1. Amanda Iliadis
B00714773
Dr. Andrea Shannon
HIST 2101
February 4, 2016
Homily on Obedience:
A Document Analysis
In Elizabethan England, the idea of 'The Great Chain of Being' was still in effect. This social
hierachy was important in maintaining order among peoples, and bestowing respect and honor to the
King, who remained the protector and commander of all below him. The consequence of disobeying
the King, other sovereignty, and supreme leaders, would be severe punishment by God Himself. God
decreed that human beings obey the leaders that He appointed, to watch over the people of earth. These
leaders not only include the King, but encompass all Chancellors, Magistrates, and other political
authority; thus connecting politics and religion in this Agrarian society. The Homily on Obedience
demonstrates the necessity of obedience toward soveriegnty, the consequences of diobedience, and the
correlation between politics and religion in Elizabethan England.
The Homily on Obedience of 1570 explains the way in which English society should behave
towards their superiors. It describes how everything on earth was made according to God's will. God
designated ranks among his angels and archangels in heaven, as he did among the animals and plants
on earth. The sermon goes on to justify that this ranking system, having been initially created by God,
could surely be replicated in everyday society, because this is how God wanted each human being to
live.1
He created this order among the universe; an order that should remain among the people to keep
1 Ian Lancashire, “The Homily on Obedience,” Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.1. (1994), 1.
2. peace and dismiss confusion. Ultimately, the document explains that sovereigns deserve the utmost
obedience, because they have been appointed as God's rulers on earth. This passage from the bible, also
quoted in the document justifies this claim: Through me kings do reign, through me counselors make
just laws, through me do princes bare rule, and all judges of the earth execute judgment, I am loving to
them that love me (Proverbs 8.15, 17).2
It is with the Lord's divine allowance and aid, that kings are
able to rule over the people of the earth, whilst God watches over them. Thus, the Great Chain of Being
in Elizabethan England, was a metaphysical representation of God's decree for the order of the
universe. Below God, was his angelic order, followed by humans, animals, plants, and minerals.
Delving deeper into this chain, there is a hierarchy among society as well. This begins with the king,
followed by gentlemen (which includes the Peerage), Burgesses. Yeomen, and Laborers (poor
farmers).3
This sermon justifies that this hierarchical structure was decreed by God and should be
upheld. The sovereigns, therefore, should be treated with respect, loyalty and reverence. The sovereigns
should be obeyed at all times, not because they have more rights than other human beings, but because
God has ordained them to be his direct servants that have a responsibility to protect the commoners and
uphold the law in His name.
The Homily further discusses the causes and consequences of disobedience toward God and the
sovereigns. The example in the document, refers to Chore, Dathan, and Abiron who resisted God's
Magistrates and officers. As a consequence for their disobedience, “the earth opened and swallowed
them up alive”.4
Other consequences of disobedience that are named in the document include; plague,
war, the consumption by fire, being stricken with leprosy, or stinged to death by fiery serpents. Thus,
by disobeying the decree of God, turmoil and pain is all that remains after death. One biblical story
noted in the document that demonstrates the cause and effect of disobedience, is that of an Amelekite
2 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 2.
3 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 1.
4 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 6.
3. that killed King Saul, bringing the King's crown back to David (2 Samuel, 1. 8-10).5
David, outraged
and full of sorrow, sent one of his servants to kill the Amelekite for his disobedience. This example
(further explained in the Bible), illustrates that the cause of the Amelekite's disobedience in killing
King Saul, was due to the fact that the King was already injured, and would die anyway. The
Amelekite, knowing that David and the King were enemies, took this opportunity to kill the King in
service to David. However, David was ashamed that his messenger would murder 'the Lord's anointed
one'; sending one of his own men to kill the Amelekite as a consequence for his disobedience. This
story demonstrates that people are usually disobedient, because they believe they are doing the right
thing. The document also mentions a message from Saint Paul to the Romans: “let every soul submit
himself unto the authority of the higher powers, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be,
be ordained of God. Whosoever therefore withstandeth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God,
but they that resist, or are against it, shall receive to themselves damnation”. This statement from Saint
Paul explains that those who do not obey, will receive their consequence; damnation. Damnation is the
concept of divine punishment and torment in the afterlife due to actions that were committed on earth.
This is always the case of punishment in regards to having offended or disobeyed God. There are
always consequences of being disobedient, in accordance with God's decree.
