Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-1-protestant-influences

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# Protestant Influences

History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603, topic 2.3.1

## 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

![Martin Luther](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/389cd36b-f529-4bd7-be1d-a22d58c4e36f/Martin-Luther-.jpg)

- 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_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/5a7097c9-ab0a-479b-aa0b-14cc75c88f16/church-door-.jpg)

- 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 and the Protestant Church](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/b9a3c72b-705f-4878-9439-b6a3a2247118/child-bible-bed-.jpg)

- 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

![Luther's influence over the English Reformation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/96859a39-ffa9-40c9-a9e0-d874fac740e9/bible-hands-.jpg)

- 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

![Limits of Luther's influence over the English Reformation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/eea6e5fe-031d-4e75-9c7d-f0f9c5d32440/bible-cross-.jpg)

- 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

![Rise to power](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/d1c7d50d-5f16-43bd-bf72-410644e6d1c9/Dutch-flag-netherlands-.jpg)

- 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

![Relationship with Henry VIII](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/14913e76-358b-462d-a3ea-1b28d4c65a8a/henry-viii-8th-tudor-.jpg)

- 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

![Anne’s downfall](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/a4ef82f3-8e84-4a62-8d5a-50f3a8c8cc6c/beheading-.png)

- 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

![Boleyn’s Reformist Zeal](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/1f9d66ef-dbe9-430e-b186-712aa8dcf1e3/religion-faith-clouds-hand-pray-give-.jpg)

- 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

![Influence over the Henrician Reformation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/5a7097c9-ab0a-479b-aa0b-14cc75c88f16/church-door-.jpg)

- 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

![Questioning Anne Boleyn’s image](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/4b199caa-0ba6-49cd-91a9-5bc8157d522c/anne-boleyn-.jpg)

- 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's rise to power](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/ba3002f0-2611-4045-9c2e-76825c7ef3da/young_priests.jpg)

- 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 and Edward VI](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/eb892082-8011-4b0a-afc9-f36a64d1b692/edward-vi-tudor-.jpg)

- 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's downfall](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/7.1.1%20Crude%20oil/fire-2777580_640-min.jpg)

- 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's rise to power](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/6646a905-f6a5-4fde-9807-b6ff76573bbf/cranmer.jpg)

- 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

![Cranmer's reforms](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ee44f0a1-01ec-416e-8c42-1cff26f95cd8/book-bible-.jpg)

- 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's downfall](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/b6d6da53-4f23-409b-9841-6ab21364b301/stop-.jpg)

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

## Test yourself on Protestant Influences

- Where was Martin Luther from?
- How do we know that the _95 Theses_ was meant for clergymen?
- When did Anne Boleyn become a maid of honour for Catherine of Aragon?
- When did Latimer gain a bishopric?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/c32e8aa5-abeb-44ce-b7ad-e2162a2d0658/section/704f8672-18a7-49be-928a-f53f254db5a7/session)

- Previous topic: [2.2.4 Catholic Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-4-catholic-nobility.md)
- Next topic: [2.3.2 Protestantism Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-2-protestantism-under-edward-vi.md)

## History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603 contents

### 1 Monarch & Government
- 1.1 Tudor Monarchs
  - [1.1.1 Henry VII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-1-henry-vii.md)
  - [1.1.2 Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-2-henry-viii.md)
  - [1.1.3 Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-3-edward-vi.md)
  - [1.1.4 Mary I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-4-mary-i.md)
  - [1.1.5 Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-5-elizabeth-i.md)
  - [1.1.6 Succession Disputes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-6-succession-disputes.md)
- 1.2 Changing Role of Parliament
  - [1.2.1 Parliament & Henry VII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-1-parliament-and-henry-vii.md)
  - [1.2.2 Parliament & Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-2-parliament-and-henry-viii.md)
  - [1.2.3 Parliament After the Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-3-parliament-after-the-reformation.md)
- 1.3 Principal Servants to the Crown
  - [1.3.1 Principal Servants to the Crown](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-3-1-principal-servants-to-the-crown.md)

