CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY

The Influence of the Reformed Tradition on the Elizabethan Settlement LOWELL H. ZUCK

The Theological Implications of Confirmation ARTHUR C. REPP

The Doctrine of Justification and Reconciliation in the Theology of Karl Barth ROBERT D. PREUSS

Homiletics

Theological Observer

Book Review

VOL. XXXI April 1960 No.4 The Influence of the Reformed Tradition on the Elizabethan Settlement By LOWELL H. ZUCK

EDITORIAL NOTE: This paper was presented The over-all importance of the Eliza­ at a symposIUm on the 400th anniversary of the bethan Settlement ought not to be denied. Elizabethan Settlement, sponsored by Concordia Semina::Y, St. Louis, May 9, 1959. The paper of ~e Oxford historian, T. M. Parker, put­ coessaYlst Prof. Charles F. Mullett of the Uni­ tlllg it judiciously, says that the accession versity of Missouri on the topic "The Elizabethan of Elizabeth is the turning point, though S.ettlement and the English Church" was pub­ bshed in this journal, XXX (Sept. 1959),643 in no sense the terminus, of the Reforma­ to 658. tion in England.1 Turning point it was. Never again was England to become offi­ HOUGH the Church of England is now cially Catholic, and the unique Anglican T well past its 400th birthday, the Church continued intact from the time of sources of its distinctive doctrines and pol­ Elizabeth, with constantly growing prestige ity are still somewhat unclear. If we can in English affairs. Yet something must be agree that the conclusions reached bv said on the other side as well. The reli­ Queen Elizabeth I and her Parliament of gious unity of the country had been broken, 1559 were basic to the future shape of the and it was never again to be restored. The Anglican Church, it is natural then to go counterattack of Roman Catholics in the into an examination of whether the out­ 1570s showed that though the traditional come of the settlement depended primarily church was greatly weakened, the Angli­ on Elizabeth, on someone else perhaps, or can middle way scarcely satisfied Roman upon compromise between Elizabeth and Catholics in England. Moreover, the Tudor her advisers. Needless to say, the still attempt to hold together a national Prot­ more difficult question of possible divine estant church, completely identified with intervention in human affairs scarcely the English crown and people, broke down comes into consideration in the perhaps in the 17th century in a period of regicide too mundane presuppositions of ecclesiasti­ and radical Protestant democracy. The An­ cal historians. This paper attempts to trace glican Church was not very firmly estab­ the influence of the continental Reformed lished through much of the 17th tradition upon the celebrated English reli­ ~entury! Neat as Elizabeth's middle way seemed to gious events up to May in the year 1559, be, it still tended to splinter into mutually and thereby to indicate the importance for ex:clusive extremes. Thus we may accept, the Elizabethan Settlement of radical Prot­ wlth some remaining questions, the suita­ estant influences, which were non-English bility of the emphatic term "settlement" in their origin and program but which for the development of ecclesiastical forms came to be part of the basic design for re­ in 1559 under the virgin queen. form of the Church of England and modi­ fied considerably Elizabeth's more tenta­ 1 T. M. Parker, The English Reformation to tively Protestant proposals. 1558 (London, 1950), p.l72. 215 216 REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT

It is more difficult to find out what partially favorable attitude toward the new actually did happen in 1559. The source proposals of Reformation as that move­ of difficulty lies in the still incomplete ment came to bear upon her. Then the evidence, which scarcely enables us to piece events in Parliament leading up to the together accurately the diverse and ob­ Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity will be scure attitudes held by the actors in this reviewed, especially as the influence of brief drama or even to know fully what Reformed divines on the queen and her actions were attempted and what results ministers can be discovered. Finally, an were achieved. The most striking effort evaluation will be attempted in regard to at reconstructing the events of the settle­ the over-all effect of the Continental Re­ ment has been that of Sir John Neale in an formed theology on the Elizabethan Set­ article in the English Historical Review tlement. and in his recent work on Elizabeth and I 2 her parliaments. There are unsolved prob­ THE INFLUENCE OF THE lems in Neale's surmises based on tantaliz­ REFORMATION ON ELIZABE'rH ingly incomplete records. Elizabeth left little doubt upon her ac­ This paper follows roughly the lines of cession that she would be a worthy succes­ Sir John's effort to reconstruct Elizabeth's sor to her active, popular, very English compromises with a Parliament advised by father. Her first major effort as monarch, divines newly returned from exile under the religious settlement, properly bears her Mary.s We wish to show in addition that name and shows her influence toward com­ the recently exiled Protestant preachers prehension of competing religious parties. without exception followed the radical Yet we must not allow the glamour of the Protestant party line of the Swiss German age and the patina glowing ever since then and Rhineland Reformers, men of Strass­ around the magic name of Elizabeth to burg, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Geneva who obscure the very real weakness and uncer­ were advocates of what is known to us tainty which a doubtfully legitimate girl today as the Reformed tradition in its of 25 faced as she tried to assume the pristine freshness and radically Biblical authority of a queen in a masculine and form.4 We shall first consider Elizabeth's predatory era.

