Queen, government and religion, 1558-69 Flashcards
Give four examples of the problems Elizabeth faced when she became Queen of England
- Legitimacy – parents’ marriage declared illegal so many Catholics believed she had no claim to the throne
- No husband – concerns over female ruling alone – made England vulnerable to attack. No heir.
- Religion – the country was split between Protestants and Catholics
- Invasion - France was a Catholic country and many there believed the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, who was married to the son of the French King should be ruler of England
Which body had to be consulted if Tudor monarchs wanted more money?
Parliament
How much debt did Elizabeth inherit from the war in France
£300,000
What were 2 of Elizabeth’s aims regarding religion?
- To heal the divisions between Protestants and Catholics to avoid Civil War
- To maximise her personal power by taking as much control over the church as possible
Who was Francis Walsingham?
He was a close advisor of Elizabeth and her spymaster
Who was Robert Dudley the Earl of Leicester?
Leading Nobleman, advisor and favourite of Elizabeth
What was the Act of Supremacy, 1559?
It re-established the break from Rome and an independent Church of England and all members of the clergy had to swear an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth.
However, as a compromise with Archbishops and Bishops being kept which it was hoped would please Catholics.
What was the Act of Uniformity, 1559?
Catholic Mass was abandoned and the Bible was written in English (to please Protestants). Ornaments such as crosses and candles could be placed on the communion table and Priests had to wear traditional- style Vestments (to please Catholics)
How were these two acts viewed at the time?
Majority were happy but Puritans and extreme Catholics thought it gave too much away to the ‘other side’.
Geographically, where was Catholicism strongest in England?
North East and North West
What was a Puritan?
An English Protestant who wanted to further simplify the church of England and remove anything related to Catholicism.
What was the impact of the religious settlement on the Clergy?
8000 priests took the oath of supremacy showing their support for the Acts introduced.
However, only 1 Bishop took the oath, so 27 new bishops were appointed.
What was the role of the Church of England?
Church courts – these dealt with issues such was marriage and death – wills and inheritance. Enforcing the Religious Settlement
Inspectors would visit a church to ensure the priest was following the terms of the settlements
Give two examples of when Puritans challenged Elizabeth and how Elizabeth dealt with them
The Crucifix controversy - Elizabeth liked crucifixes. Puritans did not like crucifixes. This was a problem as several Bishops threatened to resign and as a result the Queen backed down
The vestment controversy – Elizabeth wanted priests to wear special vestments (clothes) but some refused. A special exhibition was held in London to show what vestments they should wear. Of the 110 invited 37 didn’t come and they lost their post. Elizabeth had won this battle
How did the Pope challenge Elizabeth, and what was the impact of this?
He issued a statement in 1566 that Catholics should not attend protestant church services. This had virtually no impact
