Elizabethan Settlement

Question 1

Elizabeth’s religious settlement - causes

Answer 1

• came as a reaction to the religious divisions within England
• religion had fluctuated during the Tudor dynasty, from protestant under Edward, then Catholic under Mary

Question 2

Act of Supremacy

Answer 2

• passed in 1558
• reiterated the Act of Supremacy under Henry VIII in 1534, stating that the Church of England was independent of Rome
• Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of the Church

Question 3

Act of Uniformity

Answer 3

• passed in 1558
• established the Church of England’s religious doctrine
• legitimated the Book fo Common Prayer
• only passed through parliament by 3 votes, so very contentious

Question 4

Book of Common Prayer

Answer 4

• third edition, published 1559
• outlined Church’s liturgy (worship)
• set out prayers and services
• the book was Protestant, but carried some elements of traditional, Catholic worship, such as the wearing of religious robes
• combined the language of the 1549 moderate prayer book and the more radical one in 1552

Question 5

39 Articles

Answer 5

• published in 1563
• became part of the law in 1571
• stated the position of the Church of England in relation to the Catholic Church and radical Protestants

Question 6

Elizabeth’s religious settlement

Answer 6

• Elizabeth wanted to find a compromise between Catholicism and Protestantism
• Elizabeth became head of the Church thanks to the Act of Supremacy
• Many aspects of religious worship still contained traditional rituals of Catholicism
• Many radical Protestants were disappointed at the settlement
• the settlement was quite divisive

Question 7

Catholic response to the settlement

Answer 7

• pretty much all Catholic bishops installed under Mary I refused to accepted the settlement and as a result were dismissed from their positions
• some ministers refused to use the Book of Common Prayer, continuing with the Catholic Prayer Book

Question 8

Protestant response to the settlement

Answer 8

• hardline Protestants were displeased with the settlement, wanting further reform
• pressure was put on Elizabeth by the Protestant reformers
• Edward VI and his strong Protestant approach was used to pressure Elizabeth

Question 9

Overall response/opposition to the settlement

Answer 9

• generally there was relatively minimal opposition to the settlement, and there was no violence
• the settlement was accepted internationally as well, but this was because Catholic figures such as King Philip II and the Pope believed that Elizabeth could be shifted back to Catholicism