The Myth of Elizabeth, 1558-1603 Flashcards
What was the nature of the centre-periphery relationship in sixteenth century England?
Localised self-government was vital, and localities habitually starved the centre of resources
Who claimed that Elizabeth’s subjects were so dazzled by Elizabeth’s splendour that they couldn’t contemplate a political culture without her?
P. Collinson in the 1990s
What is an example of direct criticism of Elizabeth?
Peter Wentworth’s assertion that ‘none is without fault, no not our noble queen’- his speech wasn’t allowed to continue
What is a key example of Elizabethan public transcripts?
Sir Thomas Smith’s De Republica Anglorum
How did Sir Thomas Smith describe the role of the monarchy?
For Sir Thomas Smith, the prince is ‘the life, the head, and the authoritie of all thinges that be done in the realme of England’
What was J. Neale’s (traditional) opinion of Elizabeth?
“this woman was as vital as Winston Churchill”
What was E. Kantorowicz’s opinion of Elizabethan monarchy?
Elizabeth was an ‘abstract physiological fiction’- although monarchy was personal she was not involved in every decision
How did Sir Thomas Smith define political England?
England is a ‘society or common doing of a multitude of free men collected together and united by a common accord’
What did ‘republic’ mean in the sixteenth cnetury’
Republic in the sixteenth century simply meant state, not a form of government antithetical to monarchy
How did Bishop John Aylmer characterise political England?
‘not a mere monarchy … nor a mere oligarchie, nor democracie, but a ruler mixte of all these
How does J. Pocock characterise Tudor England?
Pocock stresses that Tudor England was not a ‘polis’ and nor were its inhabitants ‘citizens’
What were the limits of the Tudor council?
Although the council could act under Elizabeth in her name, its power did not amount to an acephalous republic
Define acephalous
acephalous means without a head
How can we show the limits of the council?
The fact that parliament is immediately dissolved upon death of a monarch
How did J. Neale contribute to the historical perception of the Elizabeth - parliament relationship
J. Neale put forward the interpretation that the religious settlement was shaped by a political initiative of Protestants in the House of Commons
Who put forwards the puritan choir thesis?
J. Neale coined the puritan choir thesis
Who suggested that only enthusiastic members of parliament interacted with the council and court?
G. Elton suggested that not all of parliament interacted with the council and court
What is P. Collinson’s opinion of factional divides in the Elizabethan political environment?
P. Collinson recognises factional divides as a natural aspect of a regime, but says historiography has focused too much on this and should focus on co-operation instead
How does P. Collinson criticise historical coverage of Elizabethan politics?
Historians often claim Elizabethan policy to be her own personal policy, but this directs attention away from the processes of government
What is a source from a privy councillor on the relationship with the monarchy?
Leicester in 1578 said “our conference with her majesty about affairs is both seldom and slender”
How does P. Collinson characterise Elizabethan monarchy?
P. Collinson claims that ‘Elizabethan England was a republic which happened also to be a monarchy: or vice versa
What are two periods which highlight the shift of power within the Elizabethan government?
1572 and 1584 had a convulsive nature in politics because of the concerns they raised over safety and succession
What is resistance theory? How does it apply to Elizabethan England?
Resistance theory is the early modern critique of constituted authority, often branched out as criticism of the “magistrate”. This can be applied to John Knox or the supposed Puritan choir
How does P. Collinson interpret resistance theory?
P. Collinson calls resistance theory the polemical critique of monarchy
What can be said about religious resistance theory?
While Elizabeth wasn’t actively resisted by Protestant subjects, there was still ideological basis for resistance
What is one aspect of early modern monarchy which facilitates criticism?
Monarchy was a ministry excised under and for God- this public office comes with a degree of accountability
Where is there evidence of resistance theory according to Quinten Skinner?
Quinten Skinner claims there is evidence of resistance theory in the annotations of the most popular Elizabethan copy of the Geneva Bible
What occurred in 1572 which was so pertinent to the nature of Elizabethan political power?
