In the sixteenth century, King Henry VIII made the extraordinary decision to break away from the Catholic Church in Rome. This decision set in motion a wave of transformative changes that impacted every level of English society. In this episode, Samuel Pearson explores a fascinating manuscript collection that offers a window into how the Reformation was received by the laity in Kent, whilst offering important insights into popular politics in early modern England more generally.

Music: Aitua, 'Blind Fire', from the album Elements. Used with the kind permission of the artist. All rights reserved.