Elizabeth and Religion
The Situation and Problems in 1558
The Foreign Situation and its impact on Religious Developments
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement
Puritans
Puritan Aims
Support for Puritanism
The Puritan Challenge
The Influence of Puritan Leaders
Puritan Overview
The Catholic Threat
Nature
Increased threat after 1568
MPs Tactics
Separatism
The Attitude of Elizabeth's Archbishops
Government Reaction
The Northern Rebellion (1569)
Papal Excommunication (1570)
Mary, Queen of Scots
Catholic Plots
Seminary Priests
Jesuits
The Problems facing Catholics 1558-1589
Inherited Mary's Catholically Restored Church. Protestant exiles return radicalised, Calvinist and many become Puritans, wanting a fully Protestant Church. Majority of England is Catholic.
Visitations following Injunctions 1559
Via Media approach to Religion
Changes to the Episcopate 1559
The Royal Injunctions 1559
The Crucifix Controversy 1559
The Act of Uniformity 1559
The Act of Exchange 1559
The Act of Supremacy 1559
The Thirty-Nine Articles 1563
Parliament
The Settlement Function, Issues and Consequences
Government Mission statement of first Parliament 'To unite the people of this realm into a uniform order of religion' and members instructed not to insult each other as 'heretic' 'schismatic' or 'Papist' nor to waste time on abstract theological debates instead of finding concrete solutions.
House of Lords - Catholic Bishops, vs House of Commons - largely Puritans (but only 19 Marian exiles in 1559 Parliament)
March 1559 - Lords amended Commons Bill to remove Protestant restoration --> 2 leading Catholic Bishops arrested (members of Lords) --> April new Supremacy Bill introduced, new Uniformity Bill inc. concessions to Catholics passed by Lords 21-18
Established Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of the Church:
Concessions to Catholics - Pope only Head of the Church
Concessions to Protestants - strict Church hierarchy and Elizabeth 'governor'
All the clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth, church loyal to HER (not Catholicism/Protestantism)
Structure of Church established
Power to carry out Visitations granted
Repealed legislation repealed under Mary,
Fines introduced for recusants,
All clergy to swear the oath to Elizabeth, and to uphold the new Prayer Book (force out Catholic clergy who refused)
Mary's heresy law of 1554 and Papal supremacy revoked
The Ornaments Rubric - Dress of clergy follow 1549 Prayer Book (Catholic vestments at communion services, plain white surplice at other services)
Book of Common Prayer (1559) - followed that of 1552 with some concessions, Black Rubric omitted - ambiguity around transubstantiation in wording of communion service, referencing both the real presence and the commemorative nature of the service
Still used today
Pilgrimages to 'fake' miracle sites banned
Worship changes
Orders for the clergy, drafted by Cecil. Clergy should:
Observe royal supremacy and preach against Papacy
Report recusants to Privy Council / JPs
Images, Miracles and Relics condemned (no explicit instructions to remove)
1549 Prayer Book Vestments
Preach only with a license (greater govt control, political control of church, reduce extremism and stifle Puritans)
Ministers may only marry with permission of a bishop or 2 JPs
Services in English
Follow Elizabeth's way of religion
Moderate Settlement, Stricter Injunctions. Visitations led by Marian Exiles
Iconoclasm appeared to occur (destruction of icons)
Many clergy members refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy - Believed around 400 members of clergy were removed or resigned from their positions (most from upper echelons of the church)
All, bar one, of the Marian bishops refused to swear Oath of Supremacy. Initially, attempts to persuade them to remain in their positions for stability. Then deprived of their sees/resigned (inc Bishop Bonner and Tunstall), Archbishop Pole died on same day as Mary. Replaced by Marian Exiles (influence of Cecil?) which grew Church control.
