Elizabeth Ist 1558 - 1603 Flashcards
What was Elizabeth’s education like?
She was taught by a governess, and once she grew old, she was given an excellent classical education. Liz was largely influenced by Robert Ascham, a Cambridge scholar. She learnt French, Italian, Spanish, Latin and was able to read Greek.
What action did Nicholas Heath take upon hearing Mary’s death?
- he announced Mary’s death to parliament proclaimed Elizabeth’s succession.
- Legally he had no right to do so - Mary’s death, by law, should’ve brought about the immediate dissolution of Parliament.
- Within a couple of days, nine of Mary’s councillors rode to Hatfield to assure Elizabeth of their loyalty.
Who was Nicholas Heath?
Mary’s Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York.
What did Nicholas Heath’s actions demonstrate?
It showed that the political elite of the nation collectively assented to Elizabeth’s accession.
What ‘good luck’ did Elizabeth have when it came to the appointment of her leading advisors?
Fortunately for Elizabeth, Cardinal Pole died on the same day as Queen Mary. This gave Elizabeth flexibility to choose her leading advisors.
Who did Elizabeth appoint as her Principal Secretary and why?
She appointed Sir William Cecil as her principal secretary when he was thirty-eight. He would go on to serve her for the next forty years.
Cecil was one of the nine new councillors appointed by Elizabeth. His brother-in-law was Nicholas Bacon, who became Lord Keeper.
What changes did Elizabeth make to the membership of the Privy Council?
Elizabeth was determined to have a smaller council than Mary, with preferencce for people who had shown loyalty to the Tudor dynasty - either through personal service to her or because they came from an established family. She built up a core of professional men who enjoyed her confidence and therefore they tended to serve for long periods.
When was Elizabeth crowned queen?
15th January 1559. She was annointed by the Catholic bishop of Carlisle, Owen Oglethorpe in Westminster Abbey.
The date of Elizabeth’s coronation was based on what
Astrological advice.
According to contemporary sources, what was the people’s reactions to Elizabeth’s coronation?
It was amazing occassion with much rejoicing. Liz was greeted very warmly in her procession and she, in turn, appeared very welcoming, earning her lots of appreciation. She came out of the Abbey afterwards to be presented to the people and there was lots of applause.
How did Elizabeth show herself to be familiar with the customs expected of a new monarch?
By taking herself to the Tower, from which she emerged on several occasions to show herself to her new subjects, and to benefit from pageants which were organised on behalf of the City of London. She also readily referenced her father’s memory, telling Parliament in 1559 that “we hope to rule, govern and keep this realm in good justice, peace and rest, in like wise [sic.] as the king my father held you in.”
How did the Spanish demonstrate their acceptance of Elizabeth as the rightful ruler?
King Philip 2nd of Spain (of Spain!) formally recgonised Elizabeth as queen about a month before Mary’s death. He sent his envoy, the Count of Feria, to see Elizabeth, a month before Queen Mary died, recognising Liz as the successor and rightful queen. After Mary died, the Count tried to create a marriage between Elizabeth and Philip. Despite the failure of this, it proves that Philip didn’t want to disrupt Elizabeth’s succession.
Why was there pressure for Elizabeth to get married?
1) No obvious contender for the succession. She did have cousins - Mary Stuart, Margaret Douglas - but they were all women.
2) In the event of her death, there could be a return to the instability caused by the Wars of the Roses.
3) Gender was a factor! Many felt uncomfortable with a woman ruling without a man to guide her.
What were the pros for getting married?
1) Liz was twenty-five and in a good position to produce an heir, unlike Mary.
2) Could strengthen the foreign policy position and help to consolidate the religious settlement.
3) This would strengthen her own position and remove threat from any rivals and would satisfy her advisors/parliament.
4) could help to strengthen the financial position of the crown.
What were the cons of getting married?
1) No guarantee of an heir, least of all a male heir.
2) childbirth was dangerous.
3) no matter who she chose, Liz would upset a minority and there was also the danger of the man taking away her authority.
4) Likely that any marriage would be based on political considerations, not who she actually wanted to marry.
What could King Philip II of Spain (of Spain!) bring to the table as a suitor?
1) Catholic.
2) Spanish.
3) Mary’s ex-husband.
4) However, he probably lacked true intent because of their religous differences.
5) It was probably more of a polite gesture than it was a genuine one.
Eric of Sweden as a suitor.
1) Protestant.
2) Heir to the Swedish throne.
3) Elizabeth returned his friendship and she and her court benefitted from the many lavish gifts that were bestowed.
4) However, Liz probably had no intent of marrying him - and there would be little benefit anyways in terms of Europrean diplomacy.
Suitor - Robert Dudley:
1) Liz saw him as the only serious contender. He was 27 years old.
2) His grandad had been executed at the start of Henry VIII’s reign as a penalty for being too powerful during Henry VII. His father was executed due to trying to change the succession in 1553 to avoid a Catholic monarch.
3) In 1559 he began to monopolise Elizabeth’s attention - drew unfavourable attention from those at court and abroad.
4) it was assumed that if his wife died, he and Elizbaeth were to marry. In September 1560, his wife was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs - the circumstances were suspicious.
When did the House of Commons first raise the issues of marriage?
January 1559. Elizabeth deflected this.
When did Elizabeth catch smallpox? What was the effect of this?
Elizabeth caught smallpox in October 1562. Parliament discussed this in 1563. There was a fear that Elizabeth might die, causing a full blown succession crisis.
What sort of issues could be created if the queen died?
Civil war, foreign invasion and religious strife.
There were misgivings about each of Elizabeth’s possible heirs.
Lady Catherine Grey - disgraced through a secret marriage.
Mary, Queen of Scots - Catholic.
When was Elizabeth pressed, once again, to marry? What was her reaction?
1566! Some MPs were prompted by Cecil and Leicester to press the issue. Elizabeth was furious, banishing Leicester and the Earl of Pembroke from her Presence Council, which was a huge punishment. She also publicly rebuked other members of the Council and summoned members of both Houses of Parliament to yell at them, reasserting her view on marriage.
When did Burghley and Sussex suggest Elizabeth marry Francois, Duke of Anjou (brother of King Henry III of France)?
1579! Liz was still thought capable of bearing children. Some of her councillors and members of the public were horrified, as this could lead to an infant under the French influence as a successor, but nothing ever came out of it.
