Stefan's Florilegium

Ref-Tud-Eng-art

Ref-Tud-Eng-art - 2/2/98

"The Effects of the Reformation on Tudor England" by Robin Anderson of Ross.

NOTE: See also the files: religion-msg, indulgences-msg, monks-msg, nuns-msg,
relics-msg, heretics-msg, Islam-msg, p-bibles-msg.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set
of files, called Stefanšs Florilegium.

These files are available on the Internet at:
http://www.florilegium.org

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author.

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be
reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first
or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,
Mark S. Harris
AKA: Stefan li Rous
stefan@florilegium.org
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The Effects of the Reformation on Tudor England

by Robin Anderson of Ross (Robin Gammon)

The English Reformation was arguably the most important change that took
place in sixteenth-century England. The break from Rome in 1534 and the
subsequent changes in doctrine and worship not only changed the character of
English religion but also had an impact on the constitutional, political,
diplomatic, social and cultural history of the country.

The major changes in the character of religion had to do with the battle
between Catholicism and Protestantism. This battle changed the way people
prayed and their fundamental beliefs, as well as the way they build their
churches and other religious art. It affected their social communities and who
they associated with. It changed the way they perceived government policies and
their own civil rights.

With the Pope no longer in control, the Doctrine of non-resistance was put
forth by the church. Treason was now a sin. This was because the king was
considered god's image on earth. The Pope was no longer the highest judge, the
king was. A person who was a rebel was more sinful than a king who was a
tyrant. Priests became subject to the crown, and proclamations by the king were
equivalent to common law.

The nuclear family became more insulated and private than before. The new
Tudor state eroded family alliances. Loyalty to king was more important than
loyalty to one's extended family. More emphasis was placed on the sanctity of
marriage, purity of the married state and conjugal affection was more important
than celibacy. The supremacy of the husband/father was accentuated, much like
the supremacy of the king. Women were inferior, they had no legal independence
and all their possessions would belong to their husbands. If a woman killed her
husband it was considered petty treason and she would be executed. They were
not allowed economic independence, and were excluded from trades such as
brewing, innkeeping and printing. Most families practiced severe discipline of
children.

Cromwell acting as Henry III's Vicar-General wanted to endow the crown
with more income. He did this by bureaucratizing many financial departments of
the king's household, and by selling monastery lands and destroying the
monasteries themselves. At that time in England there was a lot of criticism of
the monasteries. This kind of traditional anti-clericalism was expressed in
calls for church reform (Simon Fish).

Humanists also condemned traditional Catholic monasteries. The Humanist
religious outlook suggested the rejection of contemplative life and placed more
emphasis on religion based on love and charity, not ceremony, yet they wanted
the lands preserved, not just sold. The destruction of these monasteries caused
the loss of much artistic and literary treasure as well as the tradition of
didactic religious art which was considered idolatry by many Protestants. This
Protestant influence also changed church architecture; fan vaulting and other
decorative styles were considered Popish and were not built into new churches.

With the sale of monastic lands the nobility came to own a lot of church
lands. Of course they don't want to return them and so are obligated to support
the king. Suddenly the Pope has become a threat to their lands. This sale of
land also increased the English land market, which allowed for increased social
mobility in the gentry class. The educational revolution also allowed for more
social mobility. Education became necessary for success. Protestants felt that
all people should be able to read the Bible, and were looking for educated
clergymen to replace Catholics. Puritan universities were opened to educate
these people. The now educated gentry could hold positions in state and church
jobs. In order to retain their court positions the nobility must also become
more educated and change from warrior class to courtesan class. Social reform
became a popular outcry, encouraging Thomas More to write his book Utopia.

Mary Tudor tried to restore Catholicism in her reign by reviving the
heresy laws. Over 300 Protestants were subsequently tried and burned. The
Protestant author John Foxe wrote The Book of Martyrs, describing the gruesome
deaths of those who were convicted of heresy. Later this book was found in many
Protestant churches as evidence of the sins of the Catholic church.

