Elizabethan Settlement

Impact of Religious Change During Elizabeth I's Reign

Elizabeth I tried to find a middle ground between Catholicism and radical Protestantism. Inevitably, not everyone would be happy with her settlement.

A compromise

Elizabeth was trying to find a compromise between Catholicism and radical Protestantism.
Through the Act of Supremacy, Elizabeth was the head of the Church.
But many aspects of religious worship contained the traditional rituals of the Catholic Church.

Protestant opponents

Many hardline Protestants were dissatisfied with the Elizabethan settlement and wanted her to pursue further reform.
Protestant reformers tried to pressure Elizabeth I.
- Margaret Aston has analysed a painting called 'Edward VI and the Pope' which used Edward VI's reputation as a strong Protestant to pressure Elizabeth I to further her own reforms.

Catholic opponents

Almost all the Catholic bishops that were installed by Mary refused to accept Elizabeth's settlement and were dismissed from their positions.
Some ministers refused to use the new Prayer Book and continued to use the Catholic Prayer Book.

A successful settlement?

But the opposition to Elizabeth's settlement was relatively minimal and non-violent.
Elizabeth's settlement was also accepted internationally. Arguably, this is because figures such as the Pope and King Philip II believed Elizabeth I could be eventually persuaded back to Catholicism.

The Elizabethan Settlement

To consolidate her power, Elizabeth I had to stabilise England internally. The main priority was to deal with religion.

Causes of the Elizabethan Settlement

The Elizabethan Settlement was a reaction to the religious schism (divisions) in England.
England's religion had fluctuated during the reigns of Tudor monarchs.

The Act of Supremacy

The Act of Supremacy was passed in 1559.
This act reiterated Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy in 1534, by stating that the Church of England was independent of Rome.
Elizabeth I was made the Supreme Governor of the Church.

The Act of Uniformity

The Act of Uniformity was passed in 1559.
This act established the Church of England's religious doctrine.
Most importantly, the act legitimated the Book of Common Prayer.
The Act was very contentious, only passing through Parliament by three votes.

The Book of Common Prayer

The Book of Common Prayer outlines the Church's liturgy.
It set out prayers and services.
Although the Book of Common Prayer was Protestant in doctrine, it contained elements of traditional worship. For example:
- Clergymen could wear vestments (religious robes).
This book combined the language from Edward VI's moderate Prayer Book in 1549 and his more radical one in 1552.

39 Articles

The 39 Articles were published in 1563 (and would become part of the law in 1571).
This stated the Church of England's position in relation to the Catholic Church and radical Protestants.

Evaluation of the Elizabethan Settlement

Elizabeth was trying to find a compromise between Catholicism and radical Protestantism.
Through the Act of Supremacy, Elizabeth was the head of the Church.
But many aspects of religious worship contained the traditional rituals of the Catholic Church.
Elizabeth's religious settlement was divisive and many hardline Protestants were disappointed.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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