Elizabethan England

Question 1

Who was Elizabeth I’s parents?

Answer 1

-Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.

Question 2

What were the 2 key reasons why Elizabeth was thought to be illegitimate?

Answer 2

1) Henry VIII had converted from Catholic into Protestant in order to divorce Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn and because Catholics didn’t believe in divorce, they thought Elizabeth was illegitimate as she was born out of wedlock and the divorce wasn’t valid.
2) She was an unmarried woman with no succession- many were sceptical as Mary I had a disastrous reign before her. Also a woman leading her country to war wasn’t unheard of and England was at war with France

Question 3

Why was Elizabeth’s mother a problem to her reign?

Answer 3

• Anne Boleyn was accused of being a witch and was accused of also being promiscuous as she was labelled ‘the great whore’.
• She was also blamed for disrupting relationship with Spain for she made Henry VIII divorce Catherine of Aragon who was a princess from Spain-> she made Henry turn from Catholic to Protestant.

Question 4

When was Elizabeth crowned and what problems did she face? List 6 problems.

Answer 4

• In 1558.
• The problems she faced were that
  1) She had no succession to the throne and many people then prefered Mary Queen Of Scots who was a strong Catholic who was married to the Prince of France whereas Elizabeth had been raised as Protestant.
  2) Religious divide as the country had been Catholic for thousands of years yet Elizabeth was Protestant and now there was a religious divide.
  3) Relationship with the other countries as defending the country was a monarch’s most important duty & France & Spain were heavy superpowers who were strong Catholics( as Mary was married to the Prince of France, they could overthrow England).
  4) Poverty due to unemployment, bad harvests and high prices lead to inflation which could lead to bursts of rebellion yet that was out of her control.
  5) The threat of invasion as England was at war with France and England was left with a costly debt oh £300,000 and there was no evidence suggesting they would win.
  6) Her councillors- she had to be fair and not biased for her Privy Councils were her advisors and would give her opinions and help on politics and problems so she would be in heavy scrutiny by the public if she chooses to be biased or open minded.

Question 5

One of Elizabeth’s first decisions was choosing her councillors. What did she do?

Answer 5

• William Cecil became her Secretary of State which was the most important advisor. He was cautious, loyal and knew everything that was going on.
• She reduced her nu of councillors from 50 to 20.
• Robert Dudley who was notoriously her favourite was not placed on council for 4 years.
• Kept 10 counsellors from Mary’s reign.
• Maintained privacy as her most important decisions were made with 5-6 heavily trusted councillors.

Question 6

How did Elizabeth deal with her finances? What were the diadvantages.

Answer 6

• Inflation meant that goods were expensive and the economy was already swimming in heavy poverty and loss as due to bad harvests, many couldn’t afford to make a living and were struggling to feed their family.
• Elizabeth took it upon herself and reduced the costs of her government and her household.
• She also had to get the Exchequers to balance the book but to do that, she needed sufficient rent from the royal lands so she sold off her Royal grounds to make £600,000, paying off her debt.

Disadv:

• Decreasing her lavish life meant that she wasn’t looked upon as powerful of a supreme as she had wanted herself to look like to other countries- tarnished England’s reputation.
• made Elizabeth look cheap and vulnerable to not be able to control her people.

Question 7

Describe the pros and cons leading up to the decision Elizabeth made with France.

Answer 7

• The economy was already in heavy debt and Eliz knew she was fighting France because of Mary and there was nothing to suggest England would win. Moreover, a defeat would get the reign off to a disastrous start.
• England could not afford to send aid to Phillip II for farming counties were unable to spare men for fighting due to lots of famine and poverty.
• However, she could keep fighting against France as the winning would prove her legitimacy and show English power despite being a woman.
• Calais may be regained.
• Making peace would make her look weak.

Question 8

What did Elizabeth do with France?

Answer 8

She made peace with the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis in 1558 and they ended the war but meant Callais was lost forever.
-She then spent further £100,000 on military defence at the start of the reign just incase France went back on their word but there was peace for many years.

Question 9

How were Catholic beliefs drastically different to Protestant and Puritan beliefs? List the differences in belief for head of church and decoration and music.