In 1572 there were debates of whether Mary Queen of Scots was to be executed or excluded etc., this put worries of safety into practice
What can be said of the impact of Mary Queen of Scots on English politics? When did it worsen?
Issues with Mary Queen of Scots fanned English politics into a white heat according to P. Collinson, particularly after the Ridolfi plot
When, and what, was the Ridolfi Plot?
The Ridolfi Plot was uncovered in 1571, it was a Catholic plot to ignite a rebellion in the nobility, murder Elizabeth and marry Mary Queen of Scots to the Duke of Northumberland
What was the issue Elizabeth faced with regards to the Mary Queen of Scots problem?
If she was executed it would set precedent for sanctioned regicide, if she lived she would continue to pose a threat to her safety- it was a catch 22
What did the 1584 political crisis result in which shows the extent to which the political nation was concerned?
The 1584 political crisis resulted in the creation of Bonds of Association
What were Bonds of Association?
A quasi-republican statement promising to protect the queen- its imagining of Elizabeth’s death was unique for early modern discourses
What does the creation of Bonds of Association show?
The creation of Bonds of Association show the autonomous political capability of the Elizabethan politic and its extent and depth across the nation
What is an example which shows the extent of Bonds of Association?
On 19 October the Privy Council signed, but also 115 in Cornwall, >200 in cardigan and 106 in Hertfordshire
What did one contemporary say of the Bonds of Association?
A contemporary asserted that the Bond spoke for “the mooste part of us, your lovinge subjects’
What were the limits of the Bonds of Association?
Bonds of Association were inherently Protestant, not because they were made so, but because contemporaries often rejected Catholic interest
How representative of the political nation in Elizabethan England were the Bonds of Association?
The Bonds of Association were devised in the Privy Council, not on the political fringe, so they were incredibly representative of contemporary concerns and opinions
What followed on from the Bonds of Association?
The Bonds of Association were built upon by the Act for the Surety of the Queen’s Most Royal Person
What did the Act for the Surety of the Queen’s Most Royal Person establish?
The 1584 act established that a tribunal of 24 persons at the highest level would investigate any threat or action against the queen, barring them from the succession if necessary
What, and when, was the Babington Plot?
The Babington Plot was a 1586 plot to assassinate Elizabeth and install Mary Queen of Scots- the Act fo the Surety of the Queen’s Most Royal Person was heavily enforced after it
What was a flaw in the Act for the Surety of the Queen’s Most Royal Person?
Similar to the Bonds of Association, the Act did not establish who would lead the country if Elizabeth were to die
What was one considered solution in the event of Elizabeth’s assassination?
Thomas Diggers was the first to suggest an interregnum with existing parliament and council members if the Queen was assassinated in 1584
What was the contemporary objection to Thomas Diggers’ idea of an interregnum?
Contemporaries thought the interregnum to be innovation without precedent
Why did Burghley back the idea of an interregnum?
Burghley thought it would be useful in finding, trying, and executing those who had harmed Elizabeth
What was the main idea in the interregnum solution?
The interregnum was said to be the best way to maintain an “ordinary power” to avenge Elizabeth
What did the Ellsmere document highlight? Was it useful?
The Ellsmere document outlined the limitations of the proposed interregnum, although Elizabeth rejected the idea. It is, however, useful for historians as it shows the extent of confidence politicians had in their power
What must be noted about P. Collinson’s claim of Elizabethan England being a monarchical republic?
The monarchical republic is not the beginnings of a constitutional monarchy, monarchy was still incredibly personal
What is the idea of a regnum Cecilium?
Cecil’s reign- it was a mode of criticism amongst contemporaries but has been woven into historiography as an elaboration of sixteenth-century political realities
What idea of monarchy did Elizabeth subscribe to?
Bracton’s dictum that the King is under God and the law- which is formed, carried out, and followed by the monarch
What does N. Jones suggest about Elizabeth’s refusal to marry?
