In the early 1580s, after twenty-five years on the throne, Elizabeth still
dominated the Church of England. She was not its Supreme Governor in
name only! Insisting on uniformity at every turn, she detested the Puritans,
while hating the Anabaptists along with the new-fangled Separatists who
were now beginning to form churches. The authorities had clamped down
upon the Puritans, largely beating them into a grudging and sullen
submission by this time, although the measures against them remained in
force. Archbishop Whitgift compelled every minister of the State Church
to subscribe to the Royal Supremacy in all matters, to pledge unqualified
assent to the Thirty-Nine Articles, and to use only the Book of Common
Prayer in worship. In 1584, a list of twenty-four questions on disputed
points was presented to every Church of England minister, to be answered
on oath. In addition, to put a stop to all opposition, printing was forbidden
unless licensed by the Star Chamber. But, although the Puritans were
emasculated, the Separatists proved more difficult to browbeat. The fact is,
though worship outside the State system was entirely illegal, an increasing
number were daring to do it. Responsibility for this could not be laid at
Whitgift’s door, for he was certainly zealous in the prosecution of his
vigorous campaign, and the prisons rapidly filled with victims of all sorts.
Some paid with their lives. Nevertheless, the rebels remained defiant. In
such a time, the world came to hear of Henry Barrowe, John Greenwood
and John Penry. |
