The dissolution of the monasteries
The Lincolnshire rising, October 1536
Clear from list of grievances drawn up by rebels that religious concerns were closely intertwined with political and economic ones: successively bad harvests in 1535 + 1536 which always served to increase social tensions Rising was popular in character (ordinary people behind rising rather than nobility or gentry) Partly prompted by fiery sermon from local priest highlighting dangers faced by local community from crown Parish property and rights under threat Demands made for Cromwell's dismissal Resentment of central govt interference in local affairs which was then heightened by impending dissolution At the same time list of grievances drawn up by rebels cites high taxes and hatred of the Statute of Uses (changed way property could be left in wills) This shows no one cause motivated rebellion although fair to say its timing and force owe much to dissolution and religious change Ended as quickly as it had started with rebels dispersing on imminent arrival of royal army under command of Duke of Suffolk Henry didn't negotiate with rebels Over by end of oct
Why was the Pilgrimage of Grace a serious threat?
1. Largest numerical uprising if the Tudor period 2. Pilgrims far from unorganized. Many had previous experience of fighting the Scots. Had the rebels wished to engage the royal forces in battle it is likely they would have won
Impact dissolution had on local population
1. Put an end to monastic charity and this is said to have caused increasing levels of poverty Monasteries acted as places of refuge and shelter for travelers and pilgrims, and cared for sick and needy Counter: according to Valor, 2% of a houses income went to poor. Rising population, pressure on land and rapid inflation more likely to cause poverty than loss of monastic charity. 2. Fate of monks and nuns: - all but 1,500 of the 8,000 monks and friars displaced managed to find alternative paid employment, often among ranks of secular clergy - Crown awarded most monks pensions 3. Dissolution created a new, ruthless breed of landlord who cared little for local population Enclosed land and increased rents dramatically But: little evidence to reinforce these claims as monks enclosed land too and rents likely to rise in rapid inflation. Monks wouldn't have acted any differently 4. Rise in number of landowners. Due to redistribution of landed property, many wealthy merchants/ second sons of leading gentry were able to buy up land. Counter: no revolutionary change in size of landowning class.
How important were the nobility and gentry in leading and spreading the revolt?
1. Some argue that the central areas of the West Riding revolted as a consequence of the fact that the Percies and lord darcy rebelled On the other hand, Lancashire remained loyal to crown, perhaps as a consequence of loyalist Earl of Derby being in control of events Therefore this idea proposes it was a gentry rebellion assisted by the lower orders 2. G.R Elton suggested the pilgrimage was in fact a courtly plot orchestrated by the conservative faction and transplanted (transferred) to the north where support was assured. Out of favour with the king and suffering under administration of Cromwell, figures such as Darcy and Hussey planned armed rebellion 3. John guy: argues that noble and gentry supporters of Princess Mary joined forces with Catholic lawyers from the inns of court in revolt against Cromwell's regime However, despite element of noble conspiracy existing in lead up, those concerned such as Darcy and Hussey were taken by surprise when revolt started in Lincolnshire Therefore: although evidence of noble preplanning and intended gentry leadership existed, it was ordinary people who lit the fuse. ONLY MASS POPULAR PARTICIPATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE CAN EXPLAIN SPEED AT WHICH THE REVOLT SPREAD
Condition of monasticism in England in 1530
1530: at least 825 religious houses in England and wales. Most of these were houses of monks. Some houses closed which meant occupants spent all time in confines of abbey/nunnery 3 types of monks: Benedictines, carthusians and Cistercians. Monks and nuns devoted their lives to prayer for the souls of their founders and heirs All of them took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience Contact and communication with local communities varied from regions but it is likely that lay folk knew of their local monastic institution Reaction to dissolution in north in 1536 reveals a degree of loyalty towards the religious houses in that particular part of England Collective wealth of monasteries was vast. Valor ecclesiasticus revealed that total income of religious houses was over £160,000 a year and 1/3 of landed property was in monastic hands Monastic income more than 3x income from royal estates So no surprise that a recently nationalised church should look to exploit this area of clerical revenue Established features of English countryside though Monks and nuns totalled 3.5 million - visible and noticeable minority
The surrender of the greater houses: 1539 act of parl.
