Henry VII Henry VIII Mid Tudors Elizabeth I
Factors Question: ‘The need to secure a male heir was the most important reason behind
changes to religion in the reign of Henry VIII.’ Assess the validity of this view.
Intro Definition – The most significant example of religious change during Henry’s reign was the Break with
Rome. Other than wanting a male heir, there were two main reasons for this, such as his love for Anne
Boleyn as well as his desire for increased royal supremacy, or more personal power.
LOA – Overall, securing a male heir was not the most significant reason for the religious changes during
his reign, instead it is his love for Anne Boleyn.
Named Null argument – Counter argument –
factor: - Catherine had several miscarriages and - Male heir was not the most important reason
Male heir two stillborn babies, and had not been for his religious changes
pregnant since 1518, the only child she - Anne Boleyn was eventually treated in the
had was Mary, who was a girl same way as Catherine, although she was
- She had not failed to provide him with a executed. This had nothing to do with lack of
child at all, just a male one. heir.
- Henry stopped sleeping with her in 1524 - Perhaps this could demonstrate that Henry’s
- The events that followed demonstrate his divorce from his wives (a power brought
desire to have a male heir being the most about from carrying out the religious change
significant factor of the Break with Rome) was not solely
- Wolsey failed to secure marriage pushed towards wanting a male heir, and
annulment in 1529 merely whenever he decided he wanted
- Cromwell then replaced Wolsey and -
‘Reformation Parliament occurred
between 1530-32, where the main goal
was securing annulment
- Argued that his marriage to Catherine was
against God’s will, citing Leviticus 21:22
which stated that it is sinful to be with the
partner of your brother.
- By 1534 Break with Rome completed and
marriage with Catherine annulled, Henry
was free to further his aim of having a
royal male heir
LOA – Though there is some argument to the idea that Henry’s desire for a male heir was the driving force
behind his religious policy, and perhaps the most obvious reason for the break with Rome, this is the only
way it really influenced his religious decision making. There are other factors that were far more influential
in terms of Henry’s religious policy overall.
Theme 2: Counter argument –
Royal - Can be demonstrated in the Acts created during the break with Rome
Suprem - November 1534- Act of Supremacy- it stated that the King is owed to be the Supreme Head of the
acy Church of England, effectively accomplishing the Break with Rome.
- Treason Act- In November 1534, stated that treason could be committed by spoken word, as well
as deed or writing, forbidden to describe king as ‘heretic , schismatic, tyrant, infidel, or usurper of
the crown
- Act Annexing First Fruits and Tenths- In November 1534, which meant that Annates (First Fruits)
that had been paid to the Pope were now paid to the king instead
- All guise as religious changes to cause the break with rome, but all increase the power of the king
- perhaps this is the most important reason
LOA – Overall, perhaps it was the king’s greed that mostly motivated his religious change. It was certainly
a key factor in the biggest religious change of the period, the break with Rome.
,Theme 3: Counter argument –
Anne - Henry wrote Anne many love letters, which demonstrates that he very likely did love her, and
Boleyn began to woo her in 1526, 2 years after his relationship with Catherine soured.
- His feelings for Anne were arguably the most significant reason for the break with rome,
- She agreed to have sexual relations with Henry, gambling that getting pregnant would force him to
take decisive action, which paid off and she was known to be pregnant in 1532, and the marriage
was annulled in 1533, backed up by the Collectanea Satis Copiosa, A collection of historical
documents compiled by Cambridge theologians Thomas Cranmer and Edwarde Foxe, and it
looked to justify the King’s divorce on the basis of legal and historical principles.
- Had she not used her sexuality to push Henry, he would not have had the sense of immediacy and
perhaps not made the religious change
- Even after the break with Rome, Anne continued to have a very influential role over religious
policy, until her fallout with Cromwell who engineered her downfall
- However, her protestant ideology had a very significant influence, with the works of Simon Fish
and others influencing the king. Without Anne, he would not have come across these and
therefore her influence on Henry’s religious policy was paramount
LOA – Though Anne’s influence is perhaps underestimated, the role of Anne Boleyn in causing religious
change in Henry’s reign was the most paramount and significant. Without her, the protestant influence
would have been minor and the break with rome may not even have happened
Conclusi Although Henry’s desire for a male heir and for royal supremacy were significant factors in bringing about
on religious change during his reign, arguably most important was Anne Boleyn. In falling in love with her,
Henry changed the religious fabric of the entire country
To what extent was the Catholic Church under threat between 1485 and 1529?
