Why were Puritans perceived a threat in the Elizabethan period?

Puritans were perceived a threat during the Elizabethan period due to a number of reasons. One of the most recognizable objects of the Puritans that could be perceived as a real threat to Elizabeth, was their belief in taking the title and offices from the Bishops. They also gave rise to threatening Elizabeth’s power through their attempts to reform the Church through parliament. Due to Elizabeth’s religious settlement at the time being neither Catholic nor Protestant, rise of a hugely exaggerated protestant religion could of have serious percussions including a Catholic rebellion against Elizabeth.

The Puritans belief in taking the titles and riches from Bishops, creating Bishops centered on a spiritual life only created a serious potential threat to Elizabeth. Thomas Cartwright lectured in Cambridge University in 1535-1602 of the abolition of Bishops power and titles along with other Puritan beliefs. Thomas’s beliefs left little room for Elizabeth’s Supreme Governship and his idea of clearing the power of the Bishops lead to several threats towards Elizabeth’s power. Having Catholic leaning, rich, powerful Bishops meant if it were advisable for reasons of foreign policy to minimize the differences between the Church of England and the continual Catholic Church having a shared institution of episcopy would help a great deal. Elizabeth was also keen on keeping tradition. Her Father, Henry VIII had never discarded her powerful Bishops to a life of Spiritual meaning only and neither was she about to. By replacing her Bishops with Puritan’s she would also be loosening her grip of power over the Church. This was an obvious threat to her Supreme Power, which was renewed in 1559, and was at first rejected by parliament but after concealed and her Supreme Power renewed over the Church of England.