The Social Impact Of Religious And Economic Change Under Edward VI Flashcards Preview

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1
Q

Who influences Somerset’s religious beliefs?

A

Religious radicals in his household such as John Hooper and Thomas Becon

2
Q

Why is the 1549 Book of Common Prayer considered to be a ‘moderate’ change?

A

It was written by Archbishop Cramner, who was anxious to increase religious tension.

3
Q

Where was Protestantism popular (within England) during this time?

A

It was suggested by Susan Brigden that 20% of Londoners were Protestant by 1547.

4
Q

What does Diamaid MacCullock suggest about the nature, pace and extent of religious change under Edward VI?

A

This extract suggests that religious change was quite radical. Catholicism was replaced with the evangelical establishment and England moved towards the religious revolution in the rest of Europe.

5
Q

What reforms did Somerset introduce, and how significant were they?

A

Feb 1547-Denunciation of images in London, supported within governments do by Protestant activists.
Jul 1547-Injunctions issued, attacked many features of popular Catholicism.
Dec 1547-Dissolution of chantries and religious guilds, property seized by the crown represented further attack on popular Catholicism
May 1549-Book of common prayer, imposed a moderate approach to religious reform.

6
Q

In what ways did Catholics feel like they were under attack?

A

Traditional Catholic practices were effected and the crown destroyed one means of connecting the dead to the communities. The crown confiscated money and property which had been used for charitable events.

7
Q

Why was Northumberland more radical than Somerset? (summarise the 4 reasons outlined)

A

Archbishop Cramner published a more radical Book of Common Prayer in 1552.
Radical senior clergy (eg. John Hooper) were becoming more influential.
Continental reformers moved to England and became influential on decision making on religious matters.
Edward VI took his role as head of Church more importantly and believed it his duty to destroy idolatry.

8
Q

What changes did Northumberland introduce, and how significant were they?

A

Removal of remaining conservative ceremonies, which meant that conservatives could not accept anything in the prayer book.
Rewriting of baptism, confirmation and burial services, which showed Cranmers desire to see simplicity in church services.
Radical reform of communion service, including replacement of wafer by ordinary bread, which showed influence of Zwinglianism in the Eucharist declaration, ‘Do this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for thee’.
Ban on use of ‘popish’ vestments which meant that simpler clerical vestments were seen as more in keeping with the simpler approach to services.
Restriction on use of church music, which meant that a simpler approach to music reflected the emphasis on greater simplicity in church services.
Supported those with radical views in the privy council.
Plunder in the wealth of the church and a continuation of the changes from Somerset.
More radical senior clergy became more influential (eg. John Hooper).

9
Q

What was Zwinglian?

A

Refers to the religious ideas of Ulrich Zwingli, a Protestant reformer from Zurich. His radical ideas had continental influence on the English Church during Edward VI’s reign, suggesting that transubstantiation did not take place in the right of the Eucharist.

10
Q

Who was John Hooper?

A

Edward VI’s most radical bishop, who had travelled across Protestant Europe and returned to England in 1549 when appointed Somerset’s chaplain. Northumberland appointed him bishop of Gloucester, and showed much inflexible radicalism in this post. He was burned as a heretic in Queen Mary’s reign.

11
Q

What were Cranmer’s Forty-Two Articles of Religion?

A

Issued in June 1553, they defined the essentials of the faith of the Church of England. They reflected the ideas of Cranmer, Zwingli and Bullinger and confirmed the reformed path of the church during Edward VI’s reign. The Kings death meant that they were never implemented, but 39 of the 42 were used in Elizabeth’s religious settlement. Even though the doctrines were Protestant, the hierarchy and government of the church remained the same.

12
Q

How did the Crown extract money from the Church?

A

The crown pursued a systematic policy of asset stripping, extracting wealth from the church through the plundering of the property of bishoprics. Eg. the dioceses of Gloucester and Worcester were combined, with two thirds of Worcester’s going to the crown; the bishops of Exeter and Worcester made substantial grants to the crown from their property. There was a plan to divide the bishopric of Durham and to appropriate much of its wealth to the crown, but it was never implemented.

13
Q

What evidence suggests that old Catholic practices were being eroded?

