Elizabeth Flashcards
What are the key themes in Elizabethan society?
The key themes include:
- government
- religion
- economy and society
- law and order
- foreign affairs
Government
Queen Elizabeth I was sovereign of England, meaning she had the upmost authority and rule, and all agents of government were answerable to her. She surrounded herself with a loyal group of advisers (called the Privy Council) to guide her.
Elizabeth tightly controlled Parliament and set the agenda of what it was allowed to discuss and pass laws about. However, during her reign Parliament did become more influential and was in conflict with Elizabeth over issues such as religion, marriage and her monopoly licences.
Religion
In the 16th century England was divided by religion. The country had been a Catholic country for nearly a thousand years until Henry VIII’s reign, then, over a 20 year period, the country’s religion had changed three times, causing tension and divisions.
When Elizabeth ascended to the throne she changed the official religion to Protestantism, but also outlined a religious settlement that allowed some Catholic traditions to be practised. Parliament helped by passing the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.
Elizabeth’s tolerant ‘middle-way’ had broad support, but she did face threats and plots from Catholics and Puritans, with Mary Queen of Scots becoming a figure head for Catholic plots, such as the Babington Plot in 1586.
Economy and society
The Elizabethans believed that God had set out an order for everything, known as the Great Chain of Being. This also included the order of society and your place in it. The queen was at the top and controlled wealth and life chances, and inequalities further down the chain were accepted.
Poverty was mostly considered to be the individual’s fault in Elizabethan times. However, during Elizabeth’s reign the Poor Laws were introduced as measures to support the poor and unemployed, because of growing poverty and a fear of social unrest. They were the first form of welfare.
Elizabeth’s reign was seen as a ‘golden age’ of culture, with theatre becoming popular across all of society. This is also when Shakespeare wrote many of his plays.
Law and order
Mary, Queen of Scots
Elizabeth faced challenges throughout her long reign. Many were from Catholic plotters wanting Mary, Queen of Scots to replace Elizabeth. She secured England’s security by thwarting plots such as the Northern Earls’ Rebellion, the Throckmorton Plot and the Babington Plot.
Foreign affairs
Elizabeth faced challenges from France and Spain during her reign. These countries were more powerful, wealthier, and Catholic.
France began as the biggest threat due to their strong links with Mary, Queen of Scots - but civil war in France and Elizabeth’s sensible diplomacy minimised this risk.
Spain turned out to be the bigger threat. During Elizabeth’s reign, tensions built between the two countries, culminating in the Spanish Armada in 1588 – Spain’s failed attempt to invade England and overthrow Elizabeth. England’s victory over Spain was a highpoint for Elizabeth and she seized on the propaganda opportunity to further boost her image and international status.
Who was Catherine of Aragon and her daughter?
Henry VIII was married to his first wife, the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon, for more than twenty years. She failed to produce a surviving male heir and had left just one heir to the throne, a daughter, called Mary.
The last time England had a female heir was in the 12th Century and this had caused a long and bloody civil war due to the fact that women were seen as weak and incapable of ruling in medieval times.
Henry had convinced himself that his marriage to Catherine was invalid and that God had punished the royal couple for their sin by denying them any surviving sons. The Tudor dynasty was still quite young and Henry was worried that his family’s power might not continue after his death.
Henry had become infatuated with another woman at court called Anne Boleyn. Henry saw her as the solution to all of her problems. Henry was confident that Anne could provide him with what he wanted.
Who was Elizabeth’s mother and how did Henry marry her?
Henry took the drastic step of breaking with the Catholic Church and creating a new Church in England with himself as the leader to get his divorce. Henry married Anne and she fell pregnant. Much to Henry’s anger, Anne gave birth to a baby girl on 7th September 1533 who was named Elizabeth.
Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn quickly broke down after this disappointment of another daughter. When Elizabeth was aged just two, her mother was executed. Elizabeth was declared illegitimate, just like her half-sister Mary had been. This meant that she had been born to parents who were not truly married, and therefore could never become Queen. The birth of a male heir, Edward in 1537 to Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, put Elizabeth back to third in line for the throne – after her half-brother, Edward, and her half-sister, Mary
What was Elizabeth’s childhood like?
What was the road to coronation like?
During Elizabeth’s teenage years, Henry’s sixth wife, Katherine Parr, acted as a mother figure to Elizabeth. The two women got on well. Katherine very much influenced Elizabeth’s Protestant religious views and her education. Elizabeth now visited the Royal Court more often and stayed for long periods with her siblings towards the end of her father’s life. In 1544, Elizabeth was made an heir to the throne again - but she could only become queen after her half-brother Edward and then half-sister Mary. Both would be expected to produce children of their own.
In January 1547, Henry VIII died, and Prince Edward became Edward VI. Elizabeth had been fairly close to Edward at this point, but when he became King, Edward became very arrogant and distant. The two brothers of Jane Seymour (the mother of King Edward) held a lot of power over the young king, particularly the older brother, the Duke of Somerset.
Elizabeth found herself in trouble because of the younger brother, Thomas Seymour. He had married Katherine Parr soon after Henry VIII’s death and Elizabeth lived in their house. Thomas began to flirt with the young Elizabeth. There were rumours of an affair and a plot for Thomas Seymour to overthrow the King and marry Elizabeth. Seymour was arrested, and was beheaded in 1549 for treason. Elizabeth was questioned about her involvement: she escaped without any punishment but this was a warning to her.
