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The Church in c1529: Abuses and criticisms of the Church (anti-clericalism…
The Church in c1529: Abuses and criticisms of the Church
nepotism and absenteeism
Nepotism
Promotion of family members to lucrative positions rather than allocating on ability
Wolsey
Swore vow of chastity but had two children w/ wife
Gave Thomas Wynter Provost of Beverley Minister + Dean of Wells
Both carried very large incomes
Absenteeism
priests would hold right to more than one parish to increase income = pluralism
would take money from both parishes but be absent in one or more
Would employ partially educated cleric to do his job in his absence
Sometimes cleric would only be able to recite Latin services + couldn't read or write
Didn't live up to expectations of the people + ideals of the church
Wages would be less than agricultural labourers
anti-clericalism
Hunne Case
1511 Refused to pay mortuary fee of his baby son
Oct 1514: house searched - found lollard Bible - arrested
Dec 1514: found dead in cell - probs murdered to protect clerical privileges
Supporters considered him a martyr
Merchants most critical b/c literate + wanted to be able to read religious books
Behaviour of the clergy
Pirests + monks expected to live up to vows of chastity + obey laws of church
Gossip about priests having affairst + some having children (may be just hearsay)
Some priests criticised for greed, laziness + sexual impropriety
Benefit of the clergy
if priest suspected of committing certain offences, could claim benefit of the clergy + be tried at church court instead of King's court
could escape death penalty
could be accessed by anyone who could recite neck verses + by laymen who could read latin
The extent and impact of Simony
sale of an ecclesiastical title
happened most often w/ priests w/ rich parishes selling position to highest bidder instead of most learned