The Elizabethan The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The symbol of Britannia was first used in 1572, and often thereafter, to mark the Elizabethan age as a renai…Elizabethan Era
Acts of Supremacy
The Acts of Supremacy are two acts passed by the Parliament of England in the 16th century that established the English monarchs as the head of the Church of England. The 1534 Act declared Henry VIII of England and his successors as the Supreme Head of the Church, replacing the Pope. The Act was repealed during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I. The 1558 Act declared Queen Elizabeth I and …
Full Answer
What was the Elizabethan Settlement?
The Elizabethan Settlement, sometimes called the Revolution of 1559, was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. The Act of Supremacy of 1558 re-established the Church of England's independence from Rome, and Parliament conferred on Elizabeth the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England .
How did Elizabeth establish England as a Protestant country?
While Elizabeth preserved many traditional Catholic beliefs during her reign, she established England as a Protestant country with the help of the Elizabethan Settlement. what was the reformation in elizabethan england? what was the result of the elizabethan settlement? why was elizabeth’s religious settlement important?
What were Elizabeth's first actions as Queen of England?
One of her first actions as queen was the establishment of an English Protestant church, of which she became the supreme governor. This Elizabethan Religious Settlement was to evolve into the Church of England. It was expected that Elizabeth would marry and produce an heir; however, despite numerous courtships, she never did.
What are the principal elements of Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was composed of the following principal elements: The Act of Supremacy - established Elizabeth as head of the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity - set out the appearance of churches and services, banned mass services.
What did the Elizabethan settlement do?
The Elizabethan Settlement was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. The Act of Supremacy of 1558 re-established the Church of England's independence from Rome, and Parliament conferred on Elizabeth the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
What was Elizabeth's i settlement and why was it difficult to impose on England?
What was Elizabeth I's settlement, and why was it difficult to impose on England? Elizabeth I's settlement was making moderate Protestantism the official religion for England. The difficult part was that there were extremest from both sides that didn't support it.
How was the religious settlement enforced?
The Church was responsible for helping to enforce the religious settlement. Visitations were inspections of churches and clergy by bishops to ensure that everyone took the oath of supremacy and were following the terms of the religious settlement.
Was the Elizabethan settlement successful?
EXP:Therefore because Elizabeth made large compromises with Catholics, many accepted the new church and so Elizabeth's Religious settlement appeared successful indeed.
What were the main features of the Elizabethan religious settlement?
It tried to take elements from both Protestantism and Catholicism, but since many Protestants had become MPs, the Settlement was perhaps more Protestant than Elizabeth would have liked. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was contained in two acts – the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.
Why did Elizabeth do the religious settlement?
The Religious Settlement was an attempt by Elizabeth I to unite the country after the changes in religion under Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. It was designed to settle the divide between Catholics and Protestants and address the differences in services and beliefs.
Why was Elizabeth's settlement known as the middle way?
What was the Religious Settlement? When Elizabeth had come to the throne in 1558 she sought a 'middle way' between Catholics and Protestants. To ensure this the Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559 was deliberately vague and gave little mention of liturgy (the way religion should be practised).
How did Elizabeth 1 bring religious peace to England?
Elizabeth I was able to bring religious peace to England because she set up the Anglican Church which allowed both Catholics and Protestants to attend. To please Protestants, they were allowed to marry and they were allowed to preach sermons in English and not Latin.
Why did Catholics in England oppose the Religious Settlement?
Many Catholics in England were not happy with Elizabeth's Settlement. They had enjoyed religious freedom under Queen Mary, Elizabeth's sister, and they were now being asked to change or deny their beliefs. Many couldn't make this compromise and left to live in exile abroad.
How did the Elizabethan settlement affect the Reformation in England?
How did the Elizabethan Settlement affect the Reformation in England? Even though Elizabeth preserved many traditional Catholic ideas, she firmly established England as a Protestant nation.
How did the Elizabethan settlement affect the Reformation in England?
How did the Elizabethan Settlement affect the Reformation in England? Even though Elizabeth preserved many traditional Catholic ideas, she firmly established England as a Protestant nation.
When was the Elizabethan religious settlement passed?
February 1559Debating the Elizabethan religious settlement The first act passed by the House of Commons in February 1559 joined together a bill of supremacy, establishing Queen Elizabeth I as head of the church, with one of uniformity, dealing with the type of faith and service.
