How Far Do Sources 1, 2 and 3 Suggest That the Early 16th Century Church Exploited the Faith of Its Followers to Increase Its Own Wealth?

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How far do sources 1, 2 and 3 suggest that the early 16th century church exploited the faith of its followers to increase its own wealth? We know that in the early 16th century, around the time of the reformation of the church in England, much had been said about the state in which the church was in. Many opponents, such as Simon Fish, the writer of source 1, would state that the church was riddled with corruption and in a state of collapse. However, the Catholic Church still played a vital role in the life of most everyday people. Source 1, would strongly support the statement, as it aggressively attacks the church and its actions. It describes how the church uses their influence over its devout followers, for its own gain. For example it describes its rigidness and strictness over its followers “poor wives must be accountable for every tenth egg or be taken as a heretic” and how it exploits and finances followers may have “What money they pull in by their fees, for wills and testaments pilgrimages and first masses!” This would imply that the church is indeed exploiting the faith of its followers to increase its own wealth, as it shows, especially in the second quote, how the church used its influence and power to persuade its followers to give money at every opportunity. We know that at the time, many followers of the church were uneducated, and unable to read or write, so often relied on the church for guidance, and could be easily pushed into doing something by a supposedly “more educated” and “morally superior” member of the clergy. This would contradict source 2, which gives a much rosier account of the church, its actions, and the clergy during the same period. Source 2, is in direct contradiction to source 1, and therefore does not support the statement. It gives an impression that the church was a great institution that gave help and
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