ELIZABETH I – 1558-1603
CHARACTER Expenditure @ Court = smaller BUT no decline in opulence
Went on progress to most of central/southern England = glittering array to subjects
Poets praising “Queen as Gloriana”
Large capacity for work – sound political judgement BUT could be unreasonable
Strong monarch whose right to decide upon national affairs was beyond question
M died 17 NOV 1558: M councillors aware did not share relig views BUT did not interfere with succession
CONSOLIDATION OF POWER:
- 17 NOV 1558: Nicholas Heath announced M address to P + proclaims Eliz succ = politically sig = elite
assented – no attempt to deny by devout Caths who never accepted validity of HVIII marriage to AB
CONSOL - William Cecil = principal sec = political partnership = 40 years
- E = familiar with customs associated with newly acceded monarchs – took to Tower a
- Proceeded quickly to throne = 15 Jan coronation (astrological advice)
- Gained measure of int conformation: + Phil sent envoy (Count of Feria) to visit E a month before M death
+ marriage proposal (declined) = unlikely to disrupt succession
DANGERS: many councillors = more devoutly prot, biggest concern = not provoke Caths, too radical Pope =
excom – could provoke int opposition, MQOS = Catholic claimant to the throne
AIMS FOR SETTLEMENT: pragmatic politician
- Desires Prot Church BUT aware rad prot = domestic and foreign discontent = MIDDLE GROUND
- Prot doctrine eg. rejects trans BUT trad structure = acceptable to majority – innovation = instability
- Avoid persecution that had characterised M reign
- UNIFORMITY: national Church
- CONFORMITY: subjects conform regardless of personal beliefs
1559 CHURCH SETTLEMENT:
3 RELIGIOUS BILLS – one = RS and two = establish Prot form of worship – combined and passed as single bill in
Commons BUT HoL forced it into Cath dominate committee = REJECTED! (opp from Marian bishops)
EASTER DISPUTATIONS: Eliz did not want to lose HoC support – dissolving P = risky so instead PROROGUED
Parliament (delayed it)
- disputation at WA with debate between 4 Cath/Prot bishops and 3 propositions eg. “Every Church has
the authority to change its ceremonies”
- Cath = barely able to state case – Sir Nicholas Bacon stonewalled bishops + forced them into act of
defiance that justified arrest of Bish Winchester/Lincoln = ELIZ WON! – P reconvenes
ACT OF SUPREMACY: Eliz = ‘Supreme Governor’ = appeased both Caths/Prots but in reality = same, clergy/royal
officials = swear acceptance, heresy laws repealed – NO OTHER CHANGES: ArchB of Canterbury remained
RELIGION
primate
ACT OF UNIFORMITY: focussed on appearance of Churches and worship
- NEW PB – Churches = obliged to use, punishment if not
- Priest uses wording of both 1549/1552 PB for communion =ambiguous, variation for Caths/Prots –
placates traditionalists
- 1 Shilling fine for recusants – religious apathy
- Ornaments in church = same as 2nd year of EdVI
OPPOSITION IN LORDS – all bishops united in opp, passed 21 to 18 ONLY because Winch/Lincs = in tower
PURITAN SETTLEMENT? Neale argues E intended to est Church modelled on HVIII but thwarted by Puritans BUT
only 19 Marian exiles (rad prots) = elected in 1559 = too small (total 400 MPs) for sig impact = more opp from
conservative HoL than HoC
THE ROYAL INJ 1559:
Drafted by Cecil with instructions to clergy to est uniformity – 125 commissioners sent to enforce + clergy oath
- Clergy instructed to overserve RS and denounce PS
- Cath practices eg. processions = banned + unlicensed preaching = forbidden to attack rad prot
- Recusants denounced + reported to PC
, ELIZABETH I – 1558-1603
THE 39 ARTICLES 1563: - approved in 1571. Clergy had to swear
Drawn up by Canterbury convocation = statement of doctrinal beliefs based on Cranmer 42 Art – repudiated key
Catholic doctrine eg. transub and confirmed key Prot beliefs eg. authority of scripture, clergy marriage
PROTESTANT EPISOCOPY: E needed rep body to supervise Church = bishops, calm domestic/foreign Cath fears
All but one Marian bishop (Andrew Kitchen of Llandaff!) refused to take Oath of S = turned to Marian exiles eg.
Edmund Grindal = Bish Ldn – stripped continental prot + M Parker ABC = moderate protestant, Henrican scholar
Many Prots regarded 1559 as starting point = contradicts E’s view = complete
CHALLENGES TO THE SETTLEMENT:
1558 DEVICE FOR ALTERATION OF RELIG: anonymous, insisted peace/security = dependant on rooting out those
‘of the Pope’s religion’ who occupied central positions on Council, minority in SE Eng BUT maj = conservative
ACT OF EXCHANGE 1559: Crown lands prev Church = returned for non-spiritual diocesan properties, used to
reward courtiers + put pressure of Bish to grand favourable leases to laymen BUT Bish believe = tools of the
crown, often more means of punishment than economic gain – OCT AB Parker petitions to halt exch to no avail
VISITATIONS: Bish often went further in enforcement than E intended – E = compromise on crucifix in royal
chapel to appease foreign ambassadors
CLERGY: Visitations = examine belief of clergy + ensure OoS BUT 400 refused to take oath = resign livings – 9000
parishes = low no. dissenters IRL – if they didn’t swear 1 st time = not asked again avoid punishing
1566 VESTIARIAN CONTROVERSY: E expressed concern that clergy not = full vestments – Parker reprimanded
BUT went further = ‘BOOK OF ADVERTISEMENTS’, showed himself willing to compromise, only full in cathedral
services? E refused to endorse + opp from puritan clergy eg. in display of correct dress 37/110 refused to wear
what they deemed Cath = removed from office
OVERALL?
- MAJORITY ACCEPTED: most Caths = ‘Church papists’, outward conform, many parishes = slow BUT suited
E as no radical change = no rebellion, imperceptible to pop, did not pursue recusants with vigour
- FOREIGN OPP: might be led back to Cath = cordial relations with FR + SP
- CELRGY: 8000+ took oath = gradual demise of Cath
- PURITANS? Only starting point = appeasd radicals - hope, Parker tempered - many returning P exiles saw
queen as ‘Eng Deborah’ = OT heroine, protect the godly from superstitions of Catholicism
- VIA MEDIA: 1552 PB in use for less than a year, gen acceptance of return to Cath – prot success = not
inevitable – testament to shrewd political judgement, unchanged settlement
Fundamental paradox of E’s reign: most enthusiastic supporters often dem Protestant zeal which ensured loyalty
but was wholly at variance to E’s own sceptical cons approach to religious matters
START OF REIGN: marriage taken for granted = given
POTENTIAL SUITORS:
DUDLEY: EoLeicester = LT suitor, proximity as Master of the Horse + Privy councillor = influential (scared Cecil) –
opposed by many = her subject, wife died under suspicious circumstances in 1560 (rumour encouraged by Cecil)
PHILIP II: offered marriage – not serious = Cath, polite gesture
ALENCON: on/off for ten years from 1572 after StBM
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
MARRY
1559: Philip proposed – Spanish amb = court swarming with 10 suitors, Eliz = “live and die a virgin”
AND SUCC
1560: sudden death of Dud wife = killed prospects of marriage
1562: SMALLPOX! PC split 3 ways + Eliz wants Dud = Protector after death – survives - “If my successor were
known to the world, I would never esteem my state to be safe” = threat of civil war
1563: PARLIAMENT – HoL/HoC begged to marry – Eliz = vowed to stay unmarried
1566: PARLIAMENT – asked E to “provide a known successor” – E = furious, already told in 1563
GOVERNMENT
PATRONAGE:
E governed Eng through voluntary efforts of men of substance = rewarded through vast array:
- Favourable treatment regarding payment of taxes
- 200 court positions = more about securing loyalty than admin
- Meant great deal to some – crown appointments = poor pay eg. Solicitor £10/year
CHARACTER Expenditure @ Court = smaller BUT no decline in opulence
Went on progress to most of central/southern England = glittering array to subjects
Poets praising “Queen as Gloriana”
Large capacity for work – sound political judgement BUT could be unreasonable
Strong monarch whose right to decide upon national affairs was beyond question
M died 17 NOV 1558: M councillors aware did not share relig views BUT did not interfere with succession
CONSOLIDATION OF POWER:
- 17 NOV 1558: Nicholas Heath announced M address to P + proclaims Eliz succ = politically sig = elite
assented – no attempt to deny by devout Caths who never accepted validity of HVIII marriage to AB
CONSOL - William Cecil = principal sec = political partnership = 40 years
- E = familiar with customs associated with newly acceded monarchs – took to Tower a
- Proceeded quickly to throne = 15 Jan coronation (astrological advice)
- Gained measure of int conformation: + Phil sent envoy (Count of Feria) to visit E a month before M death
+ marriage proposal (declined) = unlikely to disrupt succession
DANGERS: many councillors = more devoutly prot, biggest concern = not provoke Caths, too radical Pope =
excom – could provoke int opposition, MQOS = Catholic claimant to the throne
AIMS FOR SETTLEMENT: pragmatic politician
- Desires Prot Church BUT aware rad prot = domestic and foreign discontent = MIDDLE GROUND
- Prot doctrine eg. rejects trans BUT trad structure = acceptable to majority – innovation = instability
- Avoid persecution that had characterised M reign
- UNIFORMITY: national Church
- CONFORMITY: subjects conform regardless of personal beliefs
1559 CHURCH SETTLEMENT:
3 RELIGIOUS BILLS – one = RS and two = establish Prot form of worship – combined and passed as single bill in
Commons BUT HoL forced it into Cath dominate committee = REJECTED! (opp from Marian bishops)
EASTER DISPUTATIONS: Eliz did not want to lose HoC support – dissolving P = risky so instead PROROGUED
Parliament (delayed it)
- disputation at WA with debate between 4 Cath/Prot bishops and 3 propositions eg. “Every Church has
the authority to change its ceremonies”
- Cath = barely able to state case – Sir Nicholas Bacon stonewalled bishops + forced them into act of
defiance that justified arrest of Bish Winchester/Lincoln = ELIZ WON! – P reconvenes
ACT OF SUPREMACY: Eliz = ‘Supreme Governor’ = appeased both Caths/Prots but in reality = same, clergy/royal
officials = swear acceptance, heresy laws repealed – NO OTHER CHANGES: ArchB of Canterbury remained
RELIGION
primate
ACT OF UNIFORMITY: focussed on appearance of Churches and worship
- NEW PB – Churches = obliged to use, punishment if not
- Priest uses wording of both 1549/1552 PB for communion =ambiguous, variation for Caths/Prots –
placates traditionalists
- 1 Shilling fine for recusants – religious apathy
- Ornaments in church = same as 2nd year of EdVI
OPPOSITION IN LORDS – all bishops united in opp, passed 21 to 18 ONLY because Winch/Lincs = in tower
PURITAN SETTLEMENT? Neale argues E intended to est Church modelled on HVIII but thwarted by Puritans BUT
only 19 Marian exiles (rad prots) = elected in 1559 = too small (total 400 MPs) for sig impact = more opp from
conservative HoL than HoC
THE ROYAL INJ 1559:
Drafted by Cecil with instructions to clergy to est uniformity – 125 commissioners sent to enforce + clergy oath
- Clergy instructed to overserve RS and denounce PS
- Cath practices eg. processions = banned + unlicensed preaching = forbidden to attack rad prot
- Recusants denounced + reported to PC
, ELIZABETH I – 1558-1603
THE 39 ARTICLES 1563: - approved in 1571. Clergy had to swear
Drawn up by Canterbury convocation = statement of doctrinal beliefs based on Cranmer 42 Art – repudiated key
Catholic doctrine eg. transub and confirmed key Prot beliefs eg. authority of scripture, clergy marriage
PROTESTANT EPISOCOPY: E needed rep body to supervise Church = bishops, calm domestic/foreign Cath fears
All but one Marian bishop (Andrew Kitchen of Llandaff!) refused to take Oath of S = turned to Marian exiles eg.