How was Queen Elizabeth IA major influence in restoring unity in England through the Elizabethan settlement in the mid 1500s?
How was Queen Elizabeth I a major influence in restoring unity in England through the Elizabethan Settlement in the mid-1500s? The British removed her monarchy from control over religious matters. A compromise between spiritual leaders that she negotiated ended in a truce.
What were Elizabeth 1 achievements?
During her reign, Elizabeth I established Protestantism in England; defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588; maintained peace inside her previously divided country; and created an environment where the arts flourished. She was sometimes called the "Virgin Queen", as she never married.
What was the solution to the Elizabethan Settlement?
The Elizabethan Settlement would need to tackle this issue. The solution was to use elements of both the protestant version and catholic version of the prayer books. This allowed an element of interpretation by the clergy.
What was the importance of worshipping in the Elizabethan world?
In the Elizabethan world worshipping was a matter of life, death and the afterlife, it was a matter of great urgency that a solution or compromise could be agreed. The issue was one of the first matters dealt with by Elizabeth and her Privy Council.
What was the Act of Uniformity?
The Act of Uniformity stated the way in which churches should be set out and the way in which services should be conducted. Royal Injunctions were given that explained how the Elizabethan Settlement ought to work on a day to day basis.
Why did Protestants return to England after Mary's death?
Following the death of Mary, many Protestants returned to England in the belief that the country would be Protestant
What was the Church in England's split from Rome?
The Church in England had only broken from Rome a generation earlier. Even then, the split was not a change of theological approach, more a political tool for Henry VIII’s gain. It had allowed reformers, the protestants, to implement some changes though.
Who wrote the monarchy into law?
This prompted debate over the issue. The role of the monarch in this area needed to be addressed. It had been written into law by Henry VIII and used by the administration of Edward VI and again by Mary I to change religious practise. If the monarch were the head of the church, this would place them above all others.
Did England have allies in Europe?
England had significant allies in Europe who were staunchly Roman Catholic. Elizabeth in inherited her crown from her sister, Mary I. Mary was Roman Catholic and married to the King of Spain, who had a claim to the English throne. A Settlement would need to take Anglo-Spanish relations into consideration.
What was the primary function of the House of Commons during the Elizabethan period?
Elizabethan Social and Economic Legislation. Social and economic legislation occupied a great deal of time in Elizabethan Parliaments and was considered, after the granting of taxation, to be the primary function of the House of Commons.
What was the supremacy bill?
Having been passed by the Commons the revised supremacy bill, described by Norman Jones as ‘a complete reform package’ because it included provision for uniformity of worship, was dispatched to the House of Lords and there caused uproar.
Did the settlement of religion have to be enacted by Parliament?
There seems to have been no question that the settlement of religion had to be enacted by Parliament, under the guidance of the new queen and her counsellors. One difficulty for Protestant reformers, however, was that the House of Lords, including the bishops, was staunchly Roman Catholic.
What was the Elizabethan religious settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was a collection of laws and decisions concerning religious practices introduced between 1558-63 CE by Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE). The settlement continued the English Reformation which had begun during the reign of her father, Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-1547 CE) whereby the Protestant Church of England split from the Catholic Church led by the Pope in Rome. There was opposition to the moderate features of the Settlement from both radical Catholics and radical Protestants. In addition, the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth for heresy in 1570 CE. Nevertheless, many of the features of the Settlement such as replacing altars with communion tables, using English in services, and banning traditional mass services, remained in place over the following centuries and their effects can still be seen on today's Anglican Church.
What resulted from Elizabeth's cautious reforms?
Elizabeth's cautious reforms resulted in 'a Church that was Protestant in doctrine, Catholic in appearance'.
What were the thirty nine articles of 1563?
The Thirty-nine Articles of 1563 CE (made law in 1571 CE) were the final part of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Essentially, they covered all the matters not yet set out in previous legislation and aimed to definitively establish what was meant by the English version of Protestantism, otherwise known as Anglicism. This was by no means a simple task as, in these early stages, nobody quite knew what Anglicism precisely was except that it was not Catholicism or extreme Protestantism but somewhere in-between. Article 34, for example, stated the following:
What was the Act of Supremacy?
The Act of Supremacy - established Elizabeth as head of the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity - set out the appearance of churches and services, banned mass services. The Royal Injunctions - 57 regulations on Church matters, e.g.: preachers required a license and pilgrimages were banned.
