The contributors to this volume propose that the years 1556-57 saw the Marian Counter Reformation in all its aspects reach its height, with a truly national coordination of both religious enforcement and religious persuasion. With intensifying persecution came intensifying religious reaction. The volume book looks at both from the detailed perspectives of eleven authors from different disciplines (English Literature, History, Divinity, and the History of the Book), dealing with specialised aspects of these issues.

Elizabeth Evenden is a MarieSklodowska-Curie International Outgoing Fellow based in the History Department at Harvard University. She teaches Book History, Shakespeare, and Christo-Islamic Literature at Brunel University in London. Her publications include, Patents, Pictures and Patronage: John Day and the Tudor Book Trade and Religion and the Book: the Making of John Foxe's 'Book of Martyrs' with Thomas S. Freeman. She is currently undertaking research for a new project on Anglo-Portuguese relations and anti-Spanish propaganda. Vivienne Westbrook is an Associate Professor of English at National Taiwan University. She is Associate Editor for the journal Reformation, and has published widely on early modern religious literature, including Long Travail and Great Paynes: A Politics of Reformation Revision.

Contents: Introduction, Elizabeth Evenden. Prologue: The succession crisis of 1553 and Mary's rise to power, Dale Hoak. Part I Reform and Renewal: Spanish involvement in the restoration of Catholicism during the reign of Philip and Mary, Elizabeth Evenden; The 1557 visitation of the University of Cambridge, Ceri Law; 'Not just the hierarchy fought': the Marian cathedral chapters, seminaries of recusancy, Thomas F. Mayer. Part II The Power of Print: 'A suitable remedy?': regulating the printing press, 1553-1558, Ian A. Gadd; The Marian Counter-Reformation in print, William Wizeman, SJ; Oppositional authors and the rhetoric of law in the reign of Mary I, Scott C. Lucas. Part III Enemies of the Marian Order: 'To content god quietlie': the troubles of Sir John Cheke under Queen Mary, John F. McDiarmid; John Ponet and the people, Andrew Hadfield; The shape of fear: John Rogers in tears and flames, Vivienne Westbrook. Epilogue: 'Mary hath chosen the best part': the Bishop of Winchester's funeral sermon for Mary Tudor, Carolyn Colbert. Bibliography; Index.