Power, Treason and Plot in Tudor England: Margaret Clitherow, an Elizabethan Saint

During the Tudor period, religious turmoil characterized England, with many people clinging to Catholicism despite Queen Elizabeth I's efforts to reform the Protestant Church. This book explores the life and death of Margaret Clitherow, a prominent Catholic recusant, and the broader events that shaped her story and those of many others. Margaret's fate changed when she embraced Catholicism, and she was arrested for harboring Catholic priests. Sentenced to death, she received a last-minute reprieve due to claims of pregnancy, but these were rejected. Her story is examined as a microcosm of Tudor life, a family tragedy of faith and betrayal set against a backdrop of political power games, treason, and plot.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Tudor period was a time of significant religious turmoil in England. Queen Elizabeth I's reign saw the Protestant Church of England slowly reforming, but many people, including paupers and Lords, remained loyal to Catholicism. Some, known as recusants, refused to conform to the reforms and remained defiant. This book delves into the life and death of one prominent Catholic recusant, Margaret Clitherow, and the broader events that shaped her story and the lives of many others.

Margaret was born in York in 1556 and was raised as a Protestant. However, her destiny changed when she embraced Catholicism at the age of 20. Her stepfather, John Clitherow, was elected Lord Mayor of York in 1586, and a few weeks later, Margaret was arrested for harboring Catholic priests. The authorities were determined to punish her for her religious beliefs, and she was sentenced to death for refusing to make a plea in court.

However, Margaret's story took a surprising turn. Just before her execution, it was discovered that she was pregnant. The authorities initially rejected this claim, but Margaret's pregnancy was later confirmed, leading to a last-minute reprieve. However, her hopes were dashed when the reprieve was rejected, and she was brutally executed by hanging.

The events surrounding Margaret's execution were sensational, and they led to widespread outrage among the people of York. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have apologized to the people of York for her actions, and the incident became a symbol of the religious tensions of the Tudor period.

Margaret Clitherow's life and death were not unique, and many other Catholic recusants faced similar persecution during this time. The Tudor period was a time of great change and uncertainty, and religion played a significant role in shaping the lives of the people of England. This book provides a fresh perspective on the life and death of Margaret Clitherow and the broader events that shaped her story and the lives of many others.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399097970