2.1.3
Religious Threats to Elizabeth I
The Catholic and Jesuit Threat
The Catholic and Jesuit Threat
England was vulnerable to a threat from Roman Catholic interests. The Pope and the rulers of France and Spain were all Catholic. These people could threaten the stability of the religious settlement under Elizabeth. But the Pope did not have an army and France & Spain didn’t seem to have the military strength to invade England.
The Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation
- The Counter-Reformation was a movement in the Catholic Church that tried to convert Protestants back to Catholicism.
- Missionaries were sent to England by counter-reformers such as William Allen in the Netherlands. They had the support of the Pope.
Jesuits
Jesuits
- The Jesuits were a key group within the Counter-Reformation missionary movement. They were Catholic. They did not seek direct rebellion but wanted to spread their religious message in England.
- However, Elizabeth saw them as a threat to national stability.
Elizabeth’s falling tolerance of Catholicism
Elizabeth’s falling tolerance of Catholicism
- Elizabeth’s tolerance fell during her reign and the Religious Settlement faded somewhat.
- In 1571, fines were introduced for Catholics who did not participate in Protestant services. The rich simply paid the fines, and the law was not strictly enforced. This changed in 1581 when the law was enforced more strongly and fines were increased to 20 pounds (a lot of money in the 1500s).
- Any Catholic priests who began Catholic worship after 1559 (the year of the settlement) were viewed as traitors from 1585 onwards. The Jesuits Act of 1584 demanded that all Catholic priests leave. English Jesuits were ordered to return to England and swear their loyalty to the Queen, otherwise, they would be executed for treason.
Statute of confinement and Edmund Campion
Statute of confinement and Edmund Campion
- In 1593, the ‘Statute of Confinement’, banned 'recusants' (people who didn't attend Church that were usually Catholic) from going further than 5 miles from their house.
- Edmund Campion was a Jesuit preacher. Jesuits were Roman Catholics. Edmund Campion tried to convert people to Catholicism and broke the Jesuits Act of 1584 and the Statute of Confinement. He was hung, drawn & quartered, despite being a popular preacher.
The Threat from the Puritans
The Threat from the Puritans
Puritans were very pious (religious) Protestants. They were influenced by European reformers such as John Calvin. They wanted to remove all Catholic elements from the Church of England.
Simplicity of Puritanism
Simplicity of Puritanism
- Their services were simple, and they rejected ceremony. They wore simple clothing and studied the Bible very closely.
- Some were made bishops by Elizabeth. Only by 1568 did they agree to wear the ceremonial robe, or surplice, of the Church of England.
Presbyterians
Presbyterians
- Presbyterians went further. They questioned the need for bishops at all, and often criticized the meeting during prophesyings (religious meetings).
- John Field, one of the most prominent Puritans, was banned from preaching in 1580, and Elizabeth also suspended Edmund Grindal, the Archbishop of Canterbury, for encouraging prophesyings.
John Whitgift
John Whitgift
- Elizabeth took on tough stance against Puritans in the 1580s, as she did against Catholics. After Grindal’s death, she appointed the anti-Puritan John Whitgift as Archbishop.
- His new rules including a ban on unlicensed preaching, and imprisonment of those who refused to follow the rules through a new High Commission.
- Printers were punished for circulating Puritan messages and high profile Puritans like Anthony Cope were imprisoned in the Tower.
1Queen, Government & Religion
1.1Elizabeth I & her Court
2Challenges to Elizabeth at Home & Abroad
2.1The Religious Settlement
3Elizabethan Society 1558-88
3.1Education & Leisure
3.2The Poor & Living Standards
Jump to other topics
1Queen, Government & Religion
1.1Elizabeth I & her Court
2Challenges to Elizabeth at Home & Abroad
2.1The Religious Settlement
3Elizabethan Society 1558-88
3.1Education & Leisure
3.2The Poor & Living Standards
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