N. Jones argues that Elizabeth did not marry because she was acutely aware of the political power which came with being marriageable
What are the three groups of the Elizabethan privy council according to N. Jones?
N. Jones suggests that the privy council has the peripheral great lords, the invaluable civil servants, and the inner circle of policy formers
What was the contemporary and traditional interpretation of Elizabeth’s religious policy?
That Elizabeth sought to build an Anglican Church, and succeeded despite Catholic resistance
What is the revisionist interpretation of Elizabeth’s religious policy?
That Elizabeth didn’t want excessive Protestantism, but rather a type of Catholicism without the Pope- similar to her father- this was just prevented because of Puritans in the Commons
What is the post-revisionist interpretation of Elizabeth’s religious policy?
That Elizabeth did not want Henrician Protestantism, nor did she want radical Calvinism, but she did want full Protestantism, and she succeeded.
What are two works published for an official request for counsel on the issue of the Elizabethan religious settlement?
Richard Goodrich’s ‘Divers Points of Religious Contrary to the Church of Rome’ and the anonymous ‘Device for the Alteration to Religion’
What do the two contemporary works of advice on the religious settlement imply?
The advice content implies that Elizabeth wanted to revive supremacy and reintroduce the 1552 Book of Common Prayer as soon as politically feasible
What do the two contemporary works of advice on the topic of religion agree?
Both documents highlight that there was contemporary awareness of Elizabeth being under threat from extremists from either religion
What was Elizabeth’s first opinion of the treaty of Cateau Cambresis?
Elizabeth did not want her representatives to settle without Calais, she was seen to be taking a stubborn and independent course
What was the nature of Elizabeth’s first parliament?
Elizabeth’s first parliament was to raise funds because of the war and debt as well as to ratify her rights to the monarchy and restore Anne Boleyn’s legal status
How did Elizabeth make her religious position Clear to the political nation?
In the opening of parliament Elizabeth neglected to attend the traditional Mass of the Holy Ghost
When did the Commons hear the bill to make Elizabeth Supreme Head of the Church?
The Bill for Supremacy was heard 9 February 1559, and committed 15 February 1559
What was the second religious bill heard by parliament in 1559?
The bill for the order of service and ministers in the church
What was the third religious bill heard by parliament in 1559?
The bill for The Book Of Common Prayer and ministration of the Sacraments
When did the Lords begin to cause issues for the Elizabethan religious settlement?
21 February 1559- they blocked the fourth religious bill
What happened in the second readings of the bills for supremacy and uniformity in Elizabeth’s first parliament?
the restoration of Protestantism was removed and they refused to give Elizabeth’s title as Head of the Church, but told her she could bestow it without their recognition
When did the bishops deadlock Elizabeth’s first parliament? What did Elizabeth do in response?
23 March, in response Elizabeth drafted a proclamation allowing communion in “both kinds” but this was never circulated
How was peace finally reached with France?
Elizabeth reached peace with France on 2 April 1559, on the condition that Calais would be returned with the payment of an indemnity
How did Elizabeth discredit the bishops that had deadlocked parliament?
By holding a public disputation between Catholics and Protestants, and then arresting some bishops for disobedience against a common authority
What was a disputation?
A disputation was a popular Reformation technique used to “reveal” the true religion through the application of Humanist logic
How did Elizabeth skirt the issue of her gender with regards to supremacy of the church?
Elizabeth became supreme governor- this also placated those who critiqued supremacy on the grounds that God is the supreme head of the church
How does J. Neale characterise the 1559 religious settlement?
As the 1549 act with 1552 substance
What was an aspect of the religious settlement of 1559 which caused later issues for Elizabeth’s reign?
The ornaments rubric outlined that vestments should be as they were in the 2nd year of Edward’s reign, many viewed this as too papist
When was the vestments controversy?
Throughout the 1560s- beginning 1563- many thought that vestments were not ‘edifying’ to the church
What is meant by edifying?
