Elizabeth Religion Flashcards
what was the significance of puritanism?
This was an important influence in the 1560s and 70s, puritans believed in the “popish superstition”, their emergence is traced back to the failure of the Covocation of Canterbury in 1563, some groups with puritanism posed a threat to Elizabeth and her rule.
what was the significance of the vesterian controversy?
Several figures within puritanism decided that they could not obey to the rules of clerical dress within the Act of Uniformity. This was pushed when Thomas Sampson was dismissed for not wanting to abide by the rules of dress.
Archbishop Parker issued the ‘advertisements’ in March 1566 which required clergy to abide by the rules of the law, 37 clergymen from London refused to show their support, they were soon deprived of their posts.
This displays the Queens determination in gaining the changes that she wanted and forcing people to obey to the royal supremacy.
what was the significance of the Presbyterian movement?
This was an aspect of the broader protestant movement, movement believed that the church should be calvinist in both its structure and doctrine.
They had questions such as the authority of bishops.
They published two Admonitions which made their criticisms known, the first attacked the book of common prayer and called for the abolition of the bishops, the second provided a description of the Presbyterian church.
There was a so-called pamphlet war between Cartwright and Whitgift, the former believed that the “superstitious” church is flawed and there was a need to modify the 1559 book of common prayer. Yet, whit gift argued against the Presbyterian claims
Though, presbyterians did gain some high-ranking support such as the Earl of Leicester.
There was the development of synods that was a church council, though despite the work of Turner in 84 and Cope in 87 little change was brought through parliament.
what was the significance of Cope and Turner?
they wanted to introduced bills that would have replaced the book of common prayer with a new prayer book.
what was the significance of whitgifts articles and his attack on Presbyterianism.
He issued 3 articles which sought to acknowledge the royal supremacy, acceptance of the prayer book containing “nothing contrary to the word of God” and the acceptance of the 39 articles. Though, the prayer book article was reformed to a simple acceptance of the prayer book with pressure from people such as Leicester.
His campaign has some success as he was able to force Burghley protege and Cartwright was refused a licence to preach despite the plea of Leicester.
Whilst he had the support of the Queen, ministers treated his policy with suspicion.
By the late 1580s Presbyterianism was in decline this was further weakened by the death of John Field in 1589, the key organiser, no synod was held after 1589
what was the significance of radical puritans?
This was the most extreme form of protestantism, the most extreme wanted to separate from the Church of England all together wanted to get rid of all popish and superstitious notions. Robert Browne became the leader when it emerged in the 1580s, he soon went into exile in 1582
Barrow and Greenwood also led separatist movements, despite their small movements their actions did alarm authorities this led to the passing of the act against seditious secretaries in 1593. Barrow, Greenwood and Penry were executed for circulating “seditious books”
what was the significance of the decline of puritanism?
the deaths of Leicester, Mildmay and Walsingham led to the decline, the victory of the Spanish Armada reduced the threat of Catholicism. The removal of presbyterianism meant that puritan doctrine was more aligned with mainstream practices
in the 1595 Lambeth articles the puritan articles were reaffirmed- these were 9 points of doctrine that were approved by Whitgift and reasserted the calvinist doctrine of the church
what was the significance of catholicism?
whilst the 1559 act of supremacy did lay down laws against the recusants that did not wish to attend church services, these were rarely enforced.
There was much energy that was spend on removing Catholic imagery, “mystery plays” were also abolished. Most English Catholics survived as “church papists” as they outwardly conformed by attending the Anglican services. Catholic bishops had refused to conform to the 1559 oath of supremacy, some priests instead performed secret Catholic services to the nobility- these were known as recusants.
There was a negative view towards Catholics following the 1569 Northern Rebellion
what was the significance of the penal laws against the Catholics?
