OCR A Level History A Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610 May 2025
Combined QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
*14 08 035 6 24 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
,© OCR 2025 [T/506/4295] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (IP) 355280/1 Turn over
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the nature and extent of Philip
II’s support for the Spanish Inquisition. [30]
Passage A
The most pressing of Philip’s problems with the Church on his return to Spain in 1559 was to regain
control over the Inquisition and to direct it for his own purposes. He signalled his support of the
Inquisition by following up his attendance at the auto-da-fe* in Valladolid in 1559 by being present
at autos in Toledo (1560) and in Barcelona (1563). He also allowed the Inquisition to exercise some
new powers. In 1559, for instance, he ordered that all Spanish students at Louvain University in the
Low Countries were to return home and submit themselves to vetting by the Inquisition. He forbade
Spaniards to study at foreign universities. More drastically still, he allowed Fernando de Valdes
(Inquisitor-General) to issue the Index of August 1559.
However, once Philip had succeeded in removing Valdes in 1565 (on grounds of old age and ill
health) he deliberately changed the nature of the Inquisition by appointing Diego de Espinosa as
the first of a succession of Inquisitors-General of whose loyalty he could be absolutely certain. From
that point, the king was in charge of the Inquisition - and of all his churchmen. Under Espinosa,
the Spanish Inquisition once again became a department of state. Under Philip and his son the
Inquisition became the policeman of the nation’s morals rather than the persecutor of Jews and their
sympathisers (which had been its original justification).
*Auto-da-fe: A formal condemnation of heretics, often followed by executions.
Patrick Williams, Philip II, published in 2001.
Passage B
© Geoffrey Parker, Imprudent King, pps 291-292, Yale University Press, 2014. From first line "If his other instruments of control proved inadequate or inappropriate," to last line "he insisted on having the last word in all other judicial matters." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR 2025 Y308/01 Jun25
Combined QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y308/01 The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
*14 08 035 6 24 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
,© OCR 2025 [T/506/4295] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (IP) 355280/1 Turn over
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the nature and extent of Philip
II’s support for the Spanish Inquisition. [30]
Passage A
The most pressing of Philip’s problems with the Church on his return to Spain in 1559 was to regain
control over the Inquisition and to direct it for his own purposes. He signalled his support of the
Inquisition by following up his attendance at the auto-da-fe* in Valladolid in 1559 by being present
at autos in Toledo (1560) and in Barcelona (1563). He also allowed the Inquisition to exercise some
new powers. In 1559, for instance, he ordered that all Spanish students at Louvain University in the
Low Countries were to return home and submit themselves to vetting by the Inquisition. He forbade
Spaniards to study at foreign universities. More drastically still, he allowed Fernando de Valdes
(Inquisitor-General) to issue the Index of August 1559.
However, once Philip had succeeded in removing Valdes in 1565 (on grounds of old age and ill
health) he deliberately changed the nature of the Inquisition by appointing Diego de Espinosa as
the first of a succession of Inquisitors-General of whose loyalty he could be absolutely certain. From
that point, the king was in charge of the Inquisition - and of all his churchmen. Under Espinosa,
the Spanish Inquisition once again became a department of state. Under Philip and his son the
Inquisition became the policeman of the nation’s morals rather than the persecutor of Jews and their
sympathisers (which had been its original justification).
*Auto-da-fe: A formal condemnation of heretics, often followed by executions.
Patrick Williams, Philip II, published in 2001.
Passage B
© Geoffrey Parker, Imprudent King, pps 291-292, Yale University Press, 2014. From first line "If his other instruments of control proved inadequate or inappropriate," to last line "he insisted on having the last word in all other judicial matters." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR 2025 Y308/01 Jun25