Answer 9

1) Head Of Church:
Catholic: wanted to keep the Pope in Rome as Head of the Church & have archbishops and bishops to help Pope run church whereas
Protestant thought King or Queen was the head of Church &
Puritans believed God was the head of the church.
2) Decoration and music:
Cath- liked richly decorated interiors to glorify God and wanted it to be elaborate and expensive as possible.
Pros: felt uncomfortable with so many images- going against the teaching of Jesus.
Puri: extravagance of the church was not written in Bible and they had plain churches.

Question 10

How were Catholic beliefs drastically different to Protestant and Puritan beliefs? List the differences in belief for Clergy and Bible and church services.

Answer 10

Clergy:

• Catholic: they do not get married and wear richly decorated robes called vestments.
• Protestant:
• Allowed clergy to get married,
• wear plain,simple slightly elaborated surplice.
• Puritans:
• plain black gowns.

Church services:
-Cath: Bible in Latin and read only by priests.
- Mass, where the bread is body of Jesus and wine, is blood.
Protestant: Bible in English so everyone can read, Church and services in English with Holy Communion.
-Service: bread and wine remains bread and win.
Puritans believed Jesus was spiritual, not physically there.

Question 11

What was the new Church of England liked? Give features of the new church and how they impacted people

Answer 11

• Looked catholic but worshipped Protestant.
• Elizabeth was ‘Supreme Governor’.
• Bishops ran church.
• Ornaments and decorations were allowed, singing of hymns continued.
• Bible and Church service in England.
• Bread and wine were offered but reasons of it remained vague.
• Mass secretly took place later in Elizabeth’s gov knew but did nothing except turn a ‘blind eye’.
• Clergy wore a surplice and Catholic priests were allowed to get married.
• All preachers have to have a license.

Question 12

Why was the Church of England so important?

Answer 12

It had a big impact in scoiety as religious beliefs were incredibly important for it was a matter of literal life and death for people believed that following the correct path and leading a good life would lead to eternal salvation.

Question 13

Why was the religious divide such a crucial problem for Elizabeth?

Answer 13

• England had been Catholic for thousands of years and had been reverted back to Catholicism during Mary’s reign and she gave the most imprtant positions in the country and on the Privvy Council, but Mary’s reign was not successful as she had burned nearly 3000 Protestants for their faith- she had been unpopular.
• Sizeable group of Protestants but country was mainly dominated by Catholics and we can see religious divide overshadowing legitimacy as the greatest doubters of her legitimacy were Catholic who had not approved of Henry VIII’s divorce.

Question 14

How could situations be altered if Elizabeth became Protestant or Catholic.

Answer 14

Catholic- influence of the Pope as he would be appealed as the Pope is highly regarded and could ex-communicate her or turn her people against her if she went against his beliefs.
-Improve relationships with other countries such as Spain and France

Protestant:

• more familiar.
• she could claim herself as legitimate.
• Mary I burned 3000 Protestant.
• Catholics claim her as illegitimate.

Question 15

Why was appointing her Privvy Coucil immediately such a problem when she became Queen?

Answer 15

Privvy coucil is the most important part of her gov and she wanted to get unbiased advice so she could have a wider insight on her people who were split bu religion.

• Wanted to unite her people.
• Her advisors would ultimately contrust her important decisions to be made further during the reign.
• Privvy Coucil was highly regarded and the people she would pick would determine what type of impression she wanted to make on her people.

Question 16

How were Puritans a religious threat to Elizabeth and how? What was Elizabeth’s respone?

Answer 16

They wanted:

• clergy to wear black gowns.
• do not like Bishops running the Church.
• no Supreme Governor.
• Churches looked too Catholic.

Puritans were a minority and some were wealthy landowners and some were MPs- they tried to make laws in parliament to make church less Catholic and some became bishops and priests in the new church.

Elizabeth refused to make changes for Puritans and put some in prison.

Question 17

How were Catholics a religious threat to Elizabeth and how? What was Elizabeth’s respone?

Answer 17

They wanted:

• Pope to be Head Of The Church.
• Want clergy to wear vestments.
• attend Catholic mass as without it- they won’t go to heaven.
• No queen as she illegitimate.

Most of the leading countries of Europe are Catholic and the nobles and heriarchy are made up of Catholic.

They did mass in secret places, at first the Pope did not excommunicate her( he did in 1570 lolz where she was refused as a Christian).

Eliz: turned a bind eye, allowed clergy to wear ornate gowns and kept candles and crucifixes in her private chapel.

Question 18

What is a recusant? What is a Chaplain?

