Religious Changes, 1509-88 Flashcards
Until the threat of a Catholic rebellion in 1568, how did the government allow the Catholic faith to remain strong?
The authorities were often prepared to turn a blind eye to Catholic recusant activity.
Why did Cranmer’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury cause considerable surprise?
Because he had only ever held minor positions in the Church and he held reformist views different from Henry’s own.
What was a ‘smaller monastery’ defined as?
One worth less than £200 per annum.
Helped by Philip, Mary had to negotiate with the pope and his legate, Reginald Pole, who wanted to take a more hard-line approach to the problem. What did this mean for religion?
It was not until the second parliament of November 1554 that the full return to the Catholic faith began.
When was the Bond of Association published?
1584
In 1528, pope Clement VII sent his legate (representative), Cardinal Campeggio, to England to help Wolsey hear the divorce case. Why did this not help?
Because Campeggio was under instructions to delay the proceedings.
What did the fact that all but one of Mary’s bishops refused to take the new Oath of Supremacy mean?
It meant that they were deprived of their posts, which allowed Elizabeth to appoint Protestant sympathisers in their place, including Matthew Parker (Anne Boleyn’s chaplain) as Archbishop of Canterbury.
How did the continued existence of monasteries represent a threat to Henry’s supremacy?
They often had links to foreign Catholic powers and with the pope himself.
When was the assassination of William of Orange?
1584
Royal Supremacy was not an inevitability, but more of a means to an end. What was it a solution for?
It was a solution to Henry’s desire to annul his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne, which was brought about through the interventions of those advising the king.
Who was John Foxe?
An Oxford educated Protestant ordained as a priest in Edward’s reign.
What did Field do in the 1580s, and why did it have little effect?
He encouraged the growth of the classes system, informal meetings to which representatives of local congregations would send representatives, and which were often used for study and prayer by the clergy. However, this had little effect because of government action.
When was the Act of Supremacy?
1534
How did Whitgift tighten controls on the Puritan clergy with the introduction of the Three Articles in 1583?
All clergy were required to take an oath subscribing to all three articles, which required clergymen to support the Royal Supremacy, the Book of Common Prayer and the 39 Articles, and to subscribe to the view that there was nothing in any of these that was against the Word of God.
What did Whitgift think about Puritans?
Like Elizabeth, he was deeply unsympathetic to their aims and fully supported the terms of the 1559 settlement.
When was the Act against bulls from Rome passed?
1571
With the Puritans, there were disagreements about doctrine. Which doctrine in particular?
The interpretation of Communion and what happened to the bread and wine.
Asides from the west, where remained particularly Catholic during Elizabeth’s reign?
The north of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Puritans emphasised the Word of God and the role of preaching. What did this mean that they favoured?
Better education for clergymen.
In what form did Catholicism survive during Elizabeth’s reign?
A minority religion that was only practised by members of landed society who could afford to do so.
What significantly happened with regards to religion under Edward in 1552?
Second Act of Uniformity, second Book of Common Prayer.
When was the Ridolfi Plot discovered?
1571
What do the Marprelate Tracts show about puritanism?
There were considerable divisions within the Puritan movement-they did not agree over methods or beliefs.
How was it that the move towards a Protestant Church peaked in 1538-39?
In 1538, Thomas Becket’s shrine at Canterbury Cathedral was destroyed. In 1539, Henry authorised the English Bible, a copy of which was to be placed in every parish church.
When did Cranmer’s main contribution to the Reformation come?
In the period after 1536
When did the Spanish Armada sail from Spain?
1588
To show the spread of Protestantism, Historians will often point to the number of priests who took advantage of the freedom to marry, as this was something that Protestants promoted. Give examples.
In London, almost 1/3 of the clergy married, but in Lancashire just 1/10 took a wife.
Which parliamentary act was the first to try and define the doctrine of the new English church?
The Act of Ten Articles (1536)
What were the two sentences added to the Communion service from the more moderate 1549 prayer book when Elizabeth reimposed the 1552 prayer book?
“The body/blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life”.
What was the relevance of the missionary priest’s location?
Most came to England via ports in the South-East, many not moving far beyond these regions, in which there were fewer practicing Catholics. Haigh has found that in 1580, half of the missionary priests in England were working in Essex, London and the Thames valley, where only 1/5 recusants lived.
How and why did Catherine of Aragon fight against Henry VIII’s wish for an annulment of their marriage?