2 ]. E. Neale, "The Elizabethan Acts of Su­ Elizabeth's personal attitude toward re­ premacy and Uniformity," in the English His­ ligion was obviollsly important in deter­ torical Review, LXV (July 1950), 304-332. mining which direction the confused sit­ J. E. Neale, Elizabeth I and Her Parliaments, 1559-81 (London, 1953). uation in the churches should take. Her 3 Christine H. Garrett in the Marian Exiles personal faith, far more than being a pri­ (New York, 1938) has traced thoroughly the vate matter, was bound up with the destiny sojourns of all the English exiles of this period, of the English people. At this point Eliza­ though she exaggerates their influence as a po­ litical party when they returned to England in beth's shrewd instinct for duplicity and 1558. 4 Though the influence of John Calvin and they wish to be regarded as "Calvinists." Per­ Geneva on these men was great, they did not haps Calvin's influence, then, was not quite so mention Calvin as often as we should expect. overwhelming as it appears to us from a longer Correspondence with him was scarce, nor did historical perspective. REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT 217 vagueness on confessional matters came stricken at the time of her accession. The into conflict with the necessity for some Scots were coming. The French were com­ kind of religious program which would be ing. The Roman Church supported the definite enough to establish a permanent claim of both enemies that Elizabeth's national religious policy. In the end her cousin, Mary of Scotland, was rightful heir religious settlement combined inward am­ to the English throne. These factors might biguity in regard to personal belief with well have predisposed Elizabeth toward a demand for outward conformity. It is Protestantism for her own protection. Yet easy therefore to emphasize so strongly if Protestantism were to become a lost Elizabeth's political motivations in reli­ cause in the Netherlands, France, Scotland, gious matters that her own faith vanishes. and Spain, which looked very likely, it To be sure, her own religious attitude was would scarcely be politic for Elizabeth to anything but fanatical. No bloody Mary play for the wrong team in England. Her she, nor a hot Calvinist either! option for Protestantism greatly influenced Yet every factor in her background and further developments, but she would not situation indicates that Elizabeth's turn have made the choice for the new church toward a Protestant solution involved a de­ had not the Reformation movement ex­ cision of faith and not only political cal­ erted a prevailing influence through her culation, It is important to point out that education, environment, and orientation though she exerted a predominant influ­ toward God, self, and world. ence upon the Reformation in England, The early education of Elizabeth was the Reformation in England and abroad entirely in the hands of bright young radi­ also had a significant impact upon her. cal Protestant humanists from Cambridge, That is, Elizabeth's political calculations whose enthusiasm must have been con­ had to be worked out to accord with her tagious. Her first surviving letter, written personal faith, which was Protestant, and at 10, reveals already her radical preference at the same time the authority behind the for the Italian language, which was to ac­ program of religious Reformation would company her throughout life. Later more at times at least loom larger for her than than one Catholic clergyman remarked at merely the question of her personal dis­ her ignorance of Catholic theology, while likes and desires. It is not precisely true showing irritation at her friendship for that her birth condemned her to be either "heretic Italian friars," no doubt referring Protestant or bastard, as if no personal to Peter Martyr Vermigli and Bernardino choices were involved in maintaining 'her Ochino, both Italian Protestants, profes­ Protestant faith. That little matter might sors in England during Cranmer's regime have been set straight had she made her and favorites of Elizabeth.5 Under Wil­ peace with Rome. (The Protestants of liam Grindall, a Protestant tutor, Elizabeth course had had equal or greater difficulty translated Margaret of Navarre's "Miroir over marital problems of princes.) Prac­ de Lime pecheresse" ("Mirror of a sinful tically speaking, Elizabeth was the only living descendant of King Henry, and be­ 5 F. W. Maitland, "The Anglican Settlement and the Scottish Reformation," in the Cambridge yond her lay civil war. England was panic- Modern History, II, 563. 