elizabeth part 2 Flashcards
poverty in elizabethan england- actions of previous nobles
Actions of previous monarchs
Henry Vll limited the right of nobles to
hold private armies, fearing they might
be a threat to his throne. This left many soldiers
without work.
The Reformation under Henry VIll led to the closure
of the monasteries. Monks, nuns and other Church
employees were left with nowhere to live or work.
The closure of the monasteries also left the sick
and poor with no one to care for them.
Economic problems under Henry VIll and Edward VI
led to the collapse of the cloth trade and the loss of
many jobs.
poverty in elizabethan england- changes in agriculture
Bad harvests between 1594 and
1598 led to food shortages and starvation
in parts of England. The food shortage also
increased prices - which led to inflation.
Increasing numbers of landlords began to keep
sheep on their land rather than grow crops.
This system, known as enclosure, meant that
fewer workers were needed.
Many unemployed farm workers headed to
towns and cities in search of employment.
There were not enough jobs to go around
poverty in elizabethan england- population increase
During Elizabeth's reign, England's population went from 2.8 million to 4 million. A shortage of places to live gave power to landlords who increased rents (rack renting).
poverty increase in elizabethan england- flu outbreak
A terrible outbreak of flu in 1556
killed 200,000 people, including
many farm workers
attitudes to the poor- deserving poor
• The Great Chain of Being’ made it clear to many nobles that they were simply ‘better’
than the poor.
• Many believed it was their duty to help those below them in society.
• They recognised that many paupers could not help their situation and were not to
blame for their poverty.
• Charities for the poor grew and almshouses were established.
attitudes to the poor- undeserving poor
Some paupers were seen as undeserving: untrustworthy beggars who had no interest
in honest work.
• Warning Against Vagabonds by Thomas Harman, published in 1567, encouraged the
view that many poor people were merely confidence tricksters or criminals. Others
were seen as being idle or lazy.
vagabons- the poor
The vagabonds described by Harman included many scammers and confidence tricksters: The Counterfeit Crank bit soap so that he frothed at the mouth. People would feel sympathy and give him money. Baretop Trickster women would trick men into following them by removing clothing. The men would then be beaten and robbed by her accomplices. The Clapper Dudgeon would cut himself and tie dirty bandages around the wounds to gain sympathy. Tom 'Bedlam would pretend to be mad. He might stick a chicken's head in his ear or bark like a dog.
earlier attempts to deal with poverty
Monarchs before Elizabeth, including Henry VIll and Edward VI, passed laws that tried to deal with poverty, but the problem
got worse.
• From 1495:
• Beggars were punished in the stocks or sent back to their home towns.
• From 1531:
Beggars were publicly whipped.
Those caught a second time would have a hole burned in their ear.
• A third offence would mean they were hanged.
• These laws remained in place for most of Elizabeth’s reign.
• The 1576 ‘Act for setting the poor on work’ placed the responsibility on local authorities.
dealing with the poor- london
Bridewell Palace was used as a shelter for the homeless. Bedlam hospital was built to house the mentally ill. Other hospitals were opened for the sick and for orphans. Conditions in all these institutions were poor and could not cope with the growing numbers coming to the city
dealing with the poor- york
In 1515, the city authority issued beggar licences, with a badge to identify holders. From 1528, a Master Beggar was appointed to keep the others in order, If beggars refused to work they were sent to the House of Correction,
dealing with the poor- ipswich
Introduced a licensing system for beggars from 1569 Opened a hospital specifically to help the old and the sick. A youth training scheme was introduced to help children learn a trade and escape poverty
dealing with the poor- norwich
After a survey showed that 80% of the population lived in poverty in 1570, the city authorities separated the poor into the idle poor" and the 'unfortunate poor: The 'idle poor were given work such as knitting or sewing. The unfortunate poor' were given food and other forms of care. Rich citizens were taxed to pay for the care of the vulnerable.
1601 poor law
The wealthy should be taxed to pay for the care of the
sick and vulnerable.
Fit and healthy paupers should be given work.
Those who refused to work were still dealt with harshly:
they could be whipped or placed in a House of Correction.
