ACTUAL 2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 2C The Reformation in Europe, c1500–1564
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4001/E4 7042/2C
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘A statement of the Magdeburg Pastors Concerning Resistance’, by
Nicholas Gallus, 1550. Gallus was a Lutheran pastor in Magdeburg when it was attacked by
Catholic forces, 1550–51.
We will show that a Christian government should defend its subjects against a higher authority
which tries to compel the people to deny God’s word.
We do not expect to convince the Catholics that subjects may resist their lord and a lower power
may resist a higher one if it seeks to uproot the Christian religion. The Catholics
do not admit that we are Christians and consequently think they have the right to wage 5
war upon us.
We address ourselves to the Emperor and beg him not to let the Pope persecute us, as the Pope’s
followers do. Even if Your Majesty will not concede that Lutherans are Christian, he still should
not threaten anyone with force as the Catholics do. Obedience
to God, and to the Emperor, is not incompatible, provided each stays within his sphere. 10
We will show from Holy Scripture that if a higher power undertakes by force to eliminate the true
teaching of the Gospel then we may defend ourselves.
Source B
From The Peace of Augsburg, 1555.
In order to bring peace to the Holy Empire of the Germanic Nation.
Let neither his Imperial Majesty nor the electors and princes, do any violence or harm to any part
of the Empire on account of the Augsburg Confession of 1530.
Let the electors and princes enjoy their religious belief, worship and ceremonies as well
as their land and other privileges in peace. Complete religious peace shall be obtained 5
by Christian means of friendship, or under threat of punishment.
Likewise, the Lutheran states of the Augsburg Confession shall let all the states and princes who
cling to the old religion live in absolute peace.
However, all such as do not belong to the two above mentioned religions shall not be
included in the present peace but be totally excluded. 10
Where an archbishop, bishop or other priest of our old religion shall abandon the same,
his church position, together with any income and revenue which he has previously
enjoyed, shall be abandoned by him without any objection or delay.
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2C
, 3
Source C
From Charles V’s Abdication Speech to the nobles of the Netherlands, Brussels,
1556. Charles handed over control of the Netherlands to his son Philip and asked the
nobles for forgiveness.
When I last came to Germany in 1552, I had no ambition to rule so many kingdoms
but merely sought to safeguard Christianity against the Turks and to extend the
Christian religion.
Despite these objectives, I was unable to achieve them as I wished, on account of the
troubles raised by the heretics of Luther and others in Germany and on account of 5
serious war which the hostility and envy of neighbouring princes had caused.
Nothing I have experienced has given me so much pain as parting from you today
without leaving behind the peace and quiet I desired.
When I last went to Germany, I intended to abdicate but could not when I saw the
wretched condition of the Christian state. It was therefore my duty to risk my life for the 10
safety of Christianity.
This is the fourth time I go to Spain, where I will yield to my son Philip, the
possession of all my states, and to my brother, the king of the Romans, the Empire.
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 religious
problems in the Holy Roman Empire in the years 1550 to 1556.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2C Turn over ►
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4001/E4 7042/2C
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘A statement of the Magdeburg Pastors Concerning Resistance’, by
Nicholas Gallus, 1550. Gallus was a Lutheran pastor in Magdeburg when it was attacked by
Catholic forces, 1550–51.
We will show that a Christian government should defend its subjects against a higher authority
which tries to compel the people to deny God’s word.
We do not expect to convince the Catholics that subjects may resist their lord and a lower power
may resist a higher one if it seeks to uproot the Christian religion. The Catholics
do not admit that we are Christians and consequently think they have the right to wage 5
war upon us.
We address ourselves to the Emperor and beg him not to let the Pope persecute us, as the Pope’s
followers do. Even if Your Majesty will not concede that Lutherans are Christian, he still should
not threaten anyone with force as the Catholics do. Obedience
to God, and to the Emperor, is not incompatible, provided each stays within his sphere. 10
We will show from Holy Scripture that if a higher power undertakes by force to eliminate the true
teaching of the Gospel then we may defend ourselves.
Source B
From The Peace of Augsburg, 1555.
In order to bring peace to the Holy Empire of the Germanic Nation.
Let neither his Imperial Majesty nor the electors and princes, do any violence or harm to any part
of the Empire on account of the Augsburg Confession of 1530.
Let the electors and princes enjoy their religious belief, worship and ceremonies as well
as their land and other privileges in peace. Complete religious peace shall be obtained 5
by Christian means of friendship, or under threat of punishment.
Likewise, the Lutheran states of the Augsburg Confession shall let all the states and princes who
cling to the old religion live in absolute peace.
However, all such as do not belong to the two above mentioned religions shall not be
included in the present peace but be totally excluded. 10
Where an archbishop, bishop or other priest of our old religion shall abandon the same,
his church position, together with any income and revenue which he has previously
enjoyed, shall be abandoned by him without any objection or delay.
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2C
, 3
Source C
From Charles V’s Abdication Speech to the nobles of the Netherlands, Brussels,
1556. Charles handed over control of the Netherlands to his son Philip and asked the
nobles for forgiveness.
When I last came to Germany in 1552, I had no ambition to rule so many kingdoms
but merely sought to safeguard Christianity against the Turks and to extend the
Christian religion.
Despite these objectives, I was unable to achieve them as I wished, on account of the
troubles raised by the heretics of Luther and others in Germany and on account of 5
serious war which the hostility and envy of neighbouring princes had caused.
Nothing I have experienced has given me so much pain as parting from you today
without leaving behind the peace and quiet I desired.
When I last went to Germany, I intended to abdicate but could not when I saw the
wretched condition of the Christian state. It was therefore my duty to risk my life for the 10
safety of Christianity.
This is the fourth time I go to Spain, where I will yield to my son Philip, the
possession of all my states, and to my brother, the king of the Romans, the Empire.
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 religious
problems in the Holy Roman Empire in the years 1550 to 1556.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2C Turn over ►
