Henry VIII and the Henry VIII and the Reformation in EnglandReformation in England

Politics and DynasticPolitics and DynasticConcernsConcerns

Rights of the Crown Against the PopeRights of the Crown Against the Pope Late medieval England had a well-earned Late medieval England had a well-earned

reputation for maintaining the rights of the reputation for maintaining the rights of the crown against the pope. crown against the pope. Edward I (1272-1307) had rejected efforts by Edward I (1272-1307) had rejected efforts by

Pope Boniface VIII to prevent secular taxation Pope Boniface VIII to prevent secular taxation of the clergy. of the clergy.

Parliament passed laws in the mid-14th Parliament passed laws in the mid-14th century, curtailing payments and judicial century, curtailing payments and judicial appeals to Rome as well as papal appeals to Rome as well as papal appointments in England. appointments in England.

Religious piety, humanism, and widespread Religious piety, humanism, and widespread anticlerical sentiment prepared the way anticlerical sentiment prepared the way religiously and intellectually for Protestant religiously and intellectually for Protestant ideas in the early 16th century.ideas in the early 16th century.

Marriage to Catherine of AragonMarriage to Catherine of Aragon In 1509, Henry VIII had married In 1509, Henry VIII had married

Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and the aunt of Emperor Charles V. By the aunt of Emperor Charles V. By 1527, the union had produced no 1527, the union had produced no male heir to the throne and only one male heir to the throne and only one surviving child, a daughter, Mary. surviving child, a daughter, Mary. Henry was justifiably concerned Henry was justifiably concerned about the political consequences of about the political consequences of leaving only a female heir. In this leaving only a female heir. In this period, people believed it unnatural period, people believed it unnatural for women to rule over men. At best a for women to rule over men. At best a woman ruler meant a contested reign, woman ruler meant a contested reign, at worst turmoil and revolution.at worst turmoil and revolution.

Dispensation from Pope Julius IIDispensation from Pope Julius II Henry even came to believe that his union Henry even came to believe that his union

with Catherine, who had many with Catherine, who had many miscarriages and stillbirths, had been miscarriages and stillbirths, had been cursed by god, because Catherine had cursed by god, because Catherine had first been the wife of his brother, Arthur. first been the wife of his brother, Arthur. Henry’s father, Henry VII, had betrothed Henry’s father, Henry VII, had betrothed Catherine to Henry after Arthur’s Catherine to Henry after Arthur’s untimely death in order to keep the untimely death in order to keep the English alliance with Spain intact. They English alliance with Spain intact. They were officially married in 1509. a few were officially married in 1509. a few days before Henry VIII received his days before Henry VIII received his crown. Because marriage to the wife of crown. Because marriage to the wife of one’s brother was prohibited by both one’s brother was prohibited by both canon and biblical law (see Leviticus canon and biblical law (see Leviticus 18:16, 20:21), the marriage had required a 18:16, 20:21), the marriage had required a special dispensation from Pope Julius II.special dispensation from Pope Julius II.

The King’s AffairThe King’s Affair By 1527, Henry was thoroughly By 1527, Henry was thoroughly

enamored of Anne Bolyn, one of enamored of Anne Bolyn, one of Catherine’s ladies in waiting. He Catherine’s ladies in waiting. He determined to put Catherine aside determined to put Catherine aside and take Anne as his wife. This he and take Anne as his wife. This he could not do in Catholic England, could not do in Catholic England, however, without papal annulment however, without papal annulment of the marriage to Catherine. The of the marriage to Catherine. The year 1527 was also the year when year 1527 was also the year when soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire mutinied and sacked Rome. The mutinied and sacked Rome. The reigning Pope Clement VII was at reigning Pope Clement VII was at the time a prisoner of Charles V, the time a prisoner of Charles V, who happened also to be Catherine’s who happened also to be Catherine’s nephew. nephew.