She was worried about what would happen to their daughter Mary so appealed to her powerful nephew Charles V for help. He attacked Rome, meaning that Pope Clement VII was directly under his control and very unlikely to grant the annulment.
What and when was the Ridolfi plot?
It was in 1571, and was a plot by Florentine banker Roberto Ridolfi to use a Spanish invasion force to remove Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.
Elizabeth’s policy led to the development of a group known as ‘Church papists’. Who were they?
A moderate majority of Catholics who conformed outwardly to the Church of England.
When did Cromwell make Valour Ecclesiasticus?
1535
Who were the critics of the Catholic Church in the early 16th century, and what were their intentions?
Humanists such as Erasmus who wanted to see reform of the corruption and wealth of the Church but did not want to break away from it.
How and when did the Puritan challenge to the ERS through Convocation emerge?
In 1563 with discussions over the 39 Articles and a Puritan attempt to introduce 6 Articles to reform the Church.
What was Cranmer’s education?
He was educated at Cambridge, where he achieved a doctorate in divinity.
The main changes to religious practice between 1536-39 were in three key areas. What were these?
The dissolution of the monasteries, an attack on pilgrimages and other practices that the reformers saw as sacrilegious and the promotion of an English Bible.
What did the 1547 ‘Act for the Dissolution of the Chantries’, signed for by Edward, entail?
Its aim was to remove all remaining Catholic practices in parish churches. The injunctions ordered that all images were to be removed from churches, no candles were allowed except two on the altar, and clergy were told to encourage their congregation to not leave money for Masses in their wills.
How was the situation regarding war with Spain made even worse?
By the existence of an alliance between Philip II and French Catholics.
Name a new bishop appointed because of Cromwell due to their common religious views.
Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester
How was London in particular a place where Protestant ideas gained a stronghold?
London was the centre of a trade in heretical and illegal books and its trading links with the continent encouraged the exchange of more radical ideas.
Why were the moderate and Presbyterian Puritans, although a minority, hard for Elizabeth to defeat quickly or completely?
Because they were very determined and had powerful support from among Elizabeth’s own bishops and nobility.
Why was there less protection for Puritan preachers by 1589?
Because many leading supporters and protectors of Puritans had died, including Walsingham and the earls of Leicester and Warwick.
What did the monasteries represent for reformers?
The wealth and corruption of the church, and also the promotion of a ‘superstitious’ belief in purgatory.
Give an example of how Henry used his Supremacy to, with the help of Cromwell and Cranmer, attack the legal and financial powers of the Pope.
The entire English clergy were charged with praemunerie in 1530 and fine £100,000.
Why did fears of assassination gain new strength in 1584?
Because the Dutch Protestant leader was executed by a Spanish Catholic sympathiser in that year.
How did the Supremacy bill ensure that Elizabeth’s governorship would be accepted?
By including an oath of loyalty to be taken by all officials; the penalty for refusing to take the oath was to be loss of office.
By 1552, Cranmer had produced the second ‘Book of Common Prayer’. Whose work was this influenced by?
Martin Bucer, who had escaped persecution abroad and arrived in England 1549
What did Elizabeth gain from a religiously ambiguous front?
She could aim to appeal to as wide a range of people as possible.
Two important leaders of the Puritan challenge were the theologian Thomas Cartwright and the clergyman John Field. What did Field do?
In 1572 he published a vicious attack on bishops called ‘Admonitions to Parliament’, and followed this up with ‘A View on the Popish Abuses Yet Remaining in the English Church’. This criticised the Book of Common Prayer, claiming that it was ‘an unperfect book, culled and picked out of that popish dunghill, he Mass book of all abominations’.
Were Protestants still a minority in 1547?
Yes. It is estimated that, in 1547, only 1/5 of the population were Protestant.
In the 1560s, around 75% of the leading families in Yorkshire were Catholic. Why was this?
Many of the missionary priests were from landed families themselves, and had also turned naturally to those with the power and money to protect them; the Catholic nobility and gentry.
How can the initial acceptance of the ERS among the lower clergy be seen?
Only 300 out of 8000 refused the oath and were deprived of their offices.
What did Valour Ecclesiasticus do?
It valued all Church property and revealed to Henry VIII the wealth of the monasteries.
Why was the 1539 Suppression of Religious Houses Act simply a confirmation of what had already passed?
Because the monasteries had already been dissolved using a combination of persuasion, bribes and threats.