Answer 18

Recusant- someone who refuses to go the church ( and had to pay a large fine).
Chaplain- a secret Catholic priest.

Question 19

When did Mary Queen of Scots arrive

Answer 19

Mary arrived in England in 1568

Question 20

List the key events in Mary’s life with dates.

Answer 20

1558- she married Francis II.
1559- Francis and Mary became King & Queen Of Scotland.
1559- Protestant lords took control of Scotland.
1561- Francis died and Mary returned to Scotland.
1565- Mary married Lord Darley, who was involved in the murder of her secretary, Rizio.
1566- James VI was born.
1567- Darley was an unstable alcoholic who was murdered.
1567- Mary married Earl of Bothwell who was said to be involved in the murder of her previous husband.
1567- Mary was forced to abdicate- she was imprisoned in Scotland.
1568- She bribed her gaolers and escape & fled to Scotland.

Question 21

What were the political reasons for the Revolt of the Northern Earls?

Answer 21

Political:

• wanted to get rid of ‘evil councillors’ such as Cecil who was blamed for their religious changes and loss of political power.
• Mary to mary Duke of Northfolk to help with succession.
• lost power in the north of England as now nobles made decisions.

Question 22

What were the religious reasons for the Revolt of the Northern Earls?

and what were the economical reasons?

Answer 22

1) Spain would be willing to support & Mary is Catholic.
2) wanted to reestablish Catholicism as the country’s religion.
3) Mary is Catholic and legitimate and had to be recognised as a successor.

Eco- lead and copper mines to be taken away which cause them to face financial problems.

Question 23

What was the trigger that caused the Revolt of the Northern Earls?

Answer 23

The trigger was that Mary arrived to England in 1568 as so Revolt was in 1569.

Question 24

Give reasons why the plan of the Revolt of the Northern Earls failed failed?

Answer 24

1) Unprepared as they’d thought they have a large support but Earl of Lancashire and Cheshire refused to support them.
2) Spanish didn’t help them as they didn’t come to Hartlepool where they were waiting.
3) Elizabeth found out and sent 10,000 men with the Earll of Sussex and summoned Earls to court.
4) Leaders panicked and fled to Scotland- Earl of Northumberland was handed by the Scots and executed and Earl pf Westmoreland escaped. Nearer to 450 were executed.

Question 25

Describe the Ridolfi Plot.

Answer 25

1571- The Ridolfi Plan-Ridolfi, an Italian banker, planned to assassinate Elizabeth and make Mary Queen. He had the support of King Philip II of Spain, the Duke of Norfolk, and Mary, Queen of Scots herself.
-The plot was uncovered by Elizabeth’s advisor, Cecil. Ridolfi and the Spanish ambassador were arrested and expelled from the country and Norfolk was executed as a result.

Question 26

Describe the Throckmorton Plot.

Answer 26

• Throckmorton organised a plan for a French army to invade England and replace Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots, with the support of the Pope and King Philip II of Spain.
• Throckmorton was executed after confessing under torture. and Mary was moved to Staffordshire, where she was held in isolation and allowed no visitors.

Question 27

Describe the Babington Plot.

Answer 27

• Babington planned to rescue Mary, Queen of Scots from jail and murder Elizabeth.
• Secret letters between the plotters in beer barrels were discovered by Walsingham which gave the evidence needed to prove Mary’s guilt.
• This finally led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, Babington and six other plotters.

Question 28

Who had key involvement in the:

• Ridolfi.
• Throckmorton.
• Babington.

Answer 28

Ridolfi- King Philip II of Spain, the Duke of Norfolk, and Mary, Queen of Scots herself.

Throckmorton-with the support of the Pope and King Philip II of Spain.

Babington- Mary herself and power such as Phillip II.

Question 29

Why did England and Spain argue?

Answer 29

• Spanish blocked English trade with the Netherlands and the Spanish army in the Netherlands was a threat and their ships in the English Channel was seen as a danger.
• There was a tension of wool as the Spanish blocked the Netherlands which refused English to trade and the English could also not trade in the New World as it was illegal because they needed a license and Spain didn’t give licenses out to trade from other countries.
• English privateers who robbed and raided Spanish ships but as the financial rewards were so great, Elizabeth would pretend not to know so she could get a share-> most famous robbery was of cacafuego where large amounts of coins and silver were stolen.

