Реферат: Reign of Henry VIII

Henry VIII had been developing a serious interest in politics, and he could brook no superior in whatever sphere he wished to shine. He began to adopt a more critical attitude towards Wolsey's policy, foreign and domestic and gave ear to the murmurs against the cardinal and his ecclesiastical rule. He had authorized the English Bible and some approach towards Protestant doctrine in the Ten Articles. He also considered the possibility of a political and theological alliance with the Lutheran princes of Germany. The atrocity of many of Henry VIII's acts, the novelty and success of his religious policy, the apparent despotism of his methods, or all combined, have made it difficult to estimate calmly the importance of Henry VIII's work or the conditions which made it possible. Henry's egotism was profound, and personal motives underlay his public action. His judgment was more at fault when he conquered Boulogne and sought by violence to bring Scotland into union with England.

Henry VIII composed numerous state papers still extant. His only book was his "Assertio septem sacramentorum contra M. Lutherum" (1521), a copy of which, signed by Henry himself, is at Windsor.

Literature

1. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Ed., Vol XIII. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1910. 289.

2. http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tudorbio.htm

3. Bowle, John. Henry VIII: A Study of Power in Action Little, Brown, 1964.

4. Childs, Jessie. Henry VIII's Last Victim: The Life and Times of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. London: Jonathan Cape, 2006