218 REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT soul"), the work of that remarkable sister suggested a coming Protestant vogue, while of King Francis I of France, who aided clerical refugees flocked back from Frank­ John Calvin and the French Reformation furt, Zurich, Strassburg, and Geneva with in its first stirrings. Until she was 15 years hopes high. During a pageant in her coro­ old, Roger Ascham, the foremost English nation procession, Elizabeth kissed an Eng­ Protestant humanist, perfected Elizabeth's lish Bible presented to her by a dressed-up training by beginning her mornings with allegorical figure who stated that this book the study of the Greek New Testament taught the way to bring a commonwealth supplemented by Cyprian and Melanch­ from a decayed to a flourishing state. At thon's Loci communes, which thoroughly the concluding pageant, where she was grounded her in the methods and conclu­ greeted as Deborah, "the judge and restorer sions of the Continental Protestant theolo­ of the House of Israel," a child bade her gians.6 Ascham noted with pride to a Prot­ good-bye in the following words: estant friend in Strassburg that Elizabeth Farewell, 0 worthy Queen! and as our at 16 was eagerly making progress in the hope is sure study of true religion and learning. She That into error's place thou wilt now truth continued to read Greek with Ascham after restore, her accession to the throne. Like her So trust we that thou wilt our Sovereign father, Elizabeth was proud of her achieve­ Queen endure, ments in theology. In a speech before And loving Lady stand, from henceforth evermore. Parliament in 1566, defending herself against critics who thought her indifferent Elizabeth responded enthusiastically, "Be to religion, she retorted with "It is said ye well assured I will stand your good I am no divine. Indeed, I studied nothing Queen." 8 Again, though it may have been merely for effect, when Elizabeth met the else but divinity till I came to the crown." 7 abbot and monks of Westminster, with Beyond the Protestant leanings of the candles burning in broad daylight on the humanist scholars the wider environment way to the opening of Parliament, she said: around Elizabeth at her accession was defi­ "Away with those torches! We can see nitely Protestant, including her councilors, well enough." 9 the divines who had access to her, and the Thus it seems fair to maintain that, in populace of London. The early appoint­ spite of Elizabeth's mocking tone on re­ ment of Sir William Cecil and Sir Nich­ ligious questions, her understanding of olas Bacon as Elizabeth's chief councilors God, self, and the world was rather sin­ cerely Protestant, of that mild and human­ 6 J. E. Neale, Queen Elizabeth I: A Biography istic Melanchthonian type which had not (New York, 1957), p.14. Erasmus, the great prince of humanists, exerted a significant influ­ yet succumbed under either the dogmatic ence on both the Continental Reformed and blows of the epigoni attempting to out­ Anglican reformers, though his views had be­ Luther Luther or under the manifestoes come subordinated to a more partisan reforming zeal by 1559. of the hard-nosed Puritans, ready to smash 7 Philip Hughes, The Reformation in Eng. land: True Religion Now Established, III (Lon­ 8 Neale, Elizabetb I: A Biography, pp. 62, 63. don, 1954), 155. 9 Ibid., p. 59. REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT 219 every indication of beauty or compromise. therans who were to reject Melanchthon, Elizabeth's courtesy toward mild Lutherans the author of the Augsburg Confession, in Germany shows that it was the accom­ not the Reformed divines, as the derogatory modating side of the Reformation which tag "crypto-Calvinist," hung on the Me­ she favored rather than the advocates of lanchthonians by the gnesio-Lutherans, also unbending rigidity. She wrote on Feb. 6 indicates. Now this is not to say that to the agent of the Lutheran duke of Elizabeth liked Puritan extremes, into Wurttemberg in South Germany that "she which the Reformed party fell on the other has no intention of departing from that side of Lutheran formalism. Rather the mutual agreement of Christian churches, Bucer-Melanchthon-Bullinger viewpoint, amongst which that of Augsburg appears South German and Swiss in geographical to be the most weighty." 10 To be sure, origin or locale, was the mild Protestant she could be equally polite to the Spanish position which Elizabeth followed, and its ambassador, Count de Feria, telling him at proper theological family name is "Re­ the end of April that she wished the Au­ formed." 