Do you agree with the view that, in the years 1534-40, Protestantism made only limited gains in England?

However, there were other things introduced which supported the Catholicism way of life in England even after the break with Rome. For example, the Bishops Book published in 1537. The Bishops Book was the second attempt to outline what the English church believed in. This also went against the Ten Articles of 1536 by rediscovering the four lost sacraments which were confirmation, ordination, marriage and extreme unction and proved their validity. This is supported by Source 8 which was a letter from Reginald Pole. He states ‘King Henry’s intent is to see the law of Almighty God purely kept, and not to separate himself or his realm from the unity of Christ’s Catholic church’. Further strengthening the view that England remained very much Catholic. However, the bishop’s book also had subtle parts of Protestantism and a minor Lutheran stance, as it was to implement the reforms of Henry VIII in separating from the Roman Catholic Church and reforming the Ecclesia Anglicana. This weakens the view that the Protestantism made no gains but supports the question that although this was a predominantly a catholic reform it still had hints of a protestant stance, this strengthens the view greatly that Protestantism made only little gains during the years 1534-40.

        Although, one more act was introduced in 1539 which totally confirmed the catholic stance England had taken, this was the Act of The 6 Articles.  This act endorsed the central tenets of traditional theology, meaning that it was more favourable to the conservative catholic Henry due to it being the traditional theology. We understand that Henry favoured this from Source 9 where it states ‘In 1539 the King allowed the conservative Duke of Norfolk to pass through Parliament the Six Articles Act, which settled firmly the issues in conflict in favour of the traditionalists over the reformers’, proving that Protestantism was making no gains. This is confirmed from Source 9 where it says ‘Cranmer and Cromwell were badly shaken by this measure’ showing that the Protestant reforms were severely damaged by this which would have harshly limited any gains they had made. The Act of The 6 Articles confirmed transubstantiation, private masses and it also banned clerical marriage. In addition, to further weaken the Protestantism in England any people who failed to comply with the act or denied transubstantiation were charged with Heresy and some were sentenced to burn at the stake. This act was towards the end of the time frame and disagrees with the question that Protestantism made little gains during the years 1534-40 as this act essentially abolished any Protestantism and supported the Catholic way of life in England.

Conclusively, it is fair to say Protestantism made little gains during the years 1534-40 as they did get some uphold in England through the use of the ten articles and slight factors of the bishops book but ultimately by the end of 1540 the combining factors of the stronger factors of the bishops book and the act of six articles strongly reinforced Catholicism in England and wiped out any gains Protestantism had made. This view is strongly supported by Source 8 which bears some weight to the argument due to some catholic reforms affecting the clergy yet he was still speaking highly of the King for making the right decision. Conversely, Source 9 disagrees with these two points saying that the Act of The Six Articles did cause Protestantism to fade, however, many people weren’t punished through this act and Henry’s heir was continuing with his Protestant education, showing that they had still made some gains. Overall, Protestantism did make little gains during the years 1534-40 as it made advances, however these were quickly wiped out before 1540 weakening the argument that they had made limited gains.