Edward died, childless, when he was 15 after 6 years as king. His Catholic half-sister Mary became Queen in 1553.
Mary passionately hated Elizabeth’s mother Anne Boleyn for taking the place of her own mother, Catherine of Aragon. Mary therefore hated Elizabeth. She viewed Elizabeth with suspicion as a Protestant even though she made sure she went to Catholic Mass to please Mary. Mary was childless, so Elizabeth was her heir. A rebellion against Mary started in 1554 due to her marriage to King Philip II of Spain. Mary suspected Elizabeth of secretly working with the rebels. Elizabeth was arrested and forced to spend two horrendous months in the Tower of London. Elizabeth wrote a long letter to Mary protesting her innocence and was eventually released when no solid evidence could be found against her. She was kept under house arrest for the rest of Mary’s reign until she died in 1558 and Elizabeth became Queen of England, aged 25.
What did Elizabeth Inherit?
What were her strengths?
Elizabeth came to power in 1558 and inherited an unstable kingdom. England was divided by religion, poverty was increasing and foreign enemies were growing more powerful. She became queen after both her brother, Edward VI, and her sister, Mary I, had died. Despite inheriting all of these problems she brought many strengths, ruled well and brought stability back to England.
Elizabeth’s strengths Remember PEP - Parents, Education and Popularity:
- Parents: She had English parents, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. This meant that she would be more likely to be free from overseas influences.
- Education: Elizabeth had a difficult childhood and had to use her intelligence in order to survive during the reign of her Catholic half-sister. Elizabeth spoke French, Flemish, Italian and Spanish, and many other languages; she was one of the most educated women of her generation.
- Popularity: Elizabeth was popular with many people in England and her reign was seen as a fresh start.
What were the challenges to Elizabeth?
Elizabeth’s challenges GRIMP:
- Gender: Some feared a female ruler meant that England would continue to be seen as a weak country. France and Spain were the most powerful nations, and both were ruled by kings. There were worries about who Elizabeth might marry; a foreign prince could end up taking control.
- Religion: Religious conflict was a major issue. Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, had broken away from the Roman Catholic Church and started his own Church of England. When Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, came to the throne she restored the Pope and made England a Catholic country again. Elizabeth now had to settle the situation, maintaining security and establishing an agreement that would keep her people content.
- Invasion: Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, had a claim to the throne. Mary was a Catholic and married to the heir to the French throne. They could try to invade and threaten Elizabeth’s position.
- Money: Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, had left debts of £250,000, which was a great deal of money at the time.
- Poverty was increasing
Remember - GRIM Gender, Religion, Invasion, Money & poverty
What is the Royal court?
How did she use patronage?
What was a progress?
The Royal Court
This was made up of all of the people who worked for and lived with the Queen: nobles, ladies-in-waiting, and servants as well as government officials and advisors. There were about 500 of these people.
The Court was Elizabeth’s home, as well as the centre of government. There were elaborate banquets (feasts), plays, tournaments and musical performances. Elizabeth understood propaganda: she was concerned about her image, and wanted to show off her power and wealth to her subjects, as well as to foreign visitors.
They travelled with Elizabeth as she moved between her different residences. Elizabeth was always short of money. She did not build any new palaces, but inherited many. Each summer, she travelled with her court on royal tours called Progresses, visiting the homes of nobles in the South and the Midlands. She would travel with up to 400 wagons. This allowed her people to see her, whilst the nobles competed to invite her to stay at a great expense
Wealthy and ambitious people would go there to try and get noticed by the Queen and win her favour, in the hope of being rewarded with an important job in the government that would bring them power, influence and a valuable income.
The use of patronage enabled Elizabeth to ensure subjects were loyal to her. The Royal Court was also a place of great rivalries, intrigues and factions. During her reign the Queen often had to intervene in these disputes to ensure that her power was supreme.
What were Royal Progresses?
Most summers, Elizabeth would travel with her Court on tours called PROGRESSES, visiting homes of the nobility. They were ‘major public relations exercises’, which allowed Elizabeth to be seen by her subjects regularly, to build up a relationship with her people and to flatter the nobles she chose to stay with. It would have been quite a sight to behold, as the Court crawled from house to house with up to 400 wagons piled high with clothes, linen, documents and furnishings, including the Queen’s own bed, which she always travelled with. Wherever she went, she was given a magnificent welcome.
- These ‘royal progresses’ encouraged these nobles to build grand stately homes and organise lavish entertainments for the queen in exchange for patronage. Also developing architechture
- It was propaganda as To her subjects she would appear as a goddess, parading in her finery. Progresses also served more practical purposes. They allowed the thrifty Elizabeth to live in luxury at the expense of her subjects, as the nobility all desperately tried to impress through their extravagance and generosity in providing the Queen and her courtiers with sumptuous accommodation, food and entertainment.
What is a patronage?
During Elizabethan times power came from the top down by a system of patronage. God had chosen the king or, in Elizabeth’s case, the queen and as such she had the right to appoint whoever she wished to help her rule the country. She usually chose from the nobility and could take their power away if they offended her.
