Elizabethan Religion

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lo3Religious Inheritance

Henry VIII- Broke with Church after the Pope failed to annul his marriage. 1536 to 1539 moderate Protestant changes. 1539- Back to Catholic position. Dissolved monastic institutions for their wealth and lad. He was a catholic, but around him surrounded many Protestants.

Edward VI was protestant, introduced lots of protestant reforms such as Book of Common Prayer, influences include himself and Archbishop Cramner

Mary Tudor - restored authority of the pope. Was unable to return dissolved monastic lands. Persecution of protestants earned Mary the title 'Bloody Mary'

Protestant reformers Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin

Choices of Elizabeth in 1558

Religious issue couldn't be settled in isolation

Abroad Situation

Spain was Catholic, Phillip II need to maintain alliance with England as he was worried that combined French and Scottish on England would succeed. Prepared to support a Protestant England against claims of Scottish Mary Stuart who was married to French Dauphin

France was Englands traditional enemy, Peace neogtiations were delayed due to Englands insistence that Calais was returned. Treaty in 1559 Calais was still in French hands. Mary referred to her self as Queen of England

Scotland ruled by French regent Mary of Guise in absence of Daughter. Disliked by Scottish nobles who were Protestant

Netherlands controlled by Phillip ii of Spain- needed to maintain good relations for English textile trade

Pope head of Catholic Church could excommunicate her and technically release her subjects from obeying her. Call on Catholic powers in Europe to lead religious crusade.

Domestic Situation

House of Commons were largely Protestant.

House of Lords largely Catholic and had the capability to block legislation

Privy Council was largely Protestant dominated by William Cecil

Marian Exiles expected to be given key posts in Church and parliament after returning from Geneva

Majority of Population were conservative with beliefs

Church Situation

Clergy and bishops particularly were vastly Catholic, urging people in their sermons to resist Protestantism

Government -women as head of church was unacceptable to both extreme Protestants and Catholics

Organisation- Organisation in Church remained largely unaltered

Ritual- Presence of images, burnings and vestments always a disputed issues

Doctrine- Conservaties wantend to retain belief in transubstantiation while radical reformers such service as commemorative

What were Elizabeths personal beliefs?

Not as easy as it seems to answer as she mainly kept her personal views private

However we can use evidence from her reign to work out her religion preferences

Educated by leading humanists and lived in Protestant households as child

Disliked long sermons and exasperated by theological debates by Protestant reformers

Liked Clergymen to wear vestments

Hymns to be accompanied by choir boys and organ

Opposed to the idea of married clergymen especially married bishops

Kept Crucifixes and candles in private chapel

Attended Protestant services in English

Privy Council in 1558 dominated by Protestants

Walked out of chapel in 1558 when bishop raised consecrated bread during mass

During coronation told priest to be rid of candles

Regarded as a heretic in Marys reign

Adolescence translated three texts by Eramuas

Personal beliefs contained mainly Protestant ideas, fundamentally influenced by her childhood being taught by leading humanists, as well dislike of traditional Catholic mass

However Elizabeth was keen on some Catholic traditions, which included wearing vestments, keeping of crucifix and candles in private chapel as well as her opposition of the marriage of clergymen

What type of Church did Elizabeth want?

Evidence suggest that Elizabeths personal preference was for a church with a Protestant doctrine retaining the traditional structure and Catholic ritual

Elizabeths church closer to spiritual presence of Calvinism or commemorate focus of Zwinglianism

Elizabeth possibly could have been motivated by her personal preferences, or by broader political considerations

Political advantages of establishing Church which combined Protestant and Catholic doctrine were obvious.

By posing a Protestant heroine, Elizabeth could signal a break with the religious repression of Bloody Mary's reign and ensure loyalty of politically active classes in Protestant allies.

By maintaining family outward appearance, Queen could avoid social upheavals of Edwards reign assuring that the Church hadn't changed much.

Elizabet was aiming to create a Church acceptable to the majority of people in order to avoid persecution or a civil war

However, the church was unacceptable to Catholic and Protestant extremists.