Edifying means to improve or be beneficial to something, it was used by contemporaries to interrogate whether vestments should be in the Elizabethan church or not
When did Elizabeth’s first parliament end?
May 1559- the religious legislation was put into law despite widespread dissatisfaction
What is J. Neale’s opinion of the 1559 religious settlement?
‘mediocrity, celebrated as the via media of Anglicism, seems to have come the policy of Elizabeth’s government’
When did Elizabeth concede to Cecil’s wish to help Huguenots?
in 1560- and she unwittingly became champion of the Protestant cause
What was the impact of Elizabeth’s enthusiasm for Dudley?
Elizabeth’s reliance on Dudley created issues for councillors- he became so influential even Cecil could not impugn upon him
When does J. Neale suggest Elizabethan government to have settled?
For J. Neale, Elizabeth had successfully transitioned the Marian state into the Elizabethan by the second year of her reign
What was Elizabeth’s first speech as Queen?
The 20 November 1558 speech at Hatfield
What is a quote from Elizabeth’s first speech?
‘I am but one body naturally considered, though by His permission a body politic to govern’
When did Elizabeth say ‘I have the heart and stomach of a King’?
At her speech to the Armarda troops at Tilbury, 9 August 1588
What is the idea of mixed monarchy?
That the body politic is maintained under a prince to maintain protestantism and national autonomy. This began as a contemporary concept.
What was a key idea behind arguments of mixed monarchy? What can be said of them?
That Elizabeth was in a mystical marriage with God for the good of the country from the moment of her coronation, this was to some extent apologist for her gender
Who writes on the topic of Elizabethan mixed monarchy?
A. N. McLaren
Why was Elizabethan England said to be a mixed monarchy by John Aylmer?
Because Elizabeth assumed male traits of governance as a result of her mystical marriage to God.
What did the contemporary idea of mixed monarchy do regarding political thought?
The contemporary use of mixed monarchy moulded prevailing classical and humanist thought into female rule
Why was there a reconceptualisation of monarchical authority under Elizabeth according to A. N. McLaren?
There was a reconceptualisation of monarchical authority under Elizabeth because a woman ruling in the age of Reformation was exacerbating existing social issues
What did the application of mixed monarchy ideas by contemporaries to Elizabeth stress to the political nation?
Use of mixed monarchy ideas expressed that Elizabeth needed to be accepted as the rightful Protestant monarch or people needed to prepare for tyranny
What did the use of the commonwealth ideologies mean for Protestant Elizabethan England?
The use of commonwealth ideology in Elizabethan England led to the Anglicisation of Protestantism into an emerging imperial doctrine
What was the imperial doctrine of Elizabethan England?
The idea of the Arthurian empire, the unification of the British isles as the Empire of True Religion, and of course, exploration into the New World
What does A. N. McLaren claim was the state of Elizabeth’s monarchy by the 1590s?
By the 1590s, A. N. McLaren suggests, Elizabeth could call herself King- while privy councillors saw the commons as a forum to use quasi-public pressure to exert influence on Elizabeth
What is an issue with A. N. McLaren’s claim that by the 1590s the Privy Council used parliament to pressurise Elizabeth
G. Elton suggests in opposition to this thesis that parliament was much more an environment of collaboration rather than of pressurising and influence
What does G. Elton claim of the entire of Tudor Kingship?
G. Elton suggests that all Tudor monarchs stressed the semi-divine and representative character of kingship in their rule
What is G. Elton’s opinion of Elizabeth’s adoration?
Elizabeth, for G. Elton, had the physical appearance, presence, and neutrality to warrant adoration from her subjects
What are the two types of kingship highlighted by G. Elton? Which was more powerful?
King-in-person (rex solus) and king-in-parliament. King-in-parliament is more powerful but rex solus is more constant
Why does G. Elton assert that Tudor monarchs didn’t need full dominum regale (absolutism)?
Tudors didn’t need absolutism because they had enough political power and influence without a formal doctrine solidifying it, according to G. Elton.
Who spearheaded the theory of the myth of Elizabeth?