Intro Definition
For the Catholic Church to have been under threat, a new ideology must have been introduced in some form. There
may be a threat from the monarch itself, or a threat in the form of a rebellion by the people.
LOA
Overall, in this period, the Catholic Church was not under threat. Despite there being some religious opposition to
the Catholic norms, overall the Catholic Church was not seriously threatened until later in Henry VIII’s reign, though
it certainly began to become threatened in this period.
Theme 1: Null argument (weaker argument) Counter argument (stronger argument)
Religion Lollards during Henry VII’s reign may also have Lollards not actually that threatening- the failure of the
under posed a threat- they were a proto-protestant, who Lollard Uprising in 1414 (lead up to H’s reign), lollards
Henry VII stridently opposed prayers for the dead, auricular became fewer in number and intellectual coherence and by
(1485-1509) confession and priestly celibacy. Henry’s reign it was geographically restricted
→ they saw Pope and the Church as the antichrist,
posed a threat to Catholicism People were very much in support of the Catholic Church-
there were over 8000 parish Churches in England, who lived
Criticism came from within the Church itself, there and worshipped according to the Church’s major
were a number of critics of both Church authority ceremonies
and of late-medieval Catholicism- this may have
been threatening as it existed within the structure of Many people left money to the Church- for mass and for
the Church buildings
Robert Jannis left £1400 to Church
St Sidwell’s Shrine in Exeter- many people gave offerings,
such as wedding ring, girdles, rosary beads and money
Pilgrimages to Canterbury Cathedral, Durham and
Walsingham demonstrates people’s devotion to Catholicism
, LOA- Although some historians argue that the Catholic Church was in peril during Henry VII’s reign, this is a vast
exaggeration. Despite the fact there was some opposition to the Church, both internally and from groups such as
lollards, on the whole, devotion to the Catholic Church was extremely deep rooted and widespread.
Theme 2: Null argument (weaker argument) Counter argument (stronger argument)
Opposition such as Lollards existed, with people like Corruption of parish priests- many were pluralists and
Religion Richard Hunne, but he was dealt with and arrested, claimed the stipend from more than one parish
early in then later hung in 1514 The Lollard movement continued, founded by John Wycliffe,
Henry VII’s considered by the Catholic Church to be corrupt- threatened
reign People still went on pilgrimages, for example to the them as there was not a lot to be done about it
shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, Wolsey secured the dissolution of 20 monasteries in the
leaving gifts such as rosary beads 1520s, between 1524-29
Many people still dedicated money to the Catholic Simon Fish 1528 publication of supplication of Protestant
Church ‘Supplication of the Beggars’ combined with the Protestant
influence of Anne Boleyn pushed England in a more
Threat to Catholic church not all that great Protestant direction
LOA- Although it perhaps could be argued that the threat to Catholicism did not truly begin until plans for the Break
with Rome begun in the 1530s, Henry’s relationship with the Protestant Anne Boleyn began before that, and she,
combined with the dissolution of monasteries by Wolsey demonstrate that in fact, the Catholic Church was under
serious threat. Indeed, the early years of Henry’s reign lay the groundwork for the complete attack on Catholicism
that followed.
Theme 3: Null argument (weaker argument) Counter argument (stronger argument)
While it could be argued that Humanism and the
Humanism ‘Humanism’ was a development of the renaissance had some influence over English
renaissance of the 14th century and was society, on the whole a more convincing
founded on the rediscovery of original Latin argument is that at the time of Henry VII’s reign,
and Greek texts. humanism and the Renaissance had made little
impression on England. English intellectual life
continued to be dominated by traditional
During Henry VIII’s reign- John Colet was of
significant influence, until his death in 1519. He medieval philosophy, which humanists
wanted to reform the Church from within, working considered to be too formal and old fashioned.
with Erasmus.
Writings by Humanist critics John Colet and
Erasmus in Henry VIII’s reign weakened the
Catholic Church.
Although Erasmus was a Catholic, he promoted
humanist ideology, which could be seen as a threat
to medieval Catholicism,
LOA- Though there were humanist ideas emerging in this time period, their influence is not to be overstated. The
majority of the English population were not influenced by this at all, remaining with their Catholic beliefs.
