ACTUAL 2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 2D Religious Conflict and the Church in
England, c1529–c1570 Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4007/V5 7042/2D
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a speech to an audience of nobility, councillors and judges by Henry VIII,
8 November 1528.
Our trusty and well-beloved subjects, both you of the nobility, and you of the lesser sort. By
God’s provision, and by true and lawful inheritance, we have reigned over this realm of
England for almost twenty years. Yet, when we remember our mortality, and that we must
die, then we think that all our doings in our lifetime are clearly worth nothing if we leave
you in trouble at the time of our death. For if our true heir be not known at the time of our 5
death, see what mischief and trouble shall be passed on to you and to your children. And
although it has pleased Almighty God to send us a fair daughter of a noble woman, it hath
been told us by several great Churchmen, that neither is she our lawful daughter, nor her
mother our lawful wife, but that we live together abominably and detestably in open
adultery. 10
Source B
From a letter to Cardinal Sanga, secretary to Pope Clement VII, from
Cardinal Campeggio, papal legate to the Court of Henry VIII, 25 October 1528.
In my most recent conversation with the Lord Cardinal, Wolsey said, and repeated many
times, “Most reverend lord, beware. In recent times, as a consequence of Luther, the
greatest part of Germany has become estranged from the Papacy and from the Faith; the
same may happen in England, and have the same result”. Wolsey has impressed upon me
that, if this divorce is not granted, the authority of the Pope in this kingdom will be 5
annihilated. Wolsey is desperate for preservation of the authority of the Pope, because all
his grandeur is connected with it. I find myself in a very difficult position, and I have a heavy
burden on my shoulders. I do not see how a judgement can be delayed, even for a brief
period. The King will endure no delaying tactics, alleging that the affairs of the kingdom are
at a standstill and are dependent on the outcome of this case. If it remains unresolved, it will 10
give rise to both immediate and to infinite dangers.
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2D
, 3
Source C
From the Act in Restraint of Appeals, 1533.
Whereby on the evidence of authentic histories and chronicles, it is declared that the realm
of England is an Empire governed by one Supreme Head and King. The King, and his most
noble forebears, have made laws for the protection of their authority to keep the realm free
from the interference of the See of Rome and from that of other foreign powers.
Notwithstanding this authority, dangers have arisen because of appeals relating to causes of 5
matrimony and divorce, made from within this realm to the See of Rome.
This has caused great distress, trouble, and cost to the King’s Highness and to many of his
subjects. It has led to the great delay in the true resolution of these problems. As a result,
the King’s Highness and his Parliament, enact that all such cases from henceforth shall be
definitively judged and determined within the King’s jurisdiction and authority and not 10
elsewhere.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the
value of these three sources to an historian studying the King’s ‘Great Matter’.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2D Turn over ►
England, c1529–c1570 Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4007/V5 7042/2D
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a speech to an audience of nobility, councillors and judges by Henry VIII,
8 November 1528.
Our trusty and well-beloved subjects, both you of the nobility, and you of the lesser sort. By
God’s provision, and by true and lawful inheritance, we have reigned over this realm of
England for almost twenty years. Yet, when we remember our mortality, and that we must
die, then we think that all our doings in our lifetime are clearly worth nothing if we leave
you in trouble at the time of our death. For if our true heir be not known at the time of our 5
death, see what mischief and trouble shall be passed on to you and to your children. And
although it has pleased Almighty God to send us a fair daughter of a noble woman, it hath
been told us by several great Churchmen, that neither is she our lawful daughter, nor her
mother our lawful wife, but that we live together abominably and detestably in open
adultery. 10
Source B
From a letter to Cardinal Sanga, secretary to Pope Clement VII, from
Cardinal Campeggio, papal legate to the Court of Henry VIII, 25 October 1528.
In my most recent conversation with the Lord Cardinal, Wolsey said, and repeated many
times, “Most reverend lord, beware. In recent times, as a consequence of Luther, the
greatest part of Germany has become estranged from the Papacy and from the Faith; the
same may happen in England, and have the same result”. Wolsey has impressed upon me
that, if this divorce is not granted, the authority of the Pope in this kingdom will be 5
annihilated. Wolsey is desperate for preservation of the authority of the Pope, because all
his grandeur is connected with it. I find myself in a very difficult position, and I have a heavy
burden on my shoulders. I do not see how a judgement can be delayed, even for a brief
period. The King will endure no delaying tactics, alleging that the affairs of the kingdom are
at a standstill and are dependent on the outcome of this case. If it remains unresolved, it will 10
give rise to both immediate and to infinite dangers.
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2D
, 3
Source C
From the Act in Restraint of Appeals, 1533.
Whereby on the evidence of authentic histories and chronicles, it is declared that the realm
of England is an Empire governed by one Supreme Head and King. The King, and his most
noble forebears, have made laws for the protection of their authority to keep the realm free
from the interference of the See of Rome and from that of other foreign powers.
Notwithstanding this authority, dangers have arisen because of appeals relating to causes of 5
matrimony and divorce, made from within this realm to the See of Rome.
This has caused great distress, trouble, and cost to the King’s Highness and to many of his
subjects. It has led to the great delay in the true resolution of these problems. As a result,
the King’s Highness and his Parliament, enact that all such cases from henceforth shall be
definitively judged and determined within the King’s jurisdiction and authority and not 10
elsewhere.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the
value of these three sources to an historian studying the King’s ‘Great Matter’.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2D Turn over ►