Patronage involved the favouritism of individuals, by giving men important jobs
It caused intense competition and rivalries between people. This made everyone loyal to Elizabeth
It also ensured Elizabeth remained at the heart of whole political system
What was the role of the Privy council?
How did it function?
Role of the Privy Council
Elizabeth’s first key task was to surround herself with trusted advisers, a group called the Privy Council.
- The Privy Council were a group of powerful noblemen appointed by Elizabeth. They advised Elizabeth but did not control her.
- Elizabeth chose a small group of 19 men to minimise conflict between them, but she also had to make sure no one member got too powerful or became disloyal.
- The council initially met three times a week during her reign and as the influence of the council grew they met every day.
- They advised on domestic and foreign issues such as how to handle challenges and threats, when to go to war, relations with foreign ambassadors, and supervising the enforcement of the Religious Settlement.
Who were Justices of Peace?
Justices of the Peace were a key element of local government. They were a voluntary position, however, it was a great honour to serve as a justice of the peace. They were responsible for ensuring law and order were kept in the counties. They were supervised by the Lord Lieutenants.
Throughout the reign of the Elizabeth the powers of the Justices of the Peace slowly increased. Powers eventually included the ability to collect the profits of justice or fines, imprison a suspect of a crime.
Who were the Lord Lieutenants?
Lord Lieutenants were members of the local government and were responsible for the upkeep of the the local militia and overseeing country defences
Sir Christopher Hatton - Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire 1576-1591
Lord Lieutenants were appointed by the Queen and there was one for each county in England, they were also responsible for making sure that the Queen’s wishes were carried out locally.
Who were the key members of the Privy council?
-
William Cecil (Lord Burghley). Cecil was made her Secretary of State twice. He was an MP and her closest advisor. In this role, he encouraged her to take tight control of Ireland and fight other Catholic rivals at home and abroad.
He also played a key role in developing the Poor Laws and the new religious policies.
2.Francis Walsingham – a close advisor until he died in 1590. He controlled the network of spies responsible for discovering the Essex rebellion and the plots surrounding Mary Queen of Scots. He also helped make England a powerful force at sea, and helped deal with the threats from Spain, France and the Netherlands.
3. Robert Dudley - a childhood friend and suitor (he wanted to marry her). He was Master of the Horse, which meant he was responsible for keeping Elizabeth safe. He was a Puritan, who argued with Cecil about religion and foreign policy.
4. Sir Christopher Hatton – Captain of the Queen’s bodyguard, helped organise the Queen’s progresses, as an MP he helped Elizabeth to get the support of other MPs.
Who was William Cecil?
Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley
O Moderate Protestant who is Enormously intelligent and very hard working.
O Past experience as a Member of Parliament and a member of Edward VI’s Council.
O Made Secretary of State in November 1558.
O A stabiliser. Like Elizabeth, he wanted to avoid war and unite the nation through moderate policies. He was naturally conservative, and like the Queen disliked being rushed into rash decisions.
O Elizabeth admired the fact that Cecil spoke his mind if he disagreed with her or other councillors.
O Elizabeth relied heavily on Cecil, counting on his loyalty and trusting him completely.
O Given the title Lord Burghley in 1571 and made Lord Treasurer the following year.
O Regularly attended the House of Commons and, later, the House of Lords. A very skilful parliamentary manager.
O Died 1598, replaced as Elizabeth’s chief minister by his son, Robert Cecil
Who was Sir Francis Walsingham?
Sir Francis Walsingham
O Fiercely loyal to Elizabeth & Entered Parliament as an MP in 1558.
O His ability at languages and foreign contacts made him useful to Elizabeth and he started working with the government in 1568. Served as AMBASSADOR in Paris in the early 1570s.
O Could be blunt. Frequently clashed with Cecil. An ally of Dudley.
O A superb organiser. Was in charge of the Elizabethan ‘secret service’. He was a highly efficient ‘spy master’, controlling a network of informers at home and abroad, and uncovering numerous plots against Elizabeth.
Who was Robert Dudley?
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
O Born 1533. Younger son of the disgraced Duke of Northumberland who had been executed at the beginning of Bloody Mary’s reign.
O Like Elizabeth, he spent some of Mary’s reign locked in the Tower of London.
O A childhood friend and favourite of Elizabeth, he was good looking and there were many rumours of a romance between Dudley and Elizabeth.
O A member of the Court, he was made Master of the Horse, making him personally responsible for Elizabeth’s safety.
O Highly ambitious
O A radical and a Puritan, he frequently argued with Cecil about the succession, religion and foreign policy.
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Who was Sir Christopher Hatton?
Sir Christopher Hatton
O Elizabeth was impressed by his dancing at Court and promoted him. He became a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and the Captain of the Queen’s Bodyguard.
O A moderate Protestant, he hated Puritans and sympathised with Catholics.
O Elected to parliament several times. Helped Elizabeth control the MPs and secure their support.
O Became Lord Chancellor in 1587, in charge of judges and law Courts.
Why did Elizabeth appoint people who did not like each other to the privy council?
The members of the Privy Council were ambitious, but Elizabeth was careful to control them. She deliberately appointed men who were hostile towards (did not like) each other. They would give contrasting advice, which would then allow her to make a measured decision.
They had to compete for her affection. The group however ran the country efficiently for much of her reign.
