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...’