The research conducted by me, concerning the conflict between gentry and clergy during the 1562–65 “execution-of-the-law” Seyms shows that this dispute pertains to several social, religious, economic and legal issues. This broad scope of spheres, in which the point of view of gentry differed dramatically form the one of clergy, resulted in a complicated confrontation and little chance to reach a compromise. The situation was even more difficult, as in their opinions on many issues the sides were internally divided – so, neither gentry nor clergy were capable of working out a common stand. The fact that it was not possible to reach a compromise made both sides behave in a more adamant way and demand that all their postulates should be fulfilled. Yet, it was gentry that, through taxes, could influence Sigismund Augustus, and thus, cause that points of their “execution-of-the-law” program, were enacted at the 1562–65 Seyms, without clergy’s consent.
Debate on the Creating of the Polish National Church in the Times of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) In the time of the Council of Trent, the Polish nobility often and loudly demanded the forming of the Polish National Church, which would enable them to execute state control over the clergy, its activity, and church property. Popular Protestant ideas coherent with such an idea fulfilled the role of useful weapon in their struggle against the clergy. Even though the idea of the church reform converged with many changes postulated by the contemporary noble reform movement, the state finances, homogeneity of Crown lands and the Polish-Lithuanian union took predominance over church matters. Appropriate conduct of debate, disabling discussion about a reform, was promoted by the clergy itself, which was not interested in loosening their dominant position in the society and becoming subject to civic laws. Protestant deputies to the parliament, who constituted the majority in the lower chamber, could have acquired more benefits, were it not for their reluctance to impose certain solutions on the Catholics, who still dominated in the society. The clergy, in particular bishops, sought some compromise with Protestants, until the Catholic Church itself undertook mild reforms in the third phase of the Council of Trent. The stand of the Polish monarch, Sigismundus Augustus, who – having been raised as a Catholic – opposed the forming of new church and his attitude was also important.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.