What was the role of parliament?
The monarch decided when Parliament should meet and for how long & Was called if the monarch needed new laws to be passed or wanted to introduce new taxes.
Elizabeth regarded Parliament as an inconvenient necessity. Continuing in the tradition of her father, her very first Parliament in 1559 created a new Protestant church by restoring the royal supremacy over the Church of England.
This undid Mary’s short-lived attempt at a Catholic restoration. Since Elizabeth’s father Henry VIII had secured the break from Rome in the 1530s through laws passed by Parliament, Parliament’s importance had increased significantly. The idea had developed that the English monarch shared their power with Parliament in a kind of political partnership. Elizabeth’s financial problems meant that she had to rely heavily on parliamentary subsidies (taxes), which were asked for in all but two of the thirteen sessions of the reign.
On almost all occasions, Elizabeth received what she asked for
Give a list of Main business of Parliament
What did parliament complain about?
4 reasons
MRFM
During Elizabeth’s reign however, MPs became more assertive and influential. They were in conflict with Elizabeth over the following issues.
Marriage issue
Some MPs felt Elizabeth should name a suitor to marry and produce an heir in order to secure the line of succession. Elizabeth’s response was that this was her private business and she would marry when and if it was convenient.
Religion issue
Elizabeth was a Protestant and re-instated the Church of England when she came to power, but wanting to avoid religious conflict she offered a ‘middle-way’ which did allow some Catholic worship and traditions. Some Puritan MPs disagreed with this compromise and challenged Elizabeth by threatening to not grant her taxes. Elizabeth said religion was a ‘matter of state’, not for Parliament, and forbade them to discuss religion.
Freedom of speech issue
In 1576 the Puritan MP, Peter Wentworth, complained that MPs were not free to discuss whatever they liked. Elizabeth sent him to the Tower of London for a month for speaking out.
Monopolies issue
Monopolies gave individual nobles and merchants the sole right to manufacture or sell particular goods. Elizabeth intended for monopolies to promote business and boost the economy, but because one person now controlled the supply of a particular product it meant that prices rose. Elizabeth also made money from granting the monopoly licences.
Towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign some MPs felt monopolies were unfair and were being abused. They protested against them in 1597-8 and 1601 and would not grant taxes until they had been withdrawn. At this stage Elizabeth compromised and withdrew some monopolies. She also made a long speech flattering Parliament, which became known as her ‘Golden Speech’ which again showed her to be a clever and shrewd ruler.
How did Elizabeth control Parliament?
Who was Peter Wenworth
Elizabeth tightly controlled Parliament
- Date - Parliament could only meet if Elizabeth called it, and she set the agenda.
- Topic - Parliament could only talk about what Elizabeth allowed it to discuss.
- Veto - Elizabeth could close (prorogue) Parliament at any time.
- Parliament only met 13 times in her 45 year reign for an average of three weeks per year.
- Councillors - Elizabeth made sure her Privy Councillors sat in Parliament to help control proceedings.
- Speaker - She chose the speaker
What were problems facing Female rulers?
Women, it was feared, were weak and not suited intellectually or temperamentally to reign. Monarchs were thought to need traditionally masculine characteristics: physical strength, assertiveness and decisiveness. Queens were meant to be merely the wives of kings. They were supposed to be kind, religious and maternal. They were not supposed to rule. It was feared that chaos could be the result. A weak monarch and powerful nobles had led to the Wars of the Roses that had torn England apart just a century before. With a female monarch, the careful balance of groups at Court might be upset and many doubted the ability of a woman to control her male subjects. Moreover, a monarch had a duty to keep their country safe and to further its interests abroad, but Elizabeth could not be expected to lead her army into battle as a king might do.
However, there were examples of women ruling effectively at this time. Isabella of Castile had ruled Spain with distinction, and Marie de Guise had ruled Scotland with an iron fist as REGENT for her daughter. As Elizabeth got older, she came to see her gender not as a disadvantage but as a useful political weapon. It allowed her to charm and manipulate, to avoid situations she disliked and decisions she did not want to make. It also helped her create a powerful CULT of personality.
Elizabeth’s pride was hurt by one piece of writing in particular. In the year of her accession, the Scottish Protestant John Knox wrote a book attacking female rulers, entitled The First Blast of the Monstrous Trumpet Against Women. Although Knox had been motivated to write by Bloody Mary and Marie de Guise, the timing was awful. Elizabeth succeeded in the same year as the book’s release. She found the work insulting, and identified Knox as a political enemy rather than, as he could have been, a religious ally.
What was the problem of marriage and succession?
The Problem of Marriage and Succession
Elizabeth was 25 when she became queen. By Tudor standards this was old to still be unmarried. She had not married due to her awkward position during her father’s and siblings’ reigns. Everyone assumed that marriage would be high on Elizabeth’s list of priorities. She was the last of Henry VIII’s children so if she died without an heir, the Tudor dynasty would die too. Elizabeth hesitated for years and kept people at home and abroad guessing about who she would choose or even choose at all! Her Privy Council and Parliaments all tried to pressure her to marry
- Power stayed in England
- Created a problem of succession
- Missed out on oppurtunities to create allies
- Strengthed her personal image as someone who cared for the country
What were the advantages and disadvantages of marriage?
