Religious settlement

Question 1

How would Elizabeth describe her religious settlement?

Answer 1

Via media- middle way

Question 2

When was the religious settlement first introduced?

Answer 2

At the first parliament- it would establish Elizabeth’s royal authority and provide a framework for the organisation, conduct and content of services

Question 3

What were the terms for the Act of Supremacy?

Answer 3

Repealed the papal supremacy and Marian heresy laws
Reinstated the legislation of Henry VIII
Made the Queen Supreme Governor
Demanded an oath from the clergymen recognising her as governor

Question 4

What might have influenced Catholics to support the Queen?

Answer 4

The arrest and imprisonment of two Catholic bishops during the Easter Recess 1559 for not signing the oath

Question 5

How many Catholic priests signed the oath?

Answer 5

1- the rest resigned and therefore were of little threat to Elizabeth

Question 6

What percentage of lower clergy resisted the oath?

Answer 6

4%

Question 7

Why did Elizabeth believe Supreme Governor would appease people?

Answer 7

It would appease Catholics who saw Pope as head

It would appease Protestants who questioned a women’s role as head

Question 8

Why did the Protestants oppose the Supreme Governor?

Answer 8

They did not believe in a hierarchy within the church

Question 9

What was the Act of Uniformity?

Answer 9

An act stating you had to go to church once a week of pay a fine of 12 pence
It also established the New Book of Prayer

Question 10

Why would the New Book of Prayer appeal to Catholics?

Answer 10

It was carefully worded to allow for different interpretations e.g. of the Eucharist

Question 11

Why did Elizabeth implement the Book of Prayer?

Answer 11

To ensure that as many believers as possible would find salvation

Question 12

What were the Royal Injuctions?

Answer 12

They nominated visitors to inspect churches and enforce a set of instructions

Question 13

What were some of the instructions?

Answer 13

Every church must purchase and English Bible
Celebration of Eucharist at the Alter
Suppression of practices such as pilgrimages and candles

Question 14

What belief of Elizabeth’s did she have to compromise?

Answer 14

Elizabeth believed that clergymen should not be married. She did allow it but the wife had to be put on trial before 2 JP’s before being deemed fit for the position

Question 15

What do the Royal injunctions highlight about Elizabeth?

Answer 15

Her commitment to ensuring her religious settlement was successful

Question 16

What were the 39 Articles?

Answer 16

They were drawn up by Church convocation and defined the doctrine. They repudiated Catholic beliefs such as transubstantiation and the sacrifice of mass.

Question 17

Who were puritans and what did they believe?

Answer 17

They were extreme protestants who believed worship and prayer should be simple

Question 18

What aspects of the settlement did Puritans most disagree with?

Answer 18

Crucifixes and Vestements

Question 19

What was Puritans conflict with crucifixes?

Answer 19

Puritans viewed crucifixes as an idol that should be worshipped. Catholics saw it as central to their churches and ceremonies and Elizabeth didn’t want to change much. She therefore demanded a crucifix be on show in every church. This caused resentment amongst the Puritans and Bishops threatened to resign. As Elizabeth had no suitable replacements she repealed this demand.

Question 20

What does the crucifix crisis tell us about Elizabeth?

Answer 20

She was weak in enforcing her religious settlement and was confused over which religion should take priority

Question 21

What was puritan opinion on vestments?

Answer 21

Puritans thought vestments were too elaborate and not needed and that priests should wear plain clothes. Catholics believed they were special clothes to show God’s ongoing work and they were key to transubstantiation. By 1566 it was clear that puritans were refusing and Matthew Parker the A B of C brought out the Book of Advisements. He also invited 110 priests to see exactly what should be worn - 37 refused and were removed from office

Question 22

What was the Puritan choir?

Answer 22

Enthusiastic preachers who attacked the settlement and questioned the legitimacy of female monarch

Question 23

What did Elton claim about the threat of Puritan choir?

Answer 23

This was not a significant threat and it wasn’t unusual for Tudor government

Question 24

How did the Pope challenge the religious settlement?

Answer 24

He encouraged the Catholic church to stop the spreading of Protestantism by persecuting heretics- In 1566 he issued the Catholics of England not to attend the CofE

Question 25

How did Elizabeth react to the Pope’s instruction?

Answer 25

She was not aggressive in enforcing punishments but repeat offenders were given punishments in the form of fines, imprisonment, loss of property and in extreme cases death. She was cautious not to create Martyrs

Question 26

What was the Northern Rebellion 1569?

Answer 26

It took place in Durham under the leadership of leading Northern nobility- Earl of Northumberland and Westmorland. It was caused by the conservative attitude of the north as well as the idea of a new life with Mary Queen of Scots as the figure head where she would be married to Norfolk and therefore have a claim to the English throne. They marched as far as York until they turned around and instead took the Castle of Durham

Question 27

What was the issue with the Northern rebellion?

Answer 27

It lacked a strong leadership, foreign support which had been promised from the Spanish, local support. The crown acted decisively and the rebel army was put down with leaders being executed.

Question 28

What was classic Presbyterianism?

Answer 28

It emerged in the 1580s an through conferences looked to spread the extreme protestant view of reorganising the church

Question 29

What did Presbyterians believe?

Answer 29

Everyone belonged to a national church and there should be no hierarchy within the church- elders and deacons should run it.

Question 30

Were Presbyterians a threat?

Answer 30

When Whitgift was appointed A B of C he tackled CP issuing his three articles which forced them to conform or deprived them of living

Question 31

What was the 1581 Act of Obedience?

Answer 31

A way of dealing with opposing Catholics
It became illegal to question the Queen’s authority over religion- saying mass could lead to a fine or imprisonment - non attendance at church cost £20 a month

Question 32

How many Catholics who opposed the religious settlement were executed in 1581 and 1582?

Answer 32

4 in 1581

11 in 1582

Question 33

What was the Jesuits movement?

Answer 33

The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) began sending priests into England in 1580. The two most famous were Edmund Campion (executed 1581) and Robert Parsons.

Question 34

Why was the Jesuits movement limited?

Answer 34

These men mainly stayed amongst the already Catholic nobility making it a ‘country house’ religion and not a popular movement of the people.

Question 35

How many priests were executed under Elizabeth’s Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests.

Answer 35

Between 1586- 1603, 123

Question 36

Key points about the establishment of the religious settlement?

Answer 36

Church maintained its episcopal structure
Anglican settlement- a compromise
Used statute and legislation to ensure conformity