The Reign Of Edward VI

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were written by Protestant reformers.
Reformers predominated the Privy council under Somerset, and reform was
popular amongst the gentry of the time. But outside London and East Anglia
Protestantism was not a major force. In terms of religious hardening, it is
unlikely that the surge of Protestantism had any particular long term impact
outside these areas. It was only in these areas that violent iconoclasm took
place. Elsewhere far more moderate reforms such as vernacular Bibles and
services were introduced.
The legislation of the Somerset era also did little to aid a definite
hardening of religious policy. The Privy council remained reluctant to make any
radical moves. The Council, parliament, and the convocation all wanted reform,
but not of the type that would firmly thrust the country into radical
Protestantism. Moderate leanings were all that was desired, and this was
reflected in the two major pieces of legislation, the Chantries Act and the
Treason Act, which ...

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religious opinion would polarise and lead to civil discord; uniformity
was the linchpin of order.”
Bush argues that due to the political motivation behind reform, real
religious zeal was not apparent, the apparent hardening Protestantism only a
token gesture. “The outstanding characteristic of the settlement was its
moderate enforcement. Victims were relatively few, martyrs at the stake were
non-existent, and the conservative bishops tumbled from office in any number
only after Somerset's fall ... the regime certainly showed a noticeable leniency
in the persecution of religious dissent within the context of the age.”
Northumberland presided over moves to a far more radical ...

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