Reaction and challenges to the Elizabethan religious settlement Flashcards
The Crucifix Controversy: The Puritans
To Elizabethan Puritans, crucifixes represented idols. Elizabeth, however, liked them and also wanted churches to keep their familiar look and not upset the Catholics. When some Puritan bishops threatened to resign the Queen backed down and removed the Crucifixes.
The Vestment Controversy: The Puritans
Elizabeth wanted priests to wear special vestments in order to not upset the Catholics. Puritans did not like this as they believed that Priests should not be set apart from ordinary people. By 1565 it was clear that many priests were not wearing the vestments and in response Elizabeth held a special exhibition to show what they must wear. Many (37 of 110) refused to attend and lost their posts. The majority consented.
The Catholic challenge: The Papacy
The Catholic church was leading an active fightback to strengthen Catholicism and stop protestantism. This was known as the Counter reformation. In 1566 the pope issued an instruction to English Catholics to not attend Church of England services (be a recusant).
Elizabeth response to the Catholic recusants
Although there were meant to be penalties (fines) these were not regularly imposed as Elizabeth did not want to create problems such as martyrs and instead keep England Stable.
The Catholic Challenge: The English nobility and the Catholic threat
The earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland were both Catholics. When Elizabeth became Queen they felt their influence at court greatly reduced. In November 1569 they held a rebellion (revolt of the Northern Earls). One of the key events of the rebellion was the taking of Durham Cathedral and the celebration of a full Catholic mass.
How did the Northern Rebellion end?
The rebellion was successfully put down by royal troops and hundreds of rebels were executed. These public displays of Crown power mark a change in Elizabeth’s relationship with her Catholic subjects.
The Catholic Challenge: France
A religious war broke out in France in 1562. Elizabeth agreed to help French Protestants in return for them helping to get Calais back for England. However, the French Protestants made peace with the French government later in 1562 leaving Elizabeth isolated. In 1564, she signed the Treaty of Troyes confirming that Calais belonged to France.
The Catholic Challenge: Spain and the Spanish Netherlands
In 1563 King Philip of Spain banned the import of English cloth to the Netherlands, because he believed that English merchants were spreading Protestantism. Elizabeth refused to trade with Spain in retaliation, and this embargo lasted a year. Philip reinforced Spain’s control over the Netherlands in the 1560s when the Dutch – Protestant and Catholic - rebelled. Spain put down the rebellion and this demonstrated a potential threat to Elizabeth, as Spain had a large army whose mission was to destroy Protestantism. Many Dutch rebels were fleeing to England, which angered Philp yet further and worsened relations.