Conc Although in the early period of Henry VII’s reign (1509-29) there was a significant threat to Catholicism, this was not
nearly as threatening as it went on to be in the latter half of his reign. Further, the influence of other groups, such as
Lollards and the humanist movement were incredibly minor. While there may have been some opposition within the
Church, ultimately most of the English people remained Catholic, as well as the religious doctrine in this period.
Therefore, the extent to which Catholicism was threatened is very minor overall.
In the years 1515 to 1540, policy was decided by ministers rather than by the monarch.
Assess the validity of this view.
Intro: Definition- For policy to have been decided by the ministers rather than the King across this period, this
would have meant that the foreign, religious and domestic policy of England would have been decided
majorly by Wolsey from 1515-1529, and by Cromwell from 1529-1540
, LOA- This essay will argue that indeed, between these years, the king was happy to allow his ministers to
rule for him, which can be supported by his appointing no new chief ministers after Cromwell’s execution:
he had decided he no longer wanted anyone to rule for him.
Theme 1: Null: policy decided by Henry Counter: Policy decided by Wolsey
- Wolsey gained influence by supporting the
Wolsey - During Wolsey’s period of prominence, King at the Battle of Spurs and presenting
the King nonetheless was still able to himself as a good strategist
pursue an aggressive foreign policy - He extended the use of the Star chamber in
- He went to war with France in 1523 for a 1516, in order to advance his own beliefs, not
second time the kings. He did this to advance the scope of
- forced Wolsey to use subsidies and the cheap and fair justice, which was not
Amicable Grant of 1525 in order to pay for something that the King was particularly
the war, despite the fact this made Wolsey concerned with
unpopular - Wolsey encouraged the poor to speak out
- Sparked rebellion in Lavenham, Suffolk, against nobles; the number of cases heard
4,000 strong. Amicable grant was annually in Star Chamber rose to around
abandoned. 120.
- This shows that the King was using - Negotiated the Treaty of London in 1518,
Cromwell for his own ends ensuring peace across the whole of Europe,
- Wolsey ensured cases in which restitution giving him position as papal legate
was being sought from nobles were given - 1519 – Wolsey secured the removal of the
an early hearing in Court of Star minions in the Privy Chamber, replaced them
Chamber. with his own supporters.
- Wolsey ensured Star Chamber was - Act of Resumption 1515 – By beginning of
accessible to the weak who stood little H8’s reign, income stood at £25,000 per
chance of maintaining their rights against annum, Act restored some of the lands given
the strong in the common law courts. He away by Henry VIII at the start of his reign.
encouraged commoners to bring their - Eltham Ordinances 1526 – Financial reforms
complaints before the court and made of the Privy Council organised by Wolsey.
lawyers plead on the behalf of paupers Reduction in the number of men in the Privy
without charge through use of the Court of Council, and the removal of the Groom of the
Requests. Stool, Sir William Compton, replaced by the
- Perhaps Wolsey’s extensive use of the more compliant Henry Norris. Could be seen
Star chamber was in order to serve the
as primarily financial, also seen as Wolsey
crown
trying to ensure his political supremacy at a
- Fall of Wolsey was entirely engineered by
King there was nothing Wolsey could do time when he was incredibly unpopular.
to stop it - Again, king did not control these things
- Wolsey charged with Premunire Oct 1529.
- Arrested 4th Nov 1530. -
- Died 29th Nov at Leicester Abbey.
LOA- Although there is some evidence that Henry effectively used Wolsey as a means to his ends,
ultimately Wolsey was in control of the situation. He was able to pass legislation and laws without being
subject to much control by the King.
Theme 2: - Four new financial departments established by Cromwell:
Cromwell o Court of Augmentations – Controlled the land and finances formerly under the control of
listened the Catholic Church.
to king o Court of General Surveyors – Initially handles some of the ex-monastic land,
amalgamated with the Court of Augmentations.
o Court of First Fruits and Tenths – Collected money previously sent to Rome.
o Court of Wards – Established enforce Henry’s feudal rights, to collect money from the
inherited estate of a minor aged under 21.
- Illustrate Cromwell conforming the the King’s desires- increase finances to pursue aggressive
policy
- Also demonstrated by dissolution of monasteries in 1536 and 1539
- Valour Ecclesiasticus 1535