Why did the beliefs of Puritans bring them into conflict with Elizabeth herself?
Because she was determined that the 1559 settlement settlement should not be altered.
How was Puritanism a significant movement in other ways than trying to change the 1559 settlement?
Its emphasis on Evangelism led to growing support for Puritan ideas in some southern counties, and their impact on printing of cheap and readily available pamphlets and religious tract was also important.
Outside London, the South East and centres of learning such as Oxford and Cambridge, Protestantism was still uncommon by 1547. How, therefore, were the radical changes that occurred under Edward VI caused if not from popular pressure from below?
They were a result of top-down pressure from the regents Somerset and Northumberland.
On parliament’s return after Easter 1559, instead of one bill, two separate bills were introduced: the bills for Supremacy and for Uniformity. What was the aim of this?
The aim was to ensure that even if the more controversial Uniformity bill ran into trouble, the restoration of the Supremacy would not be affected.
At his burning in 1556, why did Cranmer famously put his right hand into the flames first?
Because it had signed his recantation.
It may be that Cranmer’s connection with the Boleyn family helped his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury. Why was this?
Because he could be relied upon to follow orders as they held reformist views.
English Catholics believed time in purgatory could be lessened by their actions on earth. Forgiveness could be achieved in a number of ways; give an example.
Receiving sacraments such as baptism, attending the Eucharist (Mass), and the confession of and penance for sins.
During Elizabeth’s reign, how many priests were sent to England by Allen’s seminaries and those like them?
About 800
How did the arrival of the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, change political circumstances for Catholicism in 1568?
She had a claim to the throne and became a figurehead for Catholics who wanted to overthrow Elizabeth.
What was the importance of the Jesuit movement?
Though not specifically set up to deal with Protestantism, it became a powerful tool for the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation. The Jesuits used a technique known as ‘spiritual exercises’, a form of meditation, which when done properly could lead to new commitment to Catholicism.
Who protected Thomas Cartwright?
The Earl of Leicester, who made him Master of the Lord Leicester Hospital (in Warwick) in 1585.
What is transubstantiation?
The Catholic belief that in the Eucharist the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. This was known as the ‘real presence’. The most radical Protestants denied the real presence altogether and argued that the Eucharist was simply a commemoration of the Last Supper.
How did Elizabeth’s policy create a settlement that would allow most moderate Catholics to conform?
The 1559 Settlement and the 39 Articles (1563) kept the doctrine of the Church of England as moderate as possible. In particular, the liturgy of the Communion was made deliberately ambiguous so that both moderate Protestants and Catholics would be more likely to accept it.
Two important leaders of the Puritan challenge were the theologian Thomas Cartwright and the clergyman John Field. What did Cartwright do?
In 1570, Cartwright gave a series of lectures at the University of Cambridge, which supported a Calvinist system. He lost his post as a result and spent much of his life abroad.
Apart from the issue of the former monastic lands, Mary and Pole did have some success in restoring England to full Catholicism. How did they do so with the appointment of bishops.
They appointed six educated and loyal bishops. Of these Catholic bishops, five later resigned in protest of Elizabeth’s policies, proving their commitment to their faith.
There was not the popular and spontaneous return to Catholicism that Mary had hoped for. What was this partly due to?
The fact that she underestimated the English Protestants.
By 1549, the liturgy and appearance of the English parish church was fundamentally different from that of 1547. What did this cause?
In part, it led to the serious rebellions of 1549
What was Valour Ecclesiasticus followed by?
Visitations of the monasteries undertaken by commissioners appointed by Cromwell, such as Thomas Legh and Richard Legh.
In 1581, Elizabeth agreed to stricter laws against recusants. What did this include?
A huge increase in the fine for recusancy to £20 a month, and the strengthening of the Treason Act.
The process of dissolution involved the destruction of monastery buildings. What in particular was done?
Lead was stripped from the roofs and melted down, and stained glass and images were smashed.
What did Cranmer do under Edward VI?
He became the architect of the Reformation, writing books of homilies and two books of common prayer, the second of which remained in use for centuries.
When was the Act for the Queen’s surety passed?
1585
Historian John Bossy has argued that the arrival of Seminary and Jesuit priests transformed low-level and disorganised Catholic resistance in the 1560s into something more organised and determined; the numbers of recusants recorded by the government went up during Elizabeth’s reign. Why is Bossy’s argument not true using this as evidence?
