Why were people willing to die for their beliefs in the 16th Century?

The Martyrs

By Mr RJ Hugginswww.SchoolHistory.co.uk

What did people believe?

• Both Catholics and Protestants believed that only members of their own religion would go to heaven.

• Each tried to convince the other to change religion in order to save their souls from Hell.

• Hell was a place of everlasting torture.

Source A

Source B

Source C

Who has been sent to Hell in this Source?

Why were there mass murders of both Catholics & Protestants?

• Members of each faith believed that they could save peoples’ souls by getting them to change religion through torture.

However

Both Catholics and Protestants were prepared to die for their beliefs in order to avoid Hell.

French Catholics Murdering Protestants in Paris

• How has the artist made the painting look horrific?

• Was the artist a Catholic or a Protestant? Why?

English Martyrs

• The execution of William Tyndale in 1536. He was executed for translating the Bible into English so that ordinary people could read it.

The Act of Supremacy

• Henry VIII had everybody who refused to accept him as head of the Church of England executed for treason.

• These monks are being hung, drawn and quartered

Cuthbert SimmonsAll you have to do is become a Catholic for the pain to stop.

What effect did the burning of the Martyrs have during Mary’s Reign?

‘We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s Grace in England, as I

trust shall never be put out’

Extended Writing

• Why were people willing to die for their beliefs?

• Remember to include:• Peoples’ beliefs about Hell

• Why were people afraid to change their religion?

• What effect did the burning of the martyrs have on the growth of Protestantism?

Illustrate your answer with a diagram of someone being burnt to death with a thought bubble to show why they were willing to die for their beliefs