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The Reformation

Henrician Reform

There was talk for a long time of reconciliation with Rome, but it went nowhere. Reconciliation seemed at least possible for a time because there was as yet no real reform in England; Henry had merely supplanted the pope, leaving Church practices intact. There were, however, reformers within in England and within the court, and some limited reforms were implemented.

The political issue was the most burning. In 1535 Parliament passed the Act of Succession, which in part demanded an oath to the new order. Some refused, Thomas More among them, and were executed. The following year saw the execution of Anne Boleyn, for whom Henry had started the English Reformation. It also saw the only serious revolt against Henry's reforms, a rebellion that began in the north of England and which was contained there. Henry did not again face open resistance.

Henry quickly turned over all the spiritual powers he had usurped to the Archbishop of Canterbury (1536). In that same year, Henry moved against the monasteries. Dissolving the monasteries was a standard move of the reformers; Henry was motivated as much by a desire for reform as by a desire to get his hands on monastic wealth. In general, the crown got most of the movable wealth, while the English nobility were granted the lands and titles. The business was completed in 1540 with an act of Parliament making the crown the owner of all remaining monastic property.

The dissolution of the monasteries was an important step in the English reformation. Once monastic lands had been redistributed among the nobility, going back to Rome became a much more complicated affair. The nobles had a vested interest in maintaining at least the acts of Henry, even if they had no sympathy for the religious reformers.