Elizabeth I and Religion
(1558-1603)
What were the pressures on Elizabeth in making her Religious
Settlement?
What was the situation in England?
Due to the history of religious upheaval, there was an element of
division in England. Uniformity and obedience to one centralised
ruler was apparent.
Legacy
Henry VIII began to change religion during the Henrician
Reformation, and then the subsequent confusion from Edward and
Mary
Protestants
Marian exiles (originally who left in 1558) returned once Elizabeth
ascended to power. They tended to have radical views
The public view had changed on Protestants, as willing and brave
martyrs. They had previously been seen as selfish money-grabbers
Elizabeth preferred moderate, meek Protestants who wouldn’t pose
an issue
Roman Catholics
Catholicism had been restored by Cardinal Pole, who was influenced
by the Counter Reformation
Many Catholic bishops were also Lords, meaning Elizabeth’s first
proposals failed
How did foreign developments affect religious developments?
War with France
By 1557, Phillip II had incorporated England into Habsburg conflict
The loss of Calais symbolised a defeat in itself as France may had
been more giving if England wasn’t so aggressively Protestant
Alliance with Spain
Philip wanted to maintain an alliance with Elizabeth to prevent an
Anglo-French-Scottish alliance against him. He was even willing to
make concessions and marry her, a Protestant woman, to avoid
conflict
She had the go ahead by the Habsburgs to create the settlement
, Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis (1558)
France would have Calais for eight years and would only give it back
to England if it were stable and was not within war
Opened possibility towards a Catholic conspiracy around England’s
incoming settlement, but no money to start war so shelved
Situation in Scotland
Mary Queen of Scots had previously had a strong claim to the
throne and was backed by Henry II, but after the Protestant Lords
took over Scotland, this gave Elizabeth some confidence to pass the
Settlement
Advice on the Settlement
Protestant MP’s sent her Divers Points of Religion Contrary to the
Church of Rome: this suggested being wary of Mary’s appointed
bishops and retain the English wording of services that Henry VIII
had during his reign. Established some impetus for hierarchical
reform and appeasing people from her father’s Protestant rule
The Device for Alteration of Religion: Highlighted the problems
Protestantism would enact, especially with foreign relations. Urged
the reviewal by scholars for the Book of Common Prayer. This would
surely enact uniformity, which Elizabeth desperately wanted
What was Elizabeth’s own attitude?
Her religious background
Raised by Humanists in an intensely Protestant court, but she
largely kept her religious beliefs private
Elizabeth had been seen as a symbol of piety during Edward’s reign,
but of heresy in Mary’s
Her personal beliefs
All evidence points towards the fact that Elizabeth intended to have
a Church with a Protestant doctrine which retained the traditional
structure of bishops and some Catholic rituals
Elizabeth could, in theory, signal break from religious repression of
Mary I’s rule and maintain the loyalty of nobility and Protestant
allies
Foreign Catholic powers could be tricked into thinking that England
had not really changed, and that she could get Calais back in eight
years. Only a Calvinist or Zwingli Church would pose an issue, so it
could take the outward appearance of a Lutheran one.
How were all these issues resolved
Needed Parliamentary approval, but unable.
(1558-1603)
What were the pressures on Elizabeth in making her Religious
Settlement?
What was the situation in England?
Due to the history of religious upheaval, there was an element of
division in England. Uniformity and obedience to one centralised
ruler was apparent.
Legacy
Henry VIII began to change religion during the Henrician
Reformation, and then the subsequent confusion from Edward and
Mary
Protestants
Marian exiles (originally who left in 1558) returned once Elizabeth
ascended to power. They tended to have radical views
The public view had changed on Protestants, as willing and brave
martyrs. They had previously been seen as selfish money-grabbers
Elizabeth preferred moderate, meek Protestants who wouldn’t pose
an issue
Roman Catholics
Catholicism had been restored by Cardinal Pole, who was influenced
by the Counter Reformation
Many Catholic bishops were also Lords, meaning Elizabeth’s first
proposals failed
How did foreign developments affect religious developments?
War with France
By 1557, Phillip II had incorporated England into Habsburg conflict
The loss of Calais symbolised a defeat in itself as France may had
been more giving if England wasn’t so aggressively Protestant
Alliance with Spain
Philip wanted to maintain an alliance with Elizabeth to prevent an
Anglo-French-Scottish alliance against him. He was even willing to
make concessions and marry her, a Protestant woman, to avoid
conflict
She had the go ahead by the Habsburgs to create the settlement
, Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis (1558)
France would have Calais for eight years and would only give it back
to England if it were stable and was not within war
Opened possibility towards a Catholic conspiracy around England’s
incoming settlement, but no money to start war so shelved
Situation in Scotland
Mary Queen of Scots had previously had a strong claim to the
throne and was backed by Henry II, but after the Protestant Lords
took over Scotland, this gave Elizabeth some confidence to pass the
Settlement
Advice on the Settlement
Protestant MP’s sent her Divers Points of Religion Contrary to the
Church of Rome: this suggested being wary of Mary’s appointed
bishops and retain the English wording of services that Henry VIII
had during his reign. Established some impetus for hierarchical
reform and appeasing people from her father’s Protestant rule
The Device for Alteration of Religion: Highlighted the problems
Protestantism would enact, especially with foreign relations. Urged
the reviewal by scholars for the Book of Common Prayer. This would
surely enact uniformity, which Elizabeth desperately wanted
What was Elizabeth’s own attitude?
Her religious background
Raised by Humanists in an intensely Protestant court, but she
largely kept her religious beliefs private
Elizabeth had been seen as a symbol of piety during Edward’s reign,
but of heresy in Mary’s
Her personal beliefs
All evidence points towards the fact that Elizabeth intended to have
a Church with a Protestant doctrine which retained the traditional
structure of bishops and some Catholic rituals
Elizabeth could, in theory, signal break from religious repression of
Mary I’s rule and maintain the loyalty of nobility and Protestant
allies
Foreign Catholic powers could be tricked into thinking that England
had not really changed, and that she could get Calais back in eight
years. Only a Calvinist or Zwingli Church would pose an issue, so it
could take the outward appearance of a Lutheran one.
How were all these issues resolved
Needed Parliamentary approval, but unable.