1539 Act of parliament passed confirming the legality of voluntary surrenders. Effectively commons presented with a 'fait accompli' as most of the larger religious houses were now dissolved So opposition unlikely in political circles Some resistance on the ground though: abbot of Glastonbury accused of robbing his abbey of its treasures and he was executed in grounds of his abbey
How and why were the monasteries dissolved?- allegiance to Rome
ALLEGIANCE TO ROME: many houses owed obedience to Rome first and the crown second. Many were exempt from visitations by English bishops and looked for guidance from Rome Counterpoint: religious houses did not really owe a special obedience to Rome but to continental mother houses (leading European monasteries). Crown itself was founder and patron of many abbeys while most monks had shown their loyalty to crown through oath of succession. Also Henry hardly followed protestant doctrines and even refounded 2 monasteries in order that frequent prayers were said for him and his family, SHOWS INHERENT FAITH IN MONASTIC IDEAL Therefore idea that a monastic revival in favour of pope was an impending threat seems unlikely
" monetary gain
Eager to fill crown's coffers and strengthen England's defences against threat of foreign invasion H and Cromwell already benefitted from financial gains of break with Rome e.g. the Act for First Fruits and Tenths Prospect of transferring enormous wealth of monasteries to the crown was just too good to miss out on - would double his income and free him from dependence on parliamentary grants
How far can the Pilgrimage of Grace be considered a success for the rebels?
Few, if any, of the rebels demands were ultimately carried out by govt But enormous achievement for rebels because of size of pilgrim armies and fact that Norfolk did agree to meet their grievances E.g. rebel army at Doncaster was 30,000 strong. Mobilisation of a large force was important Rebels were well organised and showed signs of advanced planning in order to mobilise such a large force so quickly Gentry clearly important in instructing common people to raise arms Hierarchy and order: either commons responded to orders from social superiors or they actively persuaded the lesser nobility to lead protest AIM = TO RAISE A LARGE ENOUGH FORCE TO BE ABLE TO DICTATE TERMS TO THE CROWN. NOT INTENDED TO CHALLENGE CROWN ON BATTLEFIELD, RATHER TO PRESSURISE GOVT INTO CHANGING ITS POLICY AND PERSONNEL
Impact on the crown
Financial In terms of reform: - 6 new dioceses (district under supervision of bishop - bishropics) established on remains of monastic buildings + cathedral churches re-established - New cathedral schools established However, a way off the original agenda of educational and spiritual reform lined up in 1538-39 which had attracted many to idea of dissolution Crown's primary aim: monetary gain. Little land sold off immediately - Cromwell recognised long term benefits of leasing out land in order to bring in a regular source of income Only after Cromwell's death in 1540 that land was sold off to finance foreign policy
Was the dissolution preplanned?
IDEA 1: Cromwell had master plan for dissolution in place from 1530s, always intended for it. This would see his motives as financial and evangelical. He had promised to make H wealthy at expense of church and the monasteries were a relatively soft target in Cromwell's eyes. Liquidation of monastic houses in line with Cromwell's own evangelical views that saw monasticism as corrupt, anachronistic (inconsistent with the time) and failing IDEA 2: only once full wealth revealed from Valor of 1535 did they decide upon dissolution. Motives financial and nature of govt decision making more reactive than planned. Initial reason for valor = assess how much each clerical institution would pay when 10% of ecclesiastical income granted to Henry, not to reveal landed assets of religious houses Cromwell not able to pull together all his evidence regarding state of lesser monasteries in time to present to parliament in 1536. Suggests a highly opportunistic and reactive process. IDEA 3: although they planned dissolution of smaller monasteries (less than £200 a year) they had no intention of dissolving larger houses. Only when it became clear throughout 1538/9 that the larger houses could be swept away with relative ease. Impressed with amount raised from lesser monasteries.
Why did the pilgrimage of grace fail?
Its leaders wanted to negotiate and subsequently put their faith in henry's word Aske had intended for a show of force to bring Henry to negotiating table and make king listen to their demands In this aim, they were successful But: knowing he was outnumbered, Henry instructed Norfolk to play for time and agree to any demands the rebels made Acting from a position of strength in York, aske was certain he could take Norfolk's concessions (grants) in good faith Agreement made with duke of Norfolk on 6th Dec 1536 at Doncaster and the rebels agreed to disperse peacefully, convinced their demands had been met Govt allowed a free and general pardon for the pps. of pilgrimage, highlighting weakness of H's position Govt stopped the collection of the 1534 subsidy and were quick to put down rumours that parish property was under threat Importantly: rebels secured the promise of a parliament to be held by free election in York to consider their complaints. Until this parliament met, existing royal policies were to be suspended including the suppression of lesser monasteries Many ways a total victory for rebels: central aspects of royal policy successfully challenged and there was optimistic signs that religious reform might be turned back. However, sheer size and scale of revolt meant that Henry could not back down indefinitely - didn't want rebellion to spread - and he never meant the concessions (grants) to be anything other than temporary Outbreak of Cumberland rising in early 1537 gave Henry excuse he had been looking for to carry out reprisals and go back on earlier promises Ringleaders from the pilgrimage arrested and taken to London for interrogation Among those leaders executed in early 1537: Robert aske, lord Darcy and lord hussey
The Pilgrimage of Grace, Oct-Dec 1536
Lincolnshire rebellion spread north and more serious revolt took place in Yorkshire Leader = Robert Aske 30,000 man army marched upon York Aske declared the rebellion to be a pilgrimage Rebels swore a religious oath that contradicted the Supremacy and sang ballads in favour of the monasteries Manifestos drawn up at York that called for: - Removal of evil councillors from H's govt - The restoration of the old faith - The protection of the monasteries Demands similar to Lincolnshire rebels Aske's followers more politically aware as they called for a free parliament in the north to discuss religious and political issues Far more support for Yorkshire rising with 30,000 men. More sport for the actual pilgrimage among the local nobility including Lord Darcy (surrendered Pontefract castle to the rebels) Norfolk's royal army only had 8,000 men
What were the causes of the pilgrimage of grace?
