"In the Confident Hope of a Miracle": The Spanish Armada and Religious Mentalities in the Late Sixteenth Century

Abstract

Within national and religious groups, as with individuals, ambivalent mentalities sometimes exist, which can threaten a sense of wholeness and lead to shifting alliances—and strange bedfellows—in terms of political and religious affinities. This can clearly be seen by analyzing the multifaceted movement known as the Reformation, both in its broad sweep and in particular aspects such as the Armada campaign. The historiography of the Reformation has focused over time on theological, intellectual, political, and social aspects of this complex phenomenon. Debates have raged over definitions, periodization, terminology, and a host of related issues.