The Puritan Threat

Puritanism was not a unified movement, making the threat more widespread and diverse, there were different sects in amongst them who shared certain common and moderate beliefs, however there were few who had totally independent interpretation on other issues. Certain puritans like the conformists didn't pose Elizabeth much threat as they were prepared to compromise on what they say as less essential elements. However there were separatists who were a small unrepresentative minority of the Presbyterians, and it was these minority groups with their more radical beliefs that posed the most threat to Elizabethan state and church. One of their main beliefs was the anti-hierarchical, episcopacy belief, which in principle posed a threat to Elizabethan church and state, as they sought to replace the contempary system. For Elizabeth Puritan ideas were dangerous to 'kingly rule' and because of her strong opposition to their ideas, their strive for reform became a greater challenge.

The Presbyterian threat was perhaps the most perceived formidable threat to both church and state, however it never gained much momentum, as it attracted the most attention from Elizabeth. This is shown by her use of power against them which suppressed the threat, giving them little chance of success, meaning that the Presbyterian threat was no real threat at all, as it was crushed to promptly. This is proven by failed Presbyterian efforts to manipulate the parliament, which Elizabeth was able to quash by simply voicing her approval, forbidding the discussion of religious question and imprisonment.

Separatists were seen as the more radical of the puritans, this factor made them seem a major threat to Elizabethan church. However because of this perceived threat Elizabeth acted with the 1593 act of Seditious Sectaries which saw separatist leaders Barrow, Greenwood and Penry executed. This government action was used as a deterrent as it didn't destroy separatism but it forced most of the remaining separatists into exile. This is evidence that the separatists were only a strongly perceived threat due to their radical viewpoints; however due to them only being a minority of puritans they were never able to make nay considerable impact.