A

Expenditure on church goods declined after 1540, suggesting a reaction to the destructive attitudes of the crown. In addition, much less money (about 38% less) was left to the parish churches.

14
Q

Other than a growing acceptance of Protestantism, what else could the evidence from wills suggest about people’s response to religious reform?

A

It suggests that churches attracted less money from their people as services became plainer, plays and ales were suppressed and guilds and special funds were abolished.

15
Q

Why was the religious crisis at parish level made even worse?

A

Because of the fear of a Crown attack on church plate. Many tried to avoid this by selling their treasures. In January 1553, the crown started to confiscate church plate.

16
Q

How do the views of Dickens and Duffy differ in relation to the protestant reformation under Edward?

A

Duffy argued that the confiscation of church plate was not only an attack on the assets of parishes, but also on the history and collective memory of each parish, which encouraged a climate of discontent and disobedience. However, Dickens argues that the Protestant reforms were just a response to the actions of Henry VIII.

17
Q

What made inflation worse during Somerset’s governance?

A

He continued Henry’s disastrous policy of debasing the coinage in order to finance the war against Scotland. The poor harvest of 1548 also reinforced inflationary pressures.

18
Q

How did the issue of enclosures cause such problems?

A

John Hales argued that enclosure was the root cause of the country’s social and economic problems. The problem was investigated, but this only rose expectations of the poor and annoyed landowners.

19
Q

What tax did Somerset introduce? Who did it upset and why?

A

A tax was introduced on sheep in the hope to deter enclosure. This is because the main drive of increasing amounts of enclosure was thought to be the motive to change land from arable to pasture to graze sheep. However this created huge financial pressure for small farmers who had little choice but to rely on sheep for subsistence.

20
Q

How did Northumberland start to balance the books?

A

He ended the war with Scotland and France, which reduced crown expenditure and gained £133,333 from the return of Boulogne. Revenue was increased from the church through unscrupulous methods including melting of church plate for bullion.

21
Q

How does John Guy refer to the year of 1549?

A

‘The closest thing Tudor England came to a class war.’

22
Q

Why was there so much dissatisfaction and disorder in 1549?

A

There were major rebellions in East Anglia and the south west, and disorder throughout the rest of the country. Somerset’s government struggled to deal with rebellions, with considerable force garrisoning the south of England and south east to ward off French troops. Reasons for rebellions: religious reasons, agrarian and social greicances and resentment of taxation.

23
Q

How was most disorder dealt with?

A

Prompt action from the local nobility and gentry, such as the Earl of Arundel who calmed matters in Sessex. He punished oppressive landlords and disorderly peasants, restoring order. Similar methods worked in Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire and Midlands.

24
Q

What were the causes of the Western rebellion?

A

Prompted by religious grievances, particularly against the new book of common prayer. The rebels wanted to reverse the reforms which changed the way in which they could experience religion. Much of the traditional service and wider role in the community had gone. Taxation grievances also played a part, peasant labourers resented the sheep tax and this was worsened by the implementation of local officials.

25
Q

How was the western rebellion brought to an end?

A

On 17th August 1549, there was the final defeat of rebels at Sampford Courtenay. Thousands (about 3,000) of rebels killed by Russell’s forces leading to collapse of rebellion.

26
Q

What were the causes of Kett’s rebellion?

A

Class antagonism was the main drive behind this rebellion. Specific grievances include: hatred of local government officials, resentment of the abuse by landowners of the Norfolk fold course system (denying access to land for peasant farmers) and frustration about the maladminitration

27
Q

How was the kett rebellion brought to an end?

A

Somerset was forced to send an army under the Earl of Warwick to suppress the rebellion on 27th August (3000 killed). Kett was convicted of high treason and hanged.

28
Q

How challenging was the suppression of rebellion for Somerset?

A

Although he suppressed the Western rebellion using foreign mercenaries, under Lord Russell (2,500 killed), his first attempt by using the earl of Northumberland ended in a humiliating failure. Somerset unable to restore his political credibility with governing classes and most historians agree that the coup which removed Protector Somerset was made directly possible by the rebellions and by Somerset’s handling of them. Raising troops was difficult and expensive. Against his will, Somerset had to bring troops back from Scotland to assist in the crisis.