In 1549 the young King Edward commissioned a book of common prayer yet
despite his Protestant beliefs it still contained many Catholic ceremonies.
Later in 1552 another prayer book denies such Catholic leanings such as the
belief that Christ is physically present in communion. Yet the Catholic portion
of the population could not accept this new prayer book.

Queen Elizabeth wanted define the beliefs of the Church of England, but
this put a lot of pressure on her from both religions. Finally both sides
agreed in the Elizabethan settlement of 1559. The new Book of Common Prayer had
both beliefs integrated together, but the radicals still wanted to leave out the
parts that they didn't like because it was still not reformed enough for the
Puritans (radical Protestants, mostly Marian exiles).

Elizabeth had problems with Protestant factions in the house of commons.
The Puritans demanded full church reform, as well as a learned ministry. The
Puritans tried to pass bills through the house in order to get their way, But
Elizabeth says that the houses but obtain her permission in order to discuss an
issue or a bill. The Puritans feel that they should have free speech.
Archbishop Whitgift tried to control the Puritans for Elizabeth by forcing all
priests to sign 3 articles. One of the articles claimed that the Book of Common
Prayer contained nothing contrary to the word of God. Many radicals could not
sign this and were suspended. He also led the High Commission which tried to
get radical Protestants to admit that they had not attended church because of
their difference in opinion over the Book of Common Prayer.

During Elizabeth's reign, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded because she was
supposedly plotting to overthrow Elizabeth, so that she could be the new
Catholic Queen. Elizabeth did not want to have her killed, but Mary's
supporters had tried to hold a few revolts and Elizabeth could no longer ignore
the threat.

After the Pope issued a bull against Elizabeth, which excommunicated her,
people began to fear the possibility of war with Spain and other Catholic
nations. European Catholics tried to send missionaries into England to
reinstall Catholicism. Parliament reacted strongly and passed anti-Catholic
laws which made it treason to convert yourself or anyone else to Catholicism or
to shelter a Catholic priest. Catholics were not even able to leave the area
around their homes.

Confraternities had been a large social gathering for many Catholics
before the reformation. They provided insurance and security along with
blessings from a particular saint. After the reformation this kind of
protection was no longer available. The Cult of the Virgin was considered
superstitious, as was the veneration of any other saint. Fear of the devil
without any kind of magical, church-oriented protection led to a widespread fear
of witchcraft. Yet this kind of fear did not reach the proportions it did on
the continent. In England at this time the witches could not be killed for
heresy. They were instead prosecuted for ill intent, or maleficium (meaning
harmful magic) and not for devil worship or diabolism.

The impact of the Protestant Reformation on the history of England was all
pervasive. It affected many areas of English life. The switch from Catholicism
to Protestantism changed what people believed to be the right way to live and
work. It became acceptable for people to be literate and to try and better
themselves. It altered the family environment. It changed the way the people
saw their monarch, and how they felt the government should be run. It also made
the threat of invasions from other countries much more personal than it had
before, for now they had to defend their basic beliefs, not just their country.

In conclusion The English Reformation was a very important time in English
History altering not only English religion but also the constitutional,
political, diplomatic, social and cultural history of the country. Religion is
a very deeply rooted subject for most people, and many countries have based
their political views and government structures on it. Alter these basic
beliefs and you change the way people think and feel about that government, as
well as their lifestyle within it. It changes fashion (do you keep your head
covered in church or not?), socially acceptable norms (do women work?), informal
gatherings (is it OK for young people to dance with the opposite sex?), and
family structure (does the mother raise the children or the father?). All of
these are important to the way people live, work and associate with one another
no matter what their social status or economic level is. Those basic beliefs
lend structure to morality and personal self-image within any society.

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Copyright 1998 by Robin E. Craig, 1914-A Gracy Farms, Austin, Texas 78758.
Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided
the author is credited and receives a copy.

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in
the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also
appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being
reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.

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