Question

To what extent did Elizabeth enforce the Settlement (3)?

a) She enforced it rigorously and uniformly throughout her reign
b) She enforced it partially, with occasional concessions to Catholicism
c) She enforced it selectively, depending on the region and circumstances
d) She did not enforce it at all, allowing religious freedom for all

Answer 1

Elizabeth enforced the Elizabethan Settlement partially, with some concessions to Catholicism, aiming for balance and stability. Her moderate policies were a compromise between Catholic and Protestant practices, enforced selectively to address political and religious challenges.

Step-by-step explanation:

To what extent did Elizabeth enforce the Settlement? The correct answer is b) She enforced it partially, with occasional concessions to Catholicism. Queen Elizabeth's approach to the Elizabethan Settlement aimed for a balance between Protestantism and Catholicism. During her reign from 1558 to 1603, Elizabeth's policies were inclined towards Protestantism but she only required outward conformity from her subjects. In practice, this led to a church that maintained some Catholic rituals, while adhering to key Protestant reforms such as mass in the vernacular and allowing priests to marry. This moderate religious policy often meant enforcement could be flexible, reflecting Elizabeth's desire to maintain stability and avoid exacerbating religious tensions.

The Settlement itself was not designed to completely satisfy the hard-lined views of either side; it avoided the extremes of Catholic Mary I's policies and the fundamental Calvinism desired by the Puritans. The moderate religious stance of Elizabeth faced challenges from various quarters, including the Puritans who found it insufficiently Protestant and Catholics who still hoped for a return to Catholic England, illustrated by the plotting of Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.

Elizabeth's Settlement did include punitive measures against Catholics who refused to conform, but it was often enforced selectively, influenced by political and social considerations. This selective enforcement grew more rigorous against Catholics towards the latter part of Elizabeth's reign, particularly against those perceived as a threat, amidst international pressures such as conflict with Catholic Spain. Notably, the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, was a significant action against Catholic opposition.