Tudors sources NOP

Simon Renard (1513-1573)

Imperial ambassador to France and England for Charles V and his son Philip II. Catholic. Mary favoured him, but his influence declined after the marriage to Philip and he opposed the burning of heretics.

Sir Philip Hoby (1505-58)

Protestant diplomat who received profits from the dissolution of monasteries, helped the plot against the Duke of Somerset and favoured political gain over his own religion.

Robert Wingfield

Ambassador for Henry VIII, in 1521 he was an ambassador in Charles V’s court, his role was to gather information about European affairs and support England’s foreign policy aims.

Francios van der Delft

German, probably Catholic. He supported the idea that Mary should flee to protect her but nothing came of it.

Giovanni Michieli

Venetian ambassador to Mary’s Court, under constant threat of the Ottoman empire and Roman Catholic.

William Paget

Worked with Denny as Henry was dying, probably Protestant, anti-Somerset faction (and often communicated with Thomas Wriothesely), secretary to Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard so he knew the monarchy.

William Cecil (1520-1598)

Protestant and supported men who were undermining Mary’s government by running a secret printing press to criticise her. Seemed to get along with Cardinal Pole, Mary, Philip and Elizabeth.

Nicholas Throckmorton (not the same as the Throckmorton plot)

Protestant diplomat and politician during Edward’s reign. Initially supported Somerset, but then Northumberland. Suspected of being complicit during Wyatt’s rebellion but he made peace with Mary in 1557.

Jehan Schefve

HRE ambassador (Catholic), supported Mary

Antoine de Noilles

French ambassador

Thomas Wriothesely

English courtier, anti-Somerset faction, both Catholic and Protestant depending on which was more beneficial at the time, tortured Anne Askew.

Sir Thomas Smith

Protestant writer/ social commentator who became more prominent when Edward took the throne.

Duke of Northumberland (John Dudley, Earl of Warwick)

Lord President under Edward, undoubtedly Protestant but pretended to be Catholic on several occasions. He wanted the power and money that came with stripping the Catholic church.

John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester

Protestant bishop, considerable influence over England and the monarchy. He kept a detailed record of his visitations. 10/311 couldn’t say the Lord’s Prayer, 171/311 couldn’t name the 10 commandments. Burnt due to the revival of the heresy laws (1554) by Gardiner on 9th February 1555.

John Knox

Very strongly Protestant, who wanted to destroy Catholicism. Wrote “The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstruous Regiment of Women” in 1558

John Foxe

Prominent protestant and martyrologist - author of Acts and Monuments aka Book of Martyrs against the Marian Burnings. Second most popular book behind the Bible to educate people and encourage Protestantism.

Thomas Wyatt, the Younger

Protestant who supported the accession of Mary, but began to oppose her due to marriage plans. He supported England’s national honour as the MP of Kent.

Martin Bucer

Protestant who aimed to bring Reformist groups together. His preaching at Cambridge became notable. He critiqued the first and second (less) BoCPs.

John Rogers

First Protestant martyr under Mary I who was burned for heresy in February 1555

Robert Crowley

Protestant poet and Puritan. Criticised the Dissolution of Monasteries because it was replacing one form of corruption with another. Exiled during Mary’s reign.

John Hales

Protestant social commentator and MP. Advisor to Edward, blamed bad harvest on enclosure and blamed landlords for encouraging agrarian resistance and causing a peasant war after Kett’s (8 July 1549 – 27 August 1549).

Nicholas Sotherton

English merchant and politician, fairly wealthy and owned considerable property. Accepted Flemish immigrants.

Bishop Edmund Bonner

Prominent Catholic who “threw himself into the work of persecuting Protestants” under Mary. He was harsh and persistent and was responsible for the arrests of Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley and Bradford.

Cardinal Pole

Prominent Catholic, unable to support Henry’s annulment to Catherine of Aragon. Very interested in Church reform and the maintanece of Catholicism. Papal legate from 1553, responsible for the Reformation and basically ran the government during Mary’s rule. Mary refused to let him leave England when he had a petty disagreement with the Pope.

Stephen Gardiner

Served as Bishop of Winchester (Catholic) and was involved in Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. He had been involved in a plot against Catherine Parr and manipulated Henry, he did not like the Edwardian reformation and his death in 1555 was followed by more burnings.

Duke of Somerset, Edward Seymour

Lord Protector and the brother of Jane Seymour (Henry’s fav wife). He was effective ruler of England during the first part of Edward’s reign and was held responsible for any failings.

Anthony Denny

Groom of the Stool for Henry VIII, controlled the dry stamp so held lots of power, especially in deciding the Regency council. Key reformer.