### 2 Religious Changes
- 2.1 Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change
  - [2.1.1 The Henrician Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-1-the-henrician-reformation.md)
  - [2.1.2 Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-2-impact-of-religious-change-under-henry-viii.md)
  - [2.1.3 Religious Change Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-3-religious-change-under-edward-vi.md)
  - [2.1.4 Religious Change Under Mary I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-4-religious-change-under-mary-i.md)
  - [2.1.5 Elizabethan Settlement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-5-elizabethan-settlement.md)
- 2.2 Catholicism & Survival
  - [2.2.1 Popular Attitudes to Catholicism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-1-popular-attitudes-to-catholicism.md)
  - [2.2.2 Catholicism Under Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-2-catholicism-under-henry-viii.md)
  - [2.2.3 Catholicism Under Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-3-catholicism-under-elizabeth-i.md)
  - [2.2.4 Catholic Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-4-catholic-nobility.md)
- 2.3 Protestantism & Puritanism
  - [2.3.1 Protestant Influences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-1-protestant-influences.md)
  - [2.3.2 Protestantism Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-2-protestantism-under-edward-vi.md)
  - [2.3.3 Protestantism Under Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-3-protestantism-under-elizabeth-i.md)

### 3 State Control & Popular Resistance
- 3.1 Tudor Control of the Country
  - [3.1.1 Councils](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-1-councils.md)
  - [3.1.2 Role of Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-2-role-of-nobility.md)
  - [3.1.3 Justices of the Peace](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-3-justices-of-the-peace.md)
  - [3.1.4 Lord Lieutenant](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-4-lord-lieutenant.md)
- 3.2 The State &  the Poor
  - [3.2.1 Reasons for Growth of Poverty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-1-reasons-for-growth-of-poverty.md)
  - [3.2.2 Punishments for Paupers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-2-punishments-for-paupers.md)
  - [3.2.3 Role of Charities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-3-role-of-charities.md)
- 3.3 Resistance to Tudor Rule
  - [3.3.1 Resistance to Tax & Subsidies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-1-resistance-to-tax-and-subsidies.md)
  - [3.3.2 Uprisings Against Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-2-uprisings-against-henry-viii.md)
  - [3.3.3 Uprisings Against Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-3-uprisings-against-edward-vi.md)
  - [3.3.4 Uprisings Against Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-4-uprisings-against-elizabeth-i.md)
  - [3.3.5 Decline of Popular Resistance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-5-decline-of-popular-resistance.md)

### 4 Economic, Social & Cultural Change
- 4.1 Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade
  - [4.1.1 Wool & Cloth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-1-1-wool-and-cloth.md)
  - [4.1.2 Exploration & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-1-2-exploration-and-trade.md)
- 4.2 Changing Structure of Society
  - [4.2.1 Population](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-1-population.md)
  - [4.2.2 Dissolution of Monasteries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-2-dissolution-of-monasteries.md)
  - [4.2.3 Enclosure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-3-enclosure.md)
- 4.3 Cultural Change
  - [4.3.1 Education & Literature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-1-education-and-literature.md)
  - [4.3.2 Impact of Religious Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-2-impact-of-religious-change.md)
  - [4.3.3 Patronage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-3-patronage.md)
  - [4.3.4 The Arts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-4-the-arts.md)
  - [4.3.5 Cult of Gloriana](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-5-cult-of-gloriana.md)

### 5 Historical Interpretations
- 5.1 Significance of Threats to National Security
  - [5.1.1 Spain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-1-spain.md)
  - [5.1.2 The Spanish Armada](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-2-the-spanish-armada.md)
  - [5.1.3 Ireland](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-3-ireland.md)
- 5.2 Court Politics
  - [5.2.1 Court Factions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-2-1-court-factions.md)
  - [5.2.2 Essex's Rebellion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-2-2-essexs-rebellion.md)
- 5.3 Elizabeth & Parliament
  - [5.3.1 Conflict with Parliament](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-3-1-conflict-with-parliament.md)
- 5.4 Social Distress in the 1590s
  - [5.4.1 Social Distress in the 1590s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-4-1-social-distress-in-the-1590s.md)
