Why was there so little opposition to the Henrician Reformation?

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Why was there so little opposition to the Henrician Reformation?

The Henrician reformation brought many changes to the religious and secular ways of life in England. It stripped the nation of many of its traditional Catholic ways and forced new and unheard of customs into its religious life. The monasteries were dissolved deceitfully and effectively and a once cherished tradition was brought to an abrupt end. Henry agreed to have an English Bible in his churches, something that had previously been considered an act of heresy. Other Catholic traditions such as holy relics and the belief in purgatory were discouraged in the newly revised faith. Cromwell initiated these changes to the faith, but Henry’s Catholic faith ensured these changes were not too radical and chantries were still allowed to pray for souls in purgatory. Although Henry remained a Catholic, the end of papal power was signified in his becoming the head of the Church of England. However, with such movements that shook the foundations of England’s faith, why was there so little opposition to the Henrician reformation?

   Perhaps on of the greatest tactics employed by the crown to prevent opposition was provoking fear amongst those who were likely to oppose the reformation. Henry had to start from the top, and therefore started by controlling parliament. A few bishops that had once made up a considerable part of parliament ( such as Bishop Fisher) were told to no longer attend, and Henry occasionally attended parliament, watching them as they voted, for example Henry attended debates in the Lords on 3 occasions and in 1532 he attended parliament for the passing of the ‘Bill of Annates’. This form of intimation was certain to have had an element of control over the behavior of the remaining members of parliament.  

   Cromwell was a mastermind in creating considerable pressure in Parliament to get the Acts passed. One such example was the passing of the ‘Act for the establishment of the King’s succession’ in 1534. This was an act drawn up by Cromwell with the intention of bringing all opposition out into the open. Although the document was written by Cromwell, it was made to appear to have been drawn up by parliament.    “We your said most humble and obedient subjects”. Cromwell, however,included an oath in this act; if anyone refused to take the oath, they were put to death under the law of treason. “And if any persons refuse that to do…taken and accepted for offender in misprision of high treason” (From the Act of Succession 1534) He also passed a law of treason in 1534, and it meant that men could die for simply uttering words against Henry or his marriage to Anne Boleyn. No plotting or such action was needed for the persecution of being hung, drawn and quartered. This law installed immense fear throughout the nation and undoubtedly diminished most opposition to the reformation. The  Succession Act tested an individual’s religious and political commitment, which required recognition of the succession of the children of Anne Boleyn and Henry. The government went to extreme efforts to get all important men to swear and some would not accept this Oath such as Bishop John Fisher who was executed for not doing so in 1535. However, individuals who opposed this Act had little or no support, so it was easy for Henry to wipe such minor opposition out.

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    The Dissolution Act in 1536 to dissolve the lesser monasteries was done by contrasting them to the greater monasteries where “ religion was right well kept”, thus labeling them corrupt from a religious point of view.Thiswould have reduced opposition considerably, although only monasteries worth under ₤200 were closed in this Act, whether the visitors had found corruption within them or not.  Other abbots that opposed to the dissolution of the monasteries such as Reading, Colchester, and Glastonbury and would not ‘voluntarily dissolve’ their monasteries were hanged outside their building as a display of how serious the reformation was; ...

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