Tudor Religion

Henry VIII

Period: 1509 to 1547

Downfall of Wolsey

1529

Wolsey dies on the way to be executed after getting ill on the journey down. Henry mourns his death and greatly regrets it - last great catholic leader dead so reformists can now be religious leaders.

Reformation Parliament

1529

Henry called Parliament and allowed it to pass some anticlerical laws. This parliament became known as the Reformation Parliament and met intermittently from 1529-36.

Cromwell's Influence

1531

By 1531 Henry was being increasingly influenced by Cromwell who both both anti clerical and a reformist and he knew how to persuade the king.

Submission of the Clergy

1532

In 1532 Henry received the submission of the clergy where they agreed to recognise him as the ‘Supreme head of the Church as far as the law of Christ allows’.

Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

1532

In 1532, Archbishop Warham died. In his place Henry appointed Thomas Cranmer, chaplain to the Boleyn family and a known reformer and Protestant sympathizer. He would be more submissive than Warham.

Downfall of Thomas More

1532

After refusing to sign his allegiance to the supremacy, More. He resigned from his position in the privy council as the Kings Lord Chancellor. he was imprisoned in the tower of London until his opposition to attending Anne's coronation left him in the cross hairs of huge political backlash. he was charged with taking bribes and conspiring with the holy maid of Kent. He was declared guilty and was beheaded. After the judgement he spoke openly about the heresy he saw in the supremacy.

Anne Boleyn Pregnant

1533

In January Anne announces she is pregnant, Cranmer then married Henry to Anne to ensure the child would be legitimate - A few weeks later Cranmer announces that Henry's marriage to Catherine was never legitimate therefore Henry's marriage to Anne is.

Act in restraint of Appeals

1533

Declares that all legal cases arising in England could be finally decided and determined in England. Therefore it was illegal to appeal to any outside or foreign power, such as the Pope, as Catherine was doing.

Act of Succession

1534

This declared that since Henry had never been married to Catherine of Aragon, Princess Mary was a bastard and could not inherit the throne. In contrast it showed that Henry's marriage to Anne was legitimate and that Anne Children were legitimate and could inherit the throne.

Act of Supremacy

1534

Made official what was hinted in the act of restraint of appeals -Henry is the supreme head of the church in England. Furthermore it declared that Henry had always been head of the church and none of this was revolutionary. Cromwell immediately took steps to enforce this through parliament - The members of both houses were required to swear an oath accepting the Act of Succession and all the King's subjects were now required to swear to the legitimacy of the marriage.

The Treason Act

1534

Saw a major widening of what could be considered treason and would be used to dispose of political opponents. It declared that treason could now be committed with words as well as acts thus denying the king was head of the church was treason. It became treasonous to speak rebellious words against the Royal Family, or to call the King a heretic, tyrant, infidel or usurper.

Cromwell Gains titles

1535

On 21 January 1535, the King appointed Cromwell Royal Vicegerent and Vicar-General, and commissioned him to organise visitations of all the country's churches, monasteries and clergy.

Valor Eccesiasticus

1535

In 1535, Cromwell's agents carried a special survey to find out the accumulated wealth and income of secular as well as regular (monastic) foundations. Cromwell was against monasticism; he believed that monasteries were dens of superstition and pro-Papal sentiment. At a time when the government was worried about opposition, it was thought that they might be centres of disaffection.

Pilgrimage of Grace 1536

1536

Some 30,000 rebels gathered from all over the North of England led by Robert Aske, who had links with the Earl of Northumberland. Gentry and landowners involved as well as peasantry. Rumours that Charles V might invade with Reginald Pole. Pole, a Yorkist, would marry Princess Mary and Henry would be deposed in their favour. The King was only able to raise 8,000 troops under the Duke of Norfolk. It was the most serious and popular rebellion of Tudor period.

First Suppression act

1536

Parliament passed the first suppression act to dissolve monasteries with an income of less than £200 per annum leaving larger monasteries encouraged to dissolve as well.

10 articles

1536

Passed through Convocation by the bishops, these Articles made limited moves towards Lutheran ideas. The King and Cromwell were interested in a possible alliance with the Lutheran Princes in Germany. These Articles were not officially approved by the King or passed through Parliament.

Cromwell's Injunctions

1536

Thomas Cromwell was Vicegerent in Spirituals (the King’s Deputy in Church affairs).Priests were to educate children in favour of the supremacy and the 10 articles. the number of Holy Days was reduced.