Retaining bishops was a rejection of Calvinist ideas (which were against ecclesiastical hierarchy)
Appointments: Mathew Parker - Archbishop of Canterbury, Moderate, Grindal - Bishop of London, Jewel - Bishop of Salisbury, Cox - Ely, Young, Archbishop of York
In Visitations of 1559, Elizabeth insisted all churches should retain a crucifix
New Protestant Bishops and returning, radicalised, Protestant exiles upset, seeing crucifix as an example of Catholic idolatry / iconography
Jewel and Sandys prepared to resign
Elizabeth back down, but retained a crucifix in the royal chapel
Gave Elizabeth the right to exchange church property in her possession for temporal (non-religious, of the world) buildings in the hands of the church - Elizabeth exchanged relatively worthless church properties with castles and estates held by the church.
Reduced length of time church could lease land
Elizabeth could use church lands for patronage
Aided revenue generation
Helped establish the Erastian nature of relationship between church and state (fused)
Passed by Convocation, Very strongly Protestant, and Calvinist in tone, through influence of Marian exiles.
Definite statement of Church Doctrine
Elizabeth had no role in writing them, refused to allow Parliament to confirm them, as included strongly worded condemnation of Catholic practises and could cause resentment and division
Confirmed after 1570, when she had been excommunicated by the Pope
Function - Foundational Changed - to create a solid foundation on which religious stability could be built
Unresolved by Settlement and Consequences:
Doctrine not clearly established - Book of Common Prayer contained ambiguity e.g. around transubstantiation
Protestants saw it as the start of a process for Protestant reform, not as Elizabeth's final reforms - uncertainty causing instability
Clergy severely weakened by loss of many priests and bishops, and the lack of well-trained replacements
Jewel's An Apology or Answer in Defence of the Church of England - propaganda attempting to answer Catholic criticism. Marian exile, new Bishop, using Old Testament examples of monarchs protecting the faithful and the Book of Isaiah describing queens as nursing mothers of the faithful. Existence showed both Catholic and Puritan criticisms of the church
Opposition to the Church
Opposing the Puritan Threat, Puritan Persecution, the Decline of Puritanism
Threatens stability of the monarchy, Elizabeth's reign, power and role, and potential of foreign invasion.
Catholic church attempting to reassert itself (counter-reformation) - with the Council of Trent in Bologna meeting in the 1540s, 1550s and, the largest and final meetings, in the early 1560s. They were a series of meetings between the Pope and Catholic leaders like the Hapsburgs. Originally attempting to reform abuses in the Catholic church, became a defence of Catholicism and condemnation of Protestantism. Created Tridentine decrees.
Religious wars in France and the Netherlands - The Dutch Revolt (desire for Political independence and Calvinist rule, freedom from Spanish, Catholic, Hapsburg rule) - Elizabeth's intervention, eventual, foreign policy concern.
French Wars of Religion (1562-1598) Protestant Huguenots vs Catholics
Massacres of Wassy, 1562, St Bartholmew's Day, France, organised around Catholic-Protestant wedding, 1572
Assassinations of Admiral Coligny, 1572, William of Orange, 1584, Henry II, 1589
Recusants
Church Papists
Catholic missionary order to destroy heresy, with oath of allegiance to the Pope.
Far fewer than seminary priests.
Opposed compromise, inaction and lack of separation from Elizabethan Church.
1540 – Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), who became known as the ‘shock troops of the Counter Reformation.’ Loyola, a former soldier, insisted on discipline and obedience to the Pope.
Jesuits were rigorously trained and followed the ‘Spiritual Exercises.’ Originally formed as a missionary order, representatives sent around the world, Increasingly used to stem the tide of Protestantism. Particularly effective in Poland and South Germany. Focus on establishing bonds with high-ranking individuals, often acting as confessors to kings and nobles.
1580 officially launched mission to England.
