Attitudes to Elizabeth and Marriage

Question 1

Marriage and virginity

Answer 1

• it became apparent over the years that Elizabeth wouldn’t marry
• she developed a reputation as the ‘virgin queen’
• it was often said that her impregnable body represents an impregnable country

Question 2

Bond of Association

Answer 2

• established by Cecil in 1583
• in response to Throckmorton plot to assassinate Elizabeth
• written in case the queen was killed and hadn’t chosen an heir
• gave signatories the power to execute the Queen’s killer and the power to choose a new monarch
• the bond had huge consequences since it meant the succession could be the prerogative of parliament

Question 3

Duke of Anjou

Answer 3

• Elizabeth’s last suitor
• courted her in 1579
• a French Catholic, which would be good for foreign relations with France, but bad due to contrasting religious views and a similar scenario to that of Mary’s marriage to a foreigner
• we don’t know if Elizabeth wanted to marry him but she did seem to like him

Question 4

Opposition to the duke

Answer 4

• Anjou was catholic, so the Protestant faction of court didn’t want the marriage
• Cecil spread rumours about Anjou so that he would fall out of favour
• considerable pressure was put on the queen by the protestant faction, wanting her to remain the virgin queen

Question 5

naming a successor - royal prerogative

Answer 5

• there was repeated pressure put on Elizabeth to name an heir
• however, she believed that they didn’t have the right to do this
• she used her royal prerogative and forbade them from discussing the matter

Question 6

not naming a successor

Answer 6

• strategic decision by Elizabeth
• England could fall into a ciivl war with no clear successor
• many plots were made against Elizabeth
• if she named a successor people may be encouraged to overthrow her in favour of the next in line
• Elizabeth’s survival as the monarch rested on the lack of a successor

Question 7

Catholic suitors

Answer 7

Philip II of Spain

• Philip was catholic, which would threatened to return England to catholicism
• and if any heir chose to be catholic the future of the church of England would be cemented
• however, an alliance with Spain would strengthen England against Scotland and France

Ferdinand and Charles, Philip’s cousins

• also catholic, so a threat to the C of E
• but it would strengthen England against France and Scotland

Question 8

Protestant suitors

Answer 8

Prince Eric of Sweden

• religious settlement would be secure since he was a protestant
• but little diplomatic benefit would come from an alliance with Sweden
• he was rejected for this reason

Question 9

Scottish and French threat

Answer 9

• Mary Queen of Scots had a claim to the English throne, so France and Scotland were feared by Elizabeth
• she feared that if Mary came to the throne then England would return to catholicism and be dominated by French interests

Question 10

delaying suitors

Answer 10

• Elizabeth took a long time to reject suitors
• she may have never intended to marry any of the suitors, but it served her diplomatically to have the possibility of it
• this demonstrates her diplomatic genius

Question 11

Elizabeth’s smallpox

Answer 11

• Elizabeth contracted smallpox in 1662
• this made everyone worry about the succession
• she did recovery but parliament still put pressure on her to marry
• they believed a husband would help control Elizabeth and help her govern England
• it would also allow her to produce a protestant heir