This article seeks to investigate the public images of the 1569 Rising in the North, as conceived by government policy, propaganda and loyalist writers on the one hand and by Catholic theologians and sympathisers on the other. It focuses especially on texts such as proclamations, homilies, street and folk ballads, pamphlets and tracts. To date there is only one study which deals extensively with the polemical literature on the Rising. This is that by J. K. Lowers published in 1953. He concentrates on Tudor ideas of civil obedience and its representation in loyalist writing wanting to help literature students to understand contemporary texts. As a literary study his book is valuable and he makes some highly relevant points.To date there is only one study which deals extensively with the polemical literature on the Rising. This is that by J. K. Lowers published in 1953. He concentrates on Tudor ideas of civil obedience and its representation in loyalist writing wanting to help literature students to understand contemporary texts. As a literary study his book is valuable and he makes some highly relevant points.