Modern historians argue that religious change caused it and that the dissolution of the lesser monasteries brought to boil simmering discontent in the north Others say social and economic motivations
How and why were monasteries dissolved?- Abuses and decay
Monks and nuns not fulfilling vows of chastity, poverty and obedience but rather living in corrupt manner Monks living life of country gentlemen or having strings of mistresses and illegitimate children did exist but so did well disciplined religious houses Issue of corruption used as an excuse or justification for the despoiling of England's religious houses Valor ecclesiasticus provided ammunition required as it revealed that nearly one quarter of each monastery's income was paid directly to head of house At the same time, royal commissioners reported tales of immorality within monasteries. Read out in parl. convincing people of need for dissolution Tales sensationalised to justify dissolution on grounds of reform Valor did not provide a balanced picture of events Monastic cause not helped by fact that intellectual opinion was largely negative as humanist thought at time tended to follow idea that monastic way of life had little to recommend it
The dissolution of the smaller monasteries 1536
Spring 1536: parl. passed an Act for the dissolution of all religious houses with a net income of less than £200 a year Smaller monasteries seen as places of manifest and sin Emphasis on reform so inmates of these smaller houses may be transferred to larger houses Greater houses praised in the act which suggests process of dissolution was not meant to include all houses Displaced monks and nuns either moved to larger houses as the Act had intended or they were released from their vows of poverty and obedience by the suppression commissioners, allowing them to take up employment as secular clergy men (churchmen working outside monasteries) or seek a lay occupation Expected to uphold vow of chastity Heads of houses granted a pension whereas ordinary monks and nuns even a grant of 20-30 shillings Soon after act established, royal commissioners appointed to each county to oversee closures. Moveable goods e.g. gold, sent to London before locals could help themselves while land was rented out or sold for the enrichment of the crown
What was responsible for the overall supervision of monastic property?
The court of Augmentation set up by Cromwell in April 1536 (bureaucratic office which dealt with transfer of church lands to the crown)
End of process of dissolution of greater monasteries - 1539-40
Thomas legh and Richard Leyton = 2 of Cromwell's most trusted servants Nov 1539: they were given instructions to suppress or alter all remaining religious houses Were involved in compilation of Valor in 1535 Alteration could mean conversion of an existing monastery into a secular one or the conversion of a monastery into a cathedral Will to resist fading due to punishments e.g. abbot of Glastonbury Continued justification of reform based on profits of dissolution convinced many that dissolution was a force for progress Waltham abbey in Essex = last surviving house and it surrendered in march 1540 Less than 5 yrs: over 800 monasteries had been dissolved - shows startling administrative efficiency
The surrender of the greater houses: 1538
Towards end of 1537, govt decided to make total dissolution its aim In wake of failure of pilgrimage of grace, other abbots gave up hope of resistance and surrendered freely Hundreds of houses remained as 1538 approached though so was Cromwell's aim to suppress them all Some were aware of the threat and began to lease out land themselves and sell off gold plate in attempt to cater for financial security Cromwell wrote to heads of surviving houses to reassure them that general suppression was not planned and that all recent suppressions were voluntary. Underlying threat of force should sale of monastic property and possessions continue 1538: Cromwell sent out more royal commissioners to visit the remaining religious houses and invite the heads of houses to hand over property freely to the king Undertones of terror in these visitations But Cromwell made it clear to trusted servants not to waste time on those showing signs of resistance - this sweep of remaining monasteries was to clean up abbots willing to resign their positions and give up land to crown Most abbots saw advantages - general pension More stubborn ones: forced to resign by royal orders and quickly replaced with men who Cromwell knew would he more amenable to his overtures Many monks/ nuns taken completely by surprise
Cultural impact of dissolution of monasteries
Viewed as act of cultural vandalism Monastic libraries, religious art and stained glass windows sold off to fill crown's coffers Monastic buildings turned into parish churches for locals Architectural heritage lost but can be argued they were in state of disrepair anyway
