Explain what these three sources and your own knowledge tell you about changing attitudes to Catholics during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

by sarahsombrero (student)

Source A suggests that Elizabeth I felt Catholics and Protestants were both equal, and wanted to bring a middle ground to Christianity. This is seen as the source shows that she believed Catholics and Protestants were ‘both part of the same faith’. This shows that before her reign there was a lot of conflict as some believed that Protestants were not serious enough about God and not strict enough and therefore sinful. This could be due to the previous reign of Mary I who was catholic, therefore It Catholics would have been the main religion. From this I can also suggest that before the reign of queen Elizabeth I there was a lot of conflict between Catholics and Protestants. I know this because the source shows how she is trying to show how all the denominations are one under the eyes of God. The source also suggests that the attitudes changed from a mainly Catholic view to acceptance of both denominations, as from the source we can clearly see that Elizabeth I is in favour of both and wanted to popularise protestants, as she believed both Catholics and Protestants are part of the same faith and ‘all else is a dispute over trifles’. The origin of the source improves the usefulness of the source as it is quotes from Elizabeth I, this shows her intentions and ideas about Christianity, and her intentions are clear that she is trying to make both denominations equal in England. However it is slightly unreliable as we cannot see the effect of Elizabeth changing attitudes among citizens in England.

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Source B suggests that strong Catholic leaders detested the middle course between the extreme Protestants and Catholics that Elizabeth I was trying to bring. This is seen as the senior advisor to the pope calls her a ‘guilty woman’, suggesting that many Catholics believed that Protestants were against God and not serious enough and was sinful. The Catholics believed that The Catholics faith was the way to eternal life and therefore the source shows how many catholic religious leaders saw the Protestant movement as a threat to religion in England as she is seen by the Senior advisor to the pope to be the ‘cause of so much injury to the Catholic faith’. The ‘injury to the Catholic faith’ suggests that many extreme Catholics felt Elizabeth I was a threat as before her reign, England was mainly Catholic due to Mary I, and the new reign would have brought new threat to the religion in England. From the origin of the source, the source is useful because it is a quote from the senior advisor to the pope. From this we can see how the catholic leaders viewed Elizabeth I’s attempts to bring a middle part to religion. We can see that the leaders though the extent a threat and against God, therefore we can see the extent of separation, as the rest of the country became accepting of the change of attitudes towards protestants, the leaders were against this and were trying to make things remain as they previously were.

Source C suggests that religion was affecting the politics of England. This is seen as Sir William Cecil, who was chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth, says ‘there could be no government where there was division. From this I can infer that the separation between Catholics and Protestants was causing trouble in the government and not allowing it run smoothly because religious views were coming into politics, thus having an effect on government. The source also suggests that many people didn’t approve of the equality of both denominations that Elizabeth I was bringing. As there ‘that state could never be in safety, where there was toleration of two religions’. From this I can infer that many people were still pro-catholic and were unaccepting of the change Elizabeth I was bringing because of the effect of the country. The source is useful as it is By Sir William Cecil, and active member of the government at the time as the effect of the government and people in government’s views are seen through this. We can see how religion was coming into politics which highlights the importance of this at the time. This source however, is quite unreliable, as Sir William Cecil was the Chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth, and therefore this source is quite biased as he would have been in favour of her views in order to bring favour to her.

In conclusion from these sources we can see that many extreme religious people were against the changing attitudes to Catholics that Elizabeth I was trying to bring. Although many people in England with not such important roles were accepting of this change. The people in role and power were against this because of the effect on England for example the effect on Church and politics. However through Elizabeth I’s power of queen we can suggest that attitudes were changing to become more accepting of Protestants through Elizabeth’s I’s view and actions towards Catholics.

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