Elizabeth's later years Flashcards
Describe the war with Spain from 1588
- Spanish Armada in May 1588, defeated & high point of the reign (Elizabeth’s stirring speech at Tilbury)
- More Armadas were planned but largely failed due to weather
- English attempts to capture the Spanish treasure fleet failed and attacks on Spanish settlements in South America were less successful than in Drake’s day because the Spanish used a convoy and had built defences.
How successfully did Elizabeth defend the royal prerogative after 1588? (hint summary: religion largely protected but there was a new generation of parliamentarians who refuted purveyance and monopolies) - 3 main points
- In 1593, as a response to the generous taxes they had given, the House of Commons asked for the remedy of grievances over purveyance. Burghley replied by saying this was infringing on the royal prerogative. The queen recognised the problem and agreed to investigate (+ small concession).
+ Peter Wentworth MP released ‘A Pithy Exhortation to Her Majesty for Establishing her Successor to the Crown’ before the 1593 parliament. Imprisoned in 1591. Council sent him tower after pamphlet as he was discussing parliamentary business outside Westminster - he died there.
-/+ Issue of monopolies: Constraints of war meant Elizabeth could no longer reward servants with land/pensions so she granted monopolies. In 1597, Robert Wingfield raised the matter and Elizabth agreed that those responsible for raising prices should be cancelled. The Lord Keeper, Sir Thomas Egerton, however, made it clear that ‘the chiefest flower in her garland’ would not be compromised. Elizabeth foolishly issued more. Lord Treasurer drew up a list of monopolies and told them they were objectionable but nothing was done before 1601. 1601 parliament brought great discontent (inc Bacon), particularly over added monopolies in 1597 (leather pilchard). Petitions outside parliament. Cecil disgusted but Elizabeth gave her ‘Golden Speech’ and gained quadruple taxes. Monopolies lived on.
How did Elizabeth’s relationships become more positive/negative in her later years?
- Four parliaments 1588 - 1603 asking for greater taxes due to war with Spain, parliament voted more generously but they had more bargaining power to raise issues.
- Some criticism of harsh treatment of Puritans in 1589 but Whitgift continued his campaign against radicals, referring to them as false prophets. In 1593, the government put forward measures aimed at Roman Catholics and puritan dissenters. (RC were ordered to remain within 5 miles of their homes. Resistance led by Raleigh against puritan measures. The only law passed decreed unlawful gatherings punishable by imprisonment, 1601 bill to end plurality abandoned (Whitgift).
+ There was no more pressure for her to marry and James of Scotland was assumed to be her successor. Only Penter Wentworth dared to raise this issue and religious discontents were prepared to wait for Elizabeth’s death.
+ 1589 HoC committee convinced by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Walter Midmay that an unprecedented two subsidies and four tenths and fifteenths should be granted. Agreed that this shouldnt become the norm. HoC agreed to same subsidies in 1593. Lord Burghley argued this was not sufficient but HoC (inc Bacon) resisted. Achieved raise. 1597 agreed same subsidies. Final parliament in 1601 agreed four subsidies but Cecil and Bacon joined forces to reduce burden on poorest tax-payers.
Impact of the war with Spain?
- Needed a navy, ships remodelled. John Hawkins eliminated corruption. lord lieutenants ordered to review the local militias, train troops in firearms and survey possible landing places. Becons were set up. Recusants whos loyalty was questioned were interned. Complaints about greater payments for militia. Need to appoint leaders for the royal fleet. Lord Howard. 12,500 men at Tilbury ‘body of a weak and feeble woman’ speech.
- Elizabth obtained forced loans from her wealthy subjects (£75,000) and £56,000 borrowed from London at 10% interest.
- Sailors not always paid in full and discharged away from home: vagrancy.
- Mixed success after Armada. E.g. Lost 10,000 men in 1589 but captured Cadiz in 1596. Sent 14,000 men to France but half of them did not return. Henry VI sent elephant.
