Religion and Truth

Religion was a chief component in the life of a subject in Tudor England. The church dictated much of the social etiquette and the celebrations, attitudes, and traditions of the day. Henry VIII separated from Catholic Rome creating the Church of England with the monarch at the head, which was highly controversial. For the Tudors religion was literally a matter of life and death, and it was not until Elizabeth that England enjoyed some semblance of religious stability. King Edward viewed Catholicism as evil and superstitious. He wanted to bring England to the reformed Protestant religion, while Catholic Mary desired the exact opposite during her reign. Alliances, wars, marriages, and countless other things were dictated according to one's religion. People believed very strongly in their faith, and viewed saving souls as a matter of life and death.

Mary I's entire being centered around her Catholic beliefs...