Elizabeth and her council cagey about intentions of Religious Settlement

December 1558 anonymous pamphlet titled A device for alteration of religion painted a trouble scenario of war with France and Scotland, rebellion in Ireland, riots from English Catholics and demands for more reform from extreme Protestants if Protestant church introduced

Parliament called in 1559 to determine Queens authority over the Church by passing Act of Supremacy

Act of Uniformity passed to show what her subjects were meant to follow

Progress of Act of Uniformity and Act of Supremacy

1559

9th February- Three separate bills introduced into House of Commons. This included one to re-establish the monarch as Head of Church, other two to establish a Protestant form of worship based on Prayer Book from 1552 most likely

21 February- New bill introduced which combined 3 seperate ones of 9th February passed by House of Commons

March- House of Lords amends the bill to remove the restoration of Protestantism. Elizabeth and council debate whether to accept these changes. Elizabeth arrests two bishops for disobendiences. Parliament recalled Parliament after Eater

April- New supremacy bill is introduced giving the Queen the title of Supreme Governor rather than Supreme Head.

This pacified Catholics as well as many Protestants who have serious doubts of a women head of the church

Passed through House of Commons easily, House of Lord passed through after heated debate

What was the form of the religious settlement?

1559 Act of Supremacy and 1559 Act of Uniformity helped to establish religious settlement

Declared Elizabeth as supreme governor of the church of England

Revived the legislation which was repealed during the parliament

Revoked the Hersey acts and papal supremacy

Imposed an oath all clergy and office holders to enforce conformity to new prayer book

Set up a system of punishments for those who failed to use the prayer books to publicly objected use

Ordered everyone to attend church on Sunday and holy days and to participate in the new services

Set down that Church ornamentation and clergy's dress should be as in the more moderate 1549 prayer book

Book of Common Prayer omitted the Black Rubric of 1552, denied the real presence of Christ during the communion service and changed the words said by the priest as he consecrated the bread and wine.

Royal injections of 1559 was drafted by Cecil

Cecil ordered the clergy:

observe royal supremacy and preach against superstition and papal authority

condemn images, relics and miracles

preach only with permission- form of a license

report recusants to privy council or to JPs

marry only with the permission of their bishops and two JP's

Observe the Ornaments Rubric laid down the Edward VI's reign

125 commissioners were appointed to visit churches throughout the country and enforce supremacy

Loss of 400 Marian clergy as a result and destruction of church ornaments

Crown restored control of church wealth to itself

Took control of first fruits and tenths

Reasons House of Commons supported religious settlement as Monastic lands didnt have to be returned

What was left outstanding by Elizabethan religious settlement?

Doctrine

-Religious Settlement didn't mention doctrine as primary concern throughout had been to establish national and legal framework

Clergy

Loss of leading Catholic members of the clergy meant Elizabeth was forced to appoint Protestants. Real shortage of proper qualified clergy in religion confusion of 1550s. Bishops accepted poorly trained clergy

Pope Pius IV

Expected pope would excommunicate Elizabeth. Vital role in deterring the attitude of English Catholics and policies of major European Catholic powers. England have fear of Catholic crusades

Religious Developments between 1559 and 1563

Only extreme Catholics bishops removed, delaying consecration of new Protestant bishops so she could transfer property to the crown

Royal injunctions of 1559 allowed many of old vestments to be worn during services

1560- Latin edition of prayer book allowed requiem celebrations for the dead

1560- Elizabeth restored a crucifix & candles to the altar in her chapel and tried re-establish Catholic vestments

1561- Elizabeth contemplated banning clerical marriage- compromised / evicted the wives & children

Elizabeth determined to define the doctrine of the Church of England & prevent it from changing- 39 Articles passed through Convocation in 1563

Elizabethan church of England usually judged to have been successful due to continued survival and as Elizabeth was able to take elements of existing doctrines and rituals- acceptable to majority

Elizabethan prayer book only really acceptable to those who had been brought up on it

It couldn't solve all the religious problems of the day- bedevil Elizabethan policies

Took all political skills of the Privy council to steer bills through houses of parliament

Religious Settlement - 1563-1572

Problems faced by government after religious settlement & the government response

Quality of the clergy- all catholic bishops had resigned while lower clergy accepted settlement

- Elizabeth appointed Matthew Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury and Protestants including Marian Exiles. Failure to appoint enthusiastic preachers left way open for puritans to do so.

Confusion over doctrine- Protestants disappointed and services were acceptable to most English Catholics

- Government published the injunctions & 39 articles & ordered commissioners to investigate breaches of the prayer book. Doctrine of the church began to move in Calvinist direction

Marian exiles mistaken believed ornaments rubric wouldn't be enforced

- Led to vestments controverSY

-Advertisements were published, led to able clergymen resigning, and failure to make concessions to reformers demand led to puritans challenging the legaility of the church and turned to presbyterianism.

