POWER

4 Dissent and the break with Rome 4.3 Henry VIII breaks with Rome
Source 10 Historian George
Hoskins, writing in 1976.
The despoiling of the Church in
the 16th century is one of the great
events in English history. Some
called it the Great Sacrilege. I call
it the Great Plunder. The Tudors
had a continuous problem of lack
of money. The massive taxation
of the 1520s was wasted on wars.
Henry had raised an official loan
from parliament in 1522 and then
refused to pay it back in 1529. But
there still remained the vast wealth
of the Church to tempt him even
though the Church had paid its full
share of taxes. Not only Henry, but
the nobility also, had their eyes on
this wealth.
Source 11 Reginald Pole, writing
to Henry VIII to explain why he
would not return to England,
1537.
I wish for nothing more in life than
to obey my king and serve God.
Here is my concern. Every man
who will not agree to give you the
title of head of the church is made
a traitor. A law has been passed
which has put the best men of
your realm both in virtue and in
learning to death. They suffered
the pain of traitors when all their
deeds showed from the beginning
of their lives to the end that they
had always been your most faithful
servants.
1 Read Source 11. What is Pole
afraid of?
2 Who are the men he is
referring to?
3 How do you think Henry VIII
might have reacted to this
letter?
Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church
The Act of Supremacy not only confirmed the king’s leadership of the Church, it
also gave Henry specific powers over it. He could survey the Church, discipline
the clergy, correct the opinions of preachers, supervise Church teachings and put
heretics on trial. In their prayers, the people of England must mention him not as
the king but as the head of their Church. This meant he was head of the English
Church by name, in law, by the clergy’s oath and even by popular prayer.
Henry’s beliefs
It is important to note that all the Acts of Parliament passed between 1529 and
1534 were about the teachings of the Church. Church reform was a political
process driven by Cromwell and the king himself. Most historians agree that
although Henry’s closest advisers introduced him to new ideas, he remained in
complete control of policy. The early Reformation therefore reflects his personality,
his ego and his contradictions. Henry was not purposefully striding towards
reforming the Church or asserting his supremacy, but once he had that power he
rather liked it! It seems that Henry VIII truly believed he was the rightful head of
the Church and he expected others to believe it too. However, it probably did not
escape his attention that the Church was very wealthy (see Source 10).
Edward Foxe set about publishing TRACTS that explained the difference between
royal and ecclesiastical (Church) power for those at court. These argued that
national churches had always been subject to the law of their king. For the less
educated, a pamphlet was published called ‘Little Treatise against the Mutterings of
some Papists in Corners’, which justified the supremacy based on Bible teachings.
This emphasised that Henry was a caring king, so the people of England should
show him loyalty.
Opposition to Henry
In the country
The people of England do not seem to have reacted badly to the news of
Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn or the Act of Supremacy. There is no
evidence of widespread discontent. This may be because very little changed
for the ordinary people in their parishes.
At court
The most fervent opposition to Henry VIII’s annulment came from Catherine
of Aragon herself. Some nobles, such as Lord Hussey, sympathised with the former
queen, but she does not seem to have won anyone over completely to her cause.
There is no evidence of letters or contact between Catherine and either Thomas
More or John Fisher, the most senior members of court who spoke out against the
annulment. These two men met the same fate:
•
refused to swear the Oath of Succession and was executed in June 1535.
•
Bishop John Fisher was arrested after Cromwell discovered he was in contact
with Emperor Charles V, urging him take up arms against Henry VIII. Fisher
Thomas More followed Fisher to the block in July 1535 after he too refused to
swear the oath. More was a much-loved figure and the crowd at his execution
stood in shocked silence.
Reginald Pole was a devout Catholic who watched in horror as the break with
Rome unfolded. Fleeing to Padua, Italy, he launched a campaign to persuade the
king not to go ahead with the divorce. Pole strongly criticised Henry for listening
to men like Cromwell. Henry sent several representatives to Italy to meet with
Pole and convince him to return to England, but Pole refused.
Uncorrected proof
4 Why does Thomas More
refuse to accept Anne
Boleyn’s children as future
heirs to the throne?
5 Read Source 13. Why do you
think Reginald Pole posed
such a threat to the king?
6 Some people say that
Cromwell was a devout
Protestant, others say he
was just ambitious and
was seeking promotion for
himself. Why do you think
Cromwell was so angry with
Throgmorton?
7 Read Source 14. What are
priests not allowed to talk
about? Which key Protestant
beliefs are now allowed to be
discussed?
8 Why do you think priests
were banned from talking
about so much?
9 How does this source
demonstrate a change in
Henry’s religious beliefs?
Source 12 Thomas More, expressing his sentiments about the Oath of Succession.
But as for myself in good faith my conscience so moved me in the matter, that though I
would not deny to swear to the succession, yet unto the oath that there was offered me
I could not swear, without condemning my soul to perpetual damnation.
In the monasteries
Elizabeth Barton (later known as the ‘NUN of Kent’) was one of the most
outspoken critics of the annulment. Barton had developed a cult-like following
in Kent as a prophet (someone given messages from God to pass on to people)
after she had fallen ill, experienced trances and then been miraculously cured. She
became a nun and continued to have visions. In one of these visions, an angel told
her to go to the king and command him to amend his life. The angel said that if
Henry married Anne Boleyn, God would seek vengeance. Barton even claimed
to have seen the spot in Hell that was reserved for Henry unless he restored the
pope’s rights.
Barton told many monks and nuns about her visions. John Fisher was said to
have wept when he heard her revelations. She was arrested and put on trial for
treason. Although she eventually confessed – under pressure – that she had made
up the visions, she and five of her supporters were executed in 1534. Barton is
the only woman in English history to have had her severed head displayed on
London Bridge.
Others in religious orders who resisted the Act of Supremacy caused something
of a dilemma for the king. The MONKS who were the most devout and widely
respected were those who challenged Henry the most.
•
There were six small Franciscan MONASTERIES (the largest at Greenwich, near
London). All these refused to swear the oath and so they were shut down.
The FRIARS were sent to the Tower.
•
Three Charterhouse PRIORS who refused to acknowledge the royal supremacy
were tried and executed for treason in May 1535. Three Charterhouse monks
met the same fate in June.
After the execution of Thomas More, Archbishop Cranmer reached a compromise
agreement with Stephen Gardiner and other conservative bishops about preaching.
Preachers were to set forth the supremacy and DENOUNCE the power of the pope,
but they could avoid taking sides in any of the other teachings (see Source 14).
Source 13 A scathing letter from Cromwell to Michael Throgmorton, who had
shown some loyalty to Reginald Pole. Cromwell threatens both Throgmorton
and his servant with death.
I thought that the singular goodness of the kings highness showed unto you, and the great
and singular clemency showed to that detestable traitor your master, in promising him
not only forgiveness but also forgetting of his most shameful ingratitude, unnaturalness,
conspiracy against his honour, of whom he hath received no more.
Source 14 Thomas Cranmer’s orders for preaching, 1534.
Neither with nor against purgatory, honouring of saints, that priests may have wives; that
faith only justified; to go on pilgrimages, to forge miracles … considering that thereupon
no edification [improvement] can ensue in the people, but rather occasions of talk and
rumour, to their great hurt and damage.
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