Elizabeth: Aims, consolidation, religious settlement, relations with Foreign powers

1. Character and aims

·       Ascended the throne aged 25 and was significantly younger than Mary and older than Edward had been and had witnesses her father’s and siblings reigns and was more politically experienced.

·       She had several short term aims:

o   To consolidate her position

o   The settlement of religious issues

o   To pursue a peaceful settlement with the French,

1.1  Threats and problems facing Elizabeth

·       Elizabeth needed to consolidate her position quickly due to a number of threats;

·       Catholics believed she was illegitimate and had no right to rule

·       Threatened by stronger, catholic countries like France and Spain. Scottish war was the largest threat as it was under French control

·       MQS had a legitimate claim to the throne

·       She was young and inexperienced and some feared a weak rule.

·       She’d inherited religious divisions; the majority of people were probably still Catholic, however Protestantism was strong in London, the South East and in Universities.

2. Elizabeth’s consolidation of power

·       Her path to power was eased by Mary’s key councillors acceptance of her succession, there were no attempts to deny Elizabeth’s succession by Catholics.

·       William Cecil was appointed Principal Secretary. He was a skilled politician and worked for Elizabeth for 40 years.

·       Elizabeth proceeded quickly (within two months) with her coronation to ensure there were no threats to the crown

·       Elizabeth appeared accustomed to monarchical customs, which pleased people.

·       The Spanish Ambassador, the Count of Feria, visited Elizabeth several days after Mary’s death and Philip II of Spain recognised her as queen.

3. Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559

3.1 The Act of Supremacy (1/3)

·       Restored royal supremacy of the Church, which had been established under Henry but removed by Mary

·       The queen was the ‘supreme governor’ not the ‘supreme head’. This was a concession to the Catholics so they would find the settlement easier to accept.

·       Clergymen and church officials took an oath accepting supremacy and there were penalties for refusing.

·       The heresy law under Mary was repealed

·       Powers of royal visitation of the church were revived.

·       A new court was established- The Court of High Commission- to prosecute those who weren’t loyal.

3.2 The Act of Uniformity (2/3)

·       Dealt with doctrine issues and specified the use of the Single Book of Common Prayer introduced by Cranmer in 1552,

·       This act tried to find some common ground between Catholics and Protestants. The book wasn’t as strong as Edwards Book of Common Prayer and the wording was deliberately vague to avoid offending Catholics or Puritans.

·       Catholics believed in consubstantiation (the bread and wine is Jesus’ body and blood) and Protestants believed in transubstantiation (the bread and wine are the spirit of Jesus’ body and blood. So variations…