How did the Queen reassert her authority over the Church?
The queen's reassertion of control over religious matters was achieved via the April 1559 CE Act of Supremacy, once more closing the door on the Pope. Elizabeth had taken the decision to arrest any Catholic bishops that did not accept her authority as sovereign over them. Two bishops were sent to the Tower of London as a consequence. This pressure meant that the Act was passed by Parliament but only by the slightest of majorities. The queen had compromised a little on the wording of the Supremacy Act, calling herself the 'Supreme Governor' of the Church instead of the 'Supreme Head', thus making her more acceptable to Protestants who disliked the idea of a woman in that position. The queen was determined to see the act enforced and sent inspectors around the parishes for that purpose. Anyone suspected of not recognising Elizabeth as head of the Church would now find themselves before a new court, the Court of High Commission. Unlike in other Protestant states, the old Catholic structure of the Church below the sovereign was maintained with the bishops organised in a hierarchy. The Archbishop of Canterbury remained at the top, the Archbishop of York was number two, and the monarch appointed the bishops and archbishops. It was a good start but finding the balance between radicals on either side of the religious debate was going to be more difficult than mere wordplay.
What did the Queen compromise on?
The queen had compromised a little on the wording of the Supremacy Act, calling herself the 'Supreme Governor' of the Church instead of the 'Supreme Head', thus making her more acceptable to Protestants who disliked the idea of a woman in that position.
Which of England's three closest neighbours were Catholic?
The north of England remained conservative in religious matters and England's three closest neighbours ( Scotland, France, and Spain) were all Catholic states. Consequently, Elizabeth's reforms would have to be introduced with care. Elizabeth I Sieve Portrait. Quentin Metsys the Younger (Public Domain)
What was the Elizabethan settlement?
The Elizabethan Settlement, sometimes called the Revolution of 1559, was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. The Act of Supremacy of 1558 re-established the Church of England's independence from Rome, and Parliament conferred on Elizabeth the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity of 1559 re-introduced the ...
What was the Queen's first goal?
When the Queen's first Parliament opened in January 1559, its chief goal was the difficult task of reaching a religious settlement. Twenty bishops (all Roman Catholics) sat in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, and the Lords in general were opposed to change. In February, the House of Commons passed a Reformation Bill that would restore royal supremacy as well as the 1550 Ordinal and a slightly revised 1552 Prayer Book. It was not popular with the clergy, and the Convocation of Canterbury reacted by affirming papal supremacy, transubstantiation and the Mass as a sacrificial offering.
What was the name of the religion that was forced out of the Church of England after the Restoration?
After the Restoration in 1660, the Settlement was restored, and the Puritans were forced out of the Church of England. Anglicanism became defined by the via media or middle way between the religious extremes of Catholicism and Protestantism; Arminianism and Calvinism; and high church and low church .
What was the dominant theology within the Church of England?
Throughout the reigns of Elizabeth and James I, Calvinism was the predominant theology within the Church of England. The Settlement failed to end religious disputes. While most of the population gradually conformed to the established church, a minority of recusants remained loyal Roman Catholics.
What was the significance of Mary I's half sister becoming Queen?
The veneration of religious images ( icons, roods, statues) and relics were suppressed, and iconoclasm was sanctioned by the government. Mary I, Elizabeth's half-sister, became queen in 1553. She reversed the religious innovations introduced by her father and brother.
How many bishops did Queen Elizabeth need?
Episcopal appointments. To enforce her religious policies, Queen Elizabeth needed bishops willing to cooperate. Seven bishops, including Cardinal Pole, Mary's Archbishop of Canterbury, died in 1558 and needed to be replaced.
What was the name of the religious settlement that led to the Reformation?
Part of England's switch to Protestantism. Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement is the name given to the religious and political arrangements made for England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603) that brought the English Reformation to a conclusion. The Settlement shaped the theology and liturgy of the Church ...
Why was Elizabeth imprisoned?
During Mary's reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels. Upon her half-sister's death in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel. She depended heavily on a group of trusted advisers, led by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.
What was Elizabeth's first policy toward Scotland?
