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