The Marian and Elizabethan persecutions : how England was prepared for persecution and defended from martyrdom.

Abstract

This thesis is an historical examination of the Marian and Elizabethan persecutions, with special emphasis paid to the martyrologies and the anti-maryrologies of each queen. Through analysis of primary documents this project provides an in-depth look into the process of persecuting and the problems that Mary and Elizabeth both faced.What is observable are the similarities that existed between the two persecutions and the process that persecutions followed in Marian and Elizabethan England. This project compares the persecutions of Mary and Elizabeth focusing on how they prepared England for the persecution of fellow English subjects, how and why martyrdom was applied, and how Mary and Elizabeth protected their persecutions and the English public's acceptance of the persecutions from martyrdom. This thesis focuses on the tumultuous circumstance of sixteenth century England, the power and influence of martyrdom and, ultimately how Mary and Elizabeth attempted to control and contain martyrdom. This thesis is divided into a discussion of each reign, with a focus on the primary documents defending the persecutions and countering martyrdom. The analysis of these sources illuminates the battle for public opinion and 111 public support by the martyrologies and anti-martyrologies, and that the history of the persecutions would be based on the martyrological or anti-martyrological accounts.IV