This opposition was potentially serious as the Queen’s party was starting to persuade the masses against their King. Meanwhile the Queen’s head party was beginning to persuade other active members of court. Parties such as the Queen’s and the Queen’s head group were easily suppressed from above. More and Fisher, after being treated leniently be the King, were eventually executed under charges of high treason. Other prominent members of Catherine’s support groups were placed under charges of praeminure and the groups, lacking strong leadership were suppresses easily.
Court opposition concerning both divorce and new acts came from the House of Commons where they freely resisted demands for money and financial assertions as well as protesting against proposed bills. The efforts of the commons to however, were easily stifled. The first act of the restraint of Annates and the Act of Appeals met firm opposition in the Commons. It was popular belief that Papal retaliation would be channelled through the cloth trade, an essential source of England’s income. These beliefs however were quickly suppressed and the Commons only succeeded in delaying the passing of such acts. It was the act of Succession that was met within court with fierce opposition. The act meant that it was to be made treason if any person denied that Henry was the Supreme head of the English Church and said or wrote anything against his present marriage or his lawful heirs. This act also denounced the power of the Pope, undoubtedly worsening the already fragile relationship between the English monarch and the Papacy. ‘There was never such a striking at the passage of any act in the lower house’ ( J. Guy 1988). Notwithstanding the resistance of the Commons the act passed with little delay. The pressure from above was immense, Parliament at this time were given more freedom and possessed more power. In addition Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister had made it virtually impossible for concerted opposition to form. The opposition was eliminated before they acted as a focus for wider discontent.
It is evident that Cromwell had successful managed to minimize opposition from the small isolated groups within court. There were however individuals who persistently angered the King and his minister. It was Henry’s divorce, the Act of Supremacy and the break with Rome that imposed huge changes on English society and angered individuals. A servant girl named Elizabeth Barton was afflicted with epilepsy and visions. In the 1530s she began to draw the attention of the masses as she had trances and gave prophesies. Barton had prophesised the early death of Henry if he married Anne Boleyn. She was seen as a dangerous women, she was suspected to be in touch with Papal representatives as well as leading members if the Queen’s party. Although Barton was a mere servant girl she was being used as valuable source of propaganda by both the Papacy and supporters of Catherine. It is for these reasons that the King and his minister saw her as dangerous. She was sent to the tower in 1533 where she was later executed.
When Henry assumed the throne there were around eight hundred religious houses in England and Wales. These religious houses, or monasteries were in decline. The dissolution of the monasteries gave England the money to improve coastal defences and make steps towards reducing crown debt. There were however many disadvantages of removing all the religious houses in England and Wales. Areas around the monasteries would be disadvantaged as there would be no charitable works or employment. Catholics were angered as the dissolution would me that the last bastion of Papal, Catholic control was to be destroyed. Opposition against the dissolution was widespread and eventually resulted in two major risings. The Gentry classes, predominantly in the North, wanted the King to stop attacking the catholic Church and in particular, the dissolution of the monasteries. Amongst the rebels there were six abbots who, due to the uneven geographical distribution of the suppressed houses were harder hit than others. There were two phases of the rising in Lincolnshire and later in Yorkshire. The latter rising was more organised than the first and was lead by a lawyer named Robert Aske. He assumed control of the 35,000 army rebels that took control of Pontefract Castle as well as the support of Lord Thomas Darcy. Despite the rebel army being much larger than that of the King’s supporters the rising was easily crushed. Royal pardons were offer to those who surrendered. Most of the rebels did and only one death was recorded. The leaders were not treated so leniently. Leaders including Robert Aske and Lord Darcy were executed, in all over two hundred people were put to death including lords, knights, abbots, monks and priests.
The Pilgrimage of Grace was possibly the largest and most serious revolt during Henry’s reign. It was potentially serious as the army was large and posed a military threat. Henry would not have been able to defeat the rebels and if they had decided to march south it would have been possible for them to gain the attention and support from both Charles V and the Pope.
It is evident that opposition to the Henrican reformation was potentially serious. This is by virtue of the facts that potentially the king could have faced a battle on home soil against the rebels of the pilgrimage of grace that was by far the largest army. In addition court factions were working relentlessly to undermine monarchical authority and were continuing to gain support. Such opposition was also given further momentum by individuals such as More, Fisher and Barton who created effective propaganda for the Queen’s cause. Although the opposition was potentially serious it mounted to very little. Henry and Cromwell ensured that these small isolated pockets of discontent both inside and outside of court were eliminated and that persistent defiant individuals were executed. In addition the Pilgrimage of Grace amounted to nothing as the rebels did not wish to battle, in addition the King’s promise to offer pardons and restore some monasteries appealed to the rebels. It can therefore be concluded that although the opposition to the Henrican reformation was rife it posed little threat to Henry thanks to the quick response and actions of Cromwell who pinned down opposition in its early stages.