Elizabethan England was a time of collaboration between politics and religion. The document
refers to this notion several times, demonstrating the importance of obedience in this time period. This
is apparent in the Homily, stating that the Magistrates need to learn how to rule and govern according
to God's laws, and that all Subjects are bound to obey them as God's ministers. This justifies a
relationship between God and politics in Elizabethan England. First, the account between Pontius Pilate
and Jesus Christ was examined. Pilate was a Roman Governor of Judea under the command of the
Emperor of Rome. This therefore, did not make him a King or Sovereignty of any kind. However, he
5 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 5.
4. was a political leader over a nation, like the modern President or Prime Minister. The document
reviews the conversation between Pilate and Jesus. Pilate, having complete control and rule over Jesus,
was able to decide his fate. Jesus however replied saying: “thou couldest have no power at all against
me, except it were given [to] thee from above”.6
Jesus states that Pilate has been given his authority
directly from God to judge as he will. As every leader, regardless how wicked, is given their authority
and discretion from God. If one goes against a law that was made by a politician (governor,
magistrate), they also go against God, who ordained the politician to his post. In this way, the Homily
describes that citizens should obey “laws, statutes, proclamations, and injunctions, with all other godly
orders”7
given by political leaders. It states that the people of society should “consider the Scriptures of
the holy Ghost, which persuade and command us all obediently to be subject, first and chiefly to the
Kings Majesty, supreme governor over all, and the next to his honorable counsel, and to all other noble
men, Magistrates, and officers, which by God's goodness, be placed and ordered”.8
It is not just the
King who was appointed by God to rule, but those who help the King keep this order among society.
The document further implies that “we must refer all judgment to God, to Kings, and Rulers, Judges
under them, which [are] God's officers to execute justice, and by plain words of Scripture, have their
authority and use of the sword granted from God”.9
This Homily helps one to understand how politics
and religion are inter-mutual by explaining the importance of these political officials that govern the
people. For example, the Ten Commandments were created by God. God decreed these laws to Moses,
writing them on the stone tablets on Mount Sinai, for Moses to share with the Hebrews. In this way, we
can see that God is the King, and that Moses was a leader, governing the Hebrew people in the name of
God. He had to perform censuses, preach God's word, teach God's laws, and free these Hebrews from
bondage into the Promised Land. In effect, Moses was very much like a political leader, working
directly under God's rule. Therefore, political leaders too, have their place among the Great Chain of
6 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 4.
7 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 2.
8 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 2.
9 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 2.
5. Being, and among God's chosen authorities. This structure is significant in Elizabethan England
because society was highly cautious toward anything unorderly or unnatural. There must always be
order conducted by God's appointed rulers, otherwise chaos will ensue. An important area of politics in
Elizabethan England focuses around the Papacy; specifically the Pope. In the document, it states that
the Bishop of Rome was speaking falsehoods against Christ's doctrines. The Bishop taught that “those
that are under him, are free from all burdens and charges of the common wealth, and obedience toward
their Prince” against Christ's and St. Peters doctrines.10
In the Homily, it states that the Bishop should
be viewed as an Antichrist or the successor of Pharisees, for speaking in this way. Christ and St. Peter
taught “obedience to Kings as to the chief and supreme rulers of the world, next under
God”.11
Therefore, the Bishop had overstepped his grounds, not being one of those appointed leaders,
and acting as though people should be judged by him instead. The document has a couple of references
to Papacy in general; that those who belong to it are not seen as supreme leaders or God's appointed
authority. During the Elizabethan period in England, this struggle between the Papacy, Parliament, and
the King was prevalent. The King, always having the utmost power and authority, most often called to
Parliament when in need of assistance or the passing of bills (laws, statutes). The Papacy, although very
prominent as a religious entity, was not able to govern or rule in this way. Therefore, politics and
religion would only intertwine, when dealing in terms of the Great Chain of Being. Political leaders,
Magistrates, council members, and any other law-makers, were considered to be granted high authority
by God. Thus, politics and religion were central, connected themes in Elizabethan England.
The Homily on Obedience clearly exemplifies the importance of obedience toward soveriegnty,
the consequences of diobedience, and the connection between politics and religion in Elizabethan
England. In 16th
Century England, the mandate of a heiracrhial structure was prevalent among society.
It was a structure that upheld order and honor among peoples; giving reverence to the King. According
10 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 7.
11 Lancashire, “Homily on Obedience,” 7.
6. to the Homily, the consequences of disobedience toward the King and other appointed leaders by God,
would be grave on earth, and in the afterlife. Throughout the Homily, the message of God's decree is
repeated in direct correlation to the politics of the time period. Paying respect and obedience to political
leaders, was in fact ordained by God; linking these two sociological factors together. The message of
the Homily is ultimately to obey the superiors that have been chosen as leaders, for it is God's word.