What were the advantages and disadvantages of Elizabeth not announcing a marriage?
Advantages
- Staying single meant that Elizabeth could keep sole control of English affairs, namely government and religion. Elizabeth had a range of suitors from different countries.
- Her refusal to choose between them allowed her to keep her options open in foreign affairs, whilst at the same time this enabled her to play countries off against each other, making her a strong negotiator.
- She remained the focus of all power since there was no apparent successor.
Disadvantages
Ongoing uncertainty over who would inherit the throne had the potential to lead to plots and attacks to overthrow Elizabeth. The Privy Councillors and MPs were frustrated because the succession wasn’t settled and they felt this made the country vulnerable.
Who were the potential suitors of Elizabeth?
There were plenty of men who wanted to marry Elizabeth.
The main suitors (men who wanted to marry her) were:
King Philip II of Spain.
He had been married to Elizabeth’s half-sister, Mary, and proposed to Elizabeth very early in her reign. Although a union with Spain may help England against their traditional enemies in France, Elizabeth turned him down because he had treated Mary badly, and her marriage to a Catholic had proved very unpopular with her people.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
He was Elizabeth’s close friend since childhood, and remained one of her favourites throughout her reign, and many thought they would marry until Dudley married someone else. His wife, Amy, then died by falling down the stairs. There were suspicions that Dudley himself had planned this, and the SCANDAL meant that Elizabeth would never marry him.
Francis, Duke of Alencon
He was the brother of the French King, who had no children, and so was heir to the throne of France. A marriage could lead to influence in France, and was supported by William Cecil and some members of the Privy Council. However, there was also a risk. Elizabeth was 46 at the time their marriage was discussed: it was unlikely she would have a child at this age, and therefore when she died, this marriage might mean that England could fall under the control of Catholic France.
The St Bartholomew’s Massacre in 1572, when thousands of Protestants were murdered in France, put an end to the negotiations with France.
What was the solution to the problem of succession?
A solution to the problem of the succession
Elizabeth’s cousins, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey, were nominated as heirs to the throne by Henry VIII if his children had no children of their own. They were Protestants, but in fact Elizabeth’s other cousin, the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, had a stronger claim. When she had a baby boy in 1566, the baby James became the obvious heir to Elizabeth. Though his mother was a Catholic, James was brought up as a Protestant. He was soon to become, James VI, King of Scotland, when his mother was forced to leave Scotland for England in 1567. Both James’ mother and his father were grandchildren of, Mary Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII and aunt of Elizabeth. James’ claim to the throne was supported by the powerful Cecil family. Towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign, Robert Cecil began to send secret letters to James advising him about English government. James would be king of both Scotland and England on Elizabeth’s death which would end a long history of tension and conflict between the two countries.
What was the religion problem?
Religion
Elizabeth’s father had broken with Rome to get his divorce. After his death, Edward continued to establish the Protestant faith. When Mary came to the throne she tried to undo their work and re-establish Catholicism. Elizabeth was a Protestant but she was also pragmatic (practical). She didn’t want to make her enemies angry immediately. In 1558, the Elizabethan Religious Settlement allowed Catholics to follow their faith privately. However the Settlement re-established the Church of England’sindependencefromRome, withParliament giving Elizabeth the titleSupreme Governor of the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity of 1559 outlined what form the English Church should take, including the re-establishment of the Book of Common Prayer which was made law by Edward VI.
What was the Irish problem?
Ireland
Elizabeth considered herself to be Queen of Ireland. Unfortunately, many of the Irish disagreed. A major problem was a revolt in Ireland in 1559. She spent thousands of pounds and sent many of her best soldiers to try to limit the Irish rebellion but nothing seemed to work long term.
What was the Foreign policy problem?
Foreign Policy
Elizabeth had to deal with powerful countries that wanted influence over England. France and Spain, which were both Catholic and had the support of the Pope, saw Protestant England as a target. One major area of disagreement was the Netherlands in 1567. The mainly Protestant population were in conflict with the Catholic Spanish who ruled the area. Elizabeth wanted to help the Dutch financially and did so secretly.
What were all the problems Elizabeth faced?
FIPFMS
Religious Problems from Catholics and Protestants
Foreign policy
Ireland
Poverty
Female ruler
Marriage
succession
What was the Northern Rebellion?
- The Northern Rebellion (1569)
The Northern Rebellion of 1569 was a serious threat to Elizabeth. Many northern nobles were Catholics and saw the arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots as a chance to restore their religion and a Catholic monarch to the throne. Furthermore, since inheriting the throne Elizabeth had made several moves to weaken the power of the northern nobles.
Nobles such as Westmoreland and Northumberland deeply resented Elizabeth’s increased power in the north as it meant they lost influence. Elizabeth used the Council of the North, controlled by southern Protestants, to help govern the region. The Earl of Northumberland in particular had large areas of land confiscated from him. The nobles didn’t lay the blame solely with Elizabeth however, believing her councillors such as William Cecil to be at fault for these policies.
