Henrician Reform

In regards to Henrician reform there has been many points of view as to why he decided to reform the church and if he was the initiator or the puppet which acted out the Masters bidding. Due to the fact that Anne Boleyn, Cranmer and Cromwell, Gardiner, Tunstall and Norfolk, held his ear. Henry the VIII's church denied the idea of purgatory however continued prayers for the dead. Henry managed to execute three Catholics for backing the primacy of the Pope and then executing 3 Protestants for affirming justification by faith alone. Diarmaid Mculloch stated that Henry's policy was a `ragbag of emotional preferences'. Henry's church was not more Protestant or more Catholic it was based on decisions Henry the VIII made at the time which could be contradicted by other decisions later. However the main debated question is why the reformation in the first place?

In Henry's religious life he was constantly having one of his court scholars play the devils advocate for any theological books that he received. He never wanted just one side he needed them all. He also seemed to be very found of taking the middle road, which may be part of the movement in how it was carried out, but not quite the why.
Henry liked to see himself not only like a King but more like King David from the bible; in his own eyes he was larger than life. He wanted the influence that the old Kings from the bible had by controlling the religious sects. Henry may have believed that by controlling and creating a new religion that he would have more power and control of the people. He made sure that if he or his people heard of others denying his religion that they were executed. Henry wanted more power which one can see due to his denial of the papacy and any religious leaders. He seemed to be insinuating there were no leaders but himself in the Church. Henry the VIII tried to claim leadership over all his priests, trying to assure his word and desires were preached within the churches in that time.

Henry also seemed to use the reformation to put backing in his decision making. In the 1530's King Henry VIII was quoted in saying "following the right of the kings in Judah and Israel" and `the bishops and ministers of the word neglect their duties, then it pertains to the Christian Prince, by the example of the best kings, such as David, Hezekiah, and Jehoshaphat, to bring such bishops and ministers back into line, and to encourage, admonish, and compel them to carry out their duties conscientiously', in hopes that he may be able to persuade the people into believing his nonsense by putting their faith into the command. He was constantly belittling and threatening the Papacy and the priests of churches saying that they were in a position of power and leading their followers astray with that power. This of course was what King Henry was doing himself without as much persuasion. King Henry knew the people were faithful followers of the church and that to insinuate himself he would have to either come between the people and their faith or become their faith period!

King Henry also used faith as a dangling tool. If you believe this way and follow me I will give you this part of your faith back. Henry has promised his people an English Bible if they pushed aside the new ways or heresies. However he never stuck to this plan because he saw the potential for himself if he did truly give his followers the English bible. He believed that if the people had the bible and could read things such as "Love the Lord thy God" that they would realize they were obligated to love their king. Constantly King Henry seemed to relate himself to a Godly presence.

Another important piece to this puzzle however not the largest piece is the money King Henry VIII gained by becoming the faith. He took away monasteries and churches from the people; he wanted the tithes and offerings. King Henry could no longer spend the money on the new churches and the monies used for the hierarchy of the church. He was also known to have his people go into churches and take the money from the coffers and take out the ornate decorations within the Gothic and Romanesque churches. Either he could bribe his own people with these statues and religious pieces or re-sell them to the public.

The biggest piece here to see is that although Henry also seemed consumed by greed and power the Henrician Reformation was completely about power and control. King Henry wanted no other to control the people but himself. He saw the follower's blind faithfulness in the Papacy and the Priests and leaders of the churches and was jealous of the control they held. King Henry wanted to be able to be the faith and create that blind faith in his people for him. He also wanted a justification for his actions no matter how ridiculous. Henry saw what he wanted to see in the words of the bible and assumed his court would also see this. I don't see King Henry as a puppet but more like a misguided and unlearned youth. He wanted his way and he had the power to create the control he wanted by any means available and he took it. He did receive some monetary basis for this reformation as well, but I believe his behavior shows more his unending craving for control than it does for money.

References:
1. G Nicholson, `The Act of Appeals and the English Reformation', in C. Cross et al (ed.), Law and Government under the Tudors (Cambridge 1988)

2. G Redworth, `A study in the formulation of policy: the genesis and evolution of the Act of Six Articles', in Journal of Ecclesiastical History 37 (1986)

3. V Murphy, `The literature and propaganda of Henry VIII's first divorce', in D MacCulloch (ed), The Reign of Henry VIII