‘Bicycle-Face’ and ‘Lawn Tennis’ Girls

Abstract

Protestant and Catholic martyrologies evolved in dialogue; however, they did not articulate a common conception of martyrdom. Viewing Protestant and Catholic martyrologies and notions of martyrdom as essentially similar obscures highly significant confessional differences, which generated fiercely opposed constructions of martyrdom. This argument is examined through an analysis of the treatment of martyrs' blood in English martyrological texts, since this encapsulated core confessional theologies.