The rise in recusants was not a result of the missionary priest’s successes, but because the authorities were keeping better records and a closer eye on possible threats to the Queen.
When was the discovery of the Throckmorton plot?
1583
What is a Sacrament?
A ceremony within the Christian Church that is seen as God’s forgiveness of sinners (‘grace’). In the Catholic Church there are seven sacraments: Eucharist, baptism, confirmation, penance, marriage, ordination and extreme unction. In the 16th century Protestant view there were three: Eucharist, baptism and penance.
What was Elizabeth’s response in 1586 to the 1584 attempt to advance a Puritan ‘bill and book’?
She had the MPs responsible sent to the tower.
What shows that, in Henry’s reign following 1539, the evangelical influences at court and in royal policy did not disappear?
In 1543, Henry married Catherine Parr, who had Protestant sympathies. The reformer faction at court still existed, led by Edward Seymour, while Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth were being educated by the best scholars in the country, who also had reformist views.
Haigh has shown that some Church of England congregations still clung to Catholic practices not just because of their priests, but because they preferred them. For example, parishioners in Berkshire in 1584 were still refusing to receive Communion in both kinds. What does that suggest about religion under Elizabeth?
It suggests that varying practices still continued within the church of England and were tolerated to some extent under the Elizabethan compromise.
In what form did Catholicism in the regions survive under Elizabeth?
As an increasingly underground movement among those who could afford it.
What encouraged a few Catholic recusants and their supporters to become involved in plots to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots?
Elizabeth’s excommunication and the presence of Mary, Queen of Scots.
What and when was the Throckmorton plot?
A plot to put Mary on the throne involving a group of English Catholic gentry including Francis Throckmorton, the Spanish ambassador Mendoza, and the French Catholic Duke of Guise.
When was the ‘King’s Book’, also known as ‘The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition of a Christian Man’, published, and what were its contents?
It was published in 1543, and it emphasised traditional beliefs in Masses for the dead and rejected reformer beliefs such as sola fide.
What was the result of Whitgift ordering that any clergymen suspected of Puritan activity were to take an ex officio oath?
300 clergymen in the diocese of Canterbury were suspended for refusing to take the oath. Under Whitgift, the challenge from the Calvinists died down considerably, although it did not disappear completely.
At the same Convocation as the 39 articles, Puritans put forward 6 articles which would have made the appearance of the Church and its services much more radical, including a demand that those receiving Communion shouldn’t have to kneel. Though defeated by 59 votes to 58, what did this show?
It showed that the Puritans could represent a potential challenge to the Elizabethan Settlement.
In 1585, England was finally being drawn into a war with Spain after years of increasing tension. What did this mean?
It meant that there was a strong possibility of a foreign Catholic invasion force combining with Catholic recusants and Mary Stuart (Mary, Queen of Scots) to remove Elizabeth.
By the end of Elizabeth’s reign, actively practising Catholics were a minority; what has been estimated in terms of numbers?
By 1603, it is estimated that only 50,000 Catholics, including church Papists, remained in a population of about 4,000,000
What was the 1536 Act to dissolve the smaller monasteries?
The Suppression of Religious Houses Act or Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries
Which drastic act against Catholic faith occurred in January 1550?
Parish churches were ordered to surrender all Catholic service books. Thousands of these books were burnt.
What did the two sentences “The body/blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life”, added to the reimposed 1552 prayer book, mean for communion?
Catholics could still believe that transubstantiation had taken place, while Protestants could interpret the wording differently.
What led to John Lambert’s trial and subsequent execution?
Connected to other radical preachers from Cambridge, he had already been in trouble several times on suspicion of heresy. In 1538, he publicly challenged a sermon and was arrested on suspicion of denying the real presence.
Why was Henry happy to believe reformist thoughts on papal supremacy?
Because it suited his own ideas about the power of the monarchy and allowed him to increase his control over the Church through the Royal Supremacy.
Why was Elizabeth not prepared to let individual congregations run themselves religiously?
Because she feared the spread of dangerous religions and political ideas that might challenge her power.
Who was John Calvin?
Calvin was a radical Protestant thinker whose ideas were adopted in the Swiss town of Geneva. He also supported the idea that salvation could be achieved with sola fide, and believed in predestination. He also rejected the traditional hierarchy of the church.
The Throckmorton plot led to the Bond of Association. What was this?
A document circulated by Elizabeth’s council. Those who signed the Bond pledged to put death to anyone who tried to gain the throne by harming Elizabeth.
