HST5152: CATHOLICS AND ELIZABETHAN POLITICS IN ENGLAND, 1558-1603: BOOK REVIEW
Christopher Haigh- English reformations, religion, politics and society under the Tudors (Oxford University Press 1993)
Through Haigh’s analysis, his book does not seek to offer explanations of a great English Reformation event; instead, it will seek to tell the story of all the lesser events which in sum became some English Reformations. This suggests Haigh’s book is delving into more detail over the causes which constituted a reformation. According to Christopher Haigh, in recent attempts to get at the grass roots of Reformation history are frustrating and perhaps futile. Why has it been so difficult for historians to uncover English Reformations?
One historical and geographical reason could be: In Tudor England there was no public opinion polls and in a fragmented and localized society there was no public opinion towards the measure of reformation. Thus, there is no form of evidence that will tell us unequivocally what people believed. However there are several sorts of evidence which Haigh displays throughout his book, one being …show more content…
Richard Whitford was a catholic scholar monk; I believe Haigh chose this source in particular because he wanted to demonstrate active and passive popularity for Catholicism among laymen. This is balanced through passive theological actions, such as religious catholic laymen purchasing religious manuals which would be prohibited by the government. In a more active approach, Haigh gathers from this source, religious guilds would donate money to the church in their wills which signifies commitment to Catholicism by analysing primary sources. This concludes PART I of Haigh’s