Anne Boleyn Excecuted

1536

Failure to give Henry a son combined with accusations of infidelity and incest brought about her execution.

Voluntary suppression

Period: 1536 to 1539

Official policy become to encourage the voluntary dissolution of the larger houses that did not come under the 1536 act. Cromwell sent out commissioners to each of the houses. Those that seemed prepared to fight were noted. Cromwell had told the commissioners to leave these houses alone, but an implied threat was made. Large numbers agreed to voluntary suppression and handed their property and wealth over to the Crown.

Bishops Book (officially the Institution of a Christian Man)

1537

This was drawn up by a committee of bishops to fill in the gaps left in the Ten Articles. There was fierce debate between conservative and more reforming bishops. Henry did not give his approval. When he did review it, he sent Cranmer 250 changes.

Cromwell's injunctions

1538

Religious images which were the object of pilgrimage were to be taken down. Candles in front of images was not allowed. Sermons to be preached against the veneration of images and relics.

John Lambert Burned at the stake

1538

John Lambert was a reformer who argued, in line with Zwingli and other advanced reformers, that the body of Christ was not substantially present during the Eucharist. Henry presided at the trial, indicating that such radical ideas on the Eucharist were not acceptable.

Suppression of Religious Houses Act

1539

It provided for the dissolution of 552 monasteries and houses remaining after the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act. This legalised the voluntary suppression that had been taking place since 1539. The Abbot of Glastonbury was in charge one of the wealthiest monasteries in England. He was executed and the buildings in the monastery were all but destroyed. The abbot himself was charged with secretly hoarding gold and other plate, which the abbot had hid secretly from all commissioners’.

English Bible

1539

By 1547 most churches had them, though access was restricted. Protestants had always insisted that a vernacular bible was crucial to true religion. Catholics were not against an English Bible in principle but thought that in practice, lay exposure to it would lead inevitably to disagreements and heresy. The English Bible was a major step towards a Protestant theology.

The Act of the 6 Articles

1539

An act of parliament with more authority than the 10 articles.it enshrines clear Catholic beliefs. Transubstantiation
Clerical celibacy –
Communion in both kinds (bread and wine) reserved to the clergy. Laity to receive bread only.
Vows of chastity important and to be upheld.
Masses for the dead important.
Auricular confession (oral confession of sins to a priest) ‘expedient and necessary’.

Overthrow of Thomas Cromwell

1540

He had been the Kings chief adviser and was in favour of religious reform. After the disastrous Cleaves marriage (Cromwell proposed and organised) Henry decided to marry Catherine Howard, niece of leading conservative the Duke of Norfolk. Cromwell was dismissed and executed for treason in 1540 after being accused of heresy - his only real crime was the Cleaves marriage. Without him the reformist faction was severely weakened and the conservative faction of Norfolk and Gardiner rose.

Kings Book

1543

Was a revision of the Bishops book that was endorsed by the king. was meant to be Henry's definitive statement on religion as he had personally written it. It downplayed the importance of the bible while reinforcing the importance of the Mass, transubstantiation and confession. It seems this is Henry's final statement on religion and that this is his personal view of what a Henrichian Catholic should be.

Act for the Advancement of the True Religion.

1543

Henry was concerned at who could read the English bible so restricted it to nobles. He hoped that this would curb any further religious debate.

Marriage to Catherine Parr.

1543

Henry chose a known reformer for his last wife. Conservatives attempted to link her to Anne Askew but when Wriothesley came with a royal warrant to arrest her, Henry dismissed him.

Reforming Coup

1547

Just before Henry's death the reformists became the dominant faction at court. The indiscretions of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, Norfolk's son, led to his execution and the imprisonment of Norfolk. Seymour and his Protestant allies controlled the Privy Chamber and thus access to dying Henry.Control of royal household also allowed them access to Henry's will and would allow them to disregard Henry's wishes about government for Prince Edward.

Edward VI

Period: 1547 to 1553

First book of common Prayer

1549

While acceptable to Catholics it also didn't satisfy radical protestants who called for further religious change. Priests could marry and further chantries were abolished.

Western (Prayer book) rebellion

1549

Opposition to the prayer book occurred in Cornwall where rebels attempted to capture Exeter. they succeeded but were repelled by royal forced under the command of Lord William Grey with some 8600 men.

