset’s ineffective enclosure council

Question 40

How did English society and economy change under Northumberland and with what effects?

Answer 40

Conditions surrounding inflation and taxation began due ease due to the ending of the war.
Arguable that Northumberland got away with such radical religious reforms because his government and societal was a bit more stable
however, parish level policies were very unpopular and people stopped leaving money to the church

Question 41

changes in English society

Answer 41

not many
still functioned under the same system
Henry trying to control the nobles more was the main change