Elizabeth I: Religion - Protestant challenges to the Settlement Flashcards
What did Puritan’s seek
The complete eradication of ‘Popish Superstition’
What did the Queen want
Conformity and obedience based on the acceptance of the settlement
What was the cause of Purtian emergence
Failure of the Convocation of Canterbury in 1563
They expected further reform of the Church
What did Puritans believe wasnt completed
The 1559 English reformation
Why did Puritans go against Bishops
Because they believed they were an invention of the Pope to maintain control, rather than an invention of the Early Christian Church
What were the 3 groups of Puritans
- Conformists
- Presbyterians
- Separatists
What was a Conformist Puritan
Puritan’s who believed the underlying Puritan doctrine however were prepared to compromise on the less essential elements in the interest of the Queen
What was a Presbyterian Puritan
Puritan’s who believed compromise was unacceptable and wanted reform.
The church was flawed because it employed a Catholic style hierachy of Archbishops and Bishops which they wanted to be removed
Why did Presbyterian’s believe the Church was flawed
Because it employed a Catholic style hierachy (this benefited Elizabeth)
What was a Separatist puritan
Puritan’s that formed their own Church on the basis of a doctrine signed by a congregation of people
What were Separatists the first step of
Overthrowing order.
Why was the threat of separatists minimal
Because they were very limited in number and support
What was the threat of conformists
Minimal, they werent radical
What was the threat of Presbyterianism
Significant, as emphasised by John Whitgifts Three Articles
Elizabeth employed formidable powers against Presbyterians
What did Separatists cause to be passed
The act Against Seditious Sectaries
What was the Act Against Seditious Sectaries of 1593
Outlawed Puritanism within England
What is the significance of the Act Against Seditious Sectaries
It showed that Elizabeth identified Puritanism as a significant offence - very limited in numbers yet such a harsh punishment
What were Presbyterian criticisms voiced in
Two Pamphlets known as the ‘Two Admonitions’
Who wrote the Two Admonitions
John FIeld
Who wrote the Two Admonitions
John Field
What did the First admonition outline
The flaws of the Book of Common prayer and called for the abolition of bishops
What did the second admonition outline
A detailed description of a Presbyterian system of Church government
What followed the Two Admonitions
The ‘Pamphlet War’
Who was the Pamphlet war between
Thomas Cartwright and John Whitgift
What did Cartwright believe
That the Church being founded on ‘popish’ principles meant that it was spiritually flawed, and the 1559 settlement needed to be modifed
What did Whitgift believe
That Presbyterianism would split the Church
What support did the Presbyterian movement herald
Support from nobles, e.g. Earl of Leicester
What was the significance of Noble support of the Presbyterian movement
They defended Clergymen who fell in trouble with the law due to Presbyterian sympathies
Why did nobles support the Presbyterian
Because Presbyterianism was a Bulwark against the influence of Catholicism
When did the Presbyterian movement begin to develop
in the 1580s
Where did ideas of church government develop
Local assemblies and national Synods (Church council outside the Hierachy)
What did Peter Turner and Anthony cope develop
Bills that would replace the Book of Common prayer
Who was John Whitgift
Archbishop of Canterbury
What was John Whitgift determined to do
Destroy Presbyterianism
What did John Whitgift issue
Three Articles to which Clergy had to subscribe
What did the Three Articles outline
- Acknowledgement of the Royal Supremacy
- Acceptance of the prayer book as containing nothing ‘Contrary to the word of God’
- Acceptance that the Thirty-Nine Articles conformed to the Word of God
What did the Second of the Three articles caus
A crisis of conscience for many clergy
What was Whitgift forced to do regarding the Second article
Back down under pressure from councillors such as Leicester and Walsingham
How did Whitgift change the second article
changed it to ‘simple acceptance of the Prayer Book’
How did Whitgift succeed
Caused George Gifford (Lord Burghleys protege) out of his post
Cartwright refused a licence to Preach
Had complete support of the queen
How didnt Whitgift succeed
By treating radicals and moderates alike, Whitgift caused despair among clergymen
When did Puritan influence begin to decline
In the late 1580s
Why did Purtian influence decline
- Death of its key organiser, John Field
- Death of the Earl of Leicester, Mildmay and Walsingham
- Defeat of the Spanish Armada reduced the perceived threat of Catholicism
- Disappearance of Presbyterianism meant Puritan presence was more acceptable within the Church
What was religion like by he end of Elizabeth’s reign
Religion was no longer a serious political issue and ‘godly’ puritans were housed within the Church
How did the Puritans attempt to change the church
- Via Parliament
2. Via the Church
How did Puritans attempt to change the church via Parliament
Peter Turner and Anthony cope introduced bills to replace the common pray book.
Didnt receive support and Cope was imprisoned - but knighted 5 years later, showering he quickly recovered
How did the Puritans attempt to change the church via the Church
Richard Cox and John Jewel accepted positions in the new church
Seen as traitors
They asked for the Abolition of Holy days,
Sign of the Cross to be removed from baptisms