13 gustana Confession to be maintained in II her realm and adding that "it would not THE INFLUENCE OF REFOR.MED THEOL­ be the Augustanean Confession, but some­ OGY ON PARLIAMENT DURING PASSAGE thing else like it, and that she differed very OF THE RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT little from us [that is, from the Roman Catholic view}, as she believed that God So far we have been indicating the was in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and marked :influence of the Reformed party only dissented from three or four things on Elizabeth's religious views. This does in the Mass." 11 Sir John Neale maintains not mean, however, that her own proposed that far from being diplomatic prevarica­ program for religious settlement would tion, this was a cri de coeur. These two have shown much Reformed influence, had statements are consistent, showing polite­ not the advice of her councilors and the ness toward the Catholic position but at pressure of Parliament forced her further the same time remaining precisely, firmly, along the road to Reformation radicalism. and respectfully Protestant. Moreover, her To be sure, we are on insecure ground support of the Augsburg Confession does here. We know the shape of the acts of not necessarily indicate a preference on the supremacy and uniformity as finally passed part of Elizabeth for what was coming to logical rigidity, which was reproduced in the be known as the Lutheran over against the Elizabethan Settlement. He was, of course, a great Reformed position.12 It was the rigid Lu- Lutheran also. His influence on England ought not to be overemphasized, but Lutheran influ­ ence on England ought not be overlooked either. 10 Foreign Calendar, Elizabeth 1, ed. ]. S. Ste­ venson, pp. 115-116, quoted in Neale, EngUsh 13 Martin Bucer, who died as a professor in Historical Review, LXV (July 1950), 318. exile at Cambridge in 1551, aided Cranmer in liturgical innovation to the degree that the first 11 Spanish Calendar, Elizabeth 1, ed. M. S. Book 0/ Common Prayer has been described as Hume, pp. 51-62, quoted in Neale, Elizabeth I little more than a translation of Bucer's Cologne and Her Parliaments, p. 79. liturgy into English. His De regno Christi of 12 Philip Melanchthon is here included in the 1551 was a blueprint for a Christian welfare Reformed tradition because of his lack of theo- state and influenced Elizabethan poor laws. 220 REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SET1LEMENT by Parliament. There are some scattered law of Sir William Cecil, her chief mm­ records of Parliamentary procedures along istet), and Sir Nicholas Bacon, a man with the diaries and letters of foreign whom Sir Nicholas Throckmorton had diplomats. The two-volume translation of suggested to the Queen as a possible Lord the "Zurich Letters," done a century ago Chancellor; and Sir Francis Knollys, whose by the Parker Society, is an additional col­ wife was the Queen's cousin, who had been lection adding documentary support to appointed Vice-Chamberlain and Privy what precisely is the point of this paper.14 Councillor on January 14, always a godly, Yet all of this evidence together is incom­ outspoken Puritan. Each was impatient plete and indecisive. The question of just of playing mere politics over religious how the settlement was settled remains causes." 15 Neale estimates that at least 100 somewhat unsettled. A venture of inter­ out of a total of 404 members of Parlia­ pretation necessarily follows. We might ment sympathized with the emigres and well, then, point up how pressure was that the house went full cry after its radical exerted upon Elizabeth by her councilors leaders. A Puritan account a bit later pin­ and Parliament for a more thorough Ref­ points the temper of this time, telling us ormation of the church, while the queen that "in the beginning of her Majesty's showed increasing irritation with Prot­ reign a number of worthy men ... desired estants, though she compromised grudg­ such a book and such order for the disci­ ingly in their direction, and the pastors pline of the Church as they had seen in the back from exile hovered uneasily in the best-reformed Churches abroad." 16 The background while waiting for preferment "best-reformed Churches" were those of and offering significant advice. the Swiss and South German pattern. The Sir John Neale's hypothesis is most in­ Zurich Letters indicate the progress of the teresting at this point. He tries to prove Supremacy Bill through Parliament. On that at first Elizabeth intended nothing Feb. 12 Sir Anthony Cooke wrote to Peter more than a Supremacy Bill, which would Martyr in Zurich that he had presented maintain the old Catholic order of service, personally to the queen the letters of the modified only by the sop of Communion theologians Martyr and Bullinger and that in both kinds for Protestants. According Sir William Cecil had reported that the to Sir John, Elizabeth imitated her father's queen was so affected from reading them policy, hoping to keep some of the accom­ that she wept. These tears may well have modating Marian bishops and saving her­ been sincere, since she suggested that Mar­ self from undue dependence on the enthu­ tyr and Bullinger be invited to return to siastic and demanding Protestant divines. England. Cooke went on to report to Yet her Parliament was surprisingly Prot­ Zurich that "we are now busy in parlia­ estant in sentiment, with "at least 12 and ment . . . expelling the tyranny of the probably 16 returned exiles in the house, 15 Neale, Elizabeth 1 and Her Parliaments, including Sir Anthony Cooke (father-in- 1,57. 16 Ibid., p. 77. Note the discussion of Puri­ 14 The Zttrich Letters, trans. H. Robinson for tanism in the Elizabethan Settlement in M. M. the Parker Society (Cambridge, England, 1846), Knappen, Tudor Puritanism (Chicago, 1939), two volumes. pp. 163-187. REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT 221

