Elizabethan Relion

Mindmap including everything I have been taught about religion during the Elizabetha era. Enjoy.

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  • Elizabethan Religion
    • The Religious Settlement (1559)
      • The Act of Supremacy
        • England became a Protestant country again
        • Elizabeth became Head of the Church instead of the Pope. Her title was Supreme Governor.
        • Bishops would help Elizabeth govern the new Church
        • All judges. government officials, JPs, MPs, and clergy had o take an oath accepting Elizabeth's title. If they refused they could be imprisoned, but if they refused three times, they would be executed.
      • The Act of Uniformity
        • The bible was in English instead of Latin like the Catholic church.
        • A new Protestant prayer book had to be sed in every church
        • Churches were allowed to be decorated
        • The clergy had to wear vestments and were allowed to marry
        • Church services had to be in English. Bread and wine were to be taken, but the reasons why were left vague. Catholics believed that the bread and wine actually turned into Jesus' body and blood.
        • All clergy  had to take an oath agreeing to use the new Prayer Book
        • Recusants (anyone who refused to go to church) had to pay a fine of 1 shilling (5p) a week. This was a large sum for the poor
      • Issues
        • Some Catholics and Puritans still didn't follow the rules
    • Catholics
      • Mary Queen of Scots
        • Mary was Elizabeth's Catholic cousin. She claimed to be the rightful Queen of England. Her son was James 1, the future King of England after Elizabeth's death.
        • She was involved in many plots to assassinate the Queen however she was finally executed when evidence was discovered for her involvement in the Babington's plot in 1586 by Sir Robert Walsingham. Elizabeth didn't want to kill Mary as she was her cousin and it may also be seen as regicide (People believed that a king or queen was chosen by God therefore by killing Mary, it would be going against God's wishes.
          • Plots to assassinate Elizabeth
            • The Northern Rebellion Plot 1569: The Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland gathered 6000 soldiers and the plan was to rescue Mary and overthrow Elizabeth so that England could be a Roman Catholic again. Mary didn't agree to the rebellion as she knew it wouldn't work. Eight hundred rebels were executed as well as the two leaders.
            • The Ridolf Plot1571: Discovered by William Cecil. An Italian banker (Rudolf) plotted to overthrow Elizabeth. Mary, the Duke of Norfolk, King Philipe of Spain and the Pope were involved. The Spanish army would English Catholiocs make Mary Queen and then Marry the Duke of Norfolk. Rudolf and the Spanish Ambassador were expelled from the country.
            • The St Bartholomew 's Massacre 1572: Mary's french relations were involved in the killings of thousands of protestants just weeks after Elizabeth decided not to kill her.
            • The Throckmorton Plot1583: Francis Throckmorton was arrested and tortured flor helping to organise a Catholic plot. The plan was for the French army to invade England and make Mary Queen. The Pope and King Philipe of Spain agreed to pay for it. Francis confessed Mary knew about the plot. Francis Throckmorton was executed and  the Spanish ambassador was expelled from England . Mary was moved to a castle in staffordshire and all her letters were checked.
            • The Babington's Plot 1586:  Robert Walsingham discovered another Catholic plot to rescue and murder Elizabeth. Secret letters between Mary and the plotters were coded and had been hidden in beer barrels Walsingham was able to decode the letters and one proved that Mary had agreed  to the plan which was enough evidence to find her guilty. Anthony Babington who had arranged the plot was arrested and confessed. Him and six other plotters were killed in september. Walsingham demanded that Mary should be executed and in october when parliament met, the MP's agreed
        • If Elizabeth had no children, Mary would be heir to the throne.
        • She was held prisoner for nineteen years. she was a martyr (dies for her religious beliefs).
      • Jesuits were Catholic priests who were trained in Catholic countries were sent to England to convert people into Catholics during the 1570s and 1580s.
      • Spain, France and Scotland were Catholic countries
      • Nearly 200 Catholics were killed at the end of Elizabeth's reign.
      • In 1158-1576, no priests were killed.
      • 1579-1585, 27 priests were killed for involvement in plots against the queen.
      • 1588, 21 priests were killed due to their involvement in the Spanish Armada. Catholics were ordered to leave the country or face execution.
    • Protestants
      • They believed the head of the church should be the King or Queen. The church should be decorated plainly.
      • Puritans
        • Believed that there shouldn't be a head of the church and churchgoers elected committees to make the rules. in 1566, Puritan MPs demanded that priests should wear plain black gowns but Elizabeth got Mathew Parker (the Archbishop of Canterbury to issue new church rules and those who refused to wear vestments were expelled from church. In 1571, William Strickland (a Puritan MP) wanted to introduce a new prayer book and vestments and a big campaign in London was arranged to support me. Elizabeth closed parliament.
        • There were a few Puritans in England and Europe.
        • 1575-1583, Puritans organised prayer meetings called prophesy sings to spread their ideas.Edmund Grindal, the new Archbishop liked these meetings and when Elizabeth ordered him to ban them, he refused so she suspended him.
        • 1583, William Stubbs wrote a pamphlet criticising Elizabeth for holding marriage talks with a catholic priest from France so his right hand got cut off.
        • Some Puritans  issued a series of anonymous pamphlets called the Marprelate Tracts which contained strong complaints about the church and the bishops however many people were offended by them and the Puritans lost many of their supporters.
      • Martin Luther protested the Catholic church was becoming corrupt.


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