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During the [[English Reformation]] of [[Henry VIII|King Henry VIII]] and the adoption of Protestantism by his son [[EdwardVI]], Catholic churches, shrines, monasteries, and convents were plundered for their gold and silver and jewels which were stripped off of Bible covers, altars and images. An attempt in the 16th century by [[Mary I]]<ref>Mary I (18 February 1516–17 November 1558), was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death in 1558.</ref> to restore Catholicism failed because of her treatment of the English Protestants as sacrilegious blasphemers, executing 300 of them including the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]. Her sister [[Elizabeth I]] struck back against Catholicism by restoring Protestantism in the [[Church of England]], and persecuting all Catholics within her realm and seeking to eliminate from the churches all forms of identifiable Catholic iconography.