ReligiousReligiousSettlementSettlement

The Impact and ImplicationsThe Impact and Implicationsof the Religious Settlementof the Religious Settlement

IntroductionIntroduction

•Elizabeth hoped the Religious Settlement would appeal to most people but in reality it probably created more problems than it solved.

MajorMajorProblemsProblems

CatholicCatholicOppositionOpposition

Which resultedin Elizabeth

makingconcessions

ProtestantProtestantConcernsConcerns

Over the omissionof a statementof faith in the

Settlement

Issues that determinedIssues that determinedCatholic support or oppositionCatholic support or opposition

Foreign Foreign PolicyPolicy SuccessionSuccession MarriageMarriage Pope’s Pope’s

ReactionReaction

Problems Arising from the Problems Arising from the Religious SettlementReligious Settlement

1563-15721563-1572

ProblemsProblems

Quality of the ClergyQuality of the Clergy• Poorly educated• Poorly trained

• Catholic clergy who conformed lacked

conviction

Government’sGovernment’sResponseResponse

Key AppointmentsKey Appointments• Matthew Parker as

Archbishop of Canterbury• Key Protestants and

Marian exiles to bishoprics

Confusion over DoctrineConfusion over Doctrine• Protestants concernedthe Settlement did notinclude an enunciation of Protestant doctrine

Puritan OppositionPuritan Opposition• Led to Vestments

controversy (see p 198)

Key PublicationsKey Publications• Injunctions• 39 Articles

• Commissioners alsoinvestigated breaches of

the Prayer Book

Catholic OppositionCatholic Opposition• Opposition to Elizabeth

as Supreme Governor•Northern Rebellions•Restoration of Mary

& Catholicism

Failed to Make ConcessionsFailed to Make Concessions• Clergy resigned

• Resulted in Puritanism• Turned to Presbyterianism

Quashed OppositionQuashed Opposition• Put down rebellions

• Executed rebel leaders• Imprisoned Mary

The Northern RebellionThe Northern Rebellion15691569

Was the Northern Rebellion a serious

threatto Elizabeth?

It’s Significance

The first in a series of rebellions. Conspiracy centred around Mary Queen of Scots. Ushered in a turbulent period in foreign affairs.

Elizabeth’s Concerns

• That her failure to marry and produce an heir to the throne would open the way for a legitimate Catholic claimant to the throne of England.

• When Mary Queen of Scots arrived in England in 1568 she became the focal point and catalyst of Catholic Opposition.

RebelsRebelsThomas HowardThomas Howard((Duke of NorfolkDuke of Norfolk))

Thomas PercyThomas Percy(Earl of Northumberland)(Earl of Northumberland)

Charles NevilleCharles Neville(Earl of Westmorland

De SpesDe Spes(Spanish Ambassador)

Earl of SussexEarl of Sussex

What factors caused the rebellion?

ReasonsReasonsfor thefor the

RebellionRebellion

17.5: ‘contrarie to God word’

17.6: Opposition to the reformation& support of Mary

17.7: Businessmatters

17.8: Forced torebel

17.11: Protestantisma threat to the

realm

17.12: Resentment

towards Elizabeth’s authority

17.8: Fight against evil

• Haigh believed the Northern Rebellion was a major threat to Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s response shows how seriously she took the rebellion. She….

Had 450 people executed. Land confiscated.

The Council of the North was restored under the leadership of the Puritan Earl of Huntington.

Catholic supporters of the rebellion punished.

Problems Caused Problems Caused by theby the

SettlementSettlement

• Up until 1568 Elizabeth’s middle-of-the-road, broad- based church was a success.

TheTheSuccess of the SettlementSuccess of the Settlement

CatholicsCatholicsConformedConformedOutwardlyOutwardly

Northern Northern RebellionRebellionQuashed Quashed

Settlement Settlement RefinedRefined

•Injunctions Injunctions &&

39 Articles 39 Articles IntroducedIntroduced

• From 1568 Elizabeth encountered significant Catholic Opposition.

ReligiousReligiousSettlementSettlement

Catholic OppositionCatholic Opposition

IntroductionIntroduction

• Purpose of the Religious Settlement was to…..

