Paper 2: Elizabeth Flashcards
Why did Elizabeth establish Religious Settlements?
Wanted to find a comprimise - establishing form of Protestantism that Catholics could accept without feeling forced to choose between loyalty to their religion and their queen.
When was Religious Settlement established?
1559
3 parts of Religious Settlement
- ACT OF SUPREMACY: Made E supreme governor of the CoE - all clergy & royal officials had to swear an oath of allegiance to her as Head of the Church - those whose loyalty was in doubt would be punished.
- ACT OF UNIFORMITY: Established middle way that both Cath & Pro could accept. Enforced appearance of churches & form of services they held. Ordered everyone to attend church on a Sunday/holy days or fined 1 shilling per absence.
- THE ROYAL INJUNCTIONS: Set of instructions issued by Sir William Cecil to clergy, reinforced acts of Supremacy & Uniformity.
Why did Catholics favour Religious Settlement?
- Could still believe in transubstantiation (conversion of bodyblood of Christ)
- Supported use of images in churches
Why did Protestants favour Religious Settlement?
- Bible/prayer books now in English
- Control of pope ended
Causes of Spanish Armada
POLITICS:
- Treaty of Joinville, 1584: Philip II agreement w French to help against French Prots - Cath France & Spain allies against Prot
- Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585: E signed w Dutch Prots - effectively put England & Spain at war
ENG JEALOUSY OF SPANISH EMPIRE:
- Many pirates & privateers attacked/stole from Spanish ships - Drake (E’s privateer) attacked Spanish colonies in New World. (April 1587, Drake sailed into Cadiz Harbour, destroyed 30 Spanish ships & large amount of their supplies - delayed Spanish preparations to invade Eng by yr, giving Eng more time. Referred to as ‘singeing King of Spain’s beard’)
Features of Spanish Armada
- 130 ships, 30,000 men - largest fleet Europe had ever seen
- Philip II’s strategy: sail along English Channel to Netherlands under command of Duke of Medina Sidonia, where would join up w Duke of Parma - together transporting 27,000 troops, Parma would march to Eng, depose E & impose new, Cath government.
Why was Spanish Armada defeated?
- ENG SHIP DESIGN: new galleons were one of best warships in world - easier & faster to manoevure, decks had enough space for cannon to recoil & be quickly reloaded, meaning ships could fire more cannon balls at Spanish w more speed/efficiency.
- PLANNING/COMMUNICATION ISSUS: DoP did not control any deep sea ports - had to use small ships (48hrs to load/set sail). DoMS & DoP had to communicate by sea (took a week for word to reach DoP that MS was in Channel)
- WEATHER: strong winds (Protestant winds), heavy rain. Storm broke up Spanish fleet - wind blew ships north ruining ‘crescent’ formation
Consequences of Spanish Armada defeat
- Great boost to Eng pride, showed strength/skills of Eng navy
- Cost Spanish large sum - financially & politically
Problems of Mary, Queen of Scots
- Mary, unlike Elizabeth, had legitimate claim to throne. Eliz illegitimate bc mother is Ann Bolyen - child from wedlock cannot be throned (bastard)
- Mary was Cath - Elizabeth had previously converted Eng to Protestantism, leaving many Caths disgruntled - Cath monarch would have appealed to the Eng population.
- Was focus of several plots to depose E after fleeing to Eng in 1568. Mary’s French family, the Guise, were extremely powerful, and supported the plots against E - threat to E as she was not powerful enough to take on the French.
- Mary had male heir to throne (James) - better option for the long term future of Eng.
Different types of poor
Impotent poor = ‘deserving’ - unable to work due to factors out of their control (more sympathy)
Able poor = ‘idle’ - able to work but not willing to (treated harshly)
Reasons for poverty: POPULATION GROWTH
During reign of E, population grew by 35%. London became fastest growing city in Eng (10x bigger than size of Eng’s 2nd biggest city, Norwich)
Urban pop of these growing towns & cities needed food, which was grown in countryside & brought into urban areas for sale. There were more ppl to feed/provide for in the constantly growing population, but a lack of resources to do so.
Reasons for poverty: RISING PRICES
Prices of food rose as became increasingly difficult to access due to food production growing much slower than population (Bread was basis of most ppls diets & grain prices rose fastest of all)
Also led to poverty as wages did not rise as fast as prices - many landowners & employers cut wages to keep their costs down.
Reasons for poverty: SHEEP FARMING
English wool & woollen cloth accounted for 81.6% of Eng’s exports during E’s reign - meant sheep farming became very profitable.
Farming sheep did not require much labour as growing crops so rural unemployment rose.
Reasons for poverty: ENCLOSURE
Meant replacing large, open fields farmed by villagers, w individual fields belonging to one person - led to small farms being merged & tenant farmers evicted.
Resulted in unemployment & rural depopulation. Benefitted landowners whilst ordinary farm labourers/those unable to afford increased rents suffered.