Elizabeth’s cousin, the Duke of Norfolk, who was Lord Lieutenant of the North, wanted to marry Mary. Although Norfolk was a Protestant, he was from a Catholic family, and Elizabeth felt threatened by a marriage between these two powerful people, who may try to replace her. When Elizabeth refused to give permission for this the marriage, a group of northern lords began a rebellion. They took control of Durham Cathedral and celebrated an illegal Catholic mass. They then began to march south with around 4600 men. Elizabeth struggled to gather an army to resist them but eventually one of her loyal nobles, the Earl of Sussex, raised an army of around 7000 and the rebels dispersed and went home.
Whilst the rebellion intended to protect the independence of the northern nobles, it had the opposite effect. After the revolt, many rebels had their land confiscated. The Council of the North was further strengthened under a Puritan, Henry Hastings. Westmorland had fled abroad and Northumberland was executed along with 400 rebel troops and it led to the papal Bull so harsher treatments
What was the Ridolfi plot?
2: The Ridolfi Plot (1571)
The Duke of Norfolk spent ten months in the Tower of London but was eventually released and kept under house arrest, meaning that he was forced to stay inside his home at all times. He quickly became involved in another plot, this time led by an Italian Catholic banker named Roberto Di Ridolfi. Ridolfi hoped for the backing of the Pope and foreign support. In 1570, Pope Pius V had commanded Catholics in England not to obey Elizabeth. The plan was for the Netherlands to invade England at the same time as another northern rebellion. Elizabeth would be murdered and replaced by Mary, QoS, who would then marry Norfolk.
However, Elizabeth’s network of spies discovered the plot when a bag of gold coins with some coded letters in it was discovered on its way north. The code was cracked when the cipher (secret instructions) was discovered under a doormat at Norfolk’s house. Norfolk confessed to his involvement and was executed on 2 June 1572.
What was the throckmorton plot, 1583?
• Mary’s cousin the French Duke of Guise would invade and overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with Mary
• Philip II of Spain would provide the finances & the Pope supported the plot
The Plot was named after the person delivering the messages between Mary and Duke of Guise. His name was Francis Throckmorton
Elizabeth’s Secretary of State and Spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham discovered the Plot and Throckmorton was arrested and executed
Consequences:
- Bond of Association was established- anybody associated with an assassination plot against E would not be allowed to benefit from the Queen’s death
- It was clear that Mary Queen of Scots, the Pope and King Philip II of Spain were a continual threat to Elizabeth.
- A list of Catholic sympathisers was found at Throckmorton’s house helping Elizabeth to believe there was a big Catholic threat in England
- Life got tougher for Catholics. Elizabeth passed a law punishing people to death for hiding Catholic priests
What was the babington plot?
This plot was the same at the Throckmorton one
- Again the Pope and King Phillip II of Spain supported the plot
- Anthony Babington was this time the man delivering the messages between Mary and the French Duke of Guise
- Elizabeth’s Spymaster discovered the plot and Babington was executed
Consequences:
- *•** Elizabeth finally decided to put Mary on trial. She was found guilty and executed on the 8th February 1587
- *• The relationship with Spain had completely broken down (England was also helping Dutch rebels fight against the Spanish at this time too).**
- *• Elizabeth was now determined to crush Catholicism in England**
What was the Middle way?
Elizabeth was a Protestant and was deeply religious. Nevertheless, she was eager to leave the extreme religious policies of her siblings in the past. She did not want to provoke rebellion amongst her Catholic subjects. Instead she looked for a practical compromise and in 1559 passed two laws which came to be known as her ‘religious settlement’
The Act of Supremacy
Under this act Elizabeth came to be known as the ‘Supreme Governor’ instead of superem head of the Church of England. This pleased Catholics, because they believed the Pope was the only head of the church. She still maintained control of the Church and the title of “governor” was seen as a move to appease those who believed a woman could not lead the church. All members of the clergy (churchmen) had to swear an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth.
The Act of Supremacy also stated that the Church would keeps its hierarchy of bishops and archbishops. This was again a concession to Catholics, as Protestant churches across Europe had dropped this episcopal (bishops!) hierarchy.
The Act of Uniformity
This act made moderate changes to the English Church. Elizabeth hoped to give Catholics enough concessions to keep the majority of the country satisfied.
- Going to church was compulsory and you were fined for not attending.
- Churches were allowed to keep some decorations and priests could wear colourful robes, in the Catholic style.
- Priests were allowed to marry and services were held in English.
- A new Book of Common Prayer was introduced and all churches had to have an English copy of the Bible.
- The wording of Communion service was kept deliberately vague so people could interpret as they wished.
How did the Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity minimise the Catholic properties
Many Catholics in England were not happy with Elizabeth’s Settlement. They had enjoyed religious freedom under Queen Mary, Elizabeth’s sister, and they were now being asked to change or deny their beliefs. Many couldn’t make this compromise and left to live in exile abroad. Others grudgingly accepted the new regime.
To strengthen her position, Elizabeth passed laws to minimise the Catholic threat:
What was the Papal Bull
In 1570, Pope Pius IV excommunicated Elizabeth from the Catholic Church. While this was not significant for Elizabeth’s own religious beliefs, it had a considerable effect on English Catholics. The excommunication encouraged Catholics to overthrow Elizabeth and meant they no longer had to obey her.
Consequences:
The Northern rebellion and the excommunication helped shape Elizabeth’s new attitude and policy towards potential traitors. As a result there was less leniency shown to those who did not attend church.
