Seizing the stake: Female martyrdom in England during the Reformation

摘要

This study will examine the complicated relationship between female religious expression and society during the sixteenth century Reformation. Luther originally formulated Protestant society in a way where women would be located in the home and away from the dangerous, but religiously critical, concept of martyrdom. Even in England, where society was different from that of Germany, women were still expected to behave subserviently to men in matters of religion and chose to reject outside forms of control of their faith. John Foxe wrote extensively on the women in question and his book formed a model for examining and discussion Reformation martyrdom. By using Foxe\u27s book, as well as a number of other primary and secondary sources, I will attempt to describe how martyrdom became a central female response to sixteenth century society and religious control.