Question 30

Why did the English distinguish themselves as privateers yet the Spanish accuse them of being pirates?

Answer 30

• Hawkins sold slaves to the Spanish illegally in colonies in the New World.
• 1572, Drake attacked the town of Nobre de Dios in the Carribean and seized £20,000 in silver.
• Drake captured £400,000 of Spanish treasure during his circumnavigation of the globe

however.

Drake and Hawkins declared they were explores who sailed the New World.

Question 31

What was the Dutch Revolt and what was the line of events?

Answer 31

• 1572, Protestants in the Netherlands rebelled against the Spanish rule and asked Elizabeth for help.
• Duke of Parma arrived in Netherlands and William of Orange was assassinated.
• Frane and Spain became Catholic allies at the Treaty of Joinville. in 1584.
• 1585- treaty of Nonsuch was signed between England and Dutch Rebels.

Question 32

What were some of the political reasons England and Spain went to war over?

Answer 32

Political rivalry.

• 1572- People in the Netherlands rebelled and the Dutch rebels asked for Elizabeth’s help.
• William of Orange was assassinated in 1584 which left Elizabeth as the last strong Protestant leader remaining. with the fear that the Dutch would collapse and Spanish victory could lead to an invasion of England hence she needed to increase the aid to the rebels.

Question 33

What were some of the religious rivalry England and Spain went to war over?

Answer 33

• Pope excom Elizabeth in 1570 after the failure of the Revolt of the Northern Earls.
• Phillip II had always been a devout Catholic and had been involved in the Ridolfi Plot(1571) and Throckorton Plot of 1582.
• Phillip II condemned Eliz religious settlements in 1559.

Question 34

What were some of the economic rivalry England and Spain went to war over?

Answer 34

• John Hawkins tried to take share of slave trade which is controlled by Spain.
• English traders sold cloth to Spanish colonies without license.
• English privateers.
• Phillip II complained about the English pirates but Elizabeth did v little.
• 1570- Drake attacked Spanish ships and colonies whilst sailing around glove.

Question 35

Give some facts about the Treaty Of Nonsuch?

Answer 35

• She sents them 7400 English troops.
• She got offered the title of Queen of the Netherlands but she refused and instead took control of some key bases ports in the Netherands.

Question 36

The role of Robert Dudley in the Netherlands 1585-88

Answer 36

Elizabeth sent Dudley (aka Earl of Leicester) to help the Dutch
But she was scared of angering Phillip IIand did not support him fully. Leicester accepted the title of “Governor General” of the Netherlands. Elizabeth was angry and called him back home. This ended the campaign.therlands and the campaign was ended.

Question 37

Were there more successes than failures of English when they became involved in the Netherlands?

Answer 37

• English Success:
• Leicester’s arrival boosted Dutch’s spirits.
• English slowed down the advances of the Duke of Parma’s army.
• The Spanish were prevented from capturing the deep water port of Flushing
  however. .
• Phillip II saw Leicester’s arrival in Netherlands as an act of war..
• Leicester did not believe he had been given enough money or equipment and he quarelled with his officers and Dutch allies.
• campaign was v expensive.

Question 38

What was the ‘singeining of the King of Spain’s beard’?

Answer 38

• With the permission of Elizabeth, Drake attacked some of the Spanish fleet at Cadiz and about 30 Spanish battleships were sunk.
• Drake also destroyed large amounts of timber supplies and this would prevent new ships being built and prevent containers for food supplies also being made.
• Attack delayed the armada by several months and gave England time to prepare for the invasion.
• Drake captured even more Spanish treasure on his way back home and Drake’s actions created fear among the Spanish admirals who began to realise the high quality of England’s sea captains.

Question 39

What was the Spanish invasion plan?

Answer 39

Armada will sail through English channel and DOP will march his 20,000 troops from Netherlands to Calais. Parma’s army will be ferried across Calais, protected by the ships of the Armada and Spanish forces will march to London. The invasion was to be a signal for English Catholics to revel against Elizabeth and the Catholic Church would hereby restore Catholicism in England.

Question 40

How was power over Europe a reason for Spanish Armada to be sent?

Answer 40

• Pope believed that Elizabeth was weak because she hesitated to support the Netherlands.
• Eli intervened with Netherlands to support the rebels against Phillip.
• DOP gained control of most of the Netherlands for the King of Spain.
• Treaty of Nonsuch in 1585.

