Astudy Of Viamedia-elizabethan Settlement In1559

Religion issue was about ideology in the16thcentury Europe, involving economic,political, diplomatic and social aspects of a nation. When Henry VIII announcedschism from the Pope in Rome, English Reformation was launched and endured foralmost a century. What religious policy Queen Elizabeth was about to embrace woulddetermine her rule and shape the future of England.This thesis takes a literature study method, referring to religious laws and regulationsand relevant works focusing on religion in Elizabethan England. The via media ofElizabethan Settlement is studied against the backdrop of the16thcentury Europe andEngland under Elizabeth’s reign, her early years in particular. Based on theachievements scored in the study of English religion history by scholars home andabroad, this thesis presents a profound analysis on major religious statutes one by oneto draw the conclusion that Elizabethan Settlement was a middle path, an effort tostrike a balance between Catholicism and Protestantism, with a purpose of bringingdomestic stability and creating a favorable international environment to realizeEngland’s growth and prosperity.The thesis starts with an analysis on the subjective and objective motivations of viamedia by reviewing the historical background. It then proceeds to interpret importantstatutes to demonstrate how via media was manifested in the texts and inimplementation. It concludes with discussions on the influence of this policy and itssignificance in English history.