Religion and Change

• Times of extreme religious turmoil and turbulence in the country
• Edward VI was raised as a Protestant by his father and continued his education in this manner
• Edward had more influence over state matters towards the end of his reign due to the influence of Somerset and Northumberland
• Edward had conflicts with his older sister, Mary, over her Catholicism
• Under Somerset:

  • Reintroduction of royal injunctions encouraging the use of the Bible in English and Iconoclasm
  • Dissolution of the Chantries in 1547
  • Publication of the Prayer Book of 1549 with the Act of Uniformity
• Under Northumberland:

  • Continued Protestant reforms
  • Asset stripping from the Church
  • Publication of Cranmer's 42 Articles of Religion
  • Instructions to Bishops in 1553
  • Treason Act of 1552
  • Publication of the Prayer Book of 1552 with radical reforms
• Under Somerset:

  • Debasement of the coin
  • Introduction of the Sheep Tax
  • High general taxation
  • Vagrancy Act of 1547
• Under Northumberland:

  • Ended debasement of the coin
  • Reduction in expenditure
  • Paying off debts
  • Repealed the Sheep Tax
  • Imposed anti-enclosure legislation
  • Church plate melted down for bullion
• Rebellions during Edward VI's reign:
• Rebellions in 1549 were significant threats to the throne

  • Western Rebellion and Kett's Rebellion
  • Rebels had religious and economic grievances
  • Western Rebellion lasted from June to August 1549
• The Western Rebellion in June to August 1549 was formed from both religious and economic grievances
• Background:

  • William Body, the church commissioner and Archdeacon of Cornwall, oversaw the removal of images from parish churches, leading to his murder by a mob led by a parish priest, Martin Geoffrey
  • Most protesters were caught and leniently dealt with, but the murderers were hung, drawn, and quartered
• Discontent in Cornwall rose due to the Act of Uniformity passed in January 1549, requiring all church services to use the new book of common prayer written in English

  • The rebellion gained momentum due to the loss of the traditional prayer book and the change to speaking English instead of Cornish
• Outline of events:

  • Defiant Cornishmen gathered in Bodmin in reaction to being forced to use the new book on Whit Sunday
  • Spontaneous uprising in Sampford Courtenay in Mid-Devon led to conflicts and captures of rebels
  • Economic issues, such as the sheep tax and rumored taxes on other animals, also fueled the rebellion
• Consequences:

  • Citizens of Exeter defended their city staunchly against rebel attack
  • Government troops carried out illegal executions, including hanging a priest from the spire of his own church
  • The rejection of Catholicism was a shock to the public, symbolizing significant religious change
• Kett's Rebellion in July to August 1549 was mainly rooted in economic grievances rather than religious issues
• Background:

  • Outrage stemmed from taxations, overzealous local officials, and enclosure of common grazing land for profit in the wool industry
• Local causes of the rebellion:

  • Enclosure of common grazing land for profit in the wool industry
  • Increasing rents and dissatisfaction with Somerset's policies
• Outline of events:

  • Rebels tore down hedges near Wymondham and moved towards Norwich under Kett's leadership
  • Rebels took control of Norwich, set up a government, and began trials of enclosure supporters
  • The rebellion was eventually defeated by forces led by the Earl of Northumberland, with Kett executed for treason
• Consequences of the Rebellion:

  • Rates of enclosure slowed down
  • Peasants made a stronghold against the crown and contributed to the downfall of the Duke of Somerset
  • The government's inconsistent response and use of brutality led to a demoralized government
• Impacts of religious change on society in the case study of Morebath:

  • Expenditure on church goods declined after 1540
  • Fear of crown attacks on the church increased
  • Churches attracted less attention and money due to plainer services
  • People donated less money to the church after they died, making the church less popular
  • The accession of Mary saw a return to Catholicism, making her popular