Key facts and dates

Mary I and Elizabeth I navigated England's religious divisions during the mid-16th century, with Mary enforcing Catholicism and Elizabeth seeking a balanced Protestant-led approach. These policies reflected broader European religious conflicts and shaped the Church of England.

Timeline of key events

• 1553 – Mary I becomes queen after Edward VI's death and begins reversing Protestant reforms.
• 1554 – Mary restores papal authority over the English Church and marries Philip II of Spain.
• 1555-1558 – Around 300 Protestants burnt at the stake, earning Mary the nickname 'Bloody Mary'.
• 1558 – Elizabeth I succeeds Mary and initiates a moderate religious policy.
• 1559 – Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity establish Elizabeth as Governor of the Church and mandate a new prayer book.
• 1563 – Publication of Foxe's Book of Martyrs, documenting Protestant persecutions under Mary.

Mary I's Catholic reforms and persecutions

Mary I ascended to the throne in 1553 following the death of her brother Edward VI, ruling until 1558. As a devout Catholic, she aimed to undo the Protestant changes introduced during the reigns of her father Henry VIII and brother. This involved reinstating Catholic practices and suppressing Protestantism, which led to significant religious upheaval in England.

Key actions to restore Catholicism

• Reversal of Protestant laws - Mary abolished the Protestant prayer books and the Act of Uniformity, which had enforced uniform worship under Protestant guidelines, to bring back traditional Catholic rituals.
• Restoration of papal authority - In 1554, she re-established the Pope's control over the Church in England, aligning the country once more with the Roman Catholic Church.
• Marriage to Philip II - Mary married the Catholic King Philip II of Spain in 1554.

Persecutions of Protestants

• Burnings at the stake - Mary had about 300 Protestants burnt, including prominent figures like Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley.
• Nickname 'Bloody Mary' - Protestants, such as John Foxe, labelled her 'Bloody Mary'.

Context of the Counter-Reformation and Foxe's Book of Martyrs

Mary's reign coincided with the Counter-Reformation, a broader European movement where the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its authority and combat the spread of Protestantism. This period involved strict measures against dissenters, influencing Mary's policies in England.

The Counter-Reformation in Europe

The Counter-Reformation involved the Catholic Church declaring its power and imposing harsh punishments on Protestants.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

This book by John Foxe detailed the stories of Protestants who died for their religion under Mary.

Elizabeth I's moderate religious settlement

Elizabeth I, who ruled from 1558 to 1603, succeeded her sister Mary and sought to heal the religious divisions by establishing a moderate Protestant framework. Her policies aimed to accommodate both Catholics and Protestants within a unified Church of England, avoiding the extremes of previous reigns.

Foundations of the religious settlement

• Act of Supremacy (1559) - Elizabeth called herself Governor of the Church of England, rather than Head, by this Act.
• Act of Uniformity (1559) - This Act insisted that everybody used a new prayer book, which was worded in a way that wouldn't offend Catholics too much.
• Tolerance in practice - Elizabeth permitted private beliefs as long as individuals attended Church of England services, focusing on outward conformity rather than probing personal convictions.

Challenges from Catholics and Puritans during Elizabeth's reign

As Elizabeth's reign progressed, her moderate approach faced opposition from both Catholics, who saw it as insufficiently Catholic, and Puritans, who demanded further Protestant reforms. These tensions led to evolving policies and secret practices.

Catholic opposition and responses

• Growing Catholic opposition - As time passed, threats to Elizabeth's life from Catholics led to harsher measures in her treatment of them.
• Secret worship - Catholics found themselves having to worship in secret.

Puritan demands for reform

• Puritan beliefs - Puritans were radical Protestants who emphasised hard work, strict worship, and moral living, strongly opposing activities like theatre, dancing, and alcohol as sinful distractions.
• Calls for change - They wanted more reforms than Elizabeth was prepared to allow.