Question 41

Why was the Armada a failure through the plan?

Answer 41

• Spanish ships were aligned in a crescent shape to maintain position and power as they sailed through the English Channel to Calais. Spanish reached Calais harbour and dropped anchor but Engish sent fire ships containing tar and oil coming towards Spanish due to the strong winds which made them frightened and disperse, losing their battle formation.
• Armada was scattered and was no longer in a position to link up with Parma’s army.
• Battle of Gravelins- they fought in poor conditions as many Spanish ships were lost/damaged and 1000 soldiers were killed whereas English only lost 50 soldiers.
• Weather forced Spanish fleet out into North sea and unseasonal English weather made them also shipwrecked in Scotland and Ireland where many were killed

Question 42

How did the weather make the Spanish Armada fail?

Answer 42

‘Protestant wind blew and the Spanish ships scattered’.

• Blew Armada around the British Isles into Scotland and Ireland where they were shipwrecked or lost.
• Fire ships were blown to the Calais harbour
• Battle of Gravelins meant that the weather was stormy which the English were conditioned and prepared for however Spanish were taken uncomfortably by shock which could have been their disadvantage.

Question 43

How did the tactics make the Spanish Armada fail?

Answer 43

• ‘The Singing of the King of Spain’s beard’ meant that Phillip had to rush preparations as they were taken by surprise by Drake who robbed and destroyed atleast 30 of their ships, leaving them in a vulnerable position.
• Parma was unable to meet with the Armada and he had the best equipped army and the best trained men which fell short against England.
• Fireships
• Approached from behind- it was easier for the England to attack and corner.

Question 44

How did the preparations make the Spanish Armada fail?

Answer 44

• England has a higher number of sailors whereas Spanish had less skilled such as priests which could have acted as ‘heavy weight’ on the ship for they were unable to serve a purpose by not being able to fight.
• English ships were redesigned and streamlined by Hawkins.
• Cannons could be fired consecutively which the Spanish were unable to do hence they were able to cause more destruction over a shorter period of time.
• Lord Howard, the English Admiral, provided excellent leadership for the English fleet whereas Medina Sidonia, was unsuitable for the position and was also weak at times as often, he was seasick.

Question 45

What was the main reason why the Spanish Armada failed? Come to a conclusion.

Another conclusion?

Answer 45

The weather was the main reason why the Armada failed as if there was no wing- fire ships, no blowing Armada around the course and breaking their crescent shape hence losing their structure and power.-> they would have been able to meet with DOP who had the best skilled and best-equipped team.

Question 46

Describe the Elizabethan society.

Answer 46

Hierarchy: Queen, nobles, gentry, merchants, yeomen, labourers

Question 47

Describe the Elizabethan Government

Answer 47

Parliament – made up of House of Lords (the nobles) and House of Commons. Important decisions taken by Elizabeth and the Privy Council.

Question 48

Problems of Elizabeth’s marriage

Answer 48

Needed to marry to produce an heir. But marriage would mean that she was subordinate to (less important than) her husband.

Question 49

Elizabeth’s character and strengths

Answer 49

Very well educated. Spoke Greek, Latin, French and Italian.

Brave and a survivor – her sister Mary had accused her of treason and had threatened to kill her

Question 50

Elizabeth’s Religious settlement, 1559

Answer 50

Church – Elizabeth was now head of the Church, called Supreme Governor Churches – some ornaments, decoration and singing was allowed
Services – English Holy Communion. English Bible in every church
Clergy – wore a plain surplice, were allowed to marry, had to have a licence

Question 51

The reasons for the Revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569–70

Answer 51

Political –
Elizabeth had reduced powers of Northern Earls, had appointed Lord Sussex as President of the Council of the North.
- wanted to get rid of ‘evil councillors’ such as Cecil who was blamed for religious changes and their loss of political power.

Religious – they wanted to re-establish Catholicism as the country’s religion.

Economic – Northumberland had lost copper mines and was in debt Succession – Plan for Mary to marry the duke of Norfolk and become
Elizabeth’s heir. Elizabeth discovered the plan, called the Earls to court.

Question 52

Walsingham and the use of spies.

Answer 52

Coded letters, informers, interrogation and torture, capturing Catholic priests, using spies and secret agents.
-Acts of Parliament throughout 1570s and 1580s, increasing penalties of Catholics, even executing priests.