Policies towards the poor
- Vagabonds Act, 1572: to deter vagrancy - beggars sent to House of Correction
- Poor Relief Act, 1576: to help able bodied poor find work. Elderly & sick given Alms houses to live in
Puritan challenges to Religious Settlement
- CRUCIFIX CONTROVERSY: RS demanded all churches should have crucifix - E wanted churches to keep their familiar look & feel. Puritans against idols. When some Puritan bishops threatend to resign, E backed down - couldnt afford to lose any Prot clergymen.
- VESTMENT CONTROVERSY: Some Puritans thought priests should not wear special clothing, others believed it should be very plain & simple - suggested priests were set apart from ordinary ppl, which indeed they were in Catholicism, Prots did not agree.
Catholic challenges to Religious Settlement
- In 1566, pope issed instruction that Eng Caths shouldnt attend CoE services. However E did not want to create martyrs & ignored smaller examples of disobedience by enforcing punishments.
- Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland & Charles Neville, Earl of Westmoreland had been prosperous under Mary I, when E became queen, found their influence at court greatly reduced. Many Eng nobility in North of Eng were recusants (Caths that refused to attend Elizabethan church services).
- Although most rebellions successfully taken down by E, she realised danger/threat of Caths.
Foreign powers challenges to Religious Settlement
- Globally leading Cath powers (France & Spain) posed a threat to E’s settlement
- When religious war broke out in France in 1562, E was concerned abt its potential to threaten her position by encouraging religious conflicts in England
- Spain’s military presence in Netherlands during Dutch Revolt was clear threat to E
When was the Revolt of the Northern Earls?
1569-70
Causes of Revolt of the Northern Earls
- Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk; Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland; Charles Neville, Earl of Westmorland wanted Catholicism restored in Eng
- The Earls had lost a great deal of their influence at court since E became queen in 1558.
- Mary, in captivity in Eng, was a figurehead who could potentially replace E - resolving problems Earls faced.
Main events of Revolt of the Northern Earls
- Plan was to marry Mary, QoS, to the Duke of Norfolk, and dispose Elizabeth.
- Norfolk arrested & sent to Tower of London when E found out about the plots.
- Upon hearing news, the Earl of Westmorland & the Earl of Northumberland gathered their forces w over 4,500 men - stormed the cathedral, destroying the Eng Bible and Prot communion table.
- They celebrated a Cath mass (illegal)
- Failed (poor planning/leadership)
When was the Ridolfi Plot?
1571
Main events of Ridolfi Plot
- Roberto Ridolfi (one of Pope’s spies) arranged plot to murder E, launch Spanish invasion & put Mary,QoS, on the throne - plan was for Mary to marry Duke of Norfolk.
- Sir William Cecil uncovered the plot & had enough evidence to prove that Norfolk was guilty of plotting against E again (treason).
- Parliament met in May 1572 - demanded execution of both Norfolk and Mary. E signed Norfolk’s death warrant & he was executed in June 1572, but would not take action against Mary.
Consequences of Ridolfi Plot
- Reinforced threat posed by Mary & Caths, both home and abroad
- Reinforced threat to Emg from Spain, E”s anxiety about Spain’s intentions grew
When was the Throckmorton Plot?
1583
Main events of Throckmorton Plot
- Planned for French Duke of Guise to invade Eng, free Mary, overthrow E & restore Catholicism
- Philip II would provide financial support. A young Englishman, Francis Throckmorton, was to act as a messenger to Mary. (Pope approved of plans)
- Sir Francis Walsingham, E’s Secretary of State, uncovered plot - his agents found incriminating papers at Throckmorton’s house.
Throckmorton arrested, tortured, and executed in May 1584.
Consequence of Throckmorton Plot
- Emphasised threat of foreign, Catholic powers, Eng Caths and Mary.
- Showed potential threat if forces of Spain & France were to combine in future.
When was the Babington Plot?
1586
Main events of Babington Plot
- Plan was for Duke of Guise to invade Eng w 60,000 men, murder E & put Mary on throne - both Philip & Pope supported
- Anthony Babington (Catholic w links to the French) wrote to Mary in July 1586 about the plot - Mary was being closely watched & her letters were being intercepted by Sir Francis Walsingham.
- Once he had gained sufficient details about plot, (names of 6 Catholics prepared to assassinate E), everyone involved arrested. Babington & his accomplices were hanged, drawn & quatered.
- Oct 1586 - Mary finally tried by Privy Council & found guilty after so many plots - sentenced to death. E, again hesitating, did not sign warrant until Feb 1587 - Mary executed on 8th Feb 1587.
Consequence of Babington Plot
- E’s government became determined to crush Catholicism - mass arrests of recusants in Eng, 31 Popes executed.
- Mary’s execution ended any & all hope of replacing E with a Cath heir
Reasons of Mary’s execution
- Walsingham provided sufficient evidence of her involvement in plots
- Rumours of imminent attack from Spain reinforced threat posed by Mary
Consequences of Mary’s execution
Elizabeth: upset, enforced new harsh treatment of Caths. Relieved (important threat removed)
Eng Catholics: angered, lost hope of Cath monarch
Relations w Spain: already bad, worsened - gave Philip more reason to want to remove E