What was Elizabeth’s aim for religion in England?
Her aim was to create a compromise settlement that would be acceptable to as many of her subjects as possible and which would allow her political survival.
What significantly happened with regards to religion under Mary in 1553?
The succession crisis and her acession
What does it mean to believe in predestination?
It means to believe that God had decided who would go to heaven.
What did the Cambridge and Oxford academics influenced by Luther’s ideas argue for?
Greater emphasis in the role of the Bible which they thought should be accessible to all, a return to a simpler and less corrupt church, and they challenged transubstantiation and the supreme role of the pope, claiming that there was no biblical precedent for either.
When did Mary, Queen of Scots, arrive in England?
1568
What did the second ‘Book of Common Prayer’ instruct the church to do?
It required that the Catholic stone altar was replaced with a wooden table and told the clergy to wear a plain surplice rather than their traditional, more decorated vestments.
When did the first burning of heretical books take place during Henry’s reign?
1521
Why is the number of Catholic books published in her reign not a sign of triumph for Mary I?
Because while Catholic publications increased, they were no match for Protestant works, 98 of which were published in her reign.
What was the hidden agenda of the commissioners who investigated the monasteries?
To find evidence of corruption.
When was the first execution of a seminary priest (Cuthbert Mayne)?
1577
Name some notable Cambridge academics other than Barnes who were influenced by Luther’s ideas.
William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale (both translated and published versions of the English Bible), Hugh Latimer and the future archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer,
By Edward’s death in 1553, chantries were gone, services were in English and followed Protestant doctrine, and parish churches had lost most of their decoration and ornaments. Why did this not mean that England was now a fully Protestant country?
Because, although nearly 300 men and women were prepared to martyr themselves for their faith under Mary, and a further 800 went into exile, this was a minority of the population.
What was Sacramentarianism?
It was a belief inspired by more radical Protestants in Switzerland. Sacramentarians did not believe in the real presence at Communion, something that Henry VIII considered heresy.
What did Pole want his bishops to do, and what did he order his clergy to do?
The bishops were encouraged to set good examples for their clergy. The clergy were ordered to live in their parishes to improve the quality of care for their congregations.
What did Elizabeth do when parliament tried to pass an Act of Parliament banning Mary, Queen of Scots, from the English succession?
Elizabeth would not agree to this and prorogued (suspended) parliament until 1576. However, she did agree to other Acts that tightened control on Catholics such as a law that made it treason to bring the bull of excommunication into the country.
The highly trained and educated priests from Allen’s seminaries and those like them, as well as Jesuit priests, were sheltered by Catholic recusants. Why were they and their shelterers dealt with harshly when caught?
Because they were seen by Elizabeth’s government as a threat to political stability.
Why weren’t the Puritans a united group?
Because, while some were able to accept and work within the structure and liturgy of the Church of England, others tried to change the Settlement, and a minority tried to reject it all together.
In 1571, the Duke of Norfolk was implicated in a plot by a Florentine banker, Roberto Ridolfi. What was this, and what happened to him?
The plot was to use a Spanish invasion force to remove Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. The Duke of Norfolk was executed in 1572.
When was Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury?
In 1532 while he was still abroad in northern Italy.
As Calvinists feared social disorder, what did they not believe?
They didn’t believe that each congregation should be allowed complete independence. Instead, they wanted England to adopt a national framework that would include regional and national meetings (‘synods’) of representatives from each congregation. These synods would then impose discipline on local congregations.
Why did Elizabeth want prophesyings stopped?
She feared that these meetings were a cover for the establishment of a Calvinist system, especially as it was difficult to control what exactly was discussed at the meetings.
Anne Boleyn was interested in the study of the Bible and owned a copy written in French rather than Latin. She also owned a psalter that contained a new radical french translation of psalms. The ownership of these was illegal; why was she not prosecuted for this?
Because her influence meant that she was immune from prosecution for such things.
Although, after Elizabeth’s excommunication, the majority of Catholics chose national loyalty to their queen and country rather than to a foreign power, what was the result of the increased tensions?
Elizabeth came under pressure from her Council and parliament to enact harsher punishments against Catholics.
How did Henry VIII take advantage of John Lambert’s trial?
His trial was a show-trial in which Henry was determined to demonstrate that radical thinkers had gone too far, and this was a signal for the conservative changes in religion that followed.
