Elizabethan Settlement

Question 1

What 2 key aspects in deciding on the form of religion of the country? (major priority of E)

Answer 1

1. Legal status of church - Pope or monarch as head?
2. Prayer books to be used in services - moderate Prot? Radical Prot or Catholic?

Question 2

What was the Act of Supremacy 1559?

Answer 2

• Papal Supremacy rejected
• Restored H8 reformation laws
• Heresy law under Mary repealed
• Powers of royal visitations (inspections) were revived. This allowed the crown to appoint commissioners to visit churches and correct them.
• Elizabeth was appointed as Supreme Governor not Supreme Head
• A concession to the Catholics who still believe Pope head of Ch
• Oath of Supremacy was to be taken by clergymen and church officials; there were penalties for refusing. Most of the Marian bishops did not take the oath and were deprived of their posts.

Crown now has legal authority over the Church.

Question 3

What was the Act of Uniformity 1559?

Answer 3

• Use of single Book of Common Prayer - modified version of the second and strongly Protestant book in 1552 from Cranmer with 2 modifications:
  1. 2 versions of Eucharist statement.
  This allowed Cath belief of transubstantiation and Prot belief of consubstantiation
  2. Black rubric was omitted
  Black rubric in 1552 prayer book had explicitly said NO to the veneration (kneeling) of the host.
  Eliz removes Black rubric - people can choose she is not giving an instruction
• Ornaments and vestments (more Cath) should be worn as in the 2nd year of EdVI reign (before Act of Uniformity 1549)
  This causes problems as many see these as ‘popish’ i.e. Cath, strongly objected them.

Question 4

What were the Royal Injunctions 1559?

Answer 4

• Set of instructions about conduct of services and govt of the Church
  1. 1st Injunction (Prot) emphasised suppression of superstition (Cath practices)
  2. The Eucharist given at the table (Prot) not the alter (Cath)
  3. Religion was following the direction of reform and an attack on traditional Cath practices:
  a) Removal of ‘things superstitious; e.g. pilgrimages, candles
  b) Parishes required to buy an Eng Bible (like 1538 injunctions)
  c) ‘ ‘ a copy of Erasmus’ paraphrases (like 1547 injunctions)
  d) Visitors to enforce injunctions were nominated by Cecil and strongly Protestant

Question 5

How did the Injunctions reflect E’s personal idiosyncrasies?

Answer 5

Show E disapproval of clerical marriage - 2 JPs needed to sign marriage certificate

Question 6

What are historians views of the settlement?

Answer 6

John Neale - E faced pressure from radical clergymen and their allies in the HoC ‘Puritan Choir’ -> she had to back down and accept a more Prot prayer book and settlement

Haugaard - E saw settlement as final rather than a precursor to further reform (like Neale) Subsequent controversies = explicable in this light

Hudson - Argued E and her ministers always intended the Settlement to be Protestant never any serious intention to restore 1st Prayer Book but appearances to the contrary to keep support in conservative HoL

Jones - Argued E and her ministers wanted a complete settlement form the start. Political opposition came from Cath Bishops and conservative peers in HoL not Puritan Choir. Catholics accepted the restoration of royal supremacy, more opposition to Act of Uniformity = only passed by 3 votes