Elizabeth I: character and aims Flashcards
(12 cards)
What does ‘via media’ mean and why can this be used to describe Elizabeth’s religious settlement?
Via media means middle way, which is what the religious settlement was between Protestantism and Catholicism
What did the 1559 Act of Supremacy do?
- Restored royal supremacy
- Restored Henry VIII’s reformation legislation
- Heresy law enacted in Mary’s reign was removed
- Power of royal visitation enacted by Henry VIII restored, allows the crown to appoint commissioners to visit and correct errors in a Church
- Described Elizabeth as the Supreme Governor of the Church and not the Supreme Head
- Oath of Supremacy would be taken by clergymen and church officials
What did the 1559 Act of Uniformity do?
- Specified the use of a single Book of Common Prayer
- Ornaments and dress of the clergy would be like it was before the 1549 Act of Uniformity, so more Catholic
What 2 modifications did the 1559 Book of Common Prayer have from the 1552 Book of Common Prayer?
- Variations in Eucharistic belief were possible
- The ‘Black Rubric’ in the 1552 Book of Common Prayer which tried to explain against kneeling for the Eucharist was removed
What did the Royal Injunctions in 1559 do?
- Emphasised ‘the suppression of the superstitious’ so anything Catholic
- Eucharist to be delivered at a communion table rather than the altar
- Catholic practices like pilgrimage and the use of candles described as ‘works devised by mans fantasies’
- Parish churches required to purchase an English bible
What was the 1559 Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis?
Ended the war with France begun by Mary. France would keep control of Calais for 8 years, then it would be returned as long as England kept the peace
What were the short term aims of Elizabeth?
- To consolidate her position
- To settle religious issues
- To pursue a peaceful settlement with the French
Did Mary’s councillors resist the succession?
No, it was the lawful succession defined by Henry VIII and Mary recognized Elizabeth as her successor anyway
What was the social and economic situation like when Elizabeth inherited?
England suffered a series of bad harvests and the country suffered from a flu epidemic
What was the political situation like when Elizabeth came to the throne?
England fought a disastrous war against France which had resulted in the loss of Calais
What clearly showed that Mary’s councillors accepted Elizabeth?
Mary’s Archbishop of York, Nicholas Heath, announced Mary’s death and Elizabeth’s succession to Parliament even though he did not need to
What were the key acts and things of the religious settlement?
