The Reformation in the Netherlands

And a little bit of England

Overview

The Netherlands• Movement from

extreme persecution to toleration– How did this occur– Compare to HRE,

France

England• The big question

concerns how indigenous English reform really was– Relationship to

Lollards– Humanist reform– Question of Henry

VIII’s changing stance over time

The Netherlands: Pre and Early Reformation

• What were the Netherlands during this time? What governance did the region have? What unity? – Charles V: “hereditary

Netherlands” from father, Philip the Handsome, son of Maximilian

– Philip II

• What were the stages of religious reform that occurred there? – Lutherans (source 11.1)– Anabaptists– Calvinists

Outcome: Anabaptists, Calvinists

• In the case of the Anabaptists, what is the relationship between the Dutch Anabaptists and the rebels at the city of Munster? – What eventually happened to Anabaptists in the

Netherlands?

• In the case of the Calvinist reform, what was the Belgic confession and why was it important? Why was it Calvinism that succeeded in the Netherlands?– Sources 11.3, 11.4

Questions

• What was the state of things at the end of Charles' reign? What were the handicaps for his son Philip in taking over control in the Netherlands? (Source 11.2)

• Who was William of Orange (otherwise known as "William the Silent")?

• What was the chronology of Philip's efforts to establish control and stamp out heresy, with Margaret of Parma as regent? What were the grounds for opposition to his policies? – Source 11.3; 11.5-12– EXERCISE: With which side do you sympathize, and why?

• Identifications:– Duke of Alva– Union of Utrecht

Further Questions

• Note Lindberg's comment that William's renunciation of Philip's overlordship was an application of the Calvinist doctrine endorsing resistance to tyranny. What is your response to this judgment?

• The Dutch Reformed church struggled to maintain the kind of discipline that is the key to Calvin's concept of the church, yet the Netherlands were not Geneva. What was the outcome?

• In the end the Netherlands became known as a haven of toleration. Why do you think this came about?

England: first steps

• What's the historiographical discussion regarding the reformation of England?

• What was the importance of anticlericalism?

• We will discuss Henry VIII's reversals of position next time; simply make a note of them for this reading.

• Lollardy• Thomas Wolsey• Robert Barnes• William Tyndale;

what was the significance of his English Bible?