Henry VIII - Dissolution of the Monasteries

Key Chronology of the Dissolution of the Monasteries

*1535* Thomas Cromwell Appointed Vice-gerent Valor Ecclesiasticus ordered Commissioners sent out to survey *1536* Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Pilgrimage of Grace *1538* Large monasteries begin to surrender *1539* Act for the Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries *1540* All monastic houses dissolved

Lincolnshire Rising 1536 - Key Facts

*Led by:* Nicholas Melton (Captain Cobbler) *Concerns:* Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries and the confiscation of treasures *What they did:* Seized - representative of the Bishop and commissioners Louth to Caistor - 3000 men captured the commissioners there Marched to Lincoln - 10000 men marched. 4th October, crowd attacked and murdered leading official of the Bishop of Lincoln. Drew up the 'Lincoln Articles' 9th October 1536 *What was the King's response?* Suffolk's army sent to break it up Suffolk arrived after it was calm

Pilgrimage of Grace 1536 - Key Facts

*Led by:* Robert Aske *Concerns:* Policies of the King's government and challenges to religion *What they did:* Marched to York - Aske and 10,000 supporters The hosts - Other uprisings took place all over Yorkshire. Sieged - Lord Darcy and the Earl of Cumberland. Seceded to the rebels. Key figures with them - Lord Darcy, Archbishop of York , 40 knights *What was the King's response?* Duke of Norfolk + his army sent to Doncaster - decided to negotiate. Truce called 27 October 1536 while the petition is taken to the king Rebels believed they had won!

What were the new courts established by Cromwell as a result of the dissolution of the monasteries?

- Court of Augmentations - Court of First Fruits and Tenths - Court of Eards and Liveries - Court of General Surveyors... [Set up to be more organised] (Exchequer and Duchy of Lancaster were financial departments already in existence)

What were the 7 main points of the Pontefract Articles, December 1536?

1. End heresies of the realm 2. *Pope restored* as Supreme Head of the Church in England 3. Princess *Mary made legitimate* again 4. *Abbeys restored* 5. Friars restored 6. Punish the heretics by fire 7. *Punish Cromwell*

What were the 5 main points of the Lincoln Articles?

1. End to the *suppression of religious houses*. 2. Suppress/stop the Act of Uses which restricts their will of their own land 3. Get rid of the *tax on livestock* 4. *Dismiss people from your counsel* who *take for their own advantage* (Cromwell and Riche) 5. *Demote the Bishops* who have *no real faith* (Lincoln, Canterbury, Rochester...)

Significantly, who were the abbots who resisted Henry's bribes?

Colchester Reading Glastonbury

What were the religious causes for the dissolution?

Commissioners sent to the monasteries 1535 to investigate the behaviour of the monks. - demonstrate the greed of the monasteries - Nuns and monks were morally lax and not fulfilling their vows of chastity

How have historians challenged the validity of the visitation results?

Only there for a few hours Much of the evidence was fabricated - e.g. widows could become nuns while they had children from marriage. 1 confession of homosexuality every 30 monasteries - small, small % - not actually a problem

How did the commissioners tackle the bigger monasteries?

Persuasion Bribery Bullying - get the to surrender

Act for the Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries 1536

300 religious houses (income >£200 p/y) Not an attack on monasticism - monks/nuns allowed to transfer to bigger monasteries Gave the king the power to exempt houses whenever he wanted - 67/300 were exempt from dissolution

Was the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries a success for Henry?

A success

What were the financial causes for the dissolution?

Fund wars Make Henry an equal to Francis I and Charles V (Valor ecclesiasticus - Cromwell was aware of the wealth of the monasteries)

What did the commissioners bribe abbots with when visiting in 1538?

Large pensions from the King

Who did Henry order to the executed in 1537?

Leaders: Aske (and Melton?) Nobility: Darcy, Hussey, Percy, Bigod + others = 144

What did the Act passed in 1539 enable?

Legal and voluntary surrender of monastic property

Were the pilgrimages successful?

Pilgrimage of Grace's demands were partially met: - *free Parliament at York* - Council of the North reorganised - *Restoration of monasteries* - Only dissolved chantries in the South 1540 - *Reversal of the break from Rome* - Henry excommunicated but main principles were re-stated (Act of Six Articles) +others

Motives of the rebellions

Religion: - Break with Rome - Return to Papal Authority - Restoration of Monasteries Social and Economic: - Enclosure of land - Increases in rents and tenancy - Request to repeal the Statute of Uses (Henry re-asserting ownership over the land) Political: - Acting in favour of the King, he had been badly advised

What were the political causes for the dissolution?

The need to break the power of Rome: - Abbots had forcefully opposed the break with Rome Importance of establishing an independent nation state Needed to keep *nobility happy* - the dissolutions kept the nobility happy as they got land