What did Anne Boleyn’s steadfast refusal to sleep with the king and become his chief mistress mean for her?
Her role, and the king’s interest in her, became more significant as he fell in love with her, and by 1527 he had promised to marry her.
Anne Boleyn was an influential figure at court who held religiously reformist ideas. Where does historian David Starkey argue that she was influenced in this direction?
In France, where she had been well-educated and spent most of her youth. Starkey argues that she was influenced by French reformist thinkers with similar ideas to Luther.
Following the successful passing of the acts of Uniformity and Supremacy, what was Elizabeth able to do?
She could enforce her settlement through the new Oath of Supremacy.
Arguably, what was decisive in the eventual passing of the Act of Uniformity?
Elizabeth and Cecil’s careful management of the situation, and in particular the absence of the two imprisoned Catholic bishops plus the mysterious absence of the Abbot of Westminster.
Elizabeth’s personal faith was ambiguous, perhaps deliberately so. What did she famously say that supports this?
That she ‘did not wish to make windows into men’s souls’.
When was the Death of Mary and accession of Elizabeth?
1558
Asides from establishing seminaries and appointing bishops, how did Mary I and Cardinal Pole succeed?
They founded six new monastic institutions and forced and/or encouraged 800 protestants to leave the country.
How did Puritans such as Edmund Grindal, a former exile under Mary who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1570, justify working with the Church in order to change it for the better.
By using the idea of adiaphora.
Although Elizabeth was determined to accept no changes to the 1559 Settlement, what did she issue in 1559?
A set of injunctions which further defined the operation of the Church. These injunctions included instructions on what the clergy were to wear: ‘seemly habits, garments and such square caps’.
Following Cromwell’s execution in 1540, how did the king continue to move back towards a more Catholic doctrine?
With the 1543 publication of the ‘King’s Book’, also known as ‘The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition of a Christian Man’. This emphasised traditional beliefs in Masses for the dead and rejected reformer beliefs such as sola fide.
How was Pole’s “top-down” approach undermined?
There were not enough well-educated priests to serve all the parishes, so Pole had to grant 200 exemptions allowing pluralism.
When was the arrival of the first seminary priests?
1574
Though Henry was never a Protestant, and indeed burnt reformers for heresy, the break with Rome did encourage the development of Protestantism in England. When were the key years for this, and why were they?
1529-39, when those with reformist sympathies were able to influence the king. From late 1538, there was a conservative backlash, but by then popular Protestantism had taken hold in some regions.
Who was William of Orange, also widely known as William the Silent or William the Taciturn?
William I, Prince of Orange, was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs.
How did Matthew Parker use convocation to control licenses to preach?
All clergy were asked to ‘subscribe’ completely to the 39 Articles before they were allowed to have their licenses renewed. Preachers such as Field were even summoned in person to swear not only to uphold the articles but also the prayer book and to wear the proper vestments. When Field would not do this he was suspended from preaching.
When was the Papal bull ‘Regnans in Excelsis’ published, excommunicating Elizabeth?
1570
Name the most famous victim of Mary’s religious policy.
Thomas Cranmer, who had recanted his Protestant views in the hope that it would save him but, due to Mary’s desire for his death, burned to death in 1556.
When was the Act of Six Articles published, and what did it do?
It was published in 1539 and reinforced Catholic doctrines such as transubstantiation and celibacy for priests.
Henry VIII became very interested in his own powers as king, undoubtedly due to his need to find a way to end his marriage with Catherine, and commissioned leading scholars such as Cranmer to research an intellectual justification for his annulment. What did Cranmer consequently publish?
Collectanea satis copiosa (1530), a collection that used English chroniclers, some dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period, to argue that the kings of England were not subject to papal power. Henry himself read this work thoroughly and even annotated it.
What about foreign policy changed political circumstances for Catholicism in Elizabeth’s reign?
The deterioration of English relations with Spain, caused by tensions over the Netherlands (where Dutch Protestants were revolting against Spanish Catholic Rule). Also, English Piracy in the New World that targeted Spanish shipping.
How was the bill of Uniformity actually a compromise in terms of the doctrines it aimed to enforce?
For example, although it reimposed the more radical 1552 prayer book with a fine of 12d for those who refused to attend weekly churches, two sentences were added to the Communion service from the more moderate 1549 prayer book. Also, Church decoration and the clergy’s vestments were to be returned to their 1548 state.
