Prebendaries' Plot facts for kids

The Prebendaries' Plot was a secret plan in 1543 during the English Reformation. Some religious leaders, who wanted to keep old traditions, tried to remove Thomas Cranmer from his important job as Archbishop of Canterbury. They hoped this would stop new religious changes in Kent and reduce the influence of Protestant ideas at the court of King Henry VIII.

What Was the Prebendaries' Plot?

The plot got its name from five "prebendaries" from Canterbury Cathedral. A prebendary was a type of priest who received a payment from the church. These five priests were at the heart of the plan. One of them, William Hadleigh, used to be a monk at Christchurch Canterbury before the king closed down the monasteries.

Who Was Involved?

Besides the five prebendaries, others joined the plot. This included two people who held a new church job called "six preacher." Many local priests and important gentlemen from Kent, like Thomas Moyle and Cyriac Pettit, were also involved. The whole secret plan, including similar activities at the king's court in Windsor, was secretly led by Stephen Gardiner, who was the bishop of Winchester.

Why Did the Plot Happen?

The people behind the plot accused Archbishop Cranmer of being a heretic. This meant they claimed he had beliefs that went against the official church teachings. Their main goal was to stop the religious reforms that Cranmer and King Henry VIII were bringing in. They wanted to keep the church more traditional and reduce the growing power of Protestant ideas in England.

How Did the Plot End?

King Henry VIII's chaplain, Richard Cox, was given the job of investigating and stopping the plot. He did a good job, finding about 240 priests and 60 other people who were involved. Because of his success, Richard Cox later became Cranmer's special assistant, called a chancellor. He later became a bishop of Ely under Queen Elizabeth I. Stephen Gardiner, the bishop who secretly led the plot, managed to avoid serious trouble. However, his nephew, German Gardiner, who helped him communicate with the plotters, faced serious consequences in 1544 for disagreeing with the king's authority over the church.