Challenges facing Elizabeth, the religious settlement.

How was challenges from abroad a problem in 1558?

Spain

Devoutly catholic, but had a good relationship with England as Mary was married to King Philip.

Mary had committed English forces to the war her Spanish husband was fighting against France.

The French retaliated by strengthening forces in Scotland, England's bordering country.

France

This strong link between France and Scotland (both Catholic), especially since there was still French soldiers in scotland, was a threat.

France also had direct interest in the English crown as Mary Queen of scots, Elizabeth’s cousin and heir was married to the French heir. She also ruled scotland.

What choices did Elizabeth have about challenges from abroad in 1558?

Immediate problem was the possibilty of French invasion. She could continue the war with France or make peace.

The war against france could result in a military victory, making her popular, and would end the danger of invasion. However, making peace could make Elizabeth look weak.

It could be wise, as England was only fighting for Mary to support her Spanish husband. England couldn't afford to keep sending aid to Philip II. Famine and epidemics 1557 onwards killed over 200,000 people - Farming communities unable to spare men for fighting.

(Peace was signed with France in January 1559).

How was choosing councillors a problem in 1558?

Was an important decision as the privy council was responsible for finance and spending, and frequently advised on big decisions of state, such as war.

Powerful men from Mary’s reign were more experienced, may be offended if not chosen, but since they were catholic it could raise religious problems.

What choices did Elizabeth have about choosing councillors in 1558?

• Keeping Mary’s although Catholic, experienced councillors, and not offending them.

• Choosing people she knows and rusts, at the risk of alienating powerful men from Mary’s reign.

• Choosing nobles and gentry for their power instead of ability.

• Choosing those with similar or differing opinions.

How serious was the problem of challenges from abroad?

Could lead to an invasion, meaning imminent danger.

Wasn't too extreme as peace was also an option.

How serious was the problem of choosing councillors?

Not too serious - wouldnt bring harm if not immediately dealt with, but she needed a stable government as soon as possible.

If she chose the wrong people it could end up badly.

How was financial weakness a problem in 1558?

The Queen and privy council were responsible for all financial decisions.

The monarch had to pay for all costs of the country from their own sources of revenue - eg the rent or sale of crown lands, fines given by judges.

In 1558, the royal finances were severely strained due to the war with France. Elizabeth inherited a debt of 300,000 pounds.

The rise in prices made it difficult for the crown, which couldn't easily increase its sources of revenue

What choices did Elizabeth have about financial weaknesses in 1558?

• Edward and Mary both introduced reforms to improve the running of the exchequer, and elizabeth was able to build on these.

• To strictly monitor the costs of her households

• Exchequer officials ordered to balance the accounts and make sure debts were called in.

How serious was the problem of financial weaknesses in 1558?

Was less serious than other problems as could be dealt with by introducing reforms, but it was still essential to ensure financial stability.

How were religious divisions a problem in 1558?

Monarchs believed everyone had to follow the same religion to make their country united.

Differences in religion would lead to a civil war, and make the country too divided to fight back against foreign invasion. Religion had previously led to protests and rebellion.

Foreign princes who were candidates for marriage were Catholic.

France, spain and Scotland were all Catholic in 1558.Mary Queen of scots claimed she was the rightful heir and many Catholics support her.

The pope, as head of the Catholic Church could excommunicate her (release her Catholic subjects from obeying her.) he could also call on the Catholic powers in Europe to leade a religious crusade to overthrow her.

In weekly sermons at catholic church for the past 5 years, the clergy urged people to resist protestantism. It would be difficult to change the clergy to protestant.

How serious was the problem of religious divisions in 1558?

Extremely seriosus. Elizabeth and her council worked on the problem of religioun immediately after she became queen, and had a settlement ready to take to parliament within 4 months, showing how she viewed it as a priority.

She didn't want to risk the invasion of Catholic countries by a strict protestant regime - Mary Queen of scots claimed she was the rightful queen, and could have the support of dissatisfied Catholics.

What choices did Elizabeth have about religious divisions in 1558?

Comprimising, although this could risk pleasing nobody. There was no toleration of other religions, so there were still penalties for people who didn't accept a compromise church.

As a committed protestant, she couldn't accept Catholic doctrine, or the pope as head of the church. Catholics couldn't accept and woman as the head of church.

Puritans didn't want a church with any signs of Catholicism.

She could keep some things linked to Catholicism, such as ornaments and crucifixes, and allowing the clergy to wear ornate gowns.

How was doubts about Elizabeth’s gender a problem for her in 1558? What were her choices?

Female rulers seen as unnatural and a liability.

Monarchs needed to keep powerful nobles under control - ensure justice, declare war etc.

Women too weak to do this.

There was nothing she could do to solve this unless she immediately married and gave power to her husband.

Would have to prove herself by being a good ruler.

How was marriage and succession a problem for Elizabeth in 1558?

People expected her to marry quickly and have children to provide an heir, and ensure political stability.

Marriage didn't mean her husband would entirely take over - Mary I married Phillip of Spain and parliament drew up a treaty limiting his power and influence over England.

Was still a huge possibilty she would be left powerless.

What choices did Elizabeth have about marriage and succession in 1558?

In the early weeks of her reign, foreign princes were put forward, including Philip II, and Prince Erik of sweden to marry her, but these were turned down early on. Elizabeth and her council focused on immediate problems such as the religious settlement.

Should Elizabeth marry - if so, to whom? An English noble could cause anger and jealousy among other nobles.

Most European princes were catholic, an elizabeth couldn't risk the hostility of her protestant subjects.

Mary’s marriage was very unpopular in the country.

How was Elizabeth’s ‘illegitimacy’ a problem in 1558? What were her choices?

Some believed as Henry VIII had made himself the head of church, and his archbishop of Canterbury approved his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

Henry then married Anne Boleyn.

