ABSTRACT
In the North of England the problems facing the ecclesiastical and secular authorities focused on regulating and upholding the Elizabethan settlement of religion. Sandys represented a firm hand in both dealing with Catholic recusants and also in terms of enforcing loyalty and stricter religious behaviour amongst the conformist population. Although he and figures of secular authority such as the Earl of Huntingdon shared a common reformed stance this did not make them automatic allies. Sandys was once again in conflict, but this time with his fellow Protestants —Huntingdon, Hutton and Whittingham. Opposition to the established religion was also coming from those who advocated further reform. Sandys opposed the ‘Puritan’ threat and through these conflicts we can see just how far he and others of his generation had moved away from the cutting edge of the reform movement.