Pope, restoring the royal authority, and re­ laws by 32 persons," evidently an effort to establishing true religion." He added, how­ draw up a reformed body of church law ever, that they were moving too slowly, to replace the Catholic canon law, like that noting the opposition of the Roman Cath­ produced earlier by Cranmer's commis­ olic bishops in Parliament, yet "the zeal of sioners. It quickly passed the Commons the Queen is very great, the activity of the but died in the Upper House, no doubt nobility and people is also great.... The under instructions from the government. result of this meeting of Parliament will, Also the Lords, influenced by their Cath­ so far as I can judge, confirm my hope." 17 olic bishops, were busy at this time trim­ Richard Hilles, member of Parliament ming out objectionable Protestant features from London, wrote Bullinger late in Feb­ from the Supremacy Bill, and on March 17 ruary that precise liturgical forms had not the Commons, dissatisfied with delay, in­ yet been determined. He reported that troduced and passed another bill that "no Catholic preachers had been silenced, while persons should be punished for using the the Gospelers were allowed to preach be­ religion used in King Edward's last year." 20 fore the queen herself during Lent, proving The intent of this bill was that if the their doctrines from Holy Scriptures.1S Lords would deny uniformity on the basis The general expectation is, he said, that of Edward's second Prayer Book, the Com­ all rites will shortly be reformed in Par­ mons would retaliate by demanding non­ liament either after the pattern used in the conformity on the same basis. time of King Edward VI or according to On March 20 the radical Protestant that set forth by the Protestant princes of preachers emerged at last into prominence, Germany in the Augsburg Confession. This ready to plead their cause before Parlia­ latter possibility displeased Bullinger, who ment in the Colloquy of Westminster. thought it not quite worthy of "purer John Jewel wrote excitedly to Peter Mar­ churches." One can detect the sound of tyr at Zurich that nine of his ministerial Elizabeth's feet dragging at this point. In associates - Cox, Sandys, Grindal, Horne, the meantime, Feb. 21, the Supremacy Bill Aylmer, Scory, Whitehead, Guest, and him­ re-emerged from committee with more self - were to confer before the council radical features than Hilles indicates.19 It and Parliament with five opposing bishops now included the 1552 Prayer Book and on the 31st.21 At this point the clerical the Edwardian act of permitting marriage influence behind the Protestant reforms is of clergy, not so radical as the worship of evident. All nine of the Protestant divines Frankfurt or Geneva but more Protestant had been in exile, except Guest, and six, than the queen desired, since it moved be­ seven with Guest, were shortly to be made yond supremacy toward uniformity. new bishops by Elizabeth and the govern­ By Feb. 27 another bill was introduced ment. It is not likely that the interest of in Commons "for making of ecclesiastical the government in this disputation was impartial. Philip Hughes, in his able Cath- 17 Z. L., II, 13. olic work, maintains that "none of the 18 Ibid., p. 17. 19 Neale, Elizabeth I and Her Parliaments, 20 Ibid., p. 66. I, 59. 21 z. L., I, 10. 222 REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT exiles had any share in framing the new dispute which the Protestants so much de­ government order except those whom the sired. At any rate, the Westminster Col­ government chose to call in as technical, loquy provided the occasion for Protestant liturgical experts." 22 One can quote against religious propaganda which the divines had this the usually reliable testimony of the longed for to help launch their settlement. contemporary Catholic Mantuan agent in At this point again, the queen's desires London, n Schifanoya, who wrote that "the intervened in the settlement, as Neale's bishops are . . . attacked by the modern reconstruction points out. On March 22, preachers, one of whom, who is their with the Supremacy Bill past the Lords at scribe, and a member of parliament, threat­ last, the queen issued a proclamation an­ ened that if things do not pass according nouncing passage of the Act of Supremacy to their will, he and his brethren, who call "in the present last session of Parliament." themselves ministers of Christ, will return Since it was so close to Easter that copies to Geneva." 