DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0055
STATE OF THE CHURCH UNDER HENRY VIII.
23
gesting the expedient of consulting the various Universities on the validity of the
k'ng's first marriage.
The oaths of the bishops to the pope were now discovered to be inconsistent
w,th their allegiance to the crown. The king's divorce was pronounced by the
English convocation under Cranmer, and the total abolition of the papal power in
ngland speedily followed, the king being declared, by several statutes, supreme
head on earth of the English church.
"VVolsey had entertained the intention of reforming the monasteries, and had
actually suppressed a number of inferior ones, and endowed his colleges of Oxford
and Ipswich with their lands. Upon the abolition of the papal power, the king
c°mmanded visitations to be made to the religious houses, to obtain reports re-
specting their condition and revenues. In consequence of this, three hundred
and seventy monasteries, whose revenues did not amount to £200 a year each,
Were suppressed, and their rents, &c. appropriated to the king. Other houses
Were voluntarily surrendered to the crown, and in 1539 an act of parliament
Passed for the general suppression of these houses. Some new bishoprics were
founded and endowed out of their revenues. The Bible was translated, and an
exposition of faith published by the bishops; but throughout the reign of
enry VIII. power and pre-eminence seem to have been more eagerly sought by
* e contending parties than truth or religion.
1° the succeeding reign of Edward VI. the purification of the doctrines and
ceremonies of the church proceeded rapidly. The marriages of the clergy were
latified. But the progress of these blessings was interrupted and nearly prevented
y the furious zeal of the papist Queen, Mary. Under the auspices of her glorious
successor, Elizabeth, the doctrines and ceremonies of the Established Church were
PPuy brought to that pure and excellent state in which they have been the con-
ion of several generations, and in which it is hoped they will descend un-
blemished to the latest posterity.
23
gesting the expedient of consulting the various Universities on the validity of the
k'ng's first marriage.
The oaths of the bishops to the pope were now discovered to be inconsistent
w,th their allegiance to the crown. The king's divorce was pronounced by the
English convocation under Cranmer, and the total abolition of the papal power in
ngland speedily followed, the king being declared, by several statutes, supreme
head on earth of the English church.
"VVolsey had entertained the intention of reforming the monasteries, and had
actually suppressed a number of inferior ones, and endowed his colleges of Oxford
and Ipswich with their lands. Upon the abolition of the papal power, the king
c°mmanded visitations to be made to the religious houses, to obtain reports re-
specting their condition and revenues. In consequence of this, three hundred
and seventy monasteries, whose revenues did not amount to £200 a year each,
Were suppressed, and their rents, &c. appropriated to the king. Other houses
Were voluntarily surrendered to the crown, and in 1539 an act of parliament
Passed for the general suppression of these houses. Some new bishoprics were
founded and endowed out of their revenues. The Bible was translated, and an
exposition of faith published by the bishops; but throughout the reign of
enry VIII. power and pre-eminence seem to have been more eagerly sought by
* e contending parties than truth or religion.
1° the succeeding reign of Edward VI. the purification of the doctrines and
ceremonies of the church proceeded rapidly. The marriages of the clergy were
latified. But the progress of these blessings was interrupted and nearly prevented
y the furious zeal of the papist Queen, Mary. Under the auspices of her glorious
successor, Elizabeth, the doctrines and ceremonies of the Established Church were
PPuy brought to that pure and excellent state in which they have been the con-
ion of several generations, and in which it is hoped they will descend un-
blemished to the latest posterity.