Susan Doran is the leading historian on the myth of Elizabeth
What is the imperial aspect of the myth of Elizabeth?
Elizabeth’s role in nascent colonial enterprise led to subsequent framings that the British empire began in her reign
What is the commonly held image of Elizabeth, according to S. Doran?
That Elizabeth is the ‘Virgin Queen’- solitary but glorious
Who claimed that the celebration of Elizabeth in contemporary culture was a genuine popular tribute from her people?
Traditionalist J. Neale
What did E. Wilkins claim about the veneration of Elizabeth?
For E. Wilkins, praise of Elizabeth was a celebration of greatness rather than government propaganda
Why was the myth of Elizabeth so successful?
The myth of Elizabeth proved successful because it reconciled gender, empire, Englishness, Protestantism and anti-Catholicism into one individual
Who propagated the cult of Elizabeth theory?
Roy Strong, he said that a cult was formed by Elizabeth and her councillors in the 1570s to generate support
What is the revisionist interpretation of the cult of Elizabeth?
S. Greenblatt- claimed that while the cult of Elizabeth was imposed from above, it was mostly the product of general socio-political factors
What is the recent interpretation of the cult of Elizabeth according to S. Doran?
Elizabethan England was not homogenous, the content of the cult was made by people with varying motives
What was one contemporary motive for contributing to the cult of Elizabeth in the second half of her reign?
To influence policy via weaving prescriptive advice into cultural expressions of her reign
What is an example of contemporary Elizabethans trying to influence policy by contributing to the cult of Elizabeth?
Edmund Spenser’s ‘the Fairie Queene’ expressed discontent with Elizabeth’s lax policies on Catholicism and Mary Queen of Scots
How did Elizabeth handle veiled criticism in cultural expression?
Often Elizabeth promoted critical works, but emphasised the favourable aspects in order to diminish the criticisms- using it to bolster her own image
What was one of the most crucial dimensions to the myth of Elizabeth according to S. Doran?
gender was integral to the myth of Elizabeth- it became an asset via application of traditional gender roles, but it still posed issues because to be queen was an inversion of the natural order imposed by God
What can be said of contemporary and prevailing perceptions of Elizabeth?
Perceptions of Elizabeth nearly always highlight the tension between monarchy and womanhood- she was unnaturally masculine and insufficiently feminine
What were the two main negative perceptions of Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth as a persecutor, 2. Elizabeth as promiscuous and sexually immoral
How can we exemplify one of the negative perceptions of Elizabeth?
The Treatise of Treason said persecution from Elizabeth was the result of evil councillors
What was the difference in perceptions of Mary Queen of Scots versus Elizabeth?
Mary was seen as sentimental and feminine, the opposite of Elizabeth
Where was the contrast between Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth first expressed?
Camden’s ‘Annales’, where the image of politique Elizabeth was first formed
What were the motivations for the Northern Rebellion of 1569?
The Northern Rebellion of 1569 was motivated by disruptions in the cloth trade, harvests, the Reformation, and lack of succession
Who claims that there were ideological and material motivations alongside traditional commoner grievances in the Northern Rebellion of 1569?
K. J. Kessering
What can be said of Tudor discontent and popular revolt?
Most contemporaries were aware of the line between disobedience and active disobedience
Who led the 1569 Northern Rebellion?
The Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland
How many soldiers did the Northern Rebellion amass?
Approximately 6000 soldiers had been drafted by 18 November
What did S. Taylor claim about rebels in the Northern Rebellion?
S. Taylor suggested that <20% of rebels were there just to fulfil feudal obligations
What symbology was adopted by the Northern Rebellion rebels?
heraldic signs, saintly depictions and the Five Wounds of Christ
What were the aims of the Northern Rebellion?
To eradicate married ministers and reformed Church fittings
Why did the Northern Rebellion end?
The Northern Rebellion ended because when 12,000 of the Queens troops and also ships arrived on 13 December the Earls fled to Scotland the following week