The government dropped its tolerant approach with the Treason Act in 1571. Those who claimed Elizabeth wasn’t the legitimate ruler could now face the Death penalty
Who was Mary Queen of Scots?
Whilst Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots were related, Mary’s arrival in England in 1568 spelled nothing but trouble for Elizabeth. Mary represented a threat with a legitimate claim to the English throne and thus someone Catholics would rally around.
Mary became Queen in Scotland in 1542 when just six days old. Her mother ruled on her behalf whilst she was raised in France. In 1558, she married the heir to French throne, but he died two years later, causing Mary to return to Scotland.
Mary would marry twice more before 1568 with scandal surrounding the murder of her second husband, Lord Darnley. Many believed Mary and her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell had plotted to kill Darnley. This last marriage was incredibly unpopular with Scottish nobles who forced Mary to abdicate. In 1568, having briefly resisted abdication, Mary fled to England. Elizabeth, fearing the threat to her throne, had Mary imprisoned. Although Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary remained under house arrest in the North of England, then the Midlands, for 19 years.
Mary’s claim to the English throne
Mary was related to the Tudors through her grandmother, Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister. Her strong claim to the English throne was supported by Catholics, who believed Elizabeth to be an illegitimate queen. Furthermore, Mary wished to be heir to Elizabeth’s throne.
What was Mary’s inquiry?
Although Mary may have hoped for Elizabeth’s help in restoring her to the Scottish throne, Elizabeth refused. The last thing she needed was the fear of an invasion from the North from a woman with a claim to the English throne.
Whilst Mary was imprisoned, Elizabeth set up an inquiry into the murder of Mary’s second husband, Lord Darnley. The inquiry created difficulties for Elizabeth. A not-guilty verdict would force Elizabeth to release Mary who could in turn overthrow her. However, Elizabeth did not agree that the Scottish nobles had the right to overthrow Mary and a guilty verdict would have lent them support. Ultimately, the inquiry reached no verdict allowing Elizabeth to keep Mary in captivity
How did Elizabeth respond to each of the Rebellion?
What was the order of Catholic plots?
NRTB
What was the role of Missionaries and the Jesuits?
The role of missionaries and the Jesuits
Beginning in 1574, English Catholic priests were trained in Missionary colleges across Europe. These priests would secretly return to England, ministering to English Catholics. Whereas Elizabeth had previously tolerated how her countrymen worshiped in private, the arrival of missionary priests changed things.
Elizabeth had previously hoped Catholicism would fade away as Protestantism became more established. However, these priests represented a major obstacle to this. Moreover, missionary priests supported the Catholic plots to assassinate Elizabeth. The increased threat of Catholics in England and Europe worried Elizabeth’s government.
In 1572, thousands of Protestants were murdered on the streets of Paris in the St Bartholomew’s Massacre. Furthermore, the Dutch Protestant leader William the Silent was assassinated in 1584. The combination of these events and the arrival of missionary priests increased fears of a Catholic attack in England. From the 1580s, a new threat grew, as Jesuit priests were sent to England from Europe. In 1580, two Jesuit missionaries Edward Campion and Robert Parsons entered the country. They had a rigorous training in Europe, and Their aim was to gain influence over rich English families, in order to turn them against the Anglican Church and the Queen. These Jesuits were ruthlessly pursued by Francis Walsingham and his spies. They travelled in disguise and were hidden in “priest holes” in the houses of the Catholic gentry to escape arrest. Campion was executed for treason in 1581,
emphasizing the government’s changed attitude to Catholics.
Consequences of Catholic plots?
Catholic plots
Between 1571 and 1585 there were numerous plots to assassinate Elizabeth, replacing her with Mary Queen of Scots (see picture). These plots differed to the Northern rebellion as they often involved Catholic conspirators from Europe. Similar to the missionary issue, English Catholics were now being aided by foreign agents. Whilst the plots were unsuccessful, discovered by the network of spies, they were a serious threat to Elizabeth. Phillip II’s involvement in particular signaled a potential Spanish invasion. The plots included the Ridofli Plot of 1571. This was led by an Italian banker called Ridolfi.
This led to repression (harsh treatment) of Catholics in England. In 1581 the recusancy fines were raised from one shilling to £20.
- Anti-Catholic laws in 1585 ensured Mary Queen of Scots could not become Queen
- After Elizabeth’s death and gave missionary priests were 40 days to leave the country.
- The anti-Catholic legislation of the 1580s led to the execution of over 120 Catholics.
- Further repression was used in the 1590s with large gatherings of Catholics made illegal in 1593.
- 1593 - Catholics were not allowed to travel more than 5 miles from their homes.
How did Elizabeth deal with the Puritan threat?
Due to their standing in society many Puritans went about reforming the church in a fairly harmless way. They raised their points in Parliament, but did not on the whole get involved in plots to overthrow Elizabeth or destabilise the country and were therefore seen as less of a threat than the Catholics. Nevertheless, Elizabeth still saw them as a threat. She tried to silence them as in the flow chart.
What choices did Elizabeth have with MQOS
- Getting Mary out of the country - sending Mary back to Scotland or France could backfire, allowing her to gather more support to challenge Elizabeth.
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Keeping Mary imprisoned – this would reduce the risk of Mary gathering more support back in Scotland or France and allow Elizabeth to keep tight control.