Ketts Rebellion

1549

Mainly about enclosure of common lands however this had religious protestant undertones as they were unhappy that protestant legislation was not being produced quick enough.

Act of Uniformity

1549

Established the 1st book of common prayer as the official liturgy and the sole legal form of worship.

New Ordinal

1550

Order of service for the ordination of new priests. More stress on preaching the Word of God, less stress on ceremonies and rituals

Second Book of common prayer

1552

More radical than 1549. Vestments now black and white, moving of altars now official policy. Mass renamed Lord’s Supper and given more memorialist interpretation i.e. that bread and wine did not change but merely symbolised Christ’s body and blood.

42 Articles

1553

Written by Cranmer, they emphasised: Centrality of Bible; Justification by Faith alone; Predestination. Most protestant form of literature every produced in England.

Repeal of the Edwardian settlement.

1553

Repeal by Parliament to all aspects of Edwardian settlement including 2nd book of common prayer, 42 articles and act of uniformity.

Mary I

Period: 1553 to 1558

Wyatts Rebellion

1554

While fuelled by anti Spanish sentiment that was echoed throughout England, this was also linked to an anti Catholic sentiment that wanted to remove the Catholic Mary in favour of her protestant sister, Elizabeth. This rebellion was the most successful of all Tudor rebellions besides Mary's own and was only stopped when Mary gave a rousing speech to the people of London proclaiming herself a Tudor.

Pole returns

1554

Cardinal Reginald Pole returns to England as papal legate and admits England back into the Catholic church.

Burning of Leading Protestant Bishops

1555

Ridley, Hooper, Latimer and Cranmer imprisoned and later executed for refusal to recant their Protestant beliefs. Other bishops conform. This would fuel anti catholic sentiment and be the source of religious dissent in the form of Foxes book of Martyrs (1563)

Burning of Protestants

1555

In the most widely unpopular movement by the regime which demonised Catholicism to the masses, (224 between 1555 and 1558) fuelled Foxes book of martyrs further.

Statute of Repeal

1555

All acts past against the papacy since 1529 were abolished.

Papal Supremacy reaccepted

1555

Cardinal pole as papal legate was also made archbishop of Canterbury.

Elizabeth I

Period: 1558 to 1603

Act of Uniformity

1559

Authorized the use of a new English Prayer Book based on the Edwardian Book of 1552. However the changes made to the 1552 book show that Elizabeth and her advisers were aiming at a moderate statement of doctrine, which would appeal to moderate Catholics as well as Protestants. Ornaments Rubric enforced the wearing of Catholic vestments by the clergy.

Royal Injunctions

1559

Much of the detail was filled in by a set of Royal Injunctions, which were delivered to all churches by Royal Commissioners.

Act of Supremacy

1559

Repealed the authority of the pope in favour of Elizabeth's own. Replaced it with a royal Supremacy, except that Elizabeth was made Supreme Governor NOT Supreme Head as her father (Henry VIII) had been.This was because, as a woman, she could not be a priest. So her power over the English Church was not as great as Henry VIII’s had been. In addition Parliament came to see itself as the real arbiter of religious change.

the 39 Articles of Religion

1563

These were passed by Convocation (Church Assembly) not Parliament and explained key areas of religious doctrine in a Protestant way. They were based heavily on the 42 Articles drawn up by Archbishop Cranmer in the last year of Edward VI’s reign.

Elizabeth Excommunicated

1570

Phillip heavily disproved and was extremely angry at the pope for doing so.

Vestiarian Controversy

1571

In the 1571 Parliament, there was an attempt to reintroduce 6 bills of 1566.Walter Strickland introduces Bill in House of Commons for reform of Prayer Book esp. to abolish kneeling at Communion and wearing of surplices. Also wanted to reform church courts.

Treason act

1571

Made it high treason to declare that Elizabeth was a heretic. Also high treason to bring papal bulls into England. Catholics who had fled abroad could be deprived of goods and income from lands.

Heavy Fines

1581

Heavy fines for hearing Mass, £20 fine per month for recusancy (Catholics refusing to attend Church of England), new Treason Act that made it a capital offence to convert or be converted to Catholicism.

Act against Jesuits

1584

Death penalty for anyone receiving Jesuits or seminarists.

Bond of Association

1584

Drawn up by Protestants in parliament and spread nationwide. Members of the association swore to pursue to the death anyone attempting to harm the Queen.

Mary Queen of Scots executed

1587