Question 3

Why did Elizabeth pursue a compromised religious settlement in 1559?

• Elizabeth’s main intention was to secure a lasting religious settlement for her people.
• There was little doubt that this would be Protestant in line with her own preference; the issue was how Protestant would it be?
• In deciding this, Elizabeth was influenced by a number of causal factors, for example, the religious upheavals of the preceding decade, the real danger posed by France and Scotland, or the need to preserve the fragile friendship with Spain.
• Elizabeth wanted to secure a religious settlement that most of her people could follow – she had no desire to ‘make windows into men’s souls’.
• Here intentions were practical and conservative in that she wanted to avoid unrest.
• Catholics were a danger and so were some Protestants.
• Elizabeth made them all go to one church and fined them if they didn’t go.