Divisions between Catholic/Seminary Priests versus Jesuit Priests. Fear of Catholic foreign invasion and organised rebellion (secret mission)
English Catholics trained for priesthood in Flanders. Young men taught it was their duty to return to England to work for the salvation of souls / if necessary seek martyrdom in order to re-establish Catholicism. First seminary priests arrived back in England in 1574 (arrived in Dover, fewest Catholics). 438 seminary priests returned to England. 98 put to death. Protected by Catholic gentry
Refused to attend church services, withdrew from life of the official Church, some took oath of supremacy. Believed in Roman Catholic Church doctrine, esp Latin Mass, without compromise. Est. 1/3rd of peerage, a sizable selection of the gentry, and Marian bishops. Central Lancashire, Catholics outnumbered Protestants in 1603. 1582 Council est. 1,939 known recusants. Recusant priests offered Catholic sacrament to the people, some worked as chaplains to the gentry, others established underground churches for former parishes. No government attempt to identify recusants until the late 1570s
Loyal to Elizabeth and prepared to accept her as Governor of the Church. Conservative and disliked radical changes to traditional patterns of worship. Believed that mass and other Catholic sacraments necessary for personal salvation. Majority of the English, especially north of London. Most of 8000 lesser clergy who took the oath of supremacy. Attended English church services, which slowly began to conform to the new Prayer Book, especially its ambiguities. Penalties not always rigorously enforced due to bishops being told Elizabeth didn’t want vigorous religious examination
Plot: Thomas Howard in the Courtly Conspiracy plotted to marry Mary QofS, next in line, and take the throne with Spanish support. Earls plan to rebel in North and depose Elizabeth, replacing her with Mary and Howard. Letters sent between the Northern Earls (Catholic, landowners, Percy Earl of Northumberland, Neville, Earl of Westmoreland) and Protestant/crypto-Catholic, Lord of land with close Catholic ties, Howard, Duke of Norfolk
Nature/Events: Robert Dudley exposed the courtly conspiracy, Howard is arrested, imprisoned and later fled. Elizabeth moved to Coventry.
Northern Earls rose up and marched to Durham, Seizing Durham, Hartlepool and other Northern Regions. But Lancashire, Sheffield and some other areas remained loyal due to past instability and land concerns. In Durham Cathedral they held Catholic mass and destroyed Protestant religious symbols, and carried a banner of the 5 Wounds of Christs - reminiscent of the religious protest against Henry VIII, the pilgrimage of grace, firmly establishing their religious cause.
Elizabeth sent troops to the North, the Spanish did not send promised support, there were no huge battles, only little skirmishes, and Landlords didn't join - it was lacking widespread support. Westmoreland fled to Europe, Northumberland was beheaded in 1572
Causes:
Religious - Catholicism, Pilkington appointed Bishop of Durham and wanted to stamp out Catholicism,
Economic Self Interest - loss of power, position and land in religious upheaval and taxes,
Regional Identity - North/South divide, far London governance, lack of localism
Power - wanted over North, governance, ruling of England
Consequences: Established the threat of Mary QofS as a destabilising factor and alternative to Elizabeth within England.
Mary was moved to Coventry, Elizabeth refused to execute her. Downfall of Norfolk - arrested, later freed. Crackdown on Catholics and the North - Catholics seen as the fifth column (enemies within England)
700 rebels ordered to be executed by hanging, probably around 450 in reality actually hanged. Pope excommunicates Elizabeth in 1570. Fails
Opposition
Regnans in Excelsis - Papal Bull/Edict/Order
English Catholics, according to the Pope are not constrained by the civil law of England, so subject to two authorities. Catholics who continued to obey Elizabeth would be excommunicated, if they obeyed the Papal Bull they would be guilty of treason. Pius V hoped it would generate support for the Northern Earls/other rebels and Mary QofS from other English Catholics. Called Elizabeth 'the pretended queen of England,' a 'heretic' and 'deprived her of her pretended title to the crown.' But the release of the Papal Bull after the Northern Rebellion collapsed meant it did not galvanise support from English Catholics to rebel/join rebellion. Little effort to publish the bull in England (John Felton executed for publishing in 1570).
No real response to Papal Bull as many Catholics were less enthusiastic about Papal Supremacy (Henry had little opposition to the Break with Rome, whereas Mary had difficulty with the Act of Supremacy, and natural loyalty to Elizabeth, with Catholic landowners respecting order and hierarchy). Reissued in 1580 and added it would spiritually meritorious to remove Elizabeth from the throne (assassination)
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