Religious Divisions on Elizabeth's Accession

E came to throne aged 25, little political experience in 1558. The Politcal nation assented and it wasn't deemed neceassry to dissolve PT. Almost died 1562. Her accession announced to PT -17 Dec 1558. E showed her skills in PR from the offset, in managing her appearances within London + consulted the astrologer John Dee for the most propitious date for her coronation.  E chose her political advisers with care and was dependent on them for their abilites, leaving them to conduct most business on her behalf but she determined direction of policy.

Her coronation reflected the religious issues which were to dominate the first years of her reign. Pole dead, new Archbishop hadn't been appointed. Only Marian bishop willing to crown E was Bishop of Carlisle, least regarded diocese in E. Archbish of York refused as E didn't want Host to be elevated in the communion in the coronation. E believed she had right to demand this, Archbishop of York disagred.

One of most pressing issues for E was need to resolve religious devisions and bring lasting settlement. Nautre of this settlement fiercely debated 1558-9. The possible options:

• Continuation of C regime - suggested by Marian bishops and clergy. But E had already signalled her intention to break with R and restore Royal Supremacy
• Radical P settlement- supported by religious exiles but was opposed by E as it would threaten Royal Supremacy and system of C gov used to keep control.
• Moderate P settlement. Supported by those who remained in E during M reign. Favoured by E as retained royal supremacy

E accession clear signal to M bishops that there would be signif change in R doctrine. E had conformed to R requirements of the M CH but she had provided a focus for P support during M reign. Cs aware E had been tutored by CP in the new learning and had been influenced by EVI's education.

Directions of Cism in 1558 not straightforward. Educateds C influenced by changes on the continent. Council of Trent had been sitting since 1545, in which the Cardinals of the CH were attempting to define C beliefs and practices in response to challenges presented by Luther and those who followed him. Educated C's engaging in this debate by accessing C literature from the continent but many of the laity adhered to medieval C rituals and rites out of conservatism.

Major issue which affected C bishops was the failure of M to re-establish the formal relationship  between E and R due to her refusal to hand CP over to face charges of heresy

After M death approx 400 religious exiles started returning to E. Exiles had developed a variety of extreme and conflicting ideas. Key disagreement between John Knox and Richard Cox. Knox favoured establishment of Calvinist society. Cox wanted system based on second Edwardian prayer book.

Calvinist system was known as the 'Geneva Discipline' order of church gov and service which put power over the laity into the hands of individual chirch ministers and challenged the exsisting hierarch of the state-controlled church. 'The First Blast of the Trumpet...' had been written with Mary and Mary of Guise as its focus the diatribe against women wasn't lost of E.

Coxians were the first to return to E with Edmund Grindal, Grindal had been chaplin to EVI; he had been instrumental in the development of CM 42 articles. Grindal believed the 1552 prayer book which had clear focus on salvation through faith alone and eurcharist being a memorial was clearest liturgy to reflect P doctrine. He attempted and failed to reconcile the two groups.

E's advisors had their beliefs shaped in Cambridge rather than Geneva. They had been tutors to EVI, where P and had been close to Martin Bucer and John Cheke. They were pragmatic humanists, they wanted like EVI had to reform the commonwealth but through discussions rather than the shouting of Knox. Matthew Parker was chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury, he was part of the Cambridge circle who had remained in E and conformed. Parker had been AB's chaplin, before her execution she had asked him to look after E. Parker was dismissive of C doctrine but was trusted by the C's themselves

E's PC was cental to her views of gov and R policy. She like M chose not to remoce all exsisting councillors, she wanted to retain experience and rule with a wide body of support. 10 of those who had supported M were included in her smaller council. Arundel and Shrewsbury were retained. These men had been supportive of C liturgy but not supportive of restoration of papal authority.

Nine newcomers brought into the Council; men who had served under E like Nicholas Beacon and William Cecil, who become Secretary of State. They were more cautious Ps. Brother of CP also added, CP an evangelical had influenced E's views on R. PC reflected a range of R views but was one of considerable ability. Significantly, members of the PC held positions in her household and had influence in PT. This reduced the potential for the development of factional disputes and enabled E to impose her policies.

Englands involvement in continental war against F+S did not end with death of M. E had committed resources to the Imperial Cause, this may have encouraged P to seek a marraige with E.

Need to achieve peace with F+S critical for E if she was to tackle the debt from H's wars with F+S, extricate E from alliances with Sp and achieve a face saving formula. First part of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis was signed Aprill 1559, gave F control of Calais for 8 years after which the town would be restored to E, but this was dependent of E keeping the peace. Should this fail, F would be pay an indemnity of half a million crowns. Second part of the treaty was signed between F+Sn on 3 April and gave P control of the Italian states.

Critical for E was the requirement included in the Treat of Cateau-Cambresis that F would pacify S border; this was tested early as June 1559 when H2, King of F was killed in a jousting accident making Francis II king. Francis married Mary Stuart, Queen of S. Mary of Guise attempted to use F troops to strengthen Ms postion in S, this caused a P revolt + the return of Knox from Geneva enouraged rebels to attack the gov+French. The P forces called on the E to help them defeat the F who had been sent to pacify the borders on half of the English. English navy was dispatched to the Firth of Forth to prevent landing of F troops. E had secretly agreed to support the Scots but she procrastinated for months  about futher military support until she was sure P would not intervene. March 1560 an army was sent with some success to besiege the F garrison at Leith. Treaty of Edingburgh was signed with the S in July 1560. This was as much the result of the death of Mary of Guise, loss of French fleet in a storm and religious unrest in F as it was a credit to E military success.

Involvement with S had been a success and from this point onwards E made her personal control of foreign policy very clear to the PC. 1562- she was persuaded to intervene in the French wars of religion in support of the Huguenot cause, she agreed with the intention of regaining Calais. But the failure of the Huguenots meant the English lost Le Harve, which they had seized as a bargaining counter but the Treaty of Troyes gave the F control of Calais in perpetutity without the payment of an indemnity.