23 This emphasis upon Geneva of the bill could not be printed in time, accords exactly with the brief statement of the proclamation added that the Edwardian the clerk of the House of Commons, who statute prescribing Communion in both noted rather inexactly the disputation be­ kinds was to be in effect for Easter, "ac­ tween the bishops and "Mr. Horne, Mr. cording to the firSt institution and to the Cox, and other Englishmen that came from common use both of the Apostles and the Geneva." 24 Englishmen from Geneva in­ Primitive Church." The language of this deed! Though none of them had come no doubt pleased the radicals, but it blasted from that citadel of reform, the reforms of their hopes for uniformity and a prayer the "Englishmen from Geneva" were hav­ book in the first session of Parliament. ing their day. A more exact statement of Neale makes much of the fact that Eliz­ the theological pedigree of the returned abeth changed her mind two days later, on divines would be that of John Jewel writ­ Good Friday, March 24, deciding instead ing to Peter Martyr on April 28: "We have to adjourn Parliament over Easter, until exhibited to the Queen all our articles of April 3, rather than to have its sessions religion and doctrine, and have not de­ end.2G parted in the slightest degree from the Here was a break for the radical Prot­ confession of Zurich." 25 The disputation estants. Elizabeth suddenly had shown in itself amounted to little since the Cath­ greater favor than previously toward their olic bishops would not dispute, and the zeal for immediate reform and settlement. Protestants had to settle for the superior The reason seems to have been less the advantage derived from dislike of Catholic persuasiveness of Protestant propaganda on obstinacy rather than having the oppor­ the queen than the renewed confidence tunity to rejoice in that victory in open which Elizabeth gained from news of peace with the French abroad. This news of the 22 Hughes, III, 146. Peace of Cateau-Cambresis had reached 23 Venetian Calendar, VII, 52-53, quoted her on Palm Sunday (March 19), and with in Neale, E. H. R., LXV (July 1950), 322. 24 Ibid., p. 72. 26 Neale, Elizabeth I and Her Parliaments, 25 Z. L., I, 21. 1,69. REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT 223 less fear of Catholic interference abroad added to the Acts of Supremacy and Uni­ she may have decided that it was now formity in the Irish Supremacy Act sup­ prudent to risk immediate Catholic dis­ ports this view strongly.28 pleasure over religious reform at home, The bargaining over what form the rather than to threaten her popularity with Prayer Book was to take touched the very the radicals for the sake of mere prudence sensitive issues dividing Protestants from alone. Good evidence for this explanation one another and from Catholics over the is in a letter of Edmund Grindal, subse­ Eucharist. In her letter to Feria, which we quently the puritanical archbishop of Can­ quoted earlier, Elizabeth states her prefer­ terbury, to Conrad Hubert in Strassburg, ence for what must have been the :first dated May 23. Grindal wrote: "We found Edwardian Prayer Book of 1549. Her rea­ our church miserably torn in pieces, and soning was clear: this would coincide with all but overthrown. We were indeed ur­ her conservatism on the Eucharist, it would gent from the very nrst, that a general mollify Catholics at home, and it would reformation should take place. But the strengthen English ties with Lutherans parliament long delayed the matter, and abroad. Without doubt, the radical Prot­ made no change whatever, until a peace estant party just would not consider ac­ had been concluded between the sover­ cepting Edward's first Prayer Book, with eigns, Philip, the French king, and our­ its strong statement of the Real Presence selves." 27 Then Grindal went on to de­ and prayers for the dead. If she wanted scribe details of the settlement. Parliament to agree on a Uniformity Act, When Parliament reconvened after the Elizabeth now found it absolutely neces­ Easter recess, Elizabeth found that the rad­ sary to accept at least part of the second ical party, encouraged again, was pushing Prayer Book of 1552, with its Calvinist and her farther than she wanted to go toward Zwinglian memorial views on the Eucha­ reform. The clearest evidence of struggle rist. She compromised. An agreement was between the queen and Parliament lies in reached - a new Prayer Book emerged and the fact that the third Supremacy Bill, with it the Act of Uniformity. It looks passed after Easter in order to substitute like another easy Elizabethan compromise, "Supreme Governor" for "Supreme Head" where, for example, the 1.utheran or even of the Church, still contained the clause Catholic statement of presentation of the about Communion in both kinds, a dead Eucharist, from the :first Prayer Book, giveaway that the government feared that simply precedes that of the contradictory the queen and the Protestant divines would Zwinglian statement of the second Prayer not be able to agree over the Prayer Book. Book. Yet in compromising the queen had If no Prayer Book emerged, the Supremacy given up the most, and she surely did not Bill would still provide for Protestant Com­ forget it.29 The Protestant party had got munion in both kinds, where Elizabeth had started. The fact also that the Communion 28 Neale, Elizabeth I and Her Parliaments, clause in a later case was taken out and 1,76. 