Elizabeth Flashcards
Hierarchy in countryside
- Nobility
- Gentry
- Yeomen
- Tenant farmers
- Landless and working poor
- Homeless and beggars
Hierarchy in towns
- Merchants
- Professionals
- Business owners
- Skilled craftsmen
- Unskilled workers
- Unemployed
Government
Court – Noblemen who advised the queen Parliament – Houses of Lords and Commons. Advised Elizabeth’s government Privy Council – Nobles who helped govern the country
Elizabeth’s problems when she became queen in 1558:
She was young and inexperienced. She was Protestant so not supported by English Catholics. Many people
(especially Catholics) thought she was illegitimate and had no right to the throne. She was unmarried.
Financial weaknesses – The Crown (government) was £300,000 in debt. Mary I had sold off Crown lands
(making it hard for Elizabeth to raise money) and borrowed from foreign countries (who charged high
interest rates).
Challenges from abroad – France, Spain and Scotland were all Catholic countries and believed Mary, Queen
of Scots had a stronger claim to the throne of England than Elizabeth. France and Scotland were old allies.
Elizabeth’s character
She was very well educated, confident and charismatic. She believed in her divine right to
rule. She had an excellent understanding of politics. She was strong willed and stubborn.
Catholic
Pope is head of the church Priests can forgive sins Bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ Services in Latin Churches highly decorated Catholics were the majority in the north and west of England
Protestant
No pope Only God can forgive sins Bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ Services in English Churches should be plain and simple Protestants were the majority in the south-east, East Anglia and London
Puritan
Very strict Protestants (shared many beliefs but more extreme, e.g. no decoration in churches, no bishops or cardinals) Puritans found in London and East Anglia
The Church of England in society
Enforced the Religious Settlement, gave spiritual and practical advice, preached
the government’s message. Everyone had to pay a 10% tithe (tax) to fund the Church.
Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement, 1559
Aimed to establish a religious form that would be acceptable to Catholics and Protestants.
The Act of Uniformity established the appearance of churches and how services should be conducted.
The Act of Supremacy made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. All clergy had to
swear an oath of allegiance to her.
The Book of Common Prayer introduced a set of new church services to be used in all churches.
The Royal Injunctions forced all clergy to teach Royal Supremacy, keep an English Bible, report people who
refused to attend church.
THE MAJORITY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE AND 8,000 OF THE 10,000 CLERGY ACCEPTED ELIZABETH’S SETTLEMENT
Challenges to the Religious Settlement
Crucifix Controversy - refused to display crucifixes in churches, which had been ordered by Elizabeth to please the
Catholics. Elizabeth backed down.
Vestment Controversy -refused to wear the vestments (special clothing worn by clergy). In 1566, 37 Puritan
priests resigned after refusing to wear new vestments when ordered.
Catholic challenge abroad
The Catholic Church in Europe began a ‘Counter
Reformation’ to undo the Protestant changes.
The pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570, which
could encourage attacks on England from Catholic
countries.
Elizabeth backed the Protestants in a religious war in
France in 1562.
Catholic challenge at home
One third of the English nobility and gentry, particularly
in the north and west of England, were recusants
(refused to attend church) because they did not agree
with the Settlement.
This was encouraged by the pope.
This was a major cause of the Revolt of the Northern
Earls (1569-70).
Mary, Queen of Scots. Was a problem to Elizabeth because….
- She was Elizabeth’s second cousin so had a good claim to the throne of England
- She was a Catholic so her claim to the throne was supported by many English Catholics
- She was believed to have been involved in her husband’s murder, which led to a rebellion in Scotland. Mary
fled to England in 1568. This made her more of a threat to Elizabeth, so she was imprisoned.
Why did the The Revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569-70 happen
To make England Catholic again
The Earls resented their loss of influence in Elizabeth’s
court when she appointed ‘new men’ such as William
Cecil and Robert Dudley.
To marry Mary, Queen of Scots to the Duke of Norfolk,
depose Elizabeth and make Mary queen.