Research Question: To what extent was the role of Henry VIII the most
important reason for the break from Rome?”.
Candidate Number: 006145 0008
Word Count: 2,195
, Section A
This study will investigate the question “To what extent was the role of Henry VIII the most
important reason for the break from Rome?”.
The first source to be evaluated is a scribed oration from Chancellor of York Minster Melton;
‘Sermo Exhortatorius’ (‘Exhortatory Sermon’), published in 1494. 1 This source is relevant for
investigation as it addresses the corruption of the clergy prior to the involvement of Henry
VIII, which from acts as a long-term contributing factor for the English break from Rome.
A value of its content is that it provides an insightful perspective into the workings of Church
before Henry’s divorce demands, showing that the need for priest reform was identified
prior to Henry’s involvement. A value of its origin is that it is a sermon given by a senior
member of the English clergy who therefore would have been personally knowledgeable of
the “boorish priests”.2 A value of its purpose is that because it was a behavioural warning to
ordinands, it provides an insight into everyday clerical activities. Melton had no reason to lie
because the sermon was not created to be heard by the King or the public; it was only a
small-scale oral address to ordinands.
Its origin is limited because it is known that Melton was a humanist scholar which may have
sensationalised his criticisms of the “complete [ignorance]”3 of the priests, making his claims
less reliable. The content of the source is limited as it only focuses on the actions of priests
and does not reference the wider corruption of the clergy, which also influenced the break
from Rome. Its purpose is limited because it is a singular address from one priest to other
ordinands, only reflecting Melton’s personal views, so must be checked to see if it
corroborates with accounts from churchmen in other parts of England.
1 Melton, W. (1494). Sermo Exhortatorious. London: Wynkyn de Worde.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
important reason for the break from Rome?”.
Candidate Number: 006145 0008
Word Count: 2,195
, Section A
This study will investigate the question “To what extent was the role of Henry VIII the most
important reason for the break from Rome?”.
The first source to be evaluated is a scribed oration from Chancellor of York Minster Melton;
‘Sermo Exhortatorius’ (‘Exhortatory Sermon’), published in 1494. 1 This source is relevant for
investigation as it addresses the corruption of the clergy prior to the involvement of Henry
VIII, which from acts as a long-term contributing factor for the English break from Rome.
A value of its content is that it provides an insightful perspective into the workings of Church
before Henry’s divorce demands, showing that the need for priest reform was identified
prior to Henry’s involvement. A value of its origin is that it is a sermon given by a senior
member of the English clergy who therefore would have been personally knowledgeable of
the “boorish priests”.2 A value of its purpose is that because it was a behavioural warning to
ordinands, it provides an insight into everyday clerical activities. Melton had no reason to lie
because the sermon was not created to be heard by the King or the public; it was only a
small-scale oral address to ordinands.
Its origin is limited because it is known that Melton was a humanist scholar which may have
sensationalised his criticisms of the “complete [ignorance]”3 of the priests, making his claims
less reliable. The content of the source is limited as it only focuses on the actions of priests
and does not reference the wider corruption of the clergy, which also influenced the break
from Rome. Its purpose is limited because it is a singular address from one priest to other
ordinands, only reflecting Melton’s personal views, so must be checked to see if it
corroborates with accounts from churchmen in other parts of England.
1 Melton, W. (1494). Sermo Exhortatorious. London: Wynkyn de Worde.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