Elizabeth's first policy toward Scotland was to oppose the French presence there. She feared that the French planned to invade England and put her Catholic cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Mary was considered by many to be the heir to the English crown, being the granddaughter of Henry VIII's elder sister, Margaret. Mary boasted being "the nearest kinswoman she hath". Elizabeth was persuaded to send a force into Scotland to aid the Protestant rebels, and though the campaign was inept, the resulting Treaty of Edinburgh of July 1560 removed the French threat in the north. When Mary returned to Scotland in 1561 to take up the reins of power, the country had an established Protestant church and was run by a council of Protestant nobles supported by Elizabeth. Mary refused to ratify the treaty.
What was the goal of the Catholic rebellion?
In 1569 there was a major Catholic rising in the North; the goal was to free Mary, marry her to Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, and put her on the English throne. After the rebels' defeat, over 750 of them were executed on Elizabeth's orders. In the belief that the revolt had been successful, Pope Pius V issued a bull in 1570, titled Regnans in Excelsis, which declared "Elizabeth, the pretended Queen of England and the servant of crime" to be excommunicated and a heretic, releasing all her subjects from any allegiance to her. Catholics who obeyed her orders were threatened with excommunication. The papal bull provoked legislative initiatives against Catholics by Parliament, which were, however, mitigated by Elizabeth's intervention. In 1581, to convert English subjects to Catholicism with "the intent" to withdraw them from their allegiance to Elizabeth was made a treasonable offence, carrying the death penalty. From the 1570s missionary priests from continental seminaries went to England secretly in the cause of the "reconversion of England". Many suffered execution, engendering a cult of martyrdom.
How long did Elizabeth and Leicester's friendship last?
Pair of miniatures of Elizabeth and Leicester, c. 1575, by Nicholas Hilliard. Their friendship lasted for over thirty years, until his death.
What is the meaning of Elizabeth's virginity?
Elizabeth's unmarried status inspired a cult of virginity related to that of the Virgin Mary. In poetry and portraiture, she was depicted as a virgin or a goddess or both, not as a normal woman. At first, only Elizabeth made a virtue of her ostensible virginity: in 1559, she told the Commons, "And, in the end, this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin". Later on, poets and writers took up the theme and developed an iconography that exalted Elizabeth. Public tributes to the Virgin by 1578 acted as a coded assertion of opposition to the queen's marriage negotiations with the Duke of Alençon.
Why did Elizabeth I never marry?
From the start of Elizabeth's reign, it was expected that she would marry and the question arose to whom. Although she received many offers, she never married and was childless; the reasons for this are not clear. Historians have speculated that Thomas Seymour had put her off sexual relationships. She considered several suitors until she was about fifty. Her last courtship was with Francis, Duke of Anjou, 22 years her junior. While risking possible loss of power like her sister, who played into the hands of King Philip II of Spain, marriage offered the chance of an heir. However, the choice of a husband might also provoke political instability or even insurrection.
How old was Elizabeth when her mother was beheaded?
Elizabeth was two years and eight months old when her mother was beheaded on 19 May 1536, four months after Catherine of Aragon's death from natural causes.
What was the purpose of the Elizabethan settlement?
The Elizabethan settlement sought to be an inclusive middle course between divergent religious positions in English Christianity. Much of traditional Catholic faith and practice was retained, but without submission to papal authority. Much latitude for individual conscience was allowed, but uniformity of worship was required. Faithful Christians with differing theological convictions could find a home in a comprehensive English church.
What was the Act of Supremacy of 1559?
The Act of Supremacy of 1559 proclaimed Elizabeth to be the "supreme governor of this realm" in all spiritual , ecclesiastical , and temporal matters . Elizabeth's assertion of power over the English church was not as sweeping as that of Henry VIII, who was proclaimed the only supreme head on earth of the English church. The Act of Supremacy of 1559 included an oath of obedience to the Crown that was imposed on all clergy and public officials. Elizabeth exercised royal power concerning the church within the provisions of religious legislation, and she protected the church from attempts by Parliament to meddle.
What was the continuity of the Church of England in apostolic succession?
The continuity of the Church of England in apostolic succession was strongly upheld under Elizabeth. The consecration of Matthew Parker (1504-1575) as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1559 was done with great care to make sure that the line of English bishops in apostolic succession was unbroken. Although Elizabeth would have preferred a celibate clergy, clerical marriage was permitted as an indulgence. The Elizabethan settlement was foundational for the via media that has become characteristic of Anglicanism. Through this settlement the English church was comprehensive and inclusive, catholic and protestant, but neither Roman Catholic nor Genevan Protestant. See Receptionism; see Via Media.