But unlawfully imprisoning Mary could provoke international outcry and attacks anyway. - Executing Mary – whilst this would remove the figurehead for Catholic challengers, it could also provoke international attacks and set a precedent for killing a queen.
In the short term Elizabeth decided to keep Mary as a closely guarded royal ‘guest’, moving her from castle to castle so she would not be the focus of plots.
What were the reasons why England went to war with Spain?
FEMPRR
- French Civil war
- Elizabeth Supporting Dutch
- Marriage rejection
- plots
- Piracy
- Religon
What were the main differences between Spain and Englands Fleet
FATS Cant Feed Women
- *Fleet -** The spanish had 130 ships - 64 battleships, 22 huge galleons and 45 converted merchant ships. Whereas, England had
- *200 ships - 54 strong, light and fast battleships, and 140 converted merchant ships.**
Annual Income - Spain had a massive £3 Million whereas England had £300k
Tactics - Spain had to Get close so men could board and capture the enemy ships.
Whereas
England had
Destroy enemy ships by firing cannon at them from a distance.
Sailors and soldiers - Spain had 30,000 men on board the fleet and 20,000 soldiers on land.
Whereas, England had 14,000 men on board the fleet and 20,000 soldiers on land.
Commanders - Spain had the Duke of Medina Sidonia while England had Lord Howard of Effingham – little experience of fighting at sea, but Drake and Hawkins were both very experienced with Spanish ships.
Food supplies - Spain had Not fresh food – six months’ worth of supplies were stored on the ships.
Whereas England had, Fresh food supplied daily.
Weapons - Spain had 2,000 large cannon – could fire heavy cannon balls, but only over a short distance and were slow to load.
Whereas, England had 200 smaller cannon – could fire over long distance and were quick to load.
What happened during the Armada?
- The Armada leaves Lisbon on 28 May 1588. It’s delayed by storms and repairs, and finally sets sail for England on 21 July.
- The Armada is sighted by the English from Lizard Point in Cornwall. Warning beacons are lit along the English coastline.
- The Armada continues through the English Channel now chased by English ships, but suffers little damage.
- The Armada anchors near Calais where more troops are meant to join, led by the Duke of Parma, but the English send burning fire ships into the fleet. The Spanish ships panic and are scattered out of formation.
- The Spanish ships are blown towards dangerous sandbanks and the English attack again in the Battle of Gravelines. This time they battle at close range and significant damage is inflicted to the Spanish fleet.
- The Armada is forced north around the east coast of Britain and the English fleet turn back after food and ammunition supplies run low.
- The Armada sets sail for home but are forced around Scotland and Ireland. Many ships are wrecked in storms and thousands of sailors drown.
- The surviving Spanish ships arrive back in Spain, but almost half of their fleet is lost.
Casualties on both sides?
Casualties of battle
Both sides suffered casualties as a result of the Armada but English losses were relatively minor compared to those of the Spanish. England lost just 100 men compared the 20,000 men and 51 ships lost by the Spanish.
However, despite England’s victory several thousand men died from illness and disease in the weeks following the battle.
What was the Great Chain of Being?
The Elizabethan era is associated with the wealth and luxury of the queen and her courtiers but life for ordinary people was often hard and the number of poor people increased during Elizabeth’s reign. Unlike now, there was no welfare system or support for anyone who fell on hard times. Poverty was mostly considered to be your own fault in Elizabethan times - the belief that you had a ‘divinely appointed’ position in society was reinforced every week at church and this attitude was widely held.
Womens Fashion?
• Farthingale (petticoat with wooden hoops), under gown, dyed hair with fake hair piled on top, heavy white makeup (leadbased and highly poisonous), blackened teeth, small hat
Men’s Fashion
• Hat, cloak, sword, beard, silk stockings, ruff (collar worn around the neck)
What were the different Parts of the Theatre?
The Galleries - The galleries had rows of wooden seats and were accessed from a back corridor and had a roof offering shelter from bad or rainy weather.
The hut - Used as a covered storage space for the acting troupe.
Stairs and access - Usually one main entrance, but later designs had more stairs into the galleries.
Tiring House - The actors used this area to change their clothes(attire)
The Pit/Yard - The Cheapest part of the Globe Theatre and the audience had to stand, surroundings the stage on all 3 sides
The Heavens - An area hidden from the audience. A selection of ropes & rigging would allow for special effects, such as flying or dramatic entries.
Lord’s Rooms - Used by the rich members of the audience, the Upper Classes and the Nobility
Gentlemen’s Rooms - These seats were for rich patrons of the globe theatre
The stage - Where the performance occurs.
List all the reasons for increase in poverty?
Rising Population
Inflation
Cloth Trade Collapses
Wars
Bad Harvests
Changes in Farming
Closure of Monasteries
How were long-distance journeys enabled?
In the middle ages, travel was rare. However people still left their countries if they had to, whether it was for work, for war or for pilgrimage; and as sea travel was often dangerous, when people did travel, they went overland.
Luxuries like spices and silk were imported to England from China and India by overland trade routes, which meant that supply relied on foreign merchants.
Then, in the 15th century came the first long sea voyages. These were made possible by:
- new navigational instruments like the compass
- fast, light ships that could be manoeuvred to catch the wind
- the invention of guns