Some Catholics believed only the pope could authorize the divorce of a monarch. To them, Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn wasn't valid, and Elizabeth was illegitimate.

There was not much she could do about this. She had to hope she could win people over.

How was creating peace and prosperity a problem in 1558?

Issues affecting this included the quality of harvest and epidemic of disease.

Poverty was a dangerous problem for monarchs - previous reigns showed people were more likely to join rebellions if they suffered hunger.

Food prices had been rices since the beginning of the 1500s. Wages were also losing value.

In Mary’s reign, bad harvests had coincided with flu epidemics, resulting in the deaths of 200,000.

What choices did Elizabeth have about creating peace and prosperity in 1558?

Very few - she had to wait it out.

A good harvest was proof God was on your side - luckily there was a good harvest in 1558.

She could pray for good harvests.

How was the religious settlement enforced?

Visitations - inspections of chuches and clergy by bishops to ensure everyone took the oath of supremacy, and were following the terms of the settlement. The first occured in 1559, resulting in the dismissal of 400 clergy.

Elizabeth made it clear she didn't want peoples religious beliefs to be investigated too closely.

After 1559, visitations occured every 3-4 years.

Describe the clergy after the religious settlement.

All members of the church had to take the oath of supremacy under the act of supremacy to keep their posts.

8,000 priests and less important clergy across 10,000 parishes did so, showing the success of the settlement.

However, only 1 bishop agreed to take the oath, meaning Elizabeth had to appoint 27 new ones. This gave her opportunity to appoint protestants.

How did the people react the the religious settlement?

The majority of ordinary people accepted the settlement and attended church of England services, even though many held on to Catholic beliefs.

The wording of the new prayer book helped this as it was open to interpretation according to beliefs.

Elizabeth made it clear she didn't want the settlement enforced too strongly, even if people were rescuants (Catholics who refused to attend the new church services).

How did the appearance of churches change after the religious settlement?

The royal injunctions allowed images in churches. This helped them keep their familiar look so changes were less unsettling.

The Catholic churches continued to have an altar set apart from the congregation with painted walls and stain glass windows.

Priests continued to wear ornate robes.

Protestant churches remained plain with the royal crest instead of religious decorations.

What were the royal injunctions?

A set of instructions, issued by Sir William Cecil on behalf of the Queen to the clergy. It included:

• All clergy to teach the royal supremacy (queen the head of the church)

• Each parish to have a copy of the bible n English

• Clergy allowed to wear special vestments

• Images in churches allowed

Describe the act of uniformity.

Established the appearance of churches and the form of services they held. It included:

• Church services to be in english, the book of common prayer to be used in all churches

• Wording of services deliberately unclear (eg transubstantiaation, and bread and wine)

• Priests allowed to wear vestments

• Ornaments and decorations allowes

Why did puritans reject the religious settlement?

Bishops allowed to run the church - believed the bible was the ultimate teacher of Christianity, birshops not specified in the bible so were unnecessary.

Ornaments and decorations allowed - encouraged people to worship idols which the bible forbids. Payed for by public - money better spent elsewhere.

Elizabeth made supreme governor - believed in running the church themselves

Clergy wore a surplice - regarded vanity as sin - extravagant clothing an unnecessary luxury.

How serious of a threat were puritans after the religious settlement?

• Many accepted posts in the new church feeling confident they could influence it from within.

• A number of Elizabeth's closest advisors were puritan - indicates they were fairly satisfied with religious change.

• She impisoned some more dedicated campaigners.

What did catholics in england object to about the religious settlement?

There was no Catholic mass as part of the services. For Catholics, this meant their personal salvation (chance of going to heaven) was at risk.

Church services were in English.

All clergy were to teach the royal supremacy (queen head of church).

What did catholics abroad object to about the religious settlement?

Elizabeth was supreme governor of the Church of England.

Most expected Pope Pius IV to excommunicate Elizabeth, as an illegitimate female, protestant monarch.

How serious the threat of Catholics from abroad to Elizabeth?

There was no support for rebellion from France or spain, 2 powerful Catholic nations.

England was still an ally of spain in 1559, even though Elizabeth rejected Philip II’s proposal.

Philip didn’t want to lead a religious crusade against England - he didn't want Mary as Queen - who had strong ties with France, Spain’s traditional enemy.

Philip was increasingly occupied with protestant rebels in the Spanish netherlands, and had no money to spare.

France was also in the midst of a civil war, which would occupy it for the next 35 years.

Why shouldn't / shouldn't Elizabeth let Mary, Queen of scots live freely in England.

-She had support in Europe, Elizabeth could gain popularity from this.

-Her council wanted to remain friendly with Mary.

.Mary is too dangerous to keep in england, some Catholics believe she’s the rightful queen of England.

Why shouldn't / shouldn't Elizabeth lock Mary, Queen of scots up in England?

-Would keep her from causing trouble and leading a catholic rebellion to take her throne.

-Some of her councillors and MPs think she’s too great of a threat and want to get rid of her.

.Mary hadn't been proved guilty of a crime. As a prisoner, her relatives in France or scotland, or other Catholic powers, may launch an attack to free Mary.

.Didn’t want to set the precedent for allowing queens to be arrested.

.One of her last remaining relatives- Elizabeth able to sympathise with Mary’s situation. doesnt want to punish her when she has affinity towards her.

Why shouldn't / shouldn't Elizabeth send Mary, Queen of scots back to Scotland to face justice there?

-Her council wanted to keep on friendly relations with the protest and lords ruling scotland, so there northern borders remained secure.

-Mary too dangerous to keep in England

.Elizabeth didn’t want to help subjects rebel against their queen.

.Mary was her cousin and appointed by God as Queen - Elizabeth's duty to help her.