Elizabeth, Mary and the politics of religion in the British Isles 1558-1603.
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Transcript of Elizabeth, Mary and the politics of religion in the British Isles 1558-1603.
Elizabeth, Mary and the politics of religion in the British Isles
1558-1603
Political and religious tensions in the British Isles 1558-1603
1) Traditional Anglo-Scottish rivalry – each monarch seeking to control the other’s kingdom.
2) Religious division in each kingdom – radical Reformation/Counter-Reformation ideas suggest loyalty to true religion more important than loyalty to monarchs.
- John Knox – debates whether ‘obedience is to be rendered to a magistrate who enforces idolatry and condemns true religion’?
3) Changes in international relations - emergence of Spain as global Catholic power.
Elizabeth I (1533-1603)
Elizabeth’s religious policy
• Polarisation in 1558 between Catholic bishops and privy councillors, and returning Protestant exiles who want radical religious change.
• Elizabeth aims to construct Church that is theologically Protestant but retains hierarchy of bishops and some elements of Catholic ceremony.
• Key legislation - Act of Uniformity (1559), 39 Articles (1563).
• Elizabethan Church seen by some admirers as via media between religious extremes.
The Catholic threat to Elizabeth
• 1569 – rising of the Northern Earls: reflects antagonism of key aristocratic dynasties (Nevilles and Percys).
• 1571-2 – Ridolfi Plot• 1584 – Throckmorton Plot• 1586 – Babington Plot- Catholic threat in Scotland through French influence
(Regent Mary of Guise). - Threat in Ireland – dispossessed Catholic aristocrats
(esp. Fitzgerald earls) gain support of Papacy.
Pope Pius V (1504-1572)
Mary Stuart (1542-1587)
Challenges to Mary
• Protestant rebel Lords of the Congregation prepared to resort to English arms to prevent growth of French Catholic influence 1558-1560.
• Key Protestant voices include her half-brother James Stuart, earl of Moray and Calvinist preacher John Knox.
• Mary remains Catholic, but like Elizabeth, aims for moderate religious policy – accepts power of Scottish Protestants.
• Potential for instability in British Isles when Mary represented by some of her supporters as Catholic alternative to Elizabeth.
Mary’s threat to Elizabeth
• Paradox that Mary’s threat increases as power falls in Scotland.
• Elizabeth has no husband and therefore no heir.
• Mary has potential to attract English and international Catholic support.
• Mary therefore a great danger to Elizabeth when she is moved into England (1567).
Philip II (1527-1598) - presides over growth in Spanish power and global ambition
Anglo-Spanish conflict – heightens Catholic peril in the British Isles
• Spanish support for Mary Stuart and the house of Guise sparks Throckmorton and Babington Plots (1584, 1586).
• Execution of Mary Stuart brings open conflict between Elizabeth and Philip.
• Spanish and papal support of Tyrone’s Rebellion against Elizabeth in Ireland (1594-1603).
Elizabeth I, ‘Rainbow Portrait’, attributed to Isaac Oliver, 1600
Common Protestant anxieties have created hopes for Anglo-Scottish convergence
- James Henrisoun, Exhortacion to the Scottes to Conforme themselves to the Honorable, Expedient & Godly Union between the Realmes of England and Scotland (1547)
- Anthony Gilby, Admonition to England and Scotland (1558) :‘Give eare... O Britaine (for of that name both rejoseth), whiles the Lord calleth, exhorteth, an admonisheth, that is the tyme when he will be founde...’