All the Tudors par Henry VIII Flashcards
How did people feel about Elizabeth I on her ascension?
Mary’s reign
Lacked stability that would later be afforded to Oliver Cromwell by the Gentry
Passing (1558) not mourned
New optimism that Elizabeth I would be the new Deborah (‘the judge and restorer of israel) - 250
Elizabeth the ‘peacemaker’
pageant, chair garnished with red and white roses symbolising re-unification of houses of York/Lancaster
Seen as a saviour by the protestants, who hoped she would spread the word of the gospel
Elizabeth I - Character
Character
Elizabeth ‘controlled her own policy more than any other tudor’ - 251
Henry III of France called her ‘the most beautiful woman in all the world’
Intelligent and well educated
Lack of preconceptions
Difficult character? Jealous of others’ sexual relationships Vane Focus on her prerogative caused problems for council and p.ment Unable to be manipulated
Religious views
Moderate reformer
Rejected ‘popery’ but still Catholic
Rejected clerical marriage
Indecisiveness
‘vacillated’ when making key decisions
Sometimes a weakness
In terms of religious reform, strength, as didn’t impose radical ideas on a Protestant majority population
Also must be understood as partly due to subjects’ conservatism and financial weakness
Indecisiveness as political strength?
“Elizabeth mastered the political game”
Passive stance worked best with her financial position and more effective than joining all out Protestant war
Elizabeth I - Factionalism in Elizabethan politics
Factionalism in Elizabethan politics
‘Athenians’ in late 1850s, dominant force
‘Marians’ were opposing force
Argues that ‘very little’ factionalism before the war with Spain, at best personal rivalries
Some feuding between Sir William Cecil and Earl of Leicester over who should marry queen
Disagreement between Leicester and Sussex over intervention in Netherlands
Not a case of opposing factions of ‘moderates’ (Cecil) and ‘Protestant ideologues’
Consensus in Privy Council on Foreign policy 1570s/80s and need to find successor for Elizabeth
Institutions organized to discourage factional dispute between Chamber/Council
Chamber officials were politicians, chamber officials were female relatives of these
Privy chamber staff not allowed to have external political allegiances
Only one stamp of queen’s signature
Elizabeth I - lessening of religious persecution pre-settlement
Dec 1558, heresy trials stopped, prisoners released, prosecutions reviewed
Until Parliament could put forward a plan, people instructed to observe marian rites and preaching halted.
Device for the Alteration of Religion, 1558
Elizabeth I’s style of policy making
Elizabeth’s policy making
Private and reserved
If discussed, with “inner circle”
Cecil, Parry, Leicester, Winchester, Pembrooke and Bacon
Walsingham, Hatton and Sir Thomas Bromley join ‘inner circle in late1580s
Elizabeth I - Intervention in French Wars of Religion
Huguenots get 6000 troops and loan of £30 000
Calais would be restored as English territory
Cecil’s pièce justificative
Why? To defend christendom To prevent war spreading to England To attack Guise Catholicism To defend interests in Calais stipulated at Cateau Cambrésis
French take la Havre from English in March 1563
Loss of Calais and indemnity under treaty of Cateau Cambresis under Treaty of Troyes April 1564
Cardinal Granvelle (Sp) closes Flemish ports to English ships on pretext of plague outbreak, doesn’t resume trade until 1565, - warning that English shouldn’t sponsor Protestantism in Europe.
Elizabeth I - Domestic policy questions (3)
Domestic policy
Scottish question
Succession
Marriage
Elizabeth I - question of succession
Succession
Why raise the question?
Several bouts of illness October 1562-October 1572
Assassination of William of Orange
Other claimants
Lady Catherine Grey (sister of Jane Grey, d. 1568)
Mary, Queen of Scots
Married cousin, Henry Darnley, son of Countess of Lennox, to strengthen claim
Disliked by some on Council
Darnley murdered, married his assassin!
Civil war, defeat at Langside May 1568, comes to seek help from Elizabeth
Elizabeth I and Marriage
Marriage
Privy council wanted her to marry. If she refuses, they scaremonger about secession in P. Ment until she does
Refused petitions of both houses in 1563
Some have incorrectly argued that P.ments pressured her by ‘trading’ (271) progress on subsidy bill (Taxes 4 lizzie) for progress on her marriage
Source of tension
Outburst 27th Oct 1567
Pointed out by Elizabeth that they couldn’t themselves agree on a suitable candidate
1559: “A queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a Virgin’
Increased stability in England from 1560s?
