Thirty-nine Articles of faith are adopted by the Anglican Church as orthodox beliefs. To commute his death sentence from the Inquisition for dissecting human bodies, Andreas Vesalius makes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 1568 Protestant Netherlands rebel against Catholic Spanish rule, but Dutch independence is not finally recognized by Spain until 1648. 1577 Orthodox creeds of Lutheranism are established as Lutheran churches accept the Book of Concord . After the Old Testament translation is completed in 1610, this becomes the first English translation of the Bible authorized by and for Roman Catholics.
Gregorian calendar is introduced into Roman Catholic countries.
Reginald Scot attacks superstition in The Discoverie of Witchcraft . 1586 Colony of Roanoke established in Virginia, but later disappears under unknown circumstances. 1587 Christians persecuted in Japan for the first time. Hideyoshi bans Christianity from Japan when he is refused sex for religious reasons. The Spanish Armada is defeated by the English fleet under Lord Howard of Effingham, Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins.