to what extent did the Elizabethan settlement resolve religious divisions in
England?
Intro
Elizabeth the first inherited a religiously fractured kingdom in 1558. As a
protestant she would reverse marry the first catholic restoration and return the
country to the church of England. Historian since have debated the extent to
which Elizabeth’s religious settlement was an embraced citing radical Protestant
and catholic opposition. This essay works with success and failures of her
settlement, concluding that although it ultimately achieved peace, religious
tensions continued throughout her reign.
P1) Limited success
The Elizabethan religious settlement success was limited by protestant demands
for further reform. Many protestants were dissatisfied by Elizabeth’s proposed
settlement and pressure her into establishing a much more protestant
settlement than she had intended, possibly jeopardising her attempt to hear a
religious divisions in England.
– the act of uniformity in 1559 = rules on investments were ignored by Puritans
who wanted to eradicate what they saw a superstitious practices = increased
religious tensions as more than thirty clergyman were dismissed = demonstrates
the settlement destabilising effect.
– Presbyterianism = reform of structure = wanted to modify the 1559 settlement
and their discontent had high ranking support amongst the Earl of Huntingdon
William Cecil and Robert Dudley
Evaluation
bills to pass a new prayer book (symbolically after Elizabeth 1559
settlement) failed = lack of interest by Parliament indicates most of the
political nation was satisfied with the settlement which suggests religious
unity in defence of the existing settlement
Satirical attack attacks on bishops weaken the reputation of
Presbyterianism
The long run decline of Puritanism was due to the death of influential
supporters such as Cecil which contributed to resolving religious divisions
overtime
Regardless the settlement encouraged extremism as separator emerged who
opposed the supreme governor status and wanted another church free of
corruption - this group was destroyed by authorities through the act of seditious
secretaries in 1593 resulting in increased religious violence and deeper divisions.
Therefore, the Elizabethan settlement seems to have inflamed religious divisions.
P2) the settlement failures
Highlighted by catholic opposition that manifested into threats to Elizabeth’s
rule.
England?
Intro
Elizabeth the first inherited a religiously fractured kingdom in 1558. As a
protestant she would reverse marry the first catholic restoration and return the
country to the church of England. Historian since have debated the extent to
which Elizabeth’s religious settlement was an embraced citing radical Protestant
and catholic opposition. This essay works with success and failures of her
settlement, concluding that although it ultimately achieved peace, religious
tensions continued throughout her reign.
P1) Limited success
The Elizabethan religious settlement success was limited by protestant demands
for further reform. Many protestants were dissatisfied by Elizabeth’s proposed
settlement and pressure her into establishing a much more protestant
settlement than she had intended, possibly jeopardising her attempt to hear a
religious divisions in England.
– the act of uniformity in 1559 = rules on investments were ignored by Puritans
who wanted to eradicate what they saw a superstitious practices = increased
religious tensions as more than thirty clergyman were dismissed = demonstrates
the settlement destabilising effect.
– Presbyterianism = reform of structure = wanted to modify the 1559 settlement
and their discontent had high ranking support amongst the Earl of Huntingdon
William Cecil and Robert Dudley
Evaluation
bills to pass a new prayer book (symbolically after Elizabeth 1559
settlement) failed = lack of interest by Parliament indicates most of the
political nation was satisfied with the settlement which suggests religious
unity in defence of the existing settlement
Satirical attack attacks on bishops weaken the reputation of
Presbyterianism
The long run decline of Puritanism was due to the death of influential
supporters such as Cecil which contributed to resolving religious divisions
overtime
Regardless the settlement encouraged extremism as separator emerged who
opposed the supreme governor status and wanted another church free of
corruption - this group was destroyed by authorities through the act of seditious
secretaries in 1593 resulting in increased religious violence and deeper divisions.
Therefore, the Elizabethan settlement seems to have inflamed religious divisions.
P2) the settlement failures
Highlighted by catholic opposition that manifested into threats to Elizabeth’s
rule.