Catholics experienced growing unease over Elizabeths claim to be supreme governor

-Some Catholics organised Northern Rebellion in 1569

-Government put down rebellion and executed leaders

-Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned

-Threat of plans to replace Elizabeth continued for 20 years

1559 Act of Uniformity

Started that church ornamentation and clergy vestment should be set down in Edwards 1549 Prayer Book

Clergy had to wear Catholic vestments at communion service & loose white garment called surplice

Quality of the Clergy

Elizabeth wanted to leave religious issues to her bishops after 1559

Task of improving clergy left to Archbishop Parker and it wasnt an easy task, best of lesser clergy had resigned

Queen saw chute as source of revenue and therefore didn't want a large, well educated and discipline ministry

Marian exiles accepted position in church to try and promote godly reform- campaign included removing all traces of Catholicism from Prayer Book

Confusion over doctrine and liturgy

Ambigious nature of religious settlement allowed a lot of local variations

Commissioners appointed to enforce settlement reported examples of parish churches - ceremonial aspects of prayer book/singing of hymns/kneeling to receive bread and wine/ minister wearing full vestment - Other parishes the complete opposite

Injuctions suppose to clarify situation, viewed as a disappointment by new bishop as they didn't remove all catholicism traces

New Bishops drew up 39 articles- statement of faith for the new church

Religious settlement of 1559 followed by refinements or decrees, issued by Elizabeth/bishops

Elizabeth saw the settlement as a method to establish religious uniformity by law & expected all her subjects to conform outwardly, using the Prayer Book and attending church

England and Scotland - before 1561

1559 - England & France signed Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis, confirmed England loss of calais & meant France dominated the Straits of Dover

French dominated Scotland - Mary of Guise ruled as a regent for her daughter, Mary Queen of Scots

Scottish Protestants rebelled against Mary of Guise government and forced from Edinburgh in 1559

Cecil convinced Elizabeth that she had to intervene to ensure the survival of the new pro-English government & keep French away from Englands Northern border

Queen took some convincing

Elizabeth hated helping subjects rebel against divinely appointed ruler and equated Scottish Protestants with the Presbyterianism of John Knox

John Knox had animosity towards female rulers highlighted

1560 - Elizabeth concluded Treaty of Berwick with the Scots and sent an English army to Scotland

English attempts to defeat French garrison failed

Loss of French task force at seat and death of Mary guise led to withdrawal of French troops

Treaty of Edinburgh- England and France withdrew from Scotland Mary Queen of Scots gave up claim to English throne

Mary never approved treaty formally herself

Government of Scotland passed to Protestant lords- Maintained friendly relations with England

1561-1568- Englands relationship with Scotland

-Francis II died 1560

-1561- Mary Stuart returned to Scotland

-Scotland now protestant and dominated by noble factions

-Mary's main concern was to assert her claim to English succession- & prepared to ratify Treaty of Edinburgh if Elizabeth would recognise her as her heir

-Mary accepted Protestant ruling nobles and concentrated on re marriage

-Rejection of Elizabeths suggestion that Mary should marry Robert Dudley in 1563

-1565- Mary married Henry, Lord Darnley- Strengthening the Stuart claim to to English throne

-Marriage deteriorated quickly as Darnley was an alcoholic, promiscuous and unstable

-1566- Rizzio Affair- Darnley plotted to murder Mary's secretary David Rizzio

-Rizzio stabbed to death

-1567 Darnley recovering from small pox- House blown up and body found

-Protestant Earl of Bothwell- cleared by court of assizes

-Summer of 1567- Mary married Earl of Bothwell

-Increased suspicious that the two were lovers before their marriage and were accomplices in Darnley

-Mary forced to abdicate in favour of her son James, who was now led by regency led by Earl of Moray

Mary imprisoned at Loch Leven, which she escaped from in 1568

Elizabeth wanted to meet Mary, Privy council stopped it

York Conference

Verdict announced on 10th January 1569

Moray returned to Scotland with English support, had a loan worth 5000pound

Never any suggestion Mary was being accused of Darnleys murder at York conference

Point of York Conference was to determine the sufficiency of the evidence against Mary to investigate the matter further

How serious of a threat was Mary from 1569 to 1587?

