The Elizabethan Settlement

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the Elizabethan settlement is a black area in English history that is very difficult to either analyze or justify. It looks at how, when Elizabeth I succeeded to the throne in 1558, there were several problems that faced her, one of which was religion and how the Queen had the difficult task of replacing the Catholic faith and leadership with Protestantism. It examines the factors that impacted her decisions ranging from her own personal beliefs to the influence of Parliament.

From the Paper:

"To understand the factors that influenced the settlement it is important to address what it consisted of. Firstly there was the Act of Royal Supremacy, 1559, which proclaimed the Queen "Supreme Governor", a compromise aimed at pleasing both Catholics and extreme Protestants opposed to the original title of "Supreme head". There was also the Act of Uniformity which dealt more directly with religious beliefs. This made attendance to church on Sundays compulsory, with failure to do so resulting in a fine of 12d. However, this Act signified the extent to which the settlement was just a compromise as it allowed "crosses and candlesticks to be placed on the communion table" , to please Catholics both at home and abroad. Finally, there were the Royal Injunctions, 1559, which filled in most of the day to day organization of the church that was otherwise not included in the Act of Uniformity. This is what the settlement consisted of but the real debate lies behind how and why it was arranged like this."

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