Elizabethan England Flashcards
Give four examples of the problems Elizabeth faces when she became Queen of England.
- Legitimacy - Parents’ marriage was declared illegal so many Catholics believed she had no claim to the throne.
- No husband - concerns over female ruling alone; made England vulnerable to attack. No heir.
- Religion - the country was split between Protestants and Catholics. Elizabeth was Protestant.
- Invasion - France was a Catholic country and many there believed the catholic, MQS, married to the son of the French King, should be ruler of England.
Which body had to be consulted if Tudor monarchs wanted more money?
Parliament. They were only in session 9 times between 1558 and 1588. In each session, taxes were granted.
What was the name of the body of Elizabeth’s advisers?
The Privy Council, led by William Cecil. 19 people sat on this council.
How much debt did Elizabeth inherit from the war in France?
£300,000
What were 2 of Elizabeth’s aims regarding Religion? (2)
- Unity; To heal divisions between Protestants and Catholics to avoid Civil War.
- Power; To maximize her personal power by taking as much control over the church as possible.
Who was Francis Walshingham?
He was a close advisor of Elizabeth and her spymaster.
Who was Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester?
Leading Nobleman, advisor and favourite of Elizabeth.
What did Elizabeth create to solve the issue of religious division? What year?
The Religious Settlement (or “Middle Way”) in 1559.
What was the Act of Supremacy of 1559? (3)
- Re-established the break from Rome; all clergy members had to swear an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth.
- Elizabeth pronounced herself “Supreme Governor” of the Church of England.
- Archbishops and Bishops were kept.
What was the Act of Uniformity of 1559? (4)
- Catholic Mass was abandoned
- All Bibles were to be written in English
- Religious ornaments, such as crosses and candles, could be used in mass
- Priests had to wear traditional (Catholic) vestments
How were the Religious Settlement’s Acts viewed at the time?
The majority were happy but Puritans and extreme Catholics were often unhappy.
Geographically, where was Catholicism strongest in England?
North East & North West.
What was a Puritan?
An (extreme) English Protestant who wanted a total simplification of church practices and any trace of catholicism removed.
What was the impact of the Religious Settlement of 1559? (2)
- 8000 Priests took the oath of supremacy, showing support for the Acts.
- Only 1 Bishop took the oath and so 27 new Bishops were appointed.
What was the role of the church of England?
Church courts dealt with issues such as marriage and death, wills and inheritance as well as enforcing the Religious Settlement. Inspectors would visit Churches to ensure the terms of the Settlement were upheld.
Give two examples of when Puritans challenged Elizabeth and how Elizabeth dealt with them.
- The Crucifix Controversy - Elizabeth liked crucifixes however Puritans did not. This was a problem as several Bishops threatened to resign and as a result, the Queen backed down and removed crucifixes from the church.
- The Vestment Controversy - Elizabeth wanted priests to wear special vestments but some refused. A special exhibition was held in London to show what should be worn. of the 110 invited, 37 did not attend and lost their posts. Elizabeth stood her ground.
How did the Pope challenge Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement and what was the impact of this?
He issued a statement in 1566 that Catholics should not attend protestant Church services. This had virtually no impact…
What proportion of the nobility was Catholic?
1/3
Why were some Catholic nobles unhappy with the Religious Settlement?
Elizabeth chose to have Protestant advisors so they found their political power and influence decrease.
What is a heretic?
People who didn’t believe the teachings of the Catholic Church.
What is a recusant?
Someone who refuses to attend Church of England services
How did Elizabeth reduce the threat from France?
Elizabeth signed the treaty of Troyes confirming that Calais belonged to France in 1564.
Give three reasons why Spain was unhappy with Elizabeth in 1559.
- Elizabeth had supported Protestants in the Netherlands.
- Elizabeth had stolen gold from a Spanish ship.
- Elizabeth had refused to marry him.
Why was Mary Queen of Scots a threat to Elizabeth in 1568? (3)
- She was next in line to the throne. Her grandmother was Margaret Tudor and her great grandfather was Henry VII. She also had a son, James.
- She had close links with France through her French mother, first husband (King of France), and a childhood spent in France. The French might also support her claim.
- She was Catholic had the support of many Catholic nobles in England who did not believe that Elizabeth was a legitimate Queen.
How did Elizabeth deal with MQS in 1568?
Mary was kept under house arrest.
In what year did the Pope introduce a Bull excommunicating Elizabeth?
1570, Papal Bull Regnans in Excelsis.
Why was the “Bull Regnans in Excelsis” significant?
Because English Catholics did not have to be loyal to Elizabeth.
When was the Treason Act and what did it state?
1571.
Anyone denying Elizabeth’s supremacy and bringing in the Pope’s Bull of Excommunication will be executed.
When was the Northern rebellion?
November 1569
Give one religious reason why the Northern nobles were unhappy with Elizabeth in the 1560s? (4)
- Catholicism was strongest in the north of England and many wanted the restoration of Catholicism under a Catholic monarch.