Northern Rebellion- 1569

Began as a conspiracy at court for duke of Norfolk to marry Mary- overthrow Cecil and elizabeth- restore catholicism

Two privy councillors initial supported it- Earl of Leicester and Nicholas Throckmorton- making situation more serious as was supported by inner members- however theyre support didn't last long- Leicester confessed to Elizabeth

Earl of Northumberland and Westmorland led the rebellion, defeated by government forces- able to defeat people near to Queen

Privy Council demanded Norfolks execution

Elizabeth reaction- Still appealed that Scottish overthrew the monarch, by 1569 no longer wanting to use force to restore Mary, Couple of times urged Scots to restore Mary, Scottish put many obstacles in the way. Due to pressure from her council, sent forces in 1570 to subdue Mary supporters after Earl of Moray death.

Ridolfi Plot-1571

Followed Elizabeths excommunication by the pope in 1570

Was an uprising planned to replace Elizabeth with Mary who'd marry Norfolk

Conspiracy involved Mary, Phillip II, The Pope,Duke of Norfolk, English Nobles- Threatening figures involved could have been dangerous- Pope/Phillip II massive influence

Plan discovered by Cecil- Foiled before it had an opportunity to become really serious

Privy Council reaction-1572 Council persuaded Elizabeth to summon parliament- purpose to secure execution of Norfolk and Mary. Cecil was the pushing force

Parliament Reaction:

Brought in a ball calling for Mary's execution

Brought in a bill barring Mary from the succession

Act passed prohibiting anyone from bringing Papal bulls into the country

Act passed making it high treason to deny Elizabeth her title as Queen

Decree that any claimant to throne who had foreknowledge of Elizabeth planned execution was excluded from the succession

1581 Act redefined treason- applying to those who drew allegiance of English subjects away from Church

Elizabeth reaction- Delayed signing Marys death warrant, agreed to Norfolks execution, only would consider bill to remove Mary from succession,

Elizabeth intervened reduce penalties for Catholics who wouldnt attend church

Only a plot- was foiled before it became too serious- However showed that there was their was intention and willingness to challenge Elizabeths position

Throckmorton Plot- 1583

Plans laid for French Catholic forces, had support of Papal and Spanish money, to invade England, liberate Mary and start Catholic uprising

Throckmorton- intermediately between Mary and Spanish ambassador De Mendoza, plot included some Jesuit and Seminary priests

Privy Council reaction- Throckmorton tortured and executed, established the Bond of Association in which if Elizabeth was assassinated none of those associated with the crime would benefit from it, De Mendoza the Spanish ambassador was expelled

Parliament reaction-

1585- Act ordering the expulsion of Catholic priests passed- treason to become a priest

Series of questions devised for Catholic priests

Treason extended to cover those who were causes of plots

Elizabeth reaction- had reservations about the bill for her safety, word changed so Marys son James wouldn't suffer by virtue of his claim

Babington Plot- 1586

A letter apparently dictated by Mary endorsing Babington plot to murder Elizabeth, intercepted by Walsingham agents

Privy Council- Persuaded a reluctant Elizabeth that Mary must be brought to trial

Trial held at Fotheringhay Castle,Northamptonshire- opened in October 1586 and Mary found guilty

Council pushed Elizabeth to sign death warrant, councillors getting angry

Mary executed 8th February 1587

Parliament reaction- Repeatedly said how Mary must die

Elizabeth reaction:

Ordered Babington to be hanged, drawn and quartered

Elizabeth remained in London throughout the trial- sent illegible notes showing her indecisiveness

Elizabeth expressed her regret at hearing queen called a detestable traitor

Elizabeth adjourned Parliament for two months

Warrant being sealed in 24 hours made Elizabeth very angry

Letter- threat to the queens life- very serious- could have been forged- however after 3 other plots- wouldnt have been safe to not take action

How much of a threat was Mary, Queen of Scots?

Privy Council and parliament regarded Mary Stuart a danger as soon as she arrived as her presence threatened government and religious settlement

Elizabeth plagued with greater doubts and responsibilities

Debatable whether Mary, Queen of Scots offered a massive threat

None of the plots actually hatched into anything serious

No longer possible for Elizabeth to maintain friendly relations with Catholic powers while she focused on domestic issues

Mary, Queen of Scots focus for Catholicism

Why were Catholics penalised?

