Elizabeth and religion Flashcards
What was Matthew Parker’s background like? What was his aim?
1559-1575
Ordained 1527. Went to Cambridge and was Anne Boleyn’s Chaplain. He stayed in England during Mary’s reign so not extreme. He was married and defended clerical marriage which Elizabeth did not agree with. He was reluctant to take up the position.
Aim- secure settlement, achieve conformity
Evidence of Matthew Parker’s success/failures.
Success- refused extreme demands of Puritans to 39 Articles which stopped them getting future support in Convocation. 1556- Advertisements told clergy to wear Vestments. Largely successful considering situation.
Unsuccessful- forced to take full responsibility for Advertisements- meant Bishops questioned what they had to enforce + agitation in HOC. Puritans gained strength by 1575.
What was Edmund Grindal’s Background?
1575-1583
Studied at Cambridge, Chaplain to Nicholas Ridley. Marian exile, worked with John Foxe on Book of Martyrs. Elizabeth had to appoint such exiles, he was reluctant to serve her as Archbishop.
Aim- achieve unanimity and be just to all sides
Evidence of Matthew Parker’s success/failures.
Unsuccessful: Thought Prophesyings improved education and preaching standards. Told this to Elizabeth, said he wouldn’t try and stop them. Elizabeth had to send own orders out. Grindal discredited the Church and he was suspended and forced to resign but died just before.
What was John Whitgift’s background?
1575-1604
Studied at Oxford. Grew up during introduction of Protestantism in Uni. In England during Mary’s reign. An academic.
Aim- stop extremism and serve Elizabeth well
Evidence Whitgift was successful/unsuccessful.
Successes- Remove Cartwright’s professorship for giving lectures on abolishing Archbishops. 1527 condemned Puritans in response to Admonition to Parliament. 1583- Court of High Commissions uses 3 articles as touchstone of beliefs to act against non conformists. Very close to Elizabeth and appointed Bancroft who she also worked well with.
Failures- Ex Officio Oath- people didn’t like intense questioning espc. nobles whose ministers they had appointed or served for them as it reflected badly on them.
Problems Elizabeth faced in 1558: gender and marriage.
Gender: not strong enough to rule, couldn’t lead into battle, general stereotypes about women being easily swayed.
Marriage: could be ruled by husband. If she married Englishman their family would have too much power and if a foreigner they could try to rule England.
Problems Elizabeth faced 1558: foreign powers and religion.
Religion: majority Catholic and wanted Latin but nobility Protestant and want English.
Marian Exiles- influenced by John Calvin in Europe- expected to help establish Puritan Church
Need to chose settlement- threat of excommunication
Foreign Powers: Catholics support MQS backed by France, as E is illegitimate
Need to keep relationship with Catholic Hasburghs
Unrest in Ireland- Henry rejected as head of Church and Mary’s failed plantations
Mary on Guise troops ruling Scotland and Aud Alliance (Scotland and France)
Phillip II- threat of Catholic Crusade.
MQS- supported by some English Catholics- threat of Civil War
England and France @ war- Calais lost + English troops in Spain. Need peace without humiliation of loosing Calais.
Problems Elizabeth faced in 1558: economy and PC
PC: who her Councillors would be- too many Catholics or Protestants could indicate settlement.
Economy: £300, 000 debt from Mary + sold f Crown Lands- weakened monarch long term finances
Relied on- crops, manufacture and export of wool
Prices and population increasing
1550- trade w/Antwerp collapses (spinners out of work)
Higher countryside rents- farmers increased them to keep up with inflation.
Worker’s wage decreased in value
More unemployment in lower classes
Worse inflation- harvest and epidemics- low morale and hard to generate wealth
Debased coinage- helped financially but harmed trade as less confident in currency
Factors affecting settlement: foreign situation
War with France (Catholic Country) + loss of Calais more easily resolved if England Catholic too.
Spain/Hasburgh’s Catholic ruled Netherlands- trading post. Phillip proposes to E + hopes she goes Catholic. minimal threat of invasion as Spain doesn’t want England joining Aud Alliance.
All crises averted but could have been detrimental.
Factors affecting settlement: domestic situation and exiles
Upheaval- country needs 1 religion
Protestants- Marian exiles not united enough and E prefers Priests who stayed in England as less Radical.
Catholics- Pole got rid of some Church abuses but outweighed by Protestant Martyrdom and success at overturning 1st settlement in HOC.
Factors affecting settlement: personal beliefes
Viewed at illegitimate by Catholics so would go Protestant. Grew up w/pious Catherine Parr and w/humanist tutors.
Reluctant to go to mass under Mary + kept English bible.
1558- proclaimed Protestant settlement.
