How Serious Was Opposition to Henry’s Viii’s Religious Reforms?

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How serious was opposition to Henry’s VIII’s religious reforms? Unequivocally, one could argue that although opposition to the religious reforms of Henry VIII was manifest and diverse, the opposition wasn't serious enough to undermine the stability of the realm. Opposition from influential individuals, such as Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher, was serious because of the vociferous nature of Fisher’s opposition and, even more so, the defiant silence of More’s opposition. However the seriousness of their opposition and that of religious orders, such as the Carthusian monks, were ultimately inhibited by the Treasons Act of 1535, which stifled, the more serious growth of opposition from abroad. The ghoulish nature of the execution of the Carthusian monks served as a grim example to those who wished to oppose the reforms, it is unsurprising that so few individual cases of opposition were reported (there were only 500 cases of execution under treason, and half of those came from the Pilgrimage of Grace). Even after the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536, the ‘Most Christian King’ Henry’s power remained unchallenged as the Council of the North undermined the impact of the 30 000 or so men who had physically opposed the reforms, particularly Cromwell’s Injunctions that threatened to reduce of the number of popular ‘Holy Days’. Principally Henry himself, proved to be the main reason why opposition never threatened to challenge the longevity of the Tudor dynasty. Serious opposition however, did pose a threat Henry VIII’s reforms and these individual cases of opposition were automatically suppressed by Cromwell and Henry. In particular, Henry was terrified of the very real threat of opposition from abroad. This was what made the opposition of Catherine of Aragon so serious. The recourse of Catherine of Aragon’s to her nephew Emperor Charles V ‘the Most Powerful man in
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