Religious Settlement Flashcards
Problems with religion
Why did Elizabeth pass the religious settlement?
a compromise to the people, divided by religion
Her sister, Mary, had made Roman Catholicism the official religion of the country but many were Protestant
Catholic - Protestant
Problems with religion
When did she pass the Religious Settlement?
1559
Problems with religion
What 2 laws did the Settlement involve?
The Act of Supremacy
The Act of Uniformity
Problems with religion
What did the The Act of Supremacy involve?
- made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church, taking power away from the Pope
- ‘Governor’ suggested she wasn’t dictatorial, unlike her father, King Henry VIII, who was the ‘Head’
- appeased Catholics and Puritans who were uncumfortable with the monarch as head of religion
Problems with religion
What did The Act of Uniformity involve?
- made protestantism England’s official faith and also set out rules of Religious practice and worship in a revised prayer book
- retained some Catholic traditions which Elizabeth hoped would make a good compramise and keep her people happy
Problems with religion
What was the reaction to the Settlement?
- broad support and few refused to take the oath of loyalty to the queen
- seemed to worked on the whole, but…
- did not keep everyone happy - faced many threats
The Catholic Threat
How was the threat of Catholics reinforced?
- rulers of the most powerful countries in EU were Catholics (Spain and France) and plots often had foreign backing
- 1570 - Pope issued a Papal Bull, where he excommunicated Elizabeth - “servant of wickedness”
- Mary Queen of Scotts (MQS) was the main figurehead for such plotters - Catholic + had Claim to the throne - was a potential replacement
Catholic Plots
What were the 4 Catholic plots against Elizabeth + dates?
1569 – Rebellion of the Northern Earls
1571 - The Ridolfi Plot
1583 - The Throckmorton Plot
1586 - The Babington Plot
Catholic Plots
Explain the Plot and Elizabeth’s action to the Rebellion of the Northern Earls
Plot:
The Catholic Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland raised an army of 6,000 to free Mary, Queen of Scots, and restore Catholic rule in England
Elizabeth’s action:
Elizabeth discovered the plot and sent a large army to crush the rebellion, executing 800 rebels while the two Earls fled to Scotland
Catholic Plots
Explain the Plot and Elizabeth’s action to the The Ridolfi Plot
Plot:
Roberto Ridolfi, an Italian banker, planned to assassinate Elizabeth and make Mary queen with support from King Philip II of Spain, the Duke of Norfolk, and Mary herself
Elizabeth’s action:
Elizabeth’s advisor, Cecil, uncovered the plot. Ridolfi and the Spanish ambassador were arrested expelled from the country, and the Duke of Norfolk was executed
Catholic Plots
Explain the Plot and Elizabeth’s action to the The Throckmorton Plot
Plot:
Francis Throckmorton, a young Catholic, plotted for a French army to invade - to replace Elizabeth with Mary, funded by the Pope and King Philip II of Spain
Elizabeth’s action:
Throckmorton was executed, and Mary was moved to Tutbury Castle in isolation without visitors
Catholic Plots
Explain the Plot and Elizabeth’s action to the The Babington Plot
Plot:
Sir Anthony Babington plotted to rescue Mary and kill Elizabeth, but secret letters exposed the plan and proved Mary’s guilt
Elizabeth’s action:
This finally led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, Babington and six other plotters.
Puritan Threat
What were Puritans?
strict Protestants who wanted to ‘purify’ the Church and get rid of all traces of the Catholic faith
Puritan Threat
How much of a threat were the Puritans?
- less of a threat than the Catholics - raised their points in parliament, but did not get involved in plots to overthrow Elizabeth or destabilise the country
- Even if they weren’t a great threat, Elizabeth still did not welcome the Puritans’ increasing challenge to her authority
Puritan Threat
What threat did Walter Strickland bring about, when and what Elizabeth’s action?
1571
Threat:
leader of Puritan group in Parliament - wanted to reform Elizabeth’s new Prayer Book and ban clergy vestments
Elizabeth’s action:
silenced him by closing Parliament so his ideas could not be discussed
Puritan Threat
What were prophesyings, when were they and what threat did they bring about, how did Elizabeth act?
1573 - 1583
Threat:
Some Puritan clergy organized ‘prophesyings,’ prayer meetings that displeased Elizabeth because they did not follow her guidelines. She feared they could spread ideas that challenged the Religious Settlement
Action:
Elizabeth ordered Archbishop Edmund Grindal to ban ‘prophesyings,’ but he resisted. In response, she suspended him, urged his resignation, and expelled 200 Puritan priests
Puritan Threat
What was the threat of John Stubbs, when and how did Elizabeth act?
1583
Threat:
Puritan John Stubbs published a pamphlet criticizing Elizabeth’s marriage negotiations with the Catholic French king’s brother
Action:
Stubbs was found guilty of stirring up trouble and sentenced to have had his right hand cut off
