Threat of war with Spanish Flashcards
What was Elizabeth’s feelings about the war in the Netherlands?
-had some considerable impact on England->Elizabeth’s view of it was ambivalent->she felt she could not be seen to encourage the rebels
What do Elizabeth encourage the Dutch to do? Why?
-her own situation in Ireland was not dissimilar to that of Philip II with Dutch but she was concerned by the growth of Spanish power and so was ready to encourage the Dutch sufficiently to ensure they remained rebellious and thus occupied Spanish attention and resource
-she hoped that Spain would have less inclination to turn on England
-there was also a religious dimension in that many of the rebels were Calvinists and were seen in England as part of the Europe-wide fight against the forces of Roman Catholicism
What happened with the Flemmings?
-the outbreak of rioting in 1566 led to many Flemings leaving the unstable provinces of Flanders and coming to England to settle
-their manufacturing skills enhanced royal income->the claims of Spain to a monopoly of trade with Spanish America were challenged by England, even before relations between the two grew more hostil
What did William Cecil tell the Spanish ambassador about England?
-William Cecil told the Spanish ambassador that England did not acknowledge the right of the pope to ‘partition the earth and bestow kingdoms on whom he pleased’
What happened with the Flemish Merchants?
-the English could be aggressive themselves and in 1563 restricted the privileges of Flemish merchants raising customs duties and prohibiting some imports entirely
-the flemings were expected to spend their profits from their sales on English goods before they returned to their home ports
What was the Spanish retaliation like as a result of Flemish Merchants?
-the Spanish retaliation with similar restrictions and English merchants briefly abandoned Antwerp for Emden in Germany
What happened in 1565?
-in 1565 matters returned to normal regarding trade but other contentious issues arose
What issues arose from 1565? (2)
-Spanish held the English to blame for much of the piracy in the English Channel even though many pirates were French Huguenots and Dutch rebels
-English resented the way the Spanish treated English sailors in Spanished ports by bringing the might of the Inquisition down on them
How did the issues from 1565 affect trade?
-all these factors affectors affect trade even though England was not officially involved in the war between the Dutch and Spain->reduced Elizabeth’s economy
How did Elizabeth provoke Spain in 1568?
-Elizabeth provoked a reaction from Spain->she had already allowed money to be collected in England and send to help the rebels and Dutch pirates (Sea Beggars) were allowed to use English ports->but in December she had a good opportunity to damage the Spanish side->ships carrying bullion to pay the Spanish troops were forces by pirates to shelter in Plymouth and Southampton
-Elizabeth discovered that the money was a loan from Genoese bankers to Philip and that the contact was only valid once the bullion was delivered->she took over the loan herself
What was Spain’s response to Elizabeth provoking them in 1568?
-Spanish seized property belonging to Englishmen in the Netherlands and England retaliated similarly->trade ceased->Elizabeth could have been seriously affected but English merchants used La Rochelle in France and Hamburg in Germany and Venetian ships brought goods to England
What was a result of Spain suffering from the trade embargo? What happened when it was lifted?
-Spain suffered more but it was not until 1573 that the trade embargo was lifted->negotiations about the losses each party had sufferent gave the English the advantage by about £21,000
What was a result of Elizabeth expelling Sea Beggars from English Ports in 1572?
-they seized bases in the Netherlands and this precipitated the next stage of the Dutch Revolt which made considerable demands on English resources
What was Elizabeth’s advisors like about giving Dutch aid?
-Elizabeth’s advisors were divided on whether to aid the Dutch and whether it was a good policy but Elizabeth waited to see how events would turn out-> to avoid spending money
What was the Spanish Fury? When?
-1576
-Spanish troops in Antwerp mutinied because they had not been paid and caused what became known as the ‘Spanish Fury’->members of the Merchant Adventurers suffered and one wrote to the PC to say that some of their company were hurt and some killed->because of their mutiny they were not only robbed for their money and goods but were also further forced for ransom and to safeguard their lives and possessions to answer and content the Spanish soldiers and others who entered their houses
What divides were caused by the Spanish Fury? What was Drakes voyage?
-the voyage of Francis Drake undertaken between 1577 and 1580->Drake’s investors included Walsingham, Leicester and Hatton and the original intention of the voyage was to investigate the coast of Chile to test Spanish strength there->attacks on Spanish shipping carrying silver and other treasure were part of the mix and for that reason the plans had been kept secret from Burghley who feared an open breach with Spain
-by the time Drake returned in 1580 he had amassed considerable prize money of which he kept £10,000 distributing a similar amount among his surviving crew members
How was Drake rewarded for boosting English pride as much as her treasury?
-he was knighted on board the Golden Hind
What happened in 1585 with the Netherlands? What was realised about intervention?
-was becoming almost a necessity->Leicester and Walsingham had been pressing for it for some time but Burghley still had some doubts->feared the expense
What did Philip do in 1585 to do with English shipping in Spanish harbours?
-Philip II seized English shipping in Spanish harbours in 1585 and in August the Treaty of Nonsuch committed Elizabeth to providing an English force at an annual cost of £126,000 (half her annual ordinary income)->illustrates the strength of her involvement->in the first year the actual expense was £160,000
What was the Treaty of Nonsuch? When?
-1585
-committed Elizabeth to providing an English force at an annual cost of £126,000 (half her annual ordinary income)->illustrates the strength of her involvement->in the first year the actual expense was £160,000
What did Drake do with the Spanish Main? What could he now do?
-Drake could now embark on legal depredations of the Spanish Main but his expedition of 1586 showed little profit->he was more successful in 1587 in hsi attack on Cadiz and his capture of a Spanish cargo worth £140,000
-he also forced the Spanish to postpone the sending of the Armada to 1588 ->by which time the commander (Marquis of Santa Cruz) was dead
What was a result of the threat of war with Spain?
-drawing up a balance sheet regarding these events shows that Elizabeth had made some profit out of the growing hostility towards Spain->but the declaration of war was to ruin her financial security
