Elizabeth 1st: character and aims Flashcards
what is the character of Elizabeth like?
Elizabeth gained the throne at 25, she was much better educated that Mary had been and she had a much better understanding of political processes. She had also learnt from her experiences from the Wyatt Rebellion, she also had an eventful relationship with Thomas Seymour, she was soon to dismiss him. Elizabeth had no question that the throne was hers to rule, in 1558 the spanish ambassador Count of Feria noted that Elizabeth was more feared, there was a sense that she mimicked her father.
Elizabeth had no desire to rule the crown like her grandfather, though she wanted to retain the prerogative powers of the crown.
what were the short term aims of Elizabeth at the beginning of her reign?
to consolidate her position
to settle religious issues
to pursue a peaceful settlement with France
what was the significance of Elizabeth’s accession to the throne?
Mary had recognized that Elizabeth would be her heir, Phillip also recognized that Elizabeth was to be the new heir. There was an acceptance among Mary’s council that their political careers had come to an end as Elizabeth’s view did not reflect that of Mary.
what were the key features of Elizabeth’s consolidation of power?
Mary’s council accepted Elizabeth as queen which made her accession easier, Nicholas Heath (archbishop of York) proclaimed that Elizabeth was Queen despite Mary’s death making this binding, displaying the political elite to recognise Elizabeth as Queen.
William Cecil was appointed as principle secretary, a key aid to Elizabeth, though Elizabeth did keep some of Mary’s council, retaining some stability.
she showed herself to her new subjects from the tower of London, she was coronated on 15th January
Elizabeth was also able to gain some foreign support, when nothing came of the marriage alliance with Phillip 2nd is displayed that he did not want to threaten her reign
what was the significance of the religious settlement?
The nature of religious policy was a key priority for Elizabeth, she needed to decide the nature of her policy in terms of the legal status of the church and the books of the church. There was question whether Elizabeth would go down the route of the 1549 prayer book or the 1552 one?
the 1559 prayer book was seen to be a half way house, the 39 articles of religion was also introduced in 1563.
what is the significance of the 1559 act of supremacy?
This restored the royal supremacy of the church that was lost under Mary, this also saw the removal of the papal supremacy that Mary asserted.
The reformation legislation was restored, there was the repeal of heresy laws, the royal visitation of the church was also revived, though the act did describe Elizabeth as “supreme governor” this lightened the role that Henry had. An oath was also to be taken by the clergy. it’s thought that around 2000 clergymen were deprived of their livings with the reinstalment of the royal visitations.
what is the significance of the 1559 act of uniformity?
This act specified the use of the 1552 prayer book, though there were changes such as the Eucharistic belief that both the 49/52 wording were allowed, the use of the black rubric proclamation was omitted.
There was contention with the “popish vestments” that were omitted.
what was the significance of the royal injunctions 1559?
These were a set of instructions about the conduct of the church, this made it clear that there was to be an attack on traditional catholic practices, like in the 1547 injunction it saw measures such as the “suppression of superstition”, parishes were also required to have an English bible. The injunctions also sought to reflect Elizabeth’s own beliefs for example she strongly disapproved of clerical marriage.
what was the significance of the religious settlement?
John Neale suggested that the Queen faced much pressure from “radical clergymen”, though it has also been argued that Elizabeth saw the settlement as final, this had been aided by the view that Elizabeth wanted the settlement to be put “firmly”, this was backed up by the claim that Elizabeth wanted a “complete religious settlement”
what was the significance of the 1559 treaty of Cateau- Cambresis?
When Elizabeth came to the crown England was at war with France, such events with the loss of Calais had weakened the church’s finances. The treaty was a peace treaty, this saw that France would retain Calais for 8 years. France also agreed to pay 500,000 crowns to England.
what was the significance of the intervention with Scotland?
MQS got closer to the french thrown when her husband Francis 2nd claimed the throne, French troops were soon sent to garrison major Scottish fortresses. Elizabeth was weary of being involved in such events, Cecil felt strongly that the removal of MQS was necessary, though it was a minority of people that felt this way among the council, Cecil even threatended to resign is he could not gain the support of the Queen- which alarmed her. in December 1559 the Navy was sent to prevent French reinforcements from standing, the treaty of Berwick in 1560 offered the lords of the congregation conditional support, in March the Army was sent north, the French force was battered by a storm and the regent Mary of Guise died, Cecil was able to secure favourable terms in the treaty of Ediburgh. MQS’s power was soon limited.
what did John Knox publish?
Knox, who Elizabeth loathed, published the first blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of women in 1558, this was an attack on MQS and Mary of Guise, the mother of MQS, he stated his fervent dislike for a female ruler.
what was the significance of the intervention in France?
in March 1962 there was conflict between the catholics and the protestants in France, Robert Dudley encouraged Elizabeth to put military pressure on the French crown to try and seize Calais, Elizabeth promise the Hugenot leader, 6000 men and a loan of £30000- though, luck was not on the side of Elizabeth as the Huguenot army was soon defeated.
The English were forced to seek the unfavourable treaty of Troyes in 1564, Elizabeth officially lost Calais
what was the importance of protestant reformers?
Martin Luther (see H8)
Zwingli, was Swiss and his writings became popular in England in the 1540s, he believed ideas such as altars should be replaced by tables.
Calvin- different to Luther his images were completely free of images.
what were the problems caused by the religious settlement and how did the government respond?
A key problem that was faced was the quality of the clergy- when the catholic bishops resigned, Elizabeth appointed Mathew Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury.
There was confusion over doctrine- this was dealt with the introduction of the 39 articles, the doctrine of the church began to move in a calvinist direction
The vesterian controversy- the advertisements were published.
The catholics were uneasy as Elizabeth was the supreme governor, this laid foundation for the Northern Rebellion- the rebellion was put down.
how serious was the northern rebellion, who were the key people involved?
The arrival of MQS ended the hopes that catholicism would just end, the failure of Elizabeth to produce a protestant heir meant that there was a threat that the religious settlement of 1559 might not remain.
There was also the threat that MQS might take the throne from Elizabeth.
There was also the seizure of the Spanish Bullion ships- this tethered the relations between England and Spain.
Thomas Howard- the Duke of Norfolk, he conspired to marry MQS to try and secure her succession to the throne, when the conspiracy was discovered he fled from the court.
Thomas Percy- he was involved in the planning stages.
The Earl of Westmoreland was also a key conspirator
De spes- he wrote to Phillip 2nd and said that he was hopeful about the outcome of the Catholic uprising
Earl of sussex- he questioned the conspirators as he was head of the council of the north, so he wanted to prove his loyalty to the crown.
what were the key events that took place?
The rebellion lasted from 9th November- Jan 1570
13th November- sends out commission to raise 1500 foot soldiers, as the rebels continue to gain support from places such as Richmonshire on 16th November Sussex will write to the privy council.
by the 22nd November their army is made up of 3800 people, on the 14th December Barnard Castle surrenders, on the 19th December the Earls are forced to flee into Scotland.
Elizabeth will order the execution of 700 rebels, though around 450 will actually be executed. Northumberland is beheaded in 1572.
why did the Rebellin fail?
the pope did not issue the papal bull until after the rebellion took place, there was no support from Spain
The earls realised that they would not be able to free MQS
The rebellion was poorly planned.
Officials such as Lord Scrope were able to contain the rebellion
there was no enthusiasm to replace Elizabeth as Queen.
