Foreign Affairs Flashcards
(44 cards)
What were E issues with marriage?
-Ministers were keen that E should marry to prevent possibility of a Cath inheriting the throne
-E felt strongly that the issues lay with royal prerogative and NOT up for discussion
-cause of tension between E + councillors
Who were E’s suitors?
Robert Dudley: (probably E preferred choice)
-Future E of Leicester
-Prospect of marrying Dudley horrified Cecil who would have lost influence
-Furthermore it would create political risks due to mysterious circumstances re death of Amy
-> 1560 broken neck at bottom of stairs. Gossip = murdered by Dudley which made royal mari politically. Coroner = death accidental
Phillip II of Spain:
-Polite gesture to E but probably lacked serious intent due to profound Cath
Archdukes Ferdinand and Charles:
-Sons of Emperor Ferdinand. Both Cath
Prince Eric of Sweden:
-Protestant suitor. E gave him little encouragement
What happened at the 1563 parliament in relation to succession?
-E had caught smallpox and for a time it seemed she might die thereby creating succession crisis
-If E died fears there could be -> civil war, foreign invasion & reli strife
-Level of panic amongst E councillors should NOT be underestimated
What were the problems with succession?
NO CONSENSUS - signif misgivings about each potential suitor
a) Lady Catherine Grey - disgraced herself with secret mari to E of Hertford, couple imprisoned and mari annulled 1562
b) MQS - far too Catholic
E refused to commit herself to name a successor
What happened at the 1566 Parliament?
-Once again pressed E to marry. Some MPs were prompted by mbers of PC, incl Cecil and Leicester but their motives differed
-E reacted furiously:
a) banished Leicester and earl of Pembroke from Presence Chamber (place where private contact could be made bet Q and courtier
b) publicly rebuked other mbers of PC
c) summoned P for a ferocious scolding
-E reasserted her view that mari & succession = matters of royal prerogative
How did Duke of Anjou arise as a suitor in 1579?
-When E declared capable of still bearing a child a possible marriage to Francis, Duke of Anjou suggested by Burghley and Sussex
-Some of her councillors were horrified this would lead to infant child under Fr influence as successor
-Nothing came of this succession
What was the final succession?
-Execution of MQS meant her son James IV of Scot had best hereditary claim even though Stuarts had been excluded from succession in H8 claim
-James was Protestant and by 1600 had 2 sons
-E councillors had a vested interest in ensuring they remained in royal favour so began wooing James e.g. Essex in regular contact and Robert Cecil
-To the very end E refused to name her successor, no proof she accepted James’ succession on her deathbed yet arrangements already in place
-Change of dynasty effected so smoothly, much credit to Cecil
What were relations between E and MQS linked to?
Issue of religion and succession (foreign policy)
How had MQS upset Protestant lords in Scot?
-Through her mari to E of Darnley - marriage was a disaster with Mary implicated in his murder
-Her marriage to E of Bothwell - led to civil war in Scot
Why was 1567 a turning point?
MQS fled to Eng
What are 2 ways the threat of MQS got worse from 1567?
a) Some Eng Cath saw her as the rightful Queen and she became the focus of plots to overthrow E
b) Excommunication 1570 - problem grew worse as now Eng Cath were absolved from need to obey sovereign. This frightened E and her Council resulting in the tightening of the Treason law
After this Protestants were deemed loyalists and Catholics = traitors
Give details and the significance of the Northern Rebellion 1569
-Led by the D of Norfolk who schemed to marry MQS (E refused)
-Aim to get MQS named as heir to the throne
-D of Norfolk hated Cecil - political rival at court and wanted his role in govt
-Sp troops were ready but only if a revolt started in Eng
-D of Norfolk fled court and surrendered
-Other N Earls having taken Durham marched S but troops melted away against E forces
-Govt acted severely against rebels - 800 hanged, Norfolk was spared, begged for mercy
Not as serious as first thought BUT
1. E took opportunity to take firmer control of N of Eng Council and reorganised it under leadership of a Puritan
2. Govt took the threat of MQS more seriously esp after 1570 excommunication
Give details and the significance of Ridolfi Plot 1571
-Plan for MQS to marry Norfolk and overthrow E
-Plan led by Ridolfi to land 6000 SP troops to depose E
-Cecil and his network of spies and informers meant that the leaders were arrested
-D of N found guilty of treason and executed
-Sp ambassador expelled
-E refused to execute MQS - would have made war with Sp inevitable
How did the situation change in 1580s?