Establish outward conformityoutward conformity.

• Not to…..

Examine inward realityinward reality.

Traditional View(A.G. Dickens)

• By 1558 majority of Englishmen were….

Receptive to a Protestant national Church Ready to become loyal Anglicans.

• That a minority group of Catholics continued in their support of the Pope and Mary, Queen of Scots, which resulted in them……

Being branded traitors. Becoming the target of repressive measures.

• Traditional historians argue that Elizabeth was more concerned with countering any political threat than punishing someone for religious non-conformity.

• Revisionists have raised serious questions Revisionists have raised serious questions about the Traditional view however.about the Traditional view however.

Why was Elizabeth so accommodating of

Catholics?

Revisionist View

• England was still largely Catholic, particularly outside of London and in the north in 1559. This would suggest that…….

The majority of the population was Catholic.

Catholic opposition was not restricted to a minority group of extremists.

• Catholic opposition in the House of Lords supports this view. This also explains Elizabeth’s concessions to Catholics in the Religious Settlement. She retained some of the outward symbolism of the old faith in an attempt to win them over to Protestantism.

• To have enforced the Religious Settlement with heavy-handed tactics would have led to….

The outbreak of civil war. Isolating Catholic gentry – and she needed their support to enforce the law and govern the localities.

Who were these Catholics?

Catholic Catholic OppositionOpposition

Church PapistsChurch Papists RecusantsRecusants

Seminary PriestsSeminary Priests JesuitsJesuits

The Threat of The Threat of Mary, Queen of ScotsMary, Queen of Scots

• Historians are divided in their assessment of Mary.

Assessment of MaryAssessment of Mary

Tragic, Misguided Tragic, Misguided FigureFigure

CalculatingCalculatingand Dangerousand Dangerous

• They are also divided over the wisdom of Elizabeth’s decision to have her executed in 1587. Was it a…..

Serious blunderSerious blunder or a Political NecessityPolitical Necessity??

Why was Mary a problem for

Elizabeth? Legitimate claimant to the English throne.

She was both half-French and Catholic.

•This threatened England’s political independence and Protestant religion.

Elizabeth didn’t help her cause….

By By Failing to MarryFailing to Marry or or Name a Successor!Name a Successor!

• Most Catholics in England placed their allegiance for Elizabeth before that of the Pope. In other words they were…. EnglishmenEnglishmen before they werebefore they were CatholicsCatholics!

• When relationships between England and Spain soured in 1569 Spain began supporting Mary’s claim to the English throne.

They supported Elizabeth but…... They wanted Mary recognised as Elizabeth’s heir.

Was it real or imagined?

Mary’s Claimto the

Throne of England

• There is no doubt that Mary’s hasty and untimely arrival in England after her abdication in 1568 created a serious problem for Elizabeth;

Problems

To support Mary would be to reject those who deposed her ( Protestant nobles in Scotland)

To insist Mary be restored to the throne could result in making enemies of potential allies

Elizabeth’s Options

• She could return Mary to Scotland to face trial and possible execution.

Elizabeth rejected this option because of her belief in

the Sanctity of Princes! (see source 18.9, p 183)

#1#1

#2#2 • She could return Mary to her family in France.

Elizabeth rejected this option because it might revive

the old Franco-Scottish connection. The Guises could intervene in Scotland and this would pose an even greater threat to Elizabeth.

#3#3 • She could permit Mary to stay in England.

This is exactly what Elizabeth did. She permitted Mary to stay in England as her prisoner.

• The problem was that during her 18 years imprisonment Mary remained a constant threat as she became the…

Symbol of HopeSymbol of Hope for for Disenchanted Disenchanted CatholicsCatholics in England.in England. Rallying-pointRallying-point for for Catholic Opposition!Catholic Opposition!

•Until her execution in 1587 Mary was linked with a number of Catholic plots to assassinate Elizabeth.