- Faction within Privy Council: Robert Cecil determined to keep Netherlands and France safe but was cautious. Raleigh and Hawkins wanted more than ‘petty invasions’. Essex favoured action and became a hero after success in Cadiz.
- Cost of the war in men sent to fight amounted to 100,000, £4.5 million.
- James I kept in touch with enemies but never committed to helping them, ensured his succession with Cecil and Essex.
- Cardinal William admonition to the people and other Catholic propaganda.
- The case of Doctor Lopez ?
+ Francis Vere to the Netherlands captured Zutphen. Loans and troops gave Dutch superiority.
+ Victory in Spanish Armada seemingly reaffirmed superiority of Protestantism. Massive blow to Catholic Europe. War fizzled out afterwards as both countries were lacking money.
Social and economic situation in the 1590s?
- Poor harvests in the later 1580s and then a disastrous run of harvests (heavy rainfall) from 1594 to 1598 = inflation. By 1596, the average price had doubled.
- Population increase: a million more people than 50 years previously.
- Several outbreaks of plague (every town). Burghley sent quarantine instructions but these were ignored.
- Increase in vagrancy (67 punished in Oxford in 1598, compared to normal 12)
- Inadequate response: bill to preserve land under cultivation, forbade export of grain and ordered people to keep less dogs.
+ Better harvests after 1598.
Unrest in the 1590s?
+ Refusal to pay ship money - abandoned in 1596
+ Food riots in Kent in 1595 (also Somerset), Ipswich in 1586
+ Apprentices rioted regularly in London
+ Oxfordshire rising in 1596: supposedly a protest against enclosure, although leaders were artisans. Complaints about food poverty. Ringleaders planned to destroy enclosures and link with apprentices in London - 1 did. Young men. Five ringleaders charged with treason. 20 questioned. Jury included men who had been threatened and two ring leaders werer executed. Not a serious threat - meeting at Enslow Hill attracted just 4 people. - 1597 Tillage Act reversed enclosure
+ Ireland: Led by the Earl of Tyrone. Fear that they would allow Spanish to land and invade England. Tyrone captured key fort at Blackwater in 1598 and only half of English troops remained safe. He seized Munster. Tyrone posed a real threat as troops were well trained and mercenaries from Scotland. Essex sent as Lord Lieutenant with 16,000 men in 1598. He wasted time in pointless maneouvres, took only 4000 men to meet Tyrone and met hi secretly (treachery), then returned home against orders, rushing into Elizabeth’s bedroom. Essex was replaced by Lord Mountjoy who captured Irish leaders and Spanish landing at Kinsdale in 1601 was overcome - they surrendered. Tyrone surrendered.
Evidence that the Essex rebellion was a serious threat to Elizabeth? (7)
- Showed continous rebellion e.g. joined expedition to Lisbon against her orders in 1589. Over-optimistic of capabilities e.g. conferred with Henry VI and wasted time in 1592. Rivalry with Cecils and hubris in wanting Bacon to be made attorney general.
- Popular due to capturing Cadiz. Supporters commissioned performance of Richard II.
- Violent tendencies e.g. return from Ireland, drew sword on the Queen.
- Had support at the court from the likes of Earl of Worcester.
- Clearly treasonable activity, attempted to persuade Mountjoy to return and supported James VI.
- Supporters did not lack political skill as plan to take over Palace of Whitehall was realistic.
- Planned on unpopularity of of the Cecilian regime but could not unite it’s enemies.
- Supporters tried to free him after imprisonment and people resented those responsible for his death.
Evidence to prove that the Essex rebellion was not a serious threat?
- Elizabeth removed an ally by sending Lord Mountjoy to Ireland.
- Arguably was driven to despair and insanity so his rebellion was not coordinated.
- Had no feudal support.
- Only six executions suggests it wasn’t considered a serious threat.
