mirrors into men's souls
When the protestant Elizabeth I attempted to resolve religious disagreement in her kingdom she promised the catholics that she will not make mirrors into men's souls, meaning that as long as they went through the motions of attending the Church of England to assure their allegiance to her, and lived quietly, she would turn a blind eye to what they did in private and leave them alone.
Bearing in mind the preceding bloody rule of his sister, Mary I, her resolution was intelligent and benign.
Most catholics did what was reasonably required and prospered -- some being bribed with knighthoods -- but a few leading catholic families rebelled against her rule and her situation was made more threatening by the Pope publicly dispensing English catholics from allegiance to her, thereby sanctioning her assassination and causing her to take a less benign alternative.
Read the full story Let's Thank Henry VIII and Elizabeth I
Bearing in mind the preceding bloody rule of his sister, Mary I, her resolution was intelligent and benign.
Most catholics did what was reasonably required and prospered -- some being bribed with knighthoods -- but a few leading catholic families rebelled against her rule and her situation was made more threatening by the Pope publicly dispensing English catholics from allegiance to her, thereby sanctioning her assassination and causing her to take a less benign alternative.
Read the full story Let's Thank Henry VIII and Elizabeth I
Labels: act of uniformity, bloody mary, catholics, church of england, elizabeth i, england, henry viii, ireland, protestants, religion, spanish armada, spanish inquisition, tudors
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