Catholic Threats

Key Events

Northern Northern RebellionRebellion

15691569

Bull of Bull of ExcommunicationExcommunication

15701570

The Ridolfi PlotThe Ridolfi Plot15711571

The The Throckmorton PlotThrockmorton Plot

15831583

The BabingtonThe Babington PlotPlot15861586

The Northern RebellionThe Northern Rebellion15691569

• Court conspiracyCourt conspiracy to have to have Norfolk marry Norfolk marry Mary Mary • Mary to be proclaimed heir to English Mary to be proclaimed heir to English throne throne • Catholicism restored –Elizabeth & Cecil Catholicism restored –Elizabeth & Cecil ousted ousted

Privy Council’s ResponsePrivy Council’s Response• Demanded Norfolk's executionDemanded Norfolk's execution

Parliament’s ResponseParliament’s Response• Parliament not called to discuss the matterParliament not called to discuss the matter

Elizabeth’s ResponseElizabeth’s Response• Wanted Mary restored to Scottish throneWanted Mary restored to Scottish throne• Sent force to subdued Mary’s supporters Sent force to subdued Mary’s supporters

The Papal Bull of ExcommunicationThe Papal Bull of Excommunication15701570

• Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth • Pius V considers Elizabeth a heretic Pius V considers Elizabeth a heretic • Pius calls on Catholics to depose ElizabethPius calls on Catholics to depose Elizabeth

Parliament’s ResponseParliament’s Response• Increased security of ElizabethIncreased security of Elizabeth

Privy Council’s ResponsePrivy Council’s Response• Increases security to ensure the safety of Increases security to ensure the safety of

ElizabethElizabeth

Parliament’s ResponseParliament’s Response• Introduce Introduce TREASON ACTS TREASON ACTS that make it an that make it an

offense to:offense to:1.1. Challenge legitimacy of Elizabeth as QueenChallenge legitimacy of Elizabeth as Queen

2.2. Introduce or publish any Papal Bulls in Introduce or publish any Papal Bulls in EnglandEngland

The Ridolfi Plot The Ridolfi Plot 15711571

• After excommunication Norfolk plans After excommunication Norfolk plans uprising uprising • Plan included Philip II of Spain & the Plan included Philip II of Spain & the

Pope Pope • Cecil discovered the planCecil discovered the plan

Privy Council’s ResponsePrivy Council’s Response• Demanded execution of NorfolkDemanded execution of Norfolk

• Initiated Parliamentary Bills against MaryInitiated Parliamentary Bills against Mary

Parliament’s ResponseParliament’s Response• Passed two Bills: 1. Prohibited the Papal Passed two Bills: 1. Prohibited the Papal

from being brought into England. 2. from being brought into England. 2. Treason to deny Elizabeth as rightful Treason to deny Elizabeth as rightful

QueenQueen

Elizabeth’s ResponseElizabeth’s Response• Agreed to Norfolk’s execution to placate Agreed to Norfolk’s execution to placate

the the House of CommonsHouse of Commons• Refused to sign Mary’s death warrantRefused to sign Mary’s death warrant

The Throckmorton PlotThe Throckmorton Plot15831583

• French forces to invade England, free Mary French forces to invade England, free Mary and created popular Catholic uprising and created popular Catholic uprising

Privy Council’s ResponsePrivy Council’s Response• Throckmorton tortured & executedThrockmorton tortured & executed• Spanish Ambassador, De Mendoza Spanish Ambassador, De Mendoza

expelledexpelledParliament’s ResponseParliament’s Response

• Priests expelled from EnglandPriests expelled from England Treason to become a Catholic priestTreason to become a Catholic priest• Death penalty for aiding Catholic priestsDeath penalty for aiding Catholic priests

Elizabeth’s ResponseElizabeth’s ResponseConcerned for James futureConcerned for James future

The Babington Plot The Babington Plot 15861586

• Walsingham’s agents intercept a letter from Walsingham’s agents intercept a letter from Mary endorsing the murder of ElizabethMary endorsing the murder of Elizabeth

Privy Council’s ResponsePrivy Council’s Response• Persuade Elizabeth to bring Mary to trial

• Push Elizabeth to sign Mary’s death warrant

Parliament’s ResponseParliament’s Response• Demands execution of MaryDemands execution of Mary

Elizabeth’s ResponseElizabeth’s Response• Orders Babington and plotters to be

hanged• Wanted an alternative punishment for

Mary• Signed warrant after initial indecision• Blamed her secretary William Davidson

Was Mary Stuart a Genuine Threat?Was Mary Stuart a Genuine Threat?