Edmund Grindal = Bish Ldn – stripped continental prot + M Parker ABC = moderate protestant, Henrican scholar
Many Prots regarded 1559 as starting point = contradicts E’s view = complete
CHALLENGES TO THE SETTLEMENT:
1558 DEVICE FOR ALTERATION OF RELIG: anonymous, insisted peace/security = dependant on rooting out those
‘of the Pope’s religion’ who occupied central positions on Council, minority in SE Eng BUT maj = conservative
ACT OF EXCHANGE 1559: Crown lands prev Church = returned for non-spiritual diocesan properties, used to
reward courtiers + put pressure of Bish to grand favourable leases to laymen BUT Bish believe = tools of the
crown, often more means of punishment than economic gain – OCT AB Parker petitions to halt exch to no avail
VISITATIONS: Bish often went further in enforcement than E intended – E = compromise on crucifix in royal
chapel to appease foreign ambassadors
CLERGY: Visitations = examine belief of clergy + ensure OoS BUT 400 refused to take oath = resign livings – 9000
parishes = low no. dissenters IRL – if they didn’t swear 1 st time = not asked again avoid punishing
1566 VESTIARIAN CONTROVERSY: E expressed concern that clergy not = full vestments – Parker reprimanded
BUT went further = ‘BOOK OF ADVERTISEMENTS’, showed himself willing to compromise, only full in cathedral
services? E refused to endorse + opp from puritan clergy eg. in display of correct dress 37/110 refused to wear
what they deemed Cath = removed from office
OVERALL?
- MAJORITY ACCEPTED: most Caths = ‘Church papists’, outward conform, many parishes = slow BUT suited
E as no radical change = no rebellion, imperceptible to pop, did not pursue recusants with vigour
- FOREIGN OPP: might be led back to Cath = cordial relations with FR + SP
- CELRGY: 8000+ took oath = gradual demise of Cath
- PURITANS? Only starting point = appeasd radicals - hope, Parker tempered - many returning P exiles saw
queen as ‘Eng Deborah’ = OT heroine, protect the godly from superstitions of Catholicism
- VIA MEDIA: 1552 PB in use for less than a year, gen acceptance of return to Cath – prot success = not
inevitable – testament to shrewd political judgement, unchanged settlement
Fundamental paradox of E’s reign: most enthusiastic supporters often dem Protestant zeal which ensured loyalty
but was wholly at variance to E’s own sceptical cons approach to religious matters
START OF REIGN: marriage taken for granted = given
POTENTIAL SUITORS:
DUDLEY: EoLeicester = LT suitor, proximity as Master of the Horse + Privy councillor = influential (scared Cecil) –
opposed by many = her subject, wife died under suspicious circumstances in 1560 (rumour encouraged by Cecil)
PHILIP II: offered marriage – not serious = Cath, polite gesture
ALENCON: on/off for ten years from 1572 after StBM
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
MARRY
1559: Philip proposed – Spanish amb = court swarming with 10 suitors, Eliz = “live and die a virgin”
AND SUCC
1560: sudden death of Dud wife = killed prospects of marriage
1562: SMALLPOX! PC split 3 ways + Eliz wants Dud = Protector after death – survives - “If my successor were
known to the world, I would never esteem my state to be safe” = threat of civil war
1563: PARLIAMENT – HoL/HoC begged to marry – Eliz = vowed to stay unmarried
1566: PARLIAMENT – asked E to “provide a known successor” – E = furious, already told in 1563
GOVERNMENT
PATRONAGE:
E governed Eng through voluntary efforts of men of substance = rewarded through vast array:
- Favourable treatment regarding payment of taxes
- 200 court positions = more about securing loyalty than admin
- Meant great deal to some – crown appointments = poor pay eg. Solicitor £10/year