1601 poor law categories
The helpless poor {the sick and old]: given food and
accommodation.
The able-bodied poor (those considered fit): had to work in
exchange for food.
The idle poor: punished and sent to a House of Correction.
how effective was the poor laws
Although the 1601 law did make a difference to some, it was
not properly enforced in many areas. Begging seemed to
decrease, but this may have been due to the threat of the
House of Correction rather than the extra help available.
Some historians argue that the law was unsuccessful
because it made each area responsible for its own paupers.
Some were simply sent from one place to another without
receiving any help.
circumnavigation
As well as a ‘golden age’, Elizabeth’s reign has been called an ‘age of discovery. Although
other countries, particularly Spain and Portugal, played a major role in exploring the world,
it was England that led the way. Sailors like Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh and John
Hawkins helped increase England’s wealth and power with their voyages.
first circumnavigation of the globe
Between 1577 and 1580, Drake completed the first circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition.
how did drake circumnavigate the globe
1. December 1577: Drake takes five ships to raid Spanish ports in the Americas. 2. June-July 1578: Drake responds to a rumour of mutiny by executing Thomas Doughty, his former friend. 3. September 1578: Drake sails through the Straits of Magellan, the first Englishman to do so. A storm destroys one ship and blows the others off course. 4. The remaining ships sail up the coast and raid a number of Spanish ports. 5. June 1579: With just his own ship remaining, Drake lands in North America and claims it for Queen Elizabeth. 6. March-June 1580: He navigates the dangerous Cape of Good Hope 7. 26 September: Drake returns to Plymouth. He was knighted (made a 'Sir") on board his ship the Golden Hind, by Elizabeth.
sir walter raleigh and the new world
Sir Walter Raleigh was given royal permission to explore the Americas -
the New World - in 1584.
He would be allowed to colonise (take ownership of] any land that was
not ruled by a Christian.
In return, he had to give the queen one fifth of all the gold and silver he
found there.
He did not sail himself, but sent others to explore and establish colonies
in the New World.
A colony was established at Roanoke on the east coast of America but
did not last. A second was created in 1587 and seemed like it was going to succeed. But when the colony’s leader
returned from a trip to England, he found all of the colonists gone and the word ‘CROATOAN’ (the name of a local
tribe] carved into a tree!
how was exploration possible
defences- better weapons such as cannons made it easier to explore hostile territory, navigation- the astrolabe allowed sailors to judge their position and more accurate compasses made navigation easier, technology- better designed ships were much faster side to the triangular lateen sail
impact of voyages- john hawkins and the slave trade
John Hawkins was a respected sailor and courtier.
He was responsible for building up the navy and
commanding it against the Spanish Armada.
In 1564, he kidnapped several hundred West
Africans and sold them in South America. This was
not the first example of the European slave trade,
but it was the first time the whole process had
been carried out by an Englishman.
He was also a successful privateer and is thought
to have brought tobacco to England.
impact of voyages- wealth
Exploration allowed
England to gain wealth
in several ways:
Raiding Spanish
ships and ports
allowed riches to be
stolen and brought back to England.
Trading systems were established from which
England’s wealth grew over the following
centuries and new products, like spices, silks and
porcelain, were brought to England for the first
time.
O
Trade with the East in spices and other
goods grew as middlemen could now be cut
out - English sailors could deal directly with
merchants in Asia.
New companies were created to deal with trade
in a particular area, for example, the Levant
Company dealt exclusively with trade in Turkey
and the Middle East.
•
The East India Company was established in
1600 to oversee trade in India and the Far East.
The trade in African slaves brought significant
wealth to individuals and to England as a whole.
Other Englishmen saw how Hawkins had profited
and so became involved in the slave trade over
the following years. Slave labour enabled raw
materials to be produced cheaply in the Americas.
impact of voyages- power
Naval power had been growing under Elizabeth and was able to hold its
own in any sea battle.
Improved weapons and tactics, and the skilled command of men like
Francis Drake, played a key role in this.