Apart from the issue of the former monastic lands, Mary and Pole did have some success in restoring England to full Catholicism. How did they do so by challenging the Protestant use of the printing press?
Pole encouraged the publication of Catholic literature; between 1554-58, 64 Catholic titles were published.
Cardinal Pole believed that the best way to reintroduce Catholicism was through the clergy, not their congregation. Because of this, he rejected the offer of help from the Jesuits. Why was this probably a mistake?
Because their emphasis on preaching might have encouraged congregations to embrace the changes more completely.
In 1559, the Act of Uniformity required everyone to attend a Church of England service each Sunday. What was the punishment for non-attendance?
A fine of 12d (1 shilling)
What significantly happened with regards to religion under Mary in 1554?
Wyatt’s rebellion, marriage of Mary to Philip, Reginald Pole arrives in England
Why did the bill of Uniformity still face problems from the Lords?
Because it was more Protestant than the Catholic peers were prepared to allow.
Which trial in November 1538 did Henry VIII preside over, and how did that show that the king was moving away from evangelical reform?
He presided in person over the trial of the evangelical John Lambert, who was sentenced to death for heresy.
What did John Foxe do during Mary’s reign?
He went into exile to escape persecution. While there, he wrote his ‘Book of Martyrs’ which is sometimes known as the ‘Acts and Monuments’.
What did Cranmer publish in 1553?
The 42 articles, which clarified the English faith as Calvinist Protestant and would form the basis for Elizabeth’s 39 articles.
When radical members of the clergy caused debate within the church 1664-66 over the issue of clerical vestments, Elizabeth was determined to uphold the injunctions she had issued in 1559, which instructed the clergymen on what to wear. What did she have to do when the debate persisted?
She was forced to write to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, complaining about bishops who permitted ‘varieties, novelties and diversities’ in clerical dress.
Under Mary I, Cranmer was imprisoned and tried for heresy. Why did the fact that he recanted his beliefs not save him from being burned alive?
Mary was determined to get revenge because she blamed Cranmer for the annulment of her mother’s marriage.
Why was Grindal, appointed Archbishop of Canterbury from 1575, suspended from his office until his death in 1583?
Because he refused to stop all prophesying as Elizabeth had ordered him to.
What happened because of the fall of Cromwell in 1540 and the influence of a conservative faction at court?
This led to a religious clampdown in which radicals such as Robert Barnes, who had previously been given a license to preach, were burnt,
What was the most notorious aspect of Mary’s religious policy?
The burning of nearly 300 Protestants between 1556-58.
After the defeat of Elizabeth’s first religious settlement, she and Cecil realised that if they were to get a more Protestant religious settlement, they would need to undermine the Lords’ power. How did they do so in several ways during a parliamentary break for Easter?
A debate was held between Catholic and Protestant supporters. This was organised by Protestant supporters such as Cecil and led to a Catholic walkout. Bishops White of Winchester and Watson of Lincoln were arrested and sent to the Tower for refusing to participate in the debate, thus decreasing the influence of the bishops in the Lords. On 2 April, the peace treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis was signed with France. This decreased the likelihood of a French-led Catholic invasion
When Elizabeth wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, to complain about clerical dress, he responded by ordering the bishops to make their clergy conform to Elizabeth’s demands. What shows that this had limited effect?
The fact that, in 1566, Parker had to issue the ‘Advertisements’, which ordered all clergy to wear the appropriate vestments. Parker then targeted the London clergy, where Puritanism was particularly strong, and ordered 110 to appear at Lambeth dressed appropriately. 37 refused and were suspended.
What stopped the Alphabetical Bills?
Unfortunately for the bishops, a Puritan MP, William Strickland, attempted to add his own version of the Book of Common Prayer to the Alphabetical Bills. If Strickland had succeeded, he would have replaced the moderate prayer book enforced under the Act of Uniformity (1559). Obviously Elizabeth would not allow this and used her royal veto to stop the bills.
What led to Cranmer travelling widely in Europe on the king’s behalf and to his work on the Collectanea Satis Copiosa?
He travelled in Wolsey’s household to Europe and came up with the idea of asking European universities for their opinions on the annulment.
Anne Boleyn’s promotion of reformers did not stop with Cranmer, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1532. Who else did she employ as chaplains in her household?
Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Shaxton and William Barlow. All three had reformist views and were promoted to bishoprics by Henry between 1534-36. Another chaplain, Matthew Parker, was to become Elizabeth I’s first Archbishop of Canterbury.
