3. In 1559, Queen Elizabeth I introduced the Act of Supremacy which gave the reigning monarch full authority of the Church of England. This bill also severed all ties with the Roman Catholic Church. The reigning monarch was recognised as the head of both church and state. It became compulsory for people to attend church every Sunday and holidays; with a fine for those who did not comply. Many Protestants and Catholics didn’t approve of the changes Queen Elizabeth I made in terms of religion. Many followers became ‘neutrals’ due to the confusion of changing religions. Some believed that the changes made by Queen Elizabeth I to the religions in England showed her indifference to her faith; but many believe she wanted to make it so that Church was tolerable for Catholics as well.

4. Although it was not illegal to be a Catholic in Elizabethan England, it was illegal to hold or attend a mass (a Christian ceremony). Often wealthy Catholic families secretly maintained private chaplains (a member of the clergy employed to give religious guidance). Elizabethan policy allowed freedom of belief. There were strict laws that prohibited any openly religious or current political events from being represented on stage; though Shakespeare made many references to Catholicism in his plays. If Shakespeare, or any other playwright for that matter, was thought to be a Catholic, their career would have been seriously affected. Despite the relaxed laws on religious beliefs, there were still arrests and executions of those who failed to adhere to the ‘favoured’ religion. And those who plotted against Queen Elizabeth I in order to replace her with the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots were tortured and executed for their allegiance to the Queen’s cousin.

5. In the Elizabethan Era religion was not just a personal preference or opinion, it was the basis of society. There were strict laws put in place by Queen Elizabeth I preventing Catholics from attending or holding a mass but did not punish Catholics for their beliefs. As an important part of Elizabethan society, religion played a large part in how people lived their lives; for example it was compulsory for people to attend church every Sunday. There were strict laws that prohibited any openly religious or current political events from being represented on stage; though Shakespeare made many references to Catholicism in his plays. Queen Elizabeth I saw herself as God's vessel on earth, and would pray daily in order to determine God's will so that she could implement it. Queen Elizabeth continued the work of her father, King Henry VIII, and her brother, King Edward VI, by severing all ties with the Roman Catholic Church and reinstating Protestantism as the ‘favoured’ religion in England. This was the religion that was taught in schools around the country and was the religion that the people of England had to adhere to unless they wanted to suffer the consequences.

6. ProtestantCatholic (Council of Trent) Justification by faith -- Christ's sacrifice atones for all sins, and it is only necessary to believe in it to be saved. There is nothing humans can do by their own efforts to add or detract from it. Both faith and good works (acts of devotion, charity, the sacraments, etc.) are necessary for salvation. The priesthood of all believers -- all believers have equal access to God and no other earthly intermediaries are needed. This does not mean that the flock does not need teachers, but there are no special sacramental functions belonging to any particular class. The Catholic priesthood is necessary as only priests can perform the sacraments necessary for spiritual health and correctly interpret the meaning of scripture. The scriptures as the only source of true doctrine -- studying and understanding the scriptures is therefore important to all believers. Translating the Bible into the vernacular tongues and making it available to all is essential. Scripture is only one way in which doctrine is revealed; the decisions of church councils, encyclicals from the Pope, tradition, etc. are all part of it. Only the priesthood of the church can correctly interpret the meaning of scripture -- do not try this at home. Christ's sacrifice happened only once, and no repeat of that sacrifice is necessary. Although Calvinists and Lutherans believe God is present at the sacrament and it nourishes the faithful spiritually, the bread and wine are not literally the body and blood of Christ. Zwinglians take a more extreme view that the sacrament is only symbolic. Everyone takes both bread and wine. The Eucharist is a mystery in which the sacrifice of Christ is reenacted; the bread and wine become spiritually transformed into the true body and blood of the Lord (the doctrine of transubstantiation). Only priests partake of the wine and bread, the populace only takes the bread. No heavenly intermediaries are needed to intercede with God. Although the Virgin Mary, saints, and angels are all in heaven, they should not be the objects of prayer or veneration. The making of images encourages idolatrous worship that should be directed at the more abstract concept of God. Although the saints and angels should not be worshipped, their intercession is valuable and necessary to helping the Christian to achieve salvation. The Virgin Mary is especially honored by God, and should be also by believers. Religious images should not be worshipped, but they help to inspire devotion (these fine points were often lost on the average peasant). God's foreknowledge and omnipotence mean that everyone is predestined to their fate: either to be or not to be one of the elect. Human action avails nothing. God's omnipotence does not restrict human will, and each individual is still responsible for earning their own salvation. The Bible only documents two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper (so called to distinguish the Protestant practice from the Catholic Eucharist). No priestly status is required to perform them, although ministers to the church are necessary and useful to directing and guiding it. There are seven sacraments: baptism, Eucharist (see above), penance (confession/ absolution), confirmation, marriage, holy orders, extreme unction (last rites). Of these, baptism can be performed by anyone in an emergency, and marriage (a historical newcomer to the list) is technically bestowed by the two partners on one another -- all the rest can only be performed by a priest.

7. Queen Elizabeth I was the monarch during the Elizabethan Era. She was very popular and was loved by the people of England. She inspired the people of England with great speeches; one of her finest the speech she gave preceding the imminent attack from the mighty Spanish Armada; “...I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself will take up arms…” Official website of the Monarchy states that “As Head of State, The Monarch undertakes constitutional and representational duties which have developed over one thousand years of history. In addition to these State duties, The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service”. Reasons behind having a monarchy have not changed a great deal between the Elizabethan Era and the present day.

8. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/religion-elizabethan-england.htm http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/index.htm http://www.erasofelegance.com/history/renaissance.html http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/henry8.html#Four http://tudorhistory.org/wives/ http://www.elizabethanenglandlife.com/religion-in-elizabethan-england.html http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/education/elizabethanage.shtml http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/religion-of-the-shakespeares.htm http://www.lepg.org/religion.htm http://www.elizabethi.org/us/elizabethanchurch/queenandchurch.html http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-daily-life.htm http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/HowtheMonarchyworks/HowtheMonarchyworks.aspx