The English victory over the Spanish Armada showed the dominant
position that England held.
impact of voyages- territory
England was not
the first country
to build colonies in
newly discovered
lands, and there were
several failed attempts. But perseverance led to
increasing numbers of colonies, particularly in
North America, being established in the name of
Queen Elizabeth and her successors.
catholic beliefs and practices
The Pope is the head of the Church. Bible and church services in Latin. Priests should not marry. Highly decorated churches. Bread and wine transform into body and blood of Jesus [transubstantiation]. Priests are ordinary people's link with God.
both catholic and protestant beliefs
God created the world Jesus was God's son. Those who challenge the true faith must be punished.
protestant beliefs
The monarch is the head of the Church. Bible and church services in English. Priests can marry. Plain churches. Bread and wine represent the body and blood. Ordinary people connect to God through prayer.
elizabeth’s religious settlement
Under Elizabeth:
Priests were allowed to marry.
Services were all in English and followed the Protestant Book of Common Prayer.
.
She declared herself ‘governor’ rather than ‘head’ of the Church.
Catholics could worship in their own way in private.
A moderate Protestant, Matthew Parker, was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
the northern rebellion
- Inspired by Elizabeth’s refusal to allow the Duke of Norfolk to marry her Catholic cousin
Mary, Queen of Scots, two northern nobles led a rebellion against Elizabeth. The Earl of
Westmorland and the Earl of Northumberland took control of Durham Cathedral and held
an illegal Catholic mass. They marched south with 4600 men but the rebels disbanded
when the loyal Earl of Sussex raised an army against them. Northumberland was
executed, Westmorland escaped to France and the Duke of Norfolk was imprisoned.
the papal bull
- On 27 April 1570, Pope Pius V issued a special message (papal bull) in which he
stated that Elizabeth was not the true queen and called on the people of England not
to obey her laws. The bull also excommunicated her from the Church. The Pope’s aim
was to stir up rebellion by forcing English Catholics to choose between their queen or
their religion.
the rodolfi plot
- The plot was led by an Italian named Ridolfi, but also involved the Duke of Norfolk and
a second northern rebellion. This time, the uprising would coincide with an invasion
of foreign Catholics from the Netherlands and the murder of Queen Elizabeth. Her
Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, was to be placed on the throne and would marry
the Duke of Norfolk. The plot was discovered before it could be carried out.
the throckmorton plot
1583. Led by Sir Francis Throckmorton. The plan was to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. There would then be an uprising of English Catholics and a French invasion. The Spanish ambassador was also involved. When the plot failed, Throckmorton was executed.
the babington plot
- Led by Anthony Babington.
The plan was to murder Elizabeth and replace her
with Mary, Queen of Scots.
The plot’s discovery led to the trial and execution
of Mary.
the counter reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the attempt by the Catholic Church to bring many Protestants
back to the old faith. In 1568, William Allen established a seminary at Douai in the Netherlands
to train Catholic priests. Allen aimed to send these priests to England as missionaries. He had
the full backing of the Pope.
who were the jesuits
The Society of Jesus was created in 1540 and it began to send missionaries
to England from 1580. Its purpose was to convert the Protestant population to
Catholicism. Elizabeth saw the Jesuits as a threat.
who were the key jesuits in england
Edmund Campion and Robert Parsons arrived in England on 24 June 1580 as
missionaries. Campion travelled the country spreading his message, whereas
Parsons kept a lower profile. Campion became a wanted man because the authorities
were convinced he wanted to start a rebellion.
were jesuits a real threat?
Jesuits like Campion claimed not to want rebellion but just to spread their religious
message. Elizabeth and many others, however, saw them as a genuine threat to the
stability of England, even if they were not directly involved in any plots against her.
how serious was the catholic threat to elizabeth?
The Pope had made it very clear with his
papal bull that he wanted Elizabeth’s rule to
end. He said it was the duty of Catholics to
challenge her rule.
European Catholic rulers, like Philip I of Spain, were encouraged by the Pope to challenge her authority.
Jesuits and other missionaries
were another serious threat as they
could undermine the stability of her
religious settlement.
