Religious policy

what did Mary’s personal religion look like

Mary was devout in her personal worship: hearing mass at least once a day & saying prayers in her chapel every night. She had not given up her Catholic faith under H8 or E6 & had only accepted the royal supremacy of her father under pressure.

what did Mary believe her role was concerning Catholicism in England?

Mary viewed it as her divine purpose to bring back England to the true faith. Her quest to restore Catholicism was rooted in religious conviction & the need to save England from ‘mortal sin’ rather than political astuteness.

Why did Mary believe that the Catholic conversion of England would be welcomed?

she interpreted her initial popularity more as an endorsement of Catholic faith than as a reaction to the unpopularity of Northumberland/her legitimacy

Mary hoped that England would follow her religious policy back to Catholicism & there are instances of her subjects being eager to restore the old faith …

at Oxford, chalices were brought out & mass celebrated

Unlike Mary who could not see the political implications of restoring Catholicism to England, …

her advisors were wary

Unlike Mary … her advisors were wary

who could not see the political implications of restoring Catholicism to England

Gardiner, her most trusted English advisor, was …about a return to Papal Supremacy.

unenthusiastic

what was Charles V & the Pope’s response to Mary’s religious policy

urged caution for they feared that any sudden changes would cause unrest & jeopardise Mary’s throne

what was Phillip’s reaction to Mary’s foreign policy

for Phillip, reconciliation with Rome was his top priority as he wished to gain credit for helping to bring about ecclesiastical change in England

what were Mary’s aims?

• Return papal supremacy

• Return to Catholic doctrine/scripture (e.g. transubstantiation & the 7 sacraments, ect.)

• Reinstate monasteries

• Catholic trad beliefs (e.g. pilgrimage, church ale days, ect.)

what problems did Mary face with her religious policy

• Although a minority faith, Protestantism had attracted lots of followers in London/the South-East

• The reformed church of H8/E6 was through statue law (parliament)

• Dissolution of monastraies & chantries had made many members of nobility very rich

why was the fact that Protestantism had attracted followers in London/the south-east a problem

Mary was isolated from her Catholic supporters - a Protestant uprising would be very geographically threatening

why was the fact that the reformed church of H8/E6 was through statue law (parliament) a problem

Mary would need support from parliament to reverse reforms - parliament was enthusiastic to pass protestant reforms & would be forced to acknowledge that parliament had control over the church which fundamentally went against her Catholic beliefs

why was the significant protestant minority not a problem for Mary

this threat was theoretical as the protestant population in London was only 20% - Catholics were the significant majority

There might be resistance to give land back - her most difficult problem as ..

regardless of religious belief, no one would want to give up land