Queen, government, and religion 1558-69: Religious challenges

Question 1

Who were the Puritans

Answer 1

• Radical Protestants who wanted to ‘purify’ church by binning off anything not in the bible
• Wanted to develop own church not controlled by queen, no bishops, priests without vestmenst
• Wanted simpler style of worship, whitewashed churches and no ‘graven images’ seen as ungodly and catholic
• Minority believed monarch could be overthrown in certain circumstances especially if monarch catholic
• Many anti-catholic believed pope ‘Anti-Christ’. Other Puritans (millenarians) believed world ending and christians had to prepare for Jesus’ return

Question 2

Examples of Puritans as a challenge

Answer 2

Crucifixes:
* Elizabeth demanded crucifix in churches to appease catholics
* Puritans opposed, threatened to resign, Elizabeth backed down, couldn’t replace them with protestant clergy of similar ability

Vestments:
* Elizabeth wanted clergy with vestments. puritans resisted arguing for simple or no vestments. 1566 Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Parker required priests in Book of Advertisements to attend exhibition showing required vestments
* resulted in 37 puritan priests losing posts for refusing to attend church and wear new vestments as required

Question 3

Extent of Puritan Challenge

Answer 3

• Puritans vocal, some such as John Foxe, Thomas Cartwright, and John Field openly anti-catholic and against bishops
• Puritans mainly active London, Cambridge, Oxford, parts of East Anglia with less impact in catholic north
• Government ignored puritan demands for reform including admonition to parliamemt 1572 suggesting puritan support limited

Question 4

The Counter revolution

Answer 4

The catholic church’s attempt to reverse protestant reformation in Europe and stop its spread. 1566, pope issued instruction to catholics not to attend church of England

Question 5

Timeline of Reformation and religion in England

Answer 5

• 1517 Start of Reformation under Martin Luther
• 1534 Act of Supremacy: King not Pope head of Church of England
• 1553-58 Catholicism restored under Mary I
• 1559 Elizabeth’s religious settlement
• 1545-63 Council of Trent and counter reformation leads to determination to reverse gains of protestantism in Europe and England since reformation

Question 6

Catholic threat at home

Answer 6

• Counter reformation attempts to reverse spread of protestantism
• catholic hostility to protestants
• Pope instructs Catholics not to attend Church of England services
• 1/3 Nobility and large amount of gentry are recusants (practice catholicism in secret)
• This led to Revolt of the Northern Earls (1569-70)

Question 7

Extent of catholic threat

Answer 7

• about 1/3 nobility and many gentry recusants especially in north and northwest
• Catholic nobility from traditional and powerful families under Mary I, such as Nevilles and Percys. Resented loss of influence and disliked influence of Elizabeth’s new favourites Sir William Cecil and Robert Dudley
• Nobility in north influential and enjoyed freedom of action from the crown, well placed for rebellion
• Threat increased when pope instructed catholics not to attend Church of England services, giving reason to rebel.

Question 8

Catholic challenge from France

Answer 8

When religious war began in France 1562 Elizabeth backed French protestants hoping for Calais in return, however French protestants and catholics made peace later that year

Question 9

Catholic challenge from the papacy

Answer 9

Counter reformation meant pope prepared to end protestant rule in England. dissapoved of suppression of catholicism after revolt of northern earls. Pope already excommunicated Elizabeth 1570, encouraged catholic powers such as Spain and France to attack.

Question 10

catholic challenge from Spain

Answer 10

• 1566 Dutch rebelled against Spain, Elizabeth outwardly condemned Dutch rebels, known as sea beggars, but many came to England with Spanish atrocities against protestants pressured Elizabeth to shelter the rebels, who attacked Spanish ships in the channel
• Spain angered by England’s seizure of Genoese loan 1568. Italian Genoa lent gold to Spain, ship carrying it sheltered in English ports, Elizabeth seized it arguing it belonged to Italian bankers
• 1570 Spanish rule in Netherlands secure, Privy Council feared Spanish invasion, as Spanish troops in netherlands close
• Prescence of Mary QoS as alternative catholic monarch encouraged Spain backed plots against Elizabeth.

Question 11

Extent of Catholic challenge from abroard 1570

Answer 11

England surrounded by potentially hostile catholic countries.