29 Additional evidence of Elizabeth's com­ inserted into a third, separate bill to be promise is in the wording of the first paragraph of the Act of Uniformity, which indicates a pref­ 27 Z. L., II, 19. erence for the second Prayer Book of Edward, 224 REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT

the statements it demanded, and the queen and his associates were unable to persuade had begun to feel the unbending rigidity the queen or Parliament to remove "the of the Puritans. She had inserted, however, offending ceremonies." 83 As early as May 22 a proviso of her own which was to produce John Jewel wrote to Bullinger in Zurich the controversial Ornaments Rubric and with a trace of defensiveness in referring set off the initial battle of Puritanism over to Bullinger's exhortation that Jewel and the Vestiarian Controversy.so Neither side his friends should act with great firmness at that time saw in this ambiguous state­ and resolution. None of these men criti­ ment the cloud smaller than a man's hand, cized the queen. Jewel said, "We have which was to storm around the heads of a wise and religious queen, and one who Elizabeth's successors. is favourably and propitiously disposed There were nine lay votes against the toward us." 84 At the same time he assured Uniformity Bill in the House of Lords on Bullinger that Bullinger's own letters and April 19 in addition to the nine clerical exhortations had contributed powerfully to votes against, an indication that there was the religious settlement. Jewel was bitter feeling among the more conservative Lords rather toward those in the government who that Elizabeth had been outmaneuvered by were hindering the progress' of the Prot­ the Protestant radicals. On May 8 Parlia­ estants and to his former friends who had ment met for the closing ceremonies of the gone over to the opposite party. He did session, with Sir Nicholas Bacon's speech not show the slightest irritation towards expressing the queen's earnest desire that the queen. Thus the Elizabethan Settlement the new laws of religion be obeyed.31 embodied a considerable proportion of the If Elizabeth had waited longer to try to Reformed theological program, yet in its pass a Uniformity Act, she might not have more comprehensive design it had not succeeded in reaching a comprehensive so­ chilled the loyalty of the radical Protestant lution, which she most desired. She realized divines toward their good Queen Bess. how volatile the Protestants were. Yet we must not falsely construct an irreconcilable III Puritan party in England this early. To be CONCLUSIONS ON THE INFLUENCE OF sure the Zurich letters show Protestant dis­ CONTINENTAL REFORMED THEOLOGY ON illusionment before long. John Jewel com­ THE ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT plained that "we are not consulted," and A concluding estimate of the over-all he regretted that appointments to bishop­ effect of the Continental Reformed theol­ rics were proceeding slowly.32 Bishop ogy on the Elizabethan Settlement is in Grindal remembered in 1566 that from order. An historical interpretation from the very beginning of the settlement he a Christian perspective ought to attempt to add something to an accurate description against Elizabeth's wishes. See Henry Gee and of the motives, accomplishments, and the­ William Hardy, Documents Illustrative of Eng­ lish Church History (London, 1914), p.458. ological prejudices of the Elizabethan Set­ 30 Ibid., p. 466. tlement. We wish to emphasize that the 31 Neale, Elizabeth I and Her Parliaments, I, 81. 33 Ibid., p. 169. 32 Z. L., I, 23. 