Papal announcement that anyone who assassinates E will not sin and indeed will definitely go to heaven
Give details and significance of the Throckmorton plot 1583
-Eng Catholic gentleman involved in a plot to get rid of E acted as an intermediary between MQS and Sp ambassador
-Supported by Fr and Sp and the Pope
-Foreign landing in Sussex followed by overthrow of E and replaced by MQS
-Walsingham’s spies discovered the plot
-Bond of Association passed (if E was murdered Parli would make sure murderers were punished)
-Worsened Anglo-Sp relations as Sp ambassador was expelled
-Tightened conditions of Mary’s captivity - under custody of stern Puritan
Give details and significance of the Parry plot 1585
Plot to assassinate E
Led to Parli accelerating proceedings on a bill to ensure Q’s safety
Give details and significance of the Babington plot 1586
-Involving MQS, the Fr ambassador and a young Cath gentleman Babington
-Govt agents discovered that MQS had been smuggling letters via beer barrels
-Coded letters were exposed by Walsingham who set a trap for MQS to agree to the plot to assassinate E
-Conspirators arrested and executed 1586
-Special Commission set up to find MQS guilty of treason which led to her execution 1587
Why was E reluctant to execute MQS?
- Saw her as family, felt sympathy and was careful not to support harsh treatment of fellow female monarch
- Politically unwise - due to MQS close links with Guise family in Fr. She could be used to stop Fr action against E esp if mari arrangements to Duke of Anjou failed
BUT these are flimsy excuses considering evidence of Sp and Eng Cath plotting fairly continuously to put MQS on throne
ONLY when evidence was overwhelming of MQS involvement did she sign
Explain MQS trial and execution
-Tried at Fotheringhay Castle
-Pcouncillors and nobles assisted by judges at trial (many called in sick)
-Some feared regicide (execution of monarch) others feared political error as she was mother of future monarch James IV)
-E commanded no sentence was pronounced
-4 months of delays
-Cecil used parliamentary pressure to influence E. Parli petitioned E but she refused to sign death warrant until 1587 and then gave contradictory orders about its dispatch
-In eyes of many Eng Cath, MQS died a martyr for Cath faith
How much of a threat was MQS?
-Repeatedly the focus of potential rebellions/plots - seen as the Q in waiting by Cath
-Always likely to gain support of Sp and the Pope and be a major threat as a result
However evets have moved on by early 1587:
-Eng actively at war with Sp and Sp invasion already planned
-MQS execution gave Phil an additional motive but in reality threat from abroad no worse than it had been
-MQS death did not end speculation re succession but it was increasingly accepted that Mary’s son James (Prot) would eventually succeed E
-MQS execution = last stage of Reformation. Eng would remain Prot country
What were Eng relations with Spain like across E’s reign?
1560s - mainly friendly, however by end of decade things began to change
1570-85 - declining relations
1585-87 - deterioration of Anglo-Sp relations
1588-1604 - continuing war against Sp
Why were the Netherlands important to England?
Trade and security
Give details of relations with Sp during 1560s
Mainly friendly UNTIL end of decade due to:
- Trading activities of John Hawkins
-Hawkins attempted to break Sp trading monopoly in Caribbeanwhicb infuriated Sp - Sept 1568 they blockaded his fleet in Mexico and only 2 of his ships were able to escape - Situation in the N’lands
-Philip wanted a tighter form of Sp political control over N’lands which would root out heresy (Prot)
-E came under pressure from Pcouncillors to aid Dutch Prots
-E was reluctant to take action having suffered from her Fr adventure and did not want to be seen aiding rebels fighting sovereign auth - Nov 1568
-Eng harassed Sp
e.g. a storm forced several Sp vessels to seek shelter in Eng ports. They were on the way to N’lands to pay Duke of Alba’s army carrying 400,000 florins. E impounded the money. This led Alba to seize Eng ships and property in N’lands
Why else had relations sourced by the beginning of the 1570s?
Philip’s encouragement of the Northern Rebellion in 1569/Ridolfi plot of 1571 and excommunication of E 1570