The Reformation ParliamentThe Reformation Parliament When the king’s advisors When the king’s advisors

could not obtain a papal could not obtain a papal annulment, they conceived annulment, they conceived of a plan to declare the king of a plan to declare the king supreme in English supreme in English spiritual affairs as he was in spiritual affairs as he was in English temporal affairs. In English temporal affairs. In 1529, Parliament convened 1529, Parliament convened for what would be a seven-for what would be a seven-year session that earned it year session that earned it the title the “Reformation the title the “Reformation Parliament.”Parliament.”

Royal Reins on the ClergyRoyal Reins on the Clergy During this period, it passed During this period, it passed

a flood of legislation that a flood of legislation that harassed, and finally placed harassed, and finally placed royal reins on, the clergy. In royal reins on, the clergy. In so doing, it established a so doing, it established a precedent that would precedent that would remain a feature of English remain a feature of English government: Whenever government: Whenever fundamental changes are fundamental changes are made in religion, the made in religion, the monarch must consult with monarch must consult with and work through and work through parliament. parliament.

Head of the Church of EnglandHead of the Church of England In January 1531, the In January 1531, the

Convocation (a Convocation (a legislative assembly legislative assembly representing the representing the English clergy) publicly English clergy) publicly recognized Henry as recognized Henry as Head of the Church in Head of the Church in England “as far as the England “as far as the law of Christ allows.”law of Christ allows.”

Grievances Against the ChurchGrievances Against the Church

In 1532. Parliament In 1532. Parliament published official published official grievances against the grievances against the church, ranging from church, ranging from alleged indifference to alleged indifference to the needs of the laity to the needs of the laity to an excessive number of an excessive number of religious holidays.religious holidays.

Submission of the ClergySubmission of the Clergy

In the same year, In the same year, Parliament passed the Parliament passed the Submission of the Clergy, Submission of the Clergy, which effectively placed which effectively placed canon law under royal canon law under royal control and thereby the control and thereby the clergy under royal clergy under royal jurisdiction.jurisdiction.

Marriage to Anne BoleynMarriage to Anne Boleyn

In January 1533, In January 1533, Henry wed the Henry wed the pregnant Anne pregnant Anne Boleyn, with Thomas Boleyn, with Thomas Cranmer officiating.Cranmer officiating.

King the Highest Court of AppealKing the Highest Court of Appeal

In February 1533. In February 1533. Parliament made the Parliament made the King the Highest King the Highest Court of Appeal for Court of Appeal for all English subjects.all English subjects.

Invalidation of First MarriageInvalidation of First Marriage

In March 1533. In March 1533. Cranmer became Cranmer became archbishop of archbishop of Canterbury and led Canterbury and led the Convocation in the Convocation in invalidating the invalidating the King’s marriage to King’s marriage to Catherine.Catherine.

Ended Payments to Rome/Church Appointments Ended Payments to Rome/Church Appointments

In 1534. Parliament In 1534. Parliament ended all payments ended all payments by the English clergy by the English clergy and laity to Rome and and laity to Rome and gave Henry sole gave Henry sole jurisdiction over high jurisdiction over high ecclesiastical ecclesiastical appointments.appointments.

Acts of Succession & SupremacyActs of Succession & Supremacy The Act of Succession in the same The Act of Succession in the same

year made Anne Boleyn’s children year made Anne Boleyn’s children legitimate heirs to the throne and the legitimate heirs to the throne and the Act of Supremacy declared Henry Act of Supremacy declared Henry “the only supreme head on earth of “the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England. When the Church of England. When Thomas More and John fisher, Thomas More and John fisher, Bishop of Rochester, refused to Bishop of Rochester, refused to recognize the Act of Succession and recognize the Act of Succession and the Act of Supremacy, Henry had the Act of Supremacy, Henry had them executed, making clear his them executed, making clear his determination to have his way determination to have his way regardless of the cost.regardless of the cost.

Dissolution of the MonasteriesDissolution of the Monasteries

In 1538. Parliament In 1538. Parliament dissolved England’s dissolved England’s monasteries and monasteries and convents.convents.

