It was weak

• LACK OF SUPPORT - The Puritans were still only a small minority in Elizabethan society They had strict moral views, including their hatred of entertainments such as theatre
• DIVISION WITHIN THE GROUP - The Puritans were not united; the moderates only wanted slight changes to the Church, including what priests wore Presbyterians wanted to get rid of all bishops but the Separatists wanted to get rid of the Church of England completely - the moderates were the biggest group in the Puritan movement
• NO ALTERNATIVE TO ELIZABETH - Puritans never called for Elizabeth to be removed as they feared the possibility of ending up with a Catholic monarch such as Mary Queen of Scots By the 1580s, when the chances of war with Spain were increasing, many puritans rallied round and supported Elizabeth in her struggle with this Catholic enemy
• GOVERNMENT ACTION - In 1583, a Puritan named John Stubbs had his right hand cut off after writing a pamphlet criticising Elizabeth for holding marriage talks with a Catholic prince; after the 1580s, Puritan challenges to Elizabeth stopped