- The arrival of MQS in 1568 gave them hope Elizabeth could be replaced.
- Hatred of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement.
- Elizabeth had appointed James Pilkington (Protestant) as Archbishop of Durham.
Give one political reason why the Northern nobles were unhappy with Elizabeth in the 1560s? (3)
- Saw Catholic influence over monarch reducing. (Elizabeth preferred Protestant advisors from non-noble families.)
- Hatred of William Cecil.
- Elizabeth increased her control of the north through the Council of the North – this council was controlled by Protestants and northern nobles resented this.
Why was the Duke of Northumberland angry with Elizabeth? (2)
- Elizabeth had taken large areas of land from him and shared them between his main rival in the north and a southern Protestant.
- Elizabeth had also claimed all profits from copper mines discovered on his land.
Name three important figures who took part in the northern rebellion.
Duke of Norfolk (Queen Elizabeth’s cousin), Northumberland, and Westmoreland.
Who did the earls want to replace Elizabeth with as queen of England?
Mary Queen of Scots.
Which city did the nobles capture and what did they do at the cathedral there?
Durham / Celebrated Catholic Mass.
Why did the Northern Rebellion fail? (3)
- Large royal army of 10,000 met rebels – showed support for Elizabeth
- Little support for revolt among the majority of Catholic nobility and ordinary people – most chose to support Queen.
- Spain / Pope’s promise of military support did not happen.
What happened to the nobles after they were defeated?
400-600 of those involved were executed, including Northumberland, although not until 1572. Others fled to Scotland / abroad.
What was the impact of the Northern uprising? (5)
- Elizabeth confiscated the land of the Earls who rebelled making her stronger
- The reorganizing of the Northern Council strengthened her position
- Norfolk was released after 9 months in the Tower of London
- She became less tolerant of Catholics. Recusancy (not attending church) was punished more harshly
- The Pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570.
What did Pope Pius do in 1570 and how did this increase the Catholic threat to Elizabeth?
Issued the Papal Bull excommunicating Elizabeth I. Meant Catholics no longer had to obey her – encouraged to overthrow her.
What were the aims of the Ridolfi, Throckmorton, and Babington Plots?
Assassinate Elizabeth I. Replace her with Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots.
In what year was the Ridolfi plot?
1571
In what year was the Throckmorton Plot?
1583
Why did the Ridolfi plot fail?
Letters were intercepted. Elizabeth’s allies passed names of main conspirators to her.
Who supported the Ridolfi plot?
Pope and King Philip; agreed to provide troops.
Who uncovered the Throckmorton Plot?
Francis Walsingham – had Throckmorton under surveillance for months.
What did English nobles have to sign after the failed Throckmorton Plot and what did it require them to do?
Bond of Association – required them to execute anyone who tried to overthrow Elizabeth.
Give three reasons why the Catholic Plots were never a real threat.
- Elizabeth was a popular ruler – conspirators lacked public support e.g. failure of Northern Earls showed a lack of appetite for Catholic revolution
- Philip II – reluctant to destroy alliance with Elizabeth. Promises of support were half-hearted. Rarely followed through
- Spy networks always uncovered plots long before they fully developed
When was the Babington plot?
1586
How was the plot discovered?
Walsingham was aware of the plot and allowed it to develop to the point where letters were found showing that Mary agreed to the assassination of Elizabeth.
What happened to Mary after the Babington plot?
She was found guilty of treason. Elizabeth signed her death warrant but did not seal it. Mary was executed.
When was MQS executed? Why had Elizabeth been reluctant up until then?
1587 (Feb) / Mary a fellow monarch – believed in divine right, executing Mary undermined claim to rule by Divine Right and might fuel more plots against her.
What were the main reasons Mary was executed? (4)
- Her claim to the throne and her Catholicism.
- her involvement in the Babington plot – she was finally implicated in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth.
- Her links abroad – she had the support of Phillip of Spain and the Pope so there was a constant threat of invasion from Spain.
- The Privy Council. They wanted her dead and as she would always be a focal point for catholic plots whilst alive. The council had passed the Act for the Preservation of the Queen’s Safety in 1585 meaning if Mary was found guilty of involvement in a plot she could be put on trial.
What was the impact of Mary’s beheading?
Limited – English Catholics did not rise up against Elizabeth.
Although Philip of Spain did launch the Armada is was not a direct consequence of Mary’s execution
What year did MQS abdicate from the Scottish throne?
1567
Why did England and Spain have good relations at the start of Elizabeth’s reign? (2)
Marriage alliances (Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon / Philip II married Mary) and fought together against France in 1550s.
Who controlled the Netherlands?
Spain / Philip II
Why were the Netherlands important to England?
English exports to Europe were vital to the English economy – went through Dutch ports like Antwerp.
Which port in the Netherlands was vital to England’s exports?
Antwerp