34 Ibid., pp. 18,33. REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT 225 religious factors involved in the settlement insistence on political loyalty to princes. have a deeper basis than many interpreters Her Melanchthonian education increased allow. It is easy, too easy, to find support her understanding of the spiritual pene­ in Elizabeth's politique tendencies for the tration of the Germans, if only they steered superficial view that religious affirmations away from bullheadedness and excessive are merely masks to cover strivings for dogmatism. Elizabeth·s first archbishop of petty political and economic self-aggran­ Canterbury, Matthew Parker, agreed with dizement, which can hypocritically assume her at this point. In spite of its external high status by making moral and religious similarities to the Anglican Church, how­ statements. Yet we here have not gone ever, Lutheranism has been negligible in beyond stating that religious affirmations England from the time of Elizabeth until are important and that they ought to be the present, and even Americans have un­ taken seriously if any true historical pic­ derstood Luther better than Englishmen.35 ture is to result. Also, we do not intend The Anglican Church was, of course, to go into the difficult issue of whether new, middle way, combining a great deal and how divine providence can be detected of Catholic practice with the learned and and described in specific historic events, sensible secular nationalism of the Renais­ though this theological problem is very sance, and with much Lutheran and Re­ important and interesting. Perhaps histo­ formed theology from abroad, tastefully rians are not properly equipped for this diluted for Englishmen. We have not done task. But if so, it is better for us to state justice to the genius of the Anglican this limitation humbly than to assume Church in this paper, since our concern lightheartedly that the issue is meaningless. with influences makes the Church of Eng­ Having restated a rather mild religious land seem derivative. Much more could be presupposition for this paper, we can best said about the distinctiveness of the An­ conclude by quickly summarizing the un­ glican way. derlying religious tone of the Elizabethan However, like Englishmen generally, Settlement, into which the influence of who distrust too great ideological con­ Reformed theology fits. Throughout the sistency, Elizabeth and her advisers turned countryside at least, Englishmen preserved the derivativeness of the Anglican Church a still powerful Catholic tradition for which from a weakness to its chief strength. the queen, with her crosses and candlesticks and aversion to clerical marriage, also had 35 With Rupp, Watson, and Atkinson this respect. Real changes were still slow in particular English obtuseness shows signs of change right now, though only the last is an coming, and the majority of parish priests Anglican. For a sample of more recent English mixed up Catholic and Protestant practices work on the Continental Reformers see the ac­ rather badly. Queen Elizabeth, however, count by Rupp on Luther and the German Reformation in the New Cambridge Modern was especially appreciative of the Conti­ History (Cambridge, 1958), II, ch.3. Lutheran nental Lutheran position on the Real Pres­ influence on England was more marked in the ence in the Eucharist (which Melanchthon (earlier) Ten Articles of 1536, written at the time when Henry VIII was courting Lutheran had compromised somewhat), and she princes abroad. By 1559 German influence had could scarcely disapprove of the Lutheran waned somewhat in England. 226 REFORMED TRADITION AND ELIZABETHAN SETTLEMENT

A church which seeks to be a bridge must Yet it was the virile novelt-y and theolog­ necessarily select its building materials ical power of the Continental Reformed from both sides of the chasm to be bridged, tradition, above all, which laid the foun­ and on the Protestant side of the chasm dations for the Elizabethan Settlement. In the steel of the radical Reformed tradition spite of her hesitation, Elizabeth had to was more easily available. The final and admit that the Reformed theological tra­ most significant theological factor in the dition was the most lively contender for Elizabethan Settlement, then, is the Re­ influence in her settlement. Through that formed influence. Since the Reformed were settlement England became the foremost the most extreme Protestants respectable Protestant power in Europe, to which Con­ enough to be considered at that time, tinental Protestantism was to look for Elizabeth naturally distrusted them, as she support during the centuries to come. As did the Catholics at the other extreme. we have seen, the basis for that settlement Ideologically, however, and in practice it lay in the incompletely realized and modi­ was the Continental Reformed theologians fied program of the Bucer-Melanchthon­ who were leading what might be called the Bullinger movement, representative of the Protestant Internationale, and Elizabeth leading theologians of the Swiss and Rhine­ and her advisers followed at a distance, land Reformed tradition. The Continental knowing that they would have to rely for Reformed theology exerted as much in­ support more and more in England on the fluence upon the Elizabethan Settlement Protestant party. To be sure, the Church as the great queen herself. of England developed unique elements. Webster Groves, Mo.