William TyndaleWilliam Tyndale (sometimes spelled Tindall or Tyndall;) was a 16th century scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and Martin Luther.

Protestant reformer & Bible translatorc. 1494 ~ October 6, 1536

Tyndale was the first to translate considerable parts of the Bible into English, for a public, lay readership. While a number of partial and complete translations had been made from the seventh century onward, particularly during the 14th century, Tyndale's was the first English translation to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek texts.

William Tyndale

Protestant reformer & Bible translatorc. 1494 ~ October 6, 1536

He was the first to take advantage of the new medium of print, which allowed for its wide distribution.

In 1535, Tyndale was arrested by church authorities and jailed in the castle of Vilvoorde outside Brussels for over a year.

William Tyndale

Protestant reformer & Bible translatorc. 1494 ~ October 6, 1536

He was tried for heresy, strangled and burnt at the stake. The heretical Tyndale Bible, as it was known, continued to play a key role in spreading Reformation ideas across Europe. The fifty-four independent scholars who revised existing English bibles, drew significantly on Tyndale's translations to create the King James Version (or final

"Authorised Version") of 1611 .

William Tyndale

The Six Wives of Henry VIIIThe Six Wives of Henry VIII To satisfy his desires and to secure a male To satisfy his desires and to secure a male

heir, Henry married six times:heir, Henry married six times: His marriage to His marriage to CATHERINE OF CATHERINE OF

ARAGONARAGON was annulled 1533. was annulled 1533. In 1536, In 1536, ANNE BOLEYNANNE BOLEYN was executed was executed

for alleged treason and adultery and her for alleged treason and adultery and her daughter Elizabeth was declared daughter Elizabeth was declared illegitimate.illegitimate.

JANE SEYMOURJANE SEYMOUR died in 1537 shortly died in 1537 shortly after giving birth to the future Edward VI.after giving birth to the future Edward VI.

Henry wed Henry wed ANNE OF CLEVESANNE OF CLEVES sight sight unseen on the advice of Cromwell, the unseen on the advice of Cromwell, the purpose being to create by the marriage purpose being to create by the marriage an alliance with the Protestant princes. an alliance with the Protestant princes. The marriage was annulled by Parliament The marriage was annulled by Parliament and Cromwell was dismissed and and Cromwell was dismissed and eventually executed.eventually executed.

CATHERINE HOWARDCATHERINE HOWARD was beheaded was beheaded for adultery in 1542.for adultery in 1542.

Henry’s last wife, Henry’s last wife, CATHERINE PARRCATHERINE PARR, , a patron of humanists and reformers, a patron of humanists and reformers, survived him.survived him.

Religious ConservatismReligious Conservatism Despite the break with Rome, Despite the break with Rome,

Henry remained decidedly Henry remained decidedly conservative in his religious conservative in his religious beliefs. With the TEN beliefs. With the TEN ARTICLES of 1536, he made ARTICLES of 1536, he made only mild concessions to only mild concessions to Protestant tenets, otherwise Protestant tenets, otherwise maintaining Catholic doctrine maintaining Catholic doctrine in a country filled with in a country filled with Protestant sentiments. Despite Protestant sentiments. Despite his many wives and amorous his many wives and amorous adventures, Henry absolutely adventures, Henry absolutely FORBADE THE ENGLISH FORBADE THE ENGLISH CLERGY TO MARRY and CLERGY TO MARRY and threatened any clergy who were threatened any clergy who were caught twice in concubinage caught twice in concubinage with execution.with execution.

Six ArticlesSix Articles Angered by the growing Angered by the growing

popularity of Protestant popularity of Protestant views, even among his chief views, even among his chief advisers, Henry struck advisers, Henry struck directly at them in the Six directly at them in the Six Articles of 1539. These Articles of 1539. These articles:articles: Reaffirmed Transubstantiation.Reaffirmed Transubstantiation. Denied the Eucharistic cup to Denied the Eucharistic cup to

the laity.the laity. Declared celibate vows Declared celibate vows

inviolable.inviolable. Provided for private masses.Provided for private masses. Ordered the continuation of Ordered the continuation of

auricular confession.auricular confession.