English Catholics were
encouraged by the papal bull
to rebel.
catholic laws 1571
1571- Recusancy fines for Catholics who did not take part in Protestant services.
They could be fined or have property taken away. However, the rich could
afford to pay and Elizabeth did not enforce the law too harshly; when
Parliament tried to increase the fines, she resisted.
It became illegal to own any Catholic items such as rosary beads.
catholic laws 1581
Recusancy fines were increased to £20 - more than most could afford; this
law was strictly enforced. It became high treason to convert to Catholicism.
catholic laws 1585
Any Catholic priest who had been ordained (made a priest) after 1559 was
considered a traitor and he, and anyone protecting him, faced death.
It became legal to kill anyone who attempted to assassinate the queen.
catholic laws 1593
The ‘statute of confinement’ - Catholics could not travel more than five miles
from home without permission from the authorities.
dealing with jesuit threat
Campion: By July 1580, Edmund Campion had spent a month travelling around England making speeches and encouraging people to convert to Catholicism. Elizabeth saw him as a threat to order and therefore to her. He was arrested and, despite maintaining that he had no plans to overthrow the queen, was brutally tortured and dragged through London before being hanged, drawn and quartered. It was clear that Elizabeth was not going to take any threat lightly. Priests: The 1585 Act Against Jesuits and Seminary priests called for them to be driven out of England. Many were executed.
why did elizabeth’s religious policy change- threat from abroad
Both Spain and France were powerful Catholic
countries and invasion was a real concern for
Elizabeth. The Spanish Armada of 1588 showed
the fear was justified. The threat declined towards
the end of her reign, following the Armada’s defeat.
why did elizabeth’s religious policy change- jesuit missionaries
The popularity of people like
Campion undermined Elizabeth’s
authority. She could not allow them
to spread their message.
why did elizabeth’s religious policy change- plots
The Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babington Plots
Although these plots failed, they showed
that Elizabeth had enemies who wanted to
overthrow her and restore the Catholic Church.
why did elizabeth’s religious policy change- powerful catholics
Several powerful Catholic families lived in the
north of England. They had mostly remained
loyal, but there was growing concern that they
might obey the Pope’s command and rebel.
who were the puritans
Strict Protestants who were influenced by extreme
Protestants in Europe, like John Calvin.
In some cases, they lived in exile in Europe during the
reign of Elizabeth’s Catholic sister, Mary.
They were keen to remove all Catholic elements from
the English Church.
They studied the Bible, wanted plain clothing and
simple services.
Some Puritans were appointed as bishops by
Elizabeth, though some argued over their robes. By
1568, most of them had agreed to wear the white
gown or surplice required by the Church of England during services.
powerful puritans
A number of Puritans with less strict views were able rise to powerful positions:
Sir Francis Walsingham - the queen’s senior minister and spymaster. He largely kept
his religious views to himself, aware they might make him unpopular.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester - a privy councillor and seen as a potential husband
for Elizabeth. He was unwilling to put his position at risk by openly challenging the
Church.
Peter Wentworth and Anthony Cope - Presbyterian MPs who tried to bring change to
the Church by introducing bills to Parliament, however, they did not gain much support
from other MPs.
elizabeth’s response to puritanism
When Grindal died in 1583, Elizabeth replaced him as
Archbishop with John Whitgift, who took a tough stance
against Puritans. With this key appointment, and the
deaths of Dudley in 1588 and Walsingham in 1590,
Elizabeth began to crack down on Puritanism.
Measures against Puritans included:
New rules introduced by Whitgift banning unlicensed
preaching and forcing church attendance with
recusancy fines.
A new High Commission with the power to fine and
imprison Puritans who refused to follow the rules.
The dismissal or imprisonment of hundreds of
clergymen.
The punishment of printers for spreading the Puritan
message.
A crackdown on high profile Puritans, like Anthony Cope,
who was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
why did the influence of puritanism decline after 1590
whitgifts crackdown broke the organisation of Puritanism, the death of john field in 1588- an important leader who had inspired many and was highly critical of the church of england, the church of england brought stability to religion and people were unwilling to risk losing it, the death of powerful puritans removed the influence in the royal court
