Protestant Influences

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Martin Luther's Influence Over the Reformation

The Reformation in Europe began with Martin Luther. His most famous work was the 95 Theses.

Martin Luther

Luther was a monk from Germany.
Luther believed that the Catholic Church was corrupt (greedy and abusing its power).

The 95 Theses

The 95 Theses criticised the Catholic Church.
In particular, Luther took issue with the Church selling ‘indulgences’ (cancelling earthly punishment for sins).
Luther pinned the 95 Theses to the door of his local church. This shows it was meant for clergymen.

Luther and the Protestant Church

Luther established his own church, called the Lutheran Church.
Luther disagreed with ‘transubstantiation’ (the idea that the substance of the wine and bread in communion becomes Christ's body and blood).
Luther also believed the Bible should be translated into the vernacular (language of the local area).
- For his church, he translated the Bible into German.

Luther's influence over the English Reformation

To a degree, Luther's ideas did gain a foothold in England.
Ryrie (2002): "It is certainly true that the early evangelical movement in England was permeated with Lutheran texts."
Ryrie (2002): "Many of the reforms his regime implemented would accord with a Lutheran agenda: the provision of vernacular Scripture, the destruction of monasticism, and even the dismantling of the doctrine of purgatory and the system of devotion that went with it."

Limits of Luther's influence over the English Reformation

Hall (1979): Henry VIII detested Luther and did not want anyone challenging his ultimate authority over the Church of England.
Ryrie (2002): "Henry maintained a lifelong loathing of those who denied the eucharistic presence."
McEntegart (1992): Lutheran influence was limited to "a small group of people around the king [Edward VI]".

Anne Boleyn's Influence Over the Reformation

Anne Boleyn had the King’s ear in the 1520s and 1530s. She was a Protestant and offered patronage to Protestant reformers.

Rise to power

Anne Boleyn was educated in the Netherlands and France.
In 1522, she became a maid of honour to Catherine of Aragon.

Relationship with Henry VIII

Henry VIII began to pursue Anne Boleyn in 1526.
Anne refused to be Henry’s mistress.
He was infatuated with her and this drove his desire to annul his marriage to Catherine.
Anne and Henry married in 1533 in secret, and soon after they had a daughter, Elizabeth.

Anne’s downfall

Henry began to pursue Jane Seymour.
Anne’s downfall was brought about by factional scheming (led by Cromwell).
Cromwell tortured her musician who confessed that Anne had had multiple affairs, even with her own brother.
She was executed in 1536.

Boleyn’s Reformist Zeal

Dowing (1990): Anne Boleyn “was regarded as a reformer by her own servants and associates, and...in both her private life and public policy, she was a fervent and committed evangelical.”

Influence over the Henrician Reformation

Ives (1986): Anne Boleyn “played a major part in pushing Henry into asserting his headship of the church…[she was] the first to demonstrate the potential there was in the royal supremacy for that distinctive English element in the Reformation, the ability of the king to take the initiative in religious change.”
Anne offered patronage to key individuals in the Reformation, such as Latimer and Cranmer.

Questioning Anne Boleyn’s image

Due to Elizabeth’s accession to the throne, it was necessary for Anne Boleyn’s reputation to be rehabilitated.
Anne Boleyn was made a martyr and was painted as a major influence in the Reformation. Largely through the work of John Foxe and Hugh Latimer.
Foxe: Anne “was a special comforter and aider of all the professors of Christ’s gospel”.
Bernard (1993): Foxe and Latimer “were presenting Anne as a pious evangelical” and “attempting to retrieve her reputation in general”.

Latimer and Cranmer's Influence over the Reformation

Latimer and Cranmer were key figures which shaped the English Reformation under Henry VIII and Edward VI.

Latimer's rise to power

Latimer gained the patronage of Anne Boleyn.
She helped him gain a Bishopric in 1535.
Latimer is famous for his preaching and disseminating Protestantism in England.
One of his most famous sermons was "Sermon of the Plough" which was published in 1548.

Latimer and Edward VI

Latimer was imprisoned during the final years of Henry VIII’s rule.
Under Somerset and Edward VI, he returned to favour and began to preach in court.
Latimer contributed to the repeal of the Six Articles.

Latimer's downfall

Latimer was executed under Mary I's regime in 1555.
Foxe (1563) on Latimer's execution: "Latimer cried out, 'O Father of heaven, receive my soul' and reached to the flame as if embracing it."

Cranmer's rise to power

Cranmer also benefited from Anne Boleyn’s patronage but also was a firm favourite of Henry VIII.
Cranmer supported Henry VIII’s claim for the royal supremacy.
He was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533.
Cranmer married Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII in 1533 and in 1536 was responsible for gaining declaring the marriage invalid.

Cranmer's reforms

In 1537 Cranmer published the ‘Bishop’s Book’. This implemented the break from Rome.
Cranmer, alongside Latimer, helped produce the Coverdale Bible in the vernacular.
Cranmer was also at the helm of Edward VI’s religious programme.
In 1548, Cranmer helped create the new Prayer Book.
Cranmer fell out of favour (alongside Somerset) following Kett’s Rebellion in 1549.

Cranmer's downfall

Cranmer recanted his faith when Mary came to the throne.
Mary refused to pardon Cranmer and he was executed in 1556.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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