section 2: Factional Rivalry

Who were the Two main factions?

• William Cecil (Lord Burghley)

• Robert Devereux (Earl of Essex)

What is a patron?

Head of a faction, would support clients as he would want his associates to promote his ideas

What is a client?

Those loyal to patrons

Who did Burghley want to succeed him?

Burghley promoted his son - Robert Cecil

Who else wanted to succeed Burghley?

Essex, he believed he was right to succeed him as the Queen’s favourite

What was Essex’s opinion on foreign policy?

He had an aggressive approach to defeat and wanted to replace the Spanish as the greatest power.

He forced the Queen to pay huge sums to attack Spanish islands.

He wanted to defeat Ireland quickly to focus on Spain

He believed the government should support military ventures

Commanders should make decisions not the crown or government

What was Burghley’s opinion on foreign policy?

Wanted to protect English lands and keep costs low. Sought a defensive war than an aggressive one

Believed government should set strategy and limits

What was Burghley’s opinion on Religion?

feared Catholics and Puritans as extremists and pushed for persecution

What was Essex’s opinion on Religion?

Sought greater toleration of Religious beliefs in exchange for loyalty

What were Burghley’s overall views/opinions?

• war is unjust and should be avoided

• worried that increasing taxes would result in rebellion

• worried about religious extremists

• Took the Queen’s orders very seriously as she was head of the state

What were Essex’s overall views/opinions?

• as a solider, courtiers should pursue military glory

• as a man, he had to play a central role in foreign policy as the queen is a woman

• believed in natural law- virtuosity was more important than obeying the the law or queens orders

Why had Essex become a favourite?

Due to his looks and charm - was showered with titles and monopolies on goods

What was Essex’s Relationship with the Queen

• disobeyed her instructions for personal gains

• Joined Drake-Norris Expedition even though she forbade it

• Alienated other nobles

What was Burghley’s Relationship with the queen?

• trusted by the Queen

  • spent losts of timer around him

Who did Essex want to be the attorney general?

Francis Bacon

Who did Burghley want to be the attorney general?

Sir Edward Coke, a more experienced lawyer

Who did Elizabeth choose for Attorney general and why was this an issue?

chose Coke but on the basis he was a more experienced lawyer and more loyal than Bacon.

Essex viewed this as a stab in the back

Why did Essex get into Elizabeth’s bad books?

• disobeyed her orders by turning Cadiz into a garrison - marking an attempt to turn the conflict into something bigger than she wanted

Why did the relationship between the two factions become more and more strained?

• Cecil got the position of Secretary of State

• Cecil ordered government inspections of Essex’s missions

• The death of Burghley in 1598 meant the only figure in the faction that Essex respected was gone.

Why did Ireland create factional issues?

Essex demanded more funding

Who did Elizabeth name as an heir in 1562 when she got smallpox?

Named Robert Dudley as a successor - a protector. However this was hugely unpopular

What did Burghley propose instead of naming an heir/protector?

A grand council that would operate if she was incapacitated or died

When was William Hacket’s plot?

1591

What was William Hackets plot?

Hacket, (believing himself a