Question 1
1 ‘There was widespread opposition to the religious changes under Edward VI.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view.
Source A: A contemporary Catholic chronicle describes reactions to the religious changes in the first year of Edward VI’s reign.
The 5th of September 1547 began the king’s visitation at St Paul’s, and all the images were pulled down; and the 9th day of the same month the said visitation was at St Bride’s, and after that in various other parish churches; and so all images pulled down through all England at that time, and all churches new white-limed, with the commandments on the walls.
Adapted from the Chronicle of Grey Friars of London.
Source B: The religious demands of the Western rebels in response to the introduction of the 1549 Prayer Book.
Item, we will have the Laws of our Sovereign Lord King Henry VIII concerning the Six Articles, to be in use again, as they were during his reign.
Item, we will have the mass in Latin, as it was before, and celebrated by the priest without any man or woman communicating with him.
Item, we will have holy bread and holy water every Sunday, palms and ashes at the accustomed time, Images set up again in every church.
Item, we will not receive the new service because it is like a Christmas game, but will have our old service of Matins, mass, Evensong and procession in Latin.
The demands of the Western rebels, 1549 (selected).
Source C: Parliament issues an Act condemning Catholic service books and images.
The king has issued through Parliament a uniform, quiet and godly order of service called the Book of Common Prayer, which contains nothing but the pure word of God. However, alongside it are still practised corrupt, untrue and superstitious ceremonies, which allow some to attack the order and meaning of the Prayer Book and encourage great diversity of opinion. Therefore, it is ordered that all books used for the old mass be abolished, and any images of stone, timber or marble be defaced and destroyed.
An Act for the abolition and putting away of images and various books, 1549.
Source D: A Protestant reformer comments on the achievements of Edward VI before the king’s death.
The king has accomplished more in his youth than many have done in their adult life. He has repealed the Act of Six Articles. He has removed images from churches. He has overthrown image worship. He has abolished the mass and destroyed almost every kind of superstition. He has published good and pious homilies to lessen the ignorance of uneducated ministers. Each of these achievements would be considered a great action in other men, but as nothing to him, given the very great amount he has accomplished.
Sir John Cheke, a former tutor to Edward, writes to a Protestant reformer in Switzerland, 1553.
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