This is a high quality A* essay written in timed conditions with the title: Despite the break from Rome, Henry VIII never seriously abandoned the catholic faith in the years ”. It is a great tool to use and emulate the structure in your own writing so you have the best chance of getting an A*. Le...
“Despite the break from Rome, Henry VIII never seriously abandoned the catholic faith in the
years 1529- 1547”. Assess the validity of this view A* essay.
Tips for getting full marks:
- To improve this even more, use more evidence to back up your argument so it is
more sophisticated.
- Try to analyse more by intertwining the for and against arguments together then
analyse their strengths and weaknesses.
- Make sure to avoid using the word “divorce” and use annulment instead in your
writing when referring to why henry decided to break with Rome.
- You could also mention the fact that he was a devout man and genuinely was afraid
that he would go to hell for marrying his brother’s wife. Link here to Leviticus and add
religious content.
- You must consider the counter argument in your introduction too alongside stating
your argument. Make sure to undermine it and explain why your point is superior.
The break from Rome from the years 1529 to 1547 was conducted as a result of Henry’s
determination to obtain an annulment of the marriage between him and Catherine of Aragon.
The reformation was not due to Henry’s own religious beliefs as he was, by his death in
1547 a religious catholic. The publishment of the six articles act in 1539 and the fall of
Thomas Cromwell in 1540 acts as a justification that Henry never ‘seriously’ abandoned the
catholic faith. Thus, by the time of his death, despite the reformation, Henry never seriously
abandoned the catholic faith.
Firstly, Henry did indeed pass legislation which challenged the catholic faith. The act of
supremacy in 1534 for example allowed him to become the supreme head of the church
reducing and arguably eliminating the power of the pope. Moreover, the act of restraint in
appeals of 1533 and The Treason Act of 1534 further limited the Pope’s power and
challenged Henry’s catholic faith. However, this cannot be used to justify that Henry
abandoned the catholic faith. This was done to ensure that Henry could obtain a divorce
from Catherine of Aragon and possess a male heir to the throne. Faith was not involved in
his decision to break with Rome. Had this been the reason, he would have broken away
from the catholic church earlier on in his reign. It was only because of his absence of a male
heir that he broke away from the church thus proving how he never abandoned Catholicism.
In addition to this, the six articles act of 1539 reintroduced catholic doctrine into the church
proving how radical Protestantism was mot supported by henry. He merely used the break
with Rome as an instrument to secure the succession. Thus, his religious views had no
importance in the decision. This justifies how he never abandoned the catholic faith but
merely challenged it for his own needs.
Furthermore, what further proves that henry never abandoned the catholic faith was the fall
of Cromwell in 1540. Cromwell was the architect of the reformation and pushed
Protestantism by dissolving the monasteries in 1536 and passing legislation. Henry may
have thought this as too extreme for his religious views as he obtained what he truly needed
(the divorce and a male heir). Thus, Cromwell’s execution in 1540 further proves how henry
never abandoned the catholic faith as if he did, he would have allowed Cromwell or indeed
other individuals such as Latimer to introduce extreme protestant ideas. Moreover, henry did
ultimately return to Catholicism near the end of his reign when he achieved his goals of
securing the succession. For example, his marriage to Catherine Howard in 1540 and the
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