Edward VI (1547-1553)Edward VI (1547-1553) When Henry died, his son and successor, Edward VI, was When Henry died, his son and successor, Edward VI, was

only ten years old. Under the regencies of the duke of only ten years old. Under the regencies of the duke of Somerset and the duke of Northumberland, England fully Somerset and the duke of Northumberland, England fully enacted the Protestant Reformation.enacted the Protestant Reformation.

During Somerset’s regency, Henry’s Six Articles and laws During Somerset’s regency, Henry’s Six Articles and laws against heresy were repealed and clerical marriage and against heresy were repealed and clerical marriage and communion with cup were sanctioned.communion with cup were sanctioned.

In 1547, the chantries, places where endowed masses had In 1547, the chantries, places where endowed masses had traditionally been said for the dead, were dissolved.traditionally been said for the dead, were dissolved.

In 1549, the Act Of Uniformity imposed Thomas Cranmer’s In 1549, the Act Of Uniformity imposed Thomas Cranmer’s Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer on all English churches. on all English churches.

Images and altars were removed from the churches in 1550.Images and altars were removed from the churches in 1550. The Second Act Of Uniformity, passed in 1552, imposed a The Second Act Of Uniformity, passed in 1552, imposed a

revised edition of the revised edition of the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer on all on all English churches.English churches.

A Forty-Two-Article Confession of Faith, also written by A Forty-Two-Article Confession of Faith, also written by Thomas Cranmer, was adopted, setting forth a moderate Thomas Cranmer, was adopted, setting forth a moderate Protestant doctrine.:Protestant doctrine.:

It taught justification by faith and the Supremacy of Holy It taught justification by faith and the Supremacy of Holy Scripture.Scripture.

It denied transubstantiation (although not real presence).It denied transubstantiation (although not real presence). It recognized only two sacraments It recognized only two sacraments

Mary I (1553-1558)Mary I (1553-1558)

In 1533, Catherine of In 1533, Catherine of Aragon’s daughter Aragon’s daughter succeeded Edward succeeded Edward (who had died in his (who had died in his teens) to the English teens) to the English throne as Mary I and throne as Mary I and proceeded to restore proceeded to restore Catholic doctrine and Catholic doctrine and practice.practice.

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)Elizabeth I (1558-1603) It was not until the reign of It was not until the reign of

Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth I, that a lasting Elizabeth I, that a lasting religious settlement was religious settlement was worked out in England. worked out in England. Elizabeth merged a Elizabeth merged a centralized Episcopal centralized Episcopal system, which she firmly system, which she firmly controlled, with broadly controlled, with broadly defined Protestant doctrine defined Protestant doctrine and traditional Catholic and traditional Catholic ritual.ritual.

Supreme GovernorSupreme Governor In 1559, an Act of In 1559, an Act of

Supremacy passed Supremacy passed parliament, repealing parliament, repealing all the anti-Protestant all the anti-Protestant legislation of Mary legislation of Mary Tudor and asserting Tudor and asserting Elizabeth’s right as Elizabeth’s right as “supreme governor” “supreme governor” over both spiritual over both spiritual and temporal affairs.and temporal affairs.

Act of UniformityAct of Uniformity

In the same year, the In the same year, the Act of Uniformity Act of Uniformity mandated a revised mandated a revised version of the second version of the second Book of Common Book of Common Prayer for every Prayer for every English parish.English parish.

Thirty-Nine ArticlesThirty-Nine Articles

In 1563, the issuance In 1563, the issuance of the Thirty-Nine of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, Articles of Religion, made a moderate made a moderate Protestantism the Protestantism the official religion official religion within the Church of within the Church of England.England.