Thus, political brutality was called for. It was also certainly expected by Mary's chief foreign ally, Spain, who made it clear that the Jane Grey threat had to be dealt with if the Spanish-English alliance was to be maintained. So, Mary's domestic peace and foreign policy all depended on her taking a harsh line with Protestant political opponents. Also, in the 16th century, it was a monarch's duty to care for their subjects' spiritual souls. So, for an especially devout Roman Catholic - like Mary - it seemed only appropriate that she continue in the tradition of the Middle Ages and savagely punish those whose lives were setting a dangerous religious example (i.e.
The Wyatt rebellion of 1554 was led by nobles principally Sir Thomas Wyatt from Kent, who along with other men of high authority, posed to end Mary Tudors reign. This was because of the attempts that Mary made to re catholicise England, which feared protestant standing men. This was combined with disapproval of many noblemen at the proposed marriage between Mary and Phillip of Spain. It is argued by some that the rebellion was poised a serious threat to Mary’s authority thus in the following essay I shall be exploring particular reasoning’s ultimately concluding with a judgement on how far I agree with the statement that ‘Wyatt’s rebellion was a serious threat to Mary’s authority.’. The origins of rebellion arose when people in England opposed Mary’s catholic standing and were worrying over the possible return of papal authority over England, since mary’s coronation was in 1553 she quickly placed people of catholic standing in positions within the kingdom, including many positions in the privy council the most influential body within the government.
The next most important reason for the collapse was religion and Charles’ push toward Arminianism and absolutism. The fear of Charles becoming absolutist shaped how his policies were viewed and the MP’s political attitudes. Appello Ceasarum produced by Montagu and commissioned by the King angered many MPs as it argued the similarities between Protestantism and Catholicism. This brought MPs to call for the impeachment of Montagu as they felt it promoted anti-Calvinism. Charles’ reaction to this, as he imposed his prerogative as the Divine Right Monarch, promoted Montagu to Royal Chaplain.
He believed that the Catholic church was corrupt for selling indulgences as penance for sins in that the sale was a way for the Church to exploit the unfortunate and poor (Reformation 5). The final push for the need to change was the English reformation. During King Henry VIII’s rule in the sixteenth century, the Church of England was formed. He established the church because the Pope of the Catholic Church would not grant him a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon. The Anglican church had many similarities to the Catholic church: similar rituals and a bible titled the Book of Common Prayere (Reformation 9).
These writings began a movement which was called the protestant Reformation when people who believed in Luther’s writings protested asking the church to change. Luther was later excomunicated from the church by Pope Leo X he was put on trail at the diet of worms where he was declared imperial outlaw. But his excommunication did
Henry VIII vs. John Calvin in the Protestant Reformation In the sixteenth century, stood the reformation of the Catholic Church in Western Europe. While the main focus was an internal renovation of the church, the outcome was much different than expected; the reformation led to a revolt against and an abandonment of principal Christian belief. The difference in the view and act of oneself was different from individual to individual during the reformation. While Calvin left for Geneva in 1536 from France because of the fear of persecution for the publically spread beliefs of his about the Church to the people, Henry VIII had manipulated the church for a way to receive a new wife in hopes for his first son. Different motivation stands for each of these people in what they did for the reformation.
She feared that the French planned to invade England and put Mary, Queen of Scots, who was in effect the heir to the English crown, on the throne. Elizabeth offended Mary by proposing her own former suitor, Robert Dudley, as a husband. Instead, in 1565 Mary married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and gave birth to a son, James. In 1567, her husband died in a suspicious accident and Mary quickly married the Scottish Earl of Bothwell an action that outraged the Scottish nobility who promptly imprisoned Mary and forced her to abdicate her throne to her one-year-old son, James. The following year Mary escaped from her prison but was forced to flee across the border with England after the defeat of her supporters at the Battle of Langside.
The Puritans wanted to remove all practice and rituals of Catholicism from Europe. John Winthrop and fellow Puritans were frustrated with religious activities in England, “All other Churches of Europe are brought to desolation and or sinnes”. He believed that the Church was corrupted and that the lord “Frowned upon us, doe threatens us fearfully”. Winthrop believed that England was invaded by evil and ran by a corrupted Government, and that the roots for religious learning were being disturbed. They feared to live in such sinful society, because they believed that God predestined people to salvation and others were damned for the rest of time.
The King was a keen theologian, and was prepared to incorporate evangelical ideas into his new Church where he saw fit. But he wasn't comfortable with the alterations, and from 1539 onwards he reversed most of his previous policies. In 1539 the Act of Six Articles returned the Church to unambiguous Catholic orthodoxy apart from papal supremacy. Amongst other things, transubstantiation and auricular confession were reaffirmed. Clerical marriage, which had crept in, was condemned, and vows of chastity were now held to be unbreakable.
The 16th century in general was composed of radical religious ideas and movements starting during the Enlightenment in the 1730’s and 40’s. When the colonists declared their independence in 1776 the Anglican Church was driven out of the colonies because of their strong ties with England. The French Catholics were also a presence. The Quakers were persecuted during the street displays of anger because of their rooted pacifism. For the first time there was a separation between church and state. Degler states, “The doctrine repudiates any connection between the State and the Church” (Degler, 123).