Over the last 20 to 50 years some good history has been written on what really happened during those years in England. Relying mostly on state records a picture has emerged which contradicts the common opinion.
For example, the civilized world was absolutely shocked when Henry VIII had Thomas More, John Fisher and the Carthusian monks executed. They were known to be innocent and holy men. For anyone to say anything or write anything contrary to the king, or Elizabeth meant they would be accused of high treason. So everyone got to be quite mum about stuff. That is the reason why Shakespeare seems to be so mysterious.
But out of the morass emerged the people who fought for the truth - Catholics and Protestant alike - and they paid the price for their opinions.
I have read the true descriptions of the executions from the witnesses and it is amazing that anyone would continue to fight after seeing a hanging, drawing and quartering preceded by an emasculation done on a fully conscious person.
That was a problem, dying for an opinion over and above a Savior. Neither side of the church should have pressed for this.
***after seeing a hanging, drawing and quartering preceded by an emasculation***
“Can no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” so Becket got whacked.
Then think of William Wallace. Such executions were common back then.
“It’s good to be da King!”
The damage done by Henry VIII make Hitler look like a piker.
Feral blacks running wild in the streets of the USA can be directly tied to the rise of the Anglican Church.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/julyweb-only/7-14-53.0.html?start=2
The Truth About the Catholic Church and Slavery