1571- the publication of papal bulls was made treasonable
1581- Act to retain the Queen’s Majesty’s subjects in their Due Obedience- this made it treason to withdraw subjects allegiance to either the Queen or the Church of England, non-attendance was raised to £20 per month- in 1582 11 Catholic priests were executed.
in 1587 this was tightened and could risk 2/3 of the state being seized by the exchequer, this was in response to the fear of rebellion from Spain
1585- Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests- made it treasonable for priests ordained under the popes authority to enter England, from 86-03 123 priests were executed.
in response to the Throckmorton plot anyone who took the oath of association was required to murder anyone who tried to usurp the crown.
what was the significance of Catholic missions?
in 1568 the college Douai was created to train Catholic priests to be sent to England to keep Catholicism alive, 1575 11 of these had arrived, 179 arrived between 80 and 85. They had to work secretly as from 1585 being Catholic could incur the death penalty.
The society of Jesus began sending Jesuit priests to England in 1580, the first ones that were involved in attempting to re-catholicise England was Robert Parsons and Edmund Campion (Campion was captured and executed in 81)
there was limited success, Catholism became a “country-house religion”, as humber catholics were ignored. Rather than the popular religion it had been of the 1560s.
Priests also became divided
The location of the Catholic priests different, they tended to operate in the south-east of England. There were fewer in the north, this was because the south is neat the Channel ports.
what was the key change of policy from 1567-72?
67- pope instructed English catholics not to attend anglican services
1567- the Duke of alba was sent to the Netherlands to put down rebellion, 10000 troops just across the channel
1568- MQS arrived in England
1568- there was a seminary for missionary priests in Douai
1572- st Bartholomew’s day- the massacre of protestants in France
1571- treason act- denial of the supremacy is punishable by death
the pope exposed English catholics to fines that few could afford and forced them to choose between their loyalty to friends and neighbours- the parish church was at the centre of village life.
what was the significance of the arrival of the missionary priests?
priests, most from Douai started to arrive from 1574
By the 1590s there were over 100 in England
in 1580 Jesuits began to arrive
in the 1570s the priests were not initially seen as a threat, by the late 70s several priests were executed for denying the supremacy, the failing relations with Spain and the presence of MQS were catalysts.
what was the significance of Catholic survivalism? and what was the assessment of the threat?
There was a combination of harsh laws and desire of English catholics to remain loyal subjects of crown made catholicism less of a threat
mass was still practiced in secret, especially among the landed classes.
There were catholic strongholds in placed like the north, there was little enthusiasm for plots against Elizabeth
by the 1590s there was little support for catholicism among ordinary people
Elizabeths cautious policy towards catholics was successful, she had gained instinctive loyalty among almost all of her subjects.
by 1603- 10% of people were Catholic but only 2% were practicing.
what events increased the catholic threat? (see earlier fc for more)
Arrival of mqs
Northern Rebellion
1570- issue of the papal bull
1580- key jesuits such as Campion arrive in England
1583- the throckmorton plot
1584- William of orange is assassinated
1585- England pledges assistance to the Protestants in the Netherlands
babington plot
1587- MQS is executed
1588- the Spanish Armada
1594- Robert Parsons publishes a document supporting the claim of the Spanish infanta to the English throne. The pope appointed George Blackwell as Archpriest the English Catholic community, he is ordered to consult with the Jesuits, the “archpriest controversy “ displays to the Government that it cannot be tolerant of those priests who even promised loyalty
How did the government react to the Catholic threat after 1568?
1570- John Felton is executed for displaying a copy of the papal bull
1571- three acts- treasonable to declare that Elizabeth is not Queen, introduce or publish any papal bulls, those who have fled abroad and fail to return within 12 months will forfeit their property.
1577- a seminary priest is executed
1581
85
1587- recusants who default on the payment of fines can now have 2/3 of their land seized by the Exchequer.
1588- the governments determination to crush Catholicism results on the execution of 31 priests.
1593- the House of Commons passes legislation making large gatherings of Catholics illegal, confining Catholics to a radius of 5 miles from their homes to stop recusants moving about to avoid fines and imprisonment
1594- the government refused to follow a policy of toleration towards English secular Catholics who promise not to rebel against Elizabeth
1602- a royal procolomation orders all Jesuits to leave the country, priests are given 12 months to leave, though they are promised favourable treatment if they submit to the authorities, which 13 do.
what was the significance of the puritan challenge to the Elizabethan settlement?
The Presbyterian challenge-
1570- Cartwright was the first establishment figure to advocate presbytarianism. (sacked)