What did the fact that the fine for recusancy was 12d (1 shilling) mean for wealthier members of society such as members of the gentry and nobility?
It was affordable for them, so wealthier recusants at least continued to worship in private masses, with government authorities often turning a blind eye.
Apart from the issue of the former monastic lands, Mary and Pole did have some success in restoring England to full Catholicism. How did Pole do so in 1555-56?
He called a Church synod, the aim of which was to improve the education of the clergy and the running of the Church through a top-down approach.
In April 1533, Cranmer lead Convocation in discussions over the validity of the king’s first marriage and the Pope’s authority. Unsurprisingly, they supported the king. What did this mean Cranmer could do?
These events allowed Cranmer to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine, while the Act in Restraint of Appeals meant that she could not make a legal appeal to the Pope
What did English Catholics believe happened when a person died?
That their soul would spend time in purgatory as penance for their wrongdoing during their lives.
What was the actual name of Mary, Queen of Scots?
Mary Stuart.
When was the Treason Act passed?
1571
What happened in court as Cromwell’s influence began to waver?
The conservative faction regained the upper hand.
In 1529, anticlerical feeling was stirred up by Simon Fish’s publication ‘A Supplication for the Beggars’. What was in this pamphlet, which Anne Boleyn is said to have supported?
It criticised the wealth and corruption of the Catholic Church, and challenged the key Catholic beliefs of purgatory and the sale of indulgences.
Although Neale’s thesis of a Puritan Choir can no longer be given credence, how was there still a Puritan challenge in parliament?
There were some MPs in Elizabeth’s parliament who were prepared to change the Settlement through Parliamentary bills, which they hoped would become Acts.
During Cranmer’s travels, he seemed to have come into contact with reformist thinkers. What shows that he was influenced by their ideas?
He got married; something a Catholic priest was not supposed to do.
When was the Revolt of the Northern Earls?
1569.
Who was John Whitgift?
Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 until the end of Elizabeth’s reign.
Why did some of the abbots cooperate with the dissolution?
They were given pensions if they cooperated and were threatened with execution for treason if they resisted.
Who was the first known English Lutheran, and what happened to them?
The friar Robert Barnes, who preached his controversial views at Cambridge in 1525 and was executed for heresy in 1540.
Cranmer was able to survive the death of both his allies Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, eventually finding allies at court in Catherine Parr and the reformist faction. What does this suggest about his character?
This suggests that he was a clever political operator, able to compromise and bend to the king’s will.
What was the Act of Ten Articles?
Articles which were mostly in line with Catholic belief but had a deliberately ambiguous take on the Eucharist and decreased the number of sacraments from 7 to 3.
What was the result of Cardinal Pole’s quarrel with Pope Paul IV?
The appointments to seven bishoprics were held up in 1557-58, which frustrated his attempts to renew the leadership of the church.
Why did the pressure for Elizabeth to act against the recusants increase still further in 1583?
Because her spymaster, Walsingham, discovered the Throckmorton plot; another plot to put Mary on the throne.
When was ‘The Bishop’s Book’ published, and what was it?
It was published in 1537. Written by a committee of clergy, it had restored the four sacraments left out in the Ten Articles.
What were the Alphabetical Bills?
They were an attempt by the bishops to improve clerical standards by attacking abuses such as pluralism.
In 1584, there were Puritan attempts to advance a ‘bill and book’. What was this, and what happened to it?
The ‘bill and book’ would have introduced a national Presbyterian Church and replaced the Elizabethan Book of Common Prayer with one based on services in Geneva. The attempt was defeated as a result of a speech by one of Elizabeth’s councillors, Christopher Hatton.
What did Whitgift do that went further than swearing clergy to the Three Articles in 1583?
He ordered that any clergymen suspected of Puritan activity were to take an ex officio oath; swearing to answer all questions truthfully without prior knowledge of what the questions were.
What did Protestant writers such as John Foxe use the fact that Mary was burning vast numbers of Protestants for?
Propaganda purposes.
Who, in 1577, was the first of the seminary and Jesuit priests to be captured and executed?
Cuthbert Mayne.
The parliament of 1584-85 once again sought to tighten controls on Catholic priests and their recusant supporters. What did this lead to?
The Bond of Association being made law.
Reformers seeking to ‘purify’ the Church were supported by Edmund Grindal from 1575. Why is this important?
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Because Grindal was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
When was the Act in Restraint of Appeals?
1533