Elizabeths aim- outward submission to 1559 Religious Settlement

Achieving low level religious compliance throughout country harder than first thought

Historians A.G.Dickens and G.R.Elton0 argued by 1558 majority of English people ready to welcome new English church Protestant national church. Minority group of catholics could be labelled political traitors

Elizabeth claim that she didn't penalise people for their religious opinions was valid- only reacting to political threats

Recent arguments- view too simplistic

How could Elizabeth claim truthfully that she didn't penalise people for their religious opinions when loyalty to religious settlement was used as a test of political loyalty?

Catholic opposition in House of Lords worried Elizabeth

Clear Elizabeth wanted to win over the Catholics- persuading them from Catholicism by getting them to used to Protestant form of service by retaining Catholic visual symbols

If settlement had vigorously enforced, catholics would have been driven into open rebellion

Who were the Catholics?

Church papists:

Loyal to Elizabeth

Prepared to accept her as Governor of church

Conservative

Disliked radical changes to traditional patterns of worship

Most of English population - a lot of the north

Attended English church services

Celebrated mass at home

Services slowly began to conform to new prayer book

Penalties not rigorously enforced as bishops been told by Elizabeth to not examine harshly

Recusants:

Refused to attend church services

Some took oath of supremacy

Believed in doctrine of Roman Catholic Church

1/3 of peerage and sizeable section of gentry were recusants

1582- estimated 1939 recusants

Recusants withdrew from life of official church

Recusant priests offered catholic sacraments to the people

No attempt made by government to identify the recusants until late 1570s

Seminary Priests

English Catholics trained for priesthood at college in Flanders

Young men taught it was their duty to return to England to work for salvation of souls & seek martyrdom to reestablish Catholicism

Arrived firstly back in 1574

438 Seminary priests returned to england

98 put to death

Determined to inspire English Catholics community to risk their lives for their faith and to transform the group into a strong well-organised group

Jesuits:

Catholic missionary order

Founded in 1534 to destroy heresey

Carried out rigorous spiritual exercises to train and discipline the human mind

Special oath of allegiance to the pope

Far fewer jesuit priests than seminary priests

Began to arrive 1580 onwards

Opposed compromise and said every catholic should obey the pope

Catholic community operate from Elizabethan church

Threat increased after 1568- Events

1568- Mary,Queen of Scots arrives in England

1569-Northern Rebellion

1570-Pope issues bull,excomunicating Elizabeth

1571-Ridolfi Plot

1574- First seminary priests arrive

1580-Jesuits arrive in England

1583-Throckmorton Plot

1584- William Prince of Orange leader of protestant rebels in Netherlands is assassinated by catholic extremist

1585- England pledges assistance to Protestants in the Netherlands

1586-Phillip begins planning invasion of England & Babington Plot

1587- Mary,Queen of Scots, executed

1588-Spanish Armada

How did government react after 1568?

1570- John Felton executed for displaying copy of papal bull

1571- Three acts which declare that it is treason to declare Elizabeth isn't queen, treasonable to introduce any paps bulls, all those who havent returned home in 12 months- can take their property

1577- Cuthbert Maybe- seminary priest at Launceston in Cornwall executed

1581- Parliament passes 2 severe acts against catholics- recusancy fines are increased to 20 pound, attempting to convert people to catholic faith is now treasonable

1585- Parliament passes an act against jesuits and seminary priests

1587- Recusants who default on the payment of fines can have 2/3 of their land seized by exchequer

1588- Government determination to crush Catholicism results in execution of 31 priests

1593- Legislation made large gatherings of Catholics illegal & confined catholics to 5 mile radius from their homes

1594- Government refuses to follow policy of toleration towards English secular Catholics

1602- Royal proclamation orders all jesuits to leave the country

Elizabeth penalised Catholics for outward practice of these beliefs

Elizabeth didn't seek to root out heresey

Elizabeth didn't view Catholics as politically disloyal

Even in 1580s&1590s, those occasionally guilty of recusancy were welcome at court

Legislation not strictly enforced in first ten years of Elizabeth reign

After 1571, situation intensified because of the threat fro abroad- jesuits and seminary priests treated more harshly than recusants

Elizabeth maintained throughout that she didn't penalise for religious beliefs

Elizabeth didn't introduce a Protestant form of the inquisition

Elizabeth had to proceed with caution to win them over rather than alienate them

By mid 1570s Catholicism was a declining force

From 1570s onwards all Catholics seen potential rebels ready to welcome foreign invader

By 1580s, priests were accused of treason and their work deliberating linked with attempts to overthrow the government

End of Elizabeths ring, catholics less of political threat

Didnt eradicate catholicism but it became minor sector