1558 Xmas- stormed out when Priest elevated the host + told monks to put away candles- disliked Catholic practices.
Kept fancy music, crosses, vestments- help prevent Spanish crusade. Didn’t like Protestant preachers telling her what to do.
Clearly dedicated as oppose Mary but conceded on some accounts
Factors affecting settlement: advice E recieved
Goodrich- Protestant Mp under Edward. Said to move slowly and be aware of threat of surviving Marian Bishops. Services w/some English wording.
Anonymous Advice- outlined problems with a return to Protestantism- w/foreign relations. Suggested group of scholars sort settlement.https://www.missguided.co.uk/dresses/mini-dresses/textured-bardot-bodycon-dress-khaki
Outline how the final settlement was achieved.
Jan 1559- parliament met to discuss settlement. Roman Catholic Party opposed Elizabeth’s settlement in HOL. Her main aim to make unified religion. Put all proposals into a Bill- passed through commons but changed by Lords. All 17 Bishops opposed her being Supreme Head and 18 lay peers didn’t want doctrinal changes.
Easter 1559- Elizabeth and Cecil shocked so prorogue Parliament. Considers dissolving it but that wouldn’t solve problem.
April 1559- imprisons Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester and Abbot of Westminster missing from session.
Passed Act of Supremacy: Supreme Governor of Church (appease sexists and Pope), clergy and officials take oath to me, heresy laws repealed, communions in both kinds allowed
1 Archbishop and Lord opposed.
Passed Act of Uniformity: 1552 Book of Common Prayers used in Church, fines for non-attendance of Church, dress of clergy and ornaments that of 1548 and changeable by E, words said at communion are from 1549 and 1552 Prayer Books
‘Black Rubric’ omitted
Also Passed: taxes paid by Church go to E, monasteries restored by Mary destroyed and land returned to owners, Injunctions that clergy have specific dress, music plays on Sundays, bowing to Jesus’ name, use of unleavened bread and remaining of images and Clergy can Mary but wives approved by a Bishop.
What kind of settlement did Elizabeth chose?
Said to be Via Media but defo Protestant. Some wanted more Calvinist but E wasn’t going to budge.
Who were the Puritans?
wanted to change settlement via protest, propaganda and HOC to more Calvinist.
Refused some Catholic Practices from Prayer Books.
Presbyterians (radicals)- no permanent impact on Church
Who were the Seperatists
Set up and focused on own Churches rather than changing E’s. Some from Secret Marian Church’s eg Secret Plumber’s Hall rooted out by Gardiner.
Browne + Harrison- set up Church in Norwich and faced problems with authorities so went to Holland in 1582. Browne returned and later conformed.
Barrow + Greenwood- Church in London. Arrested and executed because of Legislation against Secretaries.
Attracted only a few as Puritans seemed to accept Church for meantime.
Not united eg Borwne and Harrison fought. Lack f set doctrine vs e’s policy of Outward Conformity
Evidence that Puritans were successful/unsuccessul with regards the Vestarian Controversy
Successful- May 1565, Sampson removed for not wearing vestment- martyrs which legitimized Puritans and their aims. So deprived ministers set up own churches or work for ‘real’ reformation. Later objections continue until 1570.
Unsuccessful- not much response from Parliament except clarifying vestment need only be comely with long-sleeves. 1566- nonconformists lost jobs. Bullinger’s advice to conform so they could serve stopped opposition.
(No change but leads to start of Puritans and radical churches)
Evidence that Puritans were successful/unsuccessful with regards the 39 Articles.
Successful- 1571 concessions so clergy with reservations only had to accept doctrine in 39 Articles.
Unsuccessful- authorities denied this so likely not relevant.
(Bypass some but had to accept basis of Church)
Evidence that Puritans were successful/unsuccessful with regards Strickland’s Proposals
Successful- some support for 1571 Bill to reform Book of Common Prayer, no surplices etc. Strickland restored because of outrage.
Unsuccessful- no support from higher authorities. Called before council and barred from house and Bill never heard of again.
(E had to restore but Bill did nothing)
Evidence that Puritans were successful/unsuccessful with regards Cope’s Proposals.
Successful- proposal to overturn Church and govt. and replace Prayer Book with Genevan Prayer Book, end Bishops had some support eg MP Thockmorton
Unsuccessful- Cope and others sent to tower. Bill attacked in commons- said selling monastic land would have to fund church. Bill disappeared.
(Puritans felt nothing achieved via Parliament so went to other means + bill seen as ridiculous)
Evidence that Puritans were successful/unsuccessful with regards Cartwright’s criticism.
Successful- lectures introduced Presbyterianism + presented E and her bishops badly who there was already lots of resentment toward.
Unsuccessful- had freedom of speech and professorship removed. Whitgift held this up as Orthodoxy.
(Starts radicalism + lectures can’t be taken away but stopped)