Yes!Yes! No!No!

• Legitimate heir to the English throne

• Natural leader of English Catholics

• Cause of the Northern Rebellion

• Supported by Guisesof France, Philip II of

Spain & the Pope

• Instigated the Babington Plot to Murder Elizabeth

• Henry VIII excludedStuart succession

•Viewed as a foreign threat

• English Catholics wereloyal to Elizabeth

• Upset at Darnley scandal

• Little support elsewhere

• France preoccupied with Civil War – 1562-93

•Spain preoccupied with Netherlands & Turks• Papal Bull issued toolate to cause a Catholic

uprising

• English Catholics upset by Mary’s involvement in the plot & opposedforeign intervention

Why The Delay in Executing Mary?

Mary’s execution would increase Catholic opposition at home and in Europe.

Using Mary as a hostage ensured France would not act aggressively toward England.

It almost guaranteed Philip II of Spain would not attempt to dethrone Elizabeth. If he did it would only serve to strengthen Mary and French political ambitions for England.

It was a more merciful, wise and courageous decision.

• But most historians agree that while the plots against Elizabeth never developed

into a serious threat, the execution of Mary Stuart was a political necessity.

• While Mary remained alive concerns over Catholicism, succession and national security would remain.

Conclusion

ReligiousReligiousSettlementSettlementPuritan OppositionPuritan Opposition

Introduction

Who are the Puritans?

• While most historians agree that Elizabeth’s main opposition came from Catholics it is important to consider the threat posed by Puritans (Puritan Choir).

The word ‘Puritan’ comes from the word ‘pure.’They wanted the faith of the Church of England tobe rid of mediocrity and its forms of worship to be

simple, biblical and free of the influences of Catholicism.

They were considered fanatical, left wing and very

religious’, ‘Godly Protestants’ or

‘Hotter sort of Protestants.’

Most were Marian exiles had been influenced by the reformer John Calvin and his Godly society in Geneva.

Their religious ideas, actions and practice, along with their views on Church organization led to conflict with the Church of England.

Why such a radical approach?

Influence and impact of Popular Religion.

• They were concerned about:

Ignorance of the people on matters of religion.

Ongoing influence of Catholicism.

Parish Anglicans who were more concerned about outward conformity than inward reality.

Was Puritanism at this stage a‘mindset’ or a ‘movement?’

A Mindset or Movement?

Some historians have identified THREE strands ofPuritanism. All three offered Elizabeth a challenge.

Moderates Presbyterians Separatists

The Three Strands of Puritanism

• Upset at imposition of Religious Settlement without consultation.

•Reluctantly accepted the established church.

• Wanted Doctrine and Prayer book to be more Calvinistic.

•Worked within the Church to initiate change.

(Read p 196-198 for additional notes, Particularly on the Vestments/Vestarian

Controversy)

• Small influential group.•Wanted Church government reformed.

• Used their position in Parliament to initiate change.

• Thomas Cartwright key person. (Read p 199-200 for additional notes)

• Initially Puritanism was a ‘mind-set’ rather than an organized movement independent of the Church of England. By the reign of Charles I however, it had become a highly organized and influential movement that worked in opposition to the King

•Worked outside the Church and wanted reforms that would see: The national church disbanded Each parish determine its own direction. (Read p 201-203 for additional notes-particularly those on prophesying & Classical Presbyterianism.

How Successful wasthe Puritan Opposition?

• While most historians agree that major opposition came from Catholics it would be a mistake to discount entirely the threat of the Puritan Choir.

If the Puritan Choir was a threat it certainly was not on the same scale as the threat posed by

the Catholics.

Government Suppression

• Elizabeth viewed the Puritans with a great deal of suspicion. As a result she attempted to moderate their influence by:

Her policy of religious uniformity

John Whitgift’s commitment to enforcing this policy

• This forced Puritan’s to leave the Church of England to establish their own Separatist Church. While some believe Whitgift broke the back of Puritanism the fact that were instrumental in bringing about the downfall of Charles I in 1640s suggests otherwise.

The execution of Puritan extremists whose opposition was considered

Seditious!Seditious!