Increased stability from 1560s Some privy Councillors now JPs, too. Cecil in Lincolnshire, Northhamptonshire Pembroke in Wiltshire Henry VIII, local patronage had a number of sources. Under Elizabeth, monopolised by courtiers - 272 Influence didn’t stretch to North
Dissent in North under Elizabeth i
Dissent in North
‘Qualified (272) allegiance to reign
Dissenters removed from positions of authority
Thomas Percy “deprived of wardenship of the Middle march” - 272
Effect?
became ‘destabilising’ force - 273
Northern Rising
Due to court realtions breaking down
Powerful lobby wanted Mary to marry Duke of Norfolk to secure seccession and protect interests
Backed by earls of Northumberland and Westmorland
Elizabeth vetoes Norfolk marriage —> Northumberland and Westmorland lose court connection
Norfolk sent to tower, N and W summoned , refuse
Accusations
Queen being led by corrupt ministers and councillors
Actions
March on Durham Cathedral, restor Catholic mass (14th November)
Ripon and Hartepool take, Five Wounds of Christ banner is raised at Ripon
Fail to take up arms and take Mary QoS from where she was confined in Tutbury
Failure
Westmoorland flees, Northuberland captured by Scots and sold to Elizabeth, executed 1572
700 rebels hung
Excursions into Scotland for raids and attacks on Castles that would weaken MQoS
Northern patronage re-distributed only to those favourable to Elizabeth I
Nature of revolt:
not ‘neo feudal’
led from Court
Anglo- Spanish relations pre-Armarda
Anglo- Spanish relations
Seizure of Spanish Bullion in Dec 1568
Spanish arrest English merchants, Embargo on English goods in Netherlands
Similar Embargo on Spanish goods in England
Cecil suspected Catherine de Medici and Philip II were forming Catholic coalition
Alva led army into Netherlands in August 1567 —> Philip II had potential Catholic invasion force
Spanish Led ‘Ridolfi Plot’
Elizabeth I’s relationship with Rome
Elizabeth and Rome
Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth Feb 1570
Protestants = loyalists ,Catholics = traitors
Parliaments forced to take Oath of Supremacy
Anti-Catholic legislation
Treason Act
Act prohibiting Catholic bulls
Act for confiscation of property from Catholic exiles
‘act confirming attainder of Northern rebels’ - 277
Ridolfi Plot 1571
Ridolfi Plot
Spanish invasion plan to Enthrone Mary QoS
Highlighted that Mary was dangerous while alive as became ‘focal point’ (277) for Conspiracies
Duke of Norfolk implicated and executed 1572
Emergency p.ment session 8May
Wanted to execute Norfolk and subject Mary to attainer
Elizabeth indecisive on issue of Mary
Six points of English diplomacy after St Bartholomew’s day massacre:
Six points of English diplomacy after St Bartholomew’s day massacre:
1) No interevention in Netherlands
2) Volunteers may help dutch
3) Anglo-French entente to ally against Spain
4) French to support Dutch revolt, but not themselves invade
5) Spain should be persuaded to let Netherlands have semi-autonomy again
6) French influence should not extend to Scotland (282)
St Bartholomew’s day massacre’s effect on England
St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
Strains Anglo-French relations
Ships sent to La Rochelle
munitions sent for Huguenots
Marriage negotiations with Francis, duke of Alençon
Marriage negotiations with Francis, duke of Alençon (brother of Charles IX, Catholic, implicated in massacre
Alencon used to diplomatic advantage
October 1581, visits England and doesn’t marry
Assassination of William of Orange, - when and significance?
Assassination of William of Orange, 10th July 1584
Fears that Elizabeth may be assassinated
Threat from the Prince of Parla
Philip II’s Nephew, Prince of Parma, governor-general of the Netherlands
European protestant cause and opposition to spain vs uneccessary spending
Anti French after massacre vs marriage diplomacy
Elizabeth’s policy 1572-85: “attempted to reconcile conflicting strategic, commercial and religious interests at minimum cost”
If Parma subjugated Netherlands, Philip II could invade England