Elizabeth Flashcards
Abroad situation
Spain: needed to remain allies due to France
France: settlement was needed
Scotland: French ally
Netherlands: under Spanish (catholic) control
Home situation
House of commons: Protestant
House of Lords: Catholic
Privy council: Protestant
Population: catholic (due to Mary)- Marian exiles were returning
Church situation
Clergy: catholic
Government: woman as the head (!)
Organisation: hierarchy remained unchanged
Doctrine: Catholics wanted to retain their traditional belief system
Local challenge-
Prophesings
1570’s
Meetings involving Puritans and members of the clergy to discuss the Bible and preaching technique.
Elizabeth saw them as treason plots and ordered them to be suppressed- didn’t stop them.
= success- continued to use them as a platform
Catholic threat
Babington Plot
1586
A plot to assassinate Elizabeth by catholic cousin Mary
Wahlsingham intercepted a letter revealing this which showed Mary’s involvement.
Mary was sentenced to death and executed in 1587
= not a major threat as it was controlled
Local challenge
Classic Presbyterianism
1580s
Secret network of groups discussing scripture and now to reorganize the church and government in co-ordance with Calvinist principles.
Direct challenge to Elizabeth
= uniformity was ordered within the church- 300-400 priests removed
Puritan challenge-
Thomas Cartwright’s teaching
1570
Cartwright used his position at Cambridge to teach that the role of Bishops in the settlement didn’t reject the Bible.
Cartwright’s academic freedom of speech was removed along with hi professorship (John Whitgift)
= failure- however a warning
Puritan challenge
Anthony Cope’s Bill and Book
1586
Cope proposed the removal of the Book of Common Prayer and the authority of Bishops.
Replace with the Genevan prayer book- Cope was sent to the tower.
Mp’s said that the monastic land would be returned
= failure- however puritans realised that there were other ways to protest/ challenge - serious challenge
Puritan challenge
Admonition to parliament
1572
Field and Wilcox published an attack, criticising the settlements links to catholic hierarchy and structure as the doctrine wasn’t protestant enough.
= success- wide readership
= failure- they were imprisoned and printing press was destroyed
Puritan challenge-
Walter Strickland’s proposal
1571
introduced a bill to reform/ remove the book of common prayer (included catholic practices)
Strickland was banned from the House by Privy Council- bill was never heard of again.
= failure
Puritan challenge-
Vestment controversy
1566
Mathew Parker issued advertisements in response to the wearing of vestments - 39 articles
Believed the vestments were too showy for puritans.
37 priests were sacked by Elizabeth- she insisted on the continuation of correct dress being worn.
= failure
Religion
Royal injunctions
Clergy to wear distinctive dress (catholic) and allowed to marry
Singing was encouraged
Religion
Administration
Bishops retained original function- appointed by the Queen
Religion
Act of Supremacy
1559
Named herself ‘Supreme Governor of Church of England
Clergy had to take an oath to her
Heresy law repealed
Communication in both kinds allowed
Religion
Settlement - dissatisfied
Bowing at the name of Christ, kneeling for communion, the signing of the cross, vestments- all Catholics
Many disliked the position of Bishops and how they were elected by the Queen
Therefore the settlement looked Catholic, thought Protestant
Religion
Act of uniformity
1559
Book of Common Prayer used by communion in both
Compulsory attendance at church
Black rubric omitted (transubstantiation)
Elizabeth
Successful in parliament
She never faced a strong parliamentry force against her- political relationships = harmonious and productive.
Most Mp’s weren’t bothered by Elizabeth’s decisions in parliament because they were more focused on local area.
The areas of debate in parliament were religion, marriage, succession, finance and the economy.
Elizabeth
Control
Influenced the council through her choice of Mps
Never compromised her Royal Prerogative
Privy council set agendas for debates- influenced by her
Held the power to veto and delay bills
She had an appointed speaker to introduce debates
She only called parliament 13 times in her reign of 45 years
Mary Queen of Scotts
When Mary arrived in England it posed as a serious threat to Elizabeth (1568) mainly die to her claim to throne, as many believed Elizabeth to be illegitimate.
Elizabeth’s options in dealing with Mary
Getting her out of the country- allowing her to France or Scotland meant she could gain more support
Imprisonment- meant she was close and out of danger- unlawful imprisonment could provoke international outcry
Execution- remove the figurehead of Catholic challenge, could also provoke international attacks for killing a Queen.
Separatists
Archbishops
Seditious Acts
Separatists: as a result of hundreds of ministers being removed, some puritans went underground
Archbishops: Parker 1559-75, Grindle 1575-83 Whitgift 1583-1604
Seditious acts: any act against the crown
Consequences of execution (international)
France: wanted to maintain alliance with England due to Spanish threat.
Spain: already at war with England
Scotland: took no action due to King James VI being named as Elizabeth’s heir
English Catholics: remained loyal to Elizabeth
Was Mary Queen of Scots a threat?
Yes
Her claim to the throne was as good as Elizabeth’s
She was a natural leader of English Catholics
The Papal Bill in 1570 continued Catholics Mary was rightful
Mary was willing participant in plots to overthrow Elizabeth
Was Mary Queen of Scots a threat?
No
The English saw her as too foreign for their Queen
Majority of Catholics were still loyal to Elizabeth
Northern Rebellion had little popular support
France and Spain were distracted by own problem.
Most English were horrified by the plots to overthrow Elizabeth
Her secret service was too strong
