The 1555 execution of

Bishop Nicholas Ridley

and Father Hugh Latimer,
as depicted in the "Book
of Martyrs" by John Foxe
 Marian
religion
‘I mindeth not to compel any of
my subjects thereunto [religious
conformity] until such time as
further order by common assent
may be taken therein’.
Recap: using your knowledge of Mary’s background and the
source below, why did Mary want to make England Roman
Catholic again?

Protestant reformers were ‘the devil’s agents, who ensnared

the souls of the innocent and ignorant and confused the faithful
with a babble of false and confusing doctrines’.
Activity box on page 299 of your green SHP books

Number the bullet

points, and then add
them to the table in
the correct place. 

Answer the second

question about
Mary’s most
problematic option.
Mary’s return to Rome
• Stage 1 (1553) – Removing Edwardian Protestantism and
returning to Catholic doctrine

• Step 2 (1554) – Bringing the clergy into line

• Step 3 – Negotiating the return to Rome (Mary’s third

parliament, Nov 1554-Jan 1555)

• Step 4 – Conflict with the Papacy (1555-1558)

How well did Mary and Pole handle the changes they introduced?
Religious change Successfully handled Unsuccessfully handled

Reversing of
Edwardian changes

Monasteries

Restoration of papal
supremacy

Treatment of
heretics

Pastoral
improvement
 How well did Mary and Pole handle the changes they introduced?
Religious change Successfully handled Unsuccessfully handled

Reversing of • Initial enthusiasm
Edwardian changes • First Statute of Repeal introduced (1553)- The rights and ceremonies of
Henry VIII’s last year were to be used – England under the Act of Six
Articles.
• Sanctions were introduced against who interfered with the work of the
clergy or who abused the Catholic rite
• The traditional doctrine of the Lord’s Supper was reintroduced.
• Order of service at H8’s death was restored
• Married clergy could be deprived of livings
Monasteries • M1 was able to avoid the political challenge of forcing landowners to submit
to Rome before dispensations to hold land could be granted.
• M1 had to wait until third parliament (Nov 1554-Jan 1555) until issue of monastic land was
solved. Moreover, M1’s use of statute was to recognise its importance over divine law
• Plenty of Protestants in London and S of England
• First Statute of Repeal - The debate took place over five days and the voting figures were 270
in favour and 80 against (suggesting that they were not totally acquiescent). Parliament was
aided by the fact Bishops Hooper and Ridley and Archbishop Cranmer had been arrested
and imprisoned (making things a little quieter!).
• Political elites benefitted from the transfer of monastic land. Pope Julius III and Reginald Pole
informed that land would not be restored, Councillors refused to allow 1555 act of repeal until land
was settled (arguing no foreigner, i.e. the Pope, could have jurisdiction of English property

Restoration of papal • Jan 1555 – Act of repeal revoked Royal Supremacy

supremacy

Treatment of • Protestant clergy deprived of livings (around 800) and some imprisoned, • Julius III died in 1555 and replaced by hostile, anti-Spanish Paul IV = M1 at war with Papacy (P4
heretics though not executed dismissed Pole as legate in April 1557 and named William Peto, believing the former to be a heretic
– Pole’s Catholic humanism was seen as soft by papacy and an attempt to appeal to protestants).
M1 did not want to acknowledge the superiority of Peto over Archbishop of Canterbury, Pole.
• Mary’s victims documented in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (note Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley)
• 298 Prots killed (237 men and 52 women). The deaths of some, such as preachers John Rogers and
Rowland Taylor generated public sympathy. Renard worried about public reaction to burnings.
Pastoral • Pole’s legatine synod (1555-56) improved expectations in line with Counter- • Proposals to attach a seminary to each Cathedral to recruit new priests failed to come into effect
improvement Reformation. Bishops should be in their diocese and be attentive to (this, like other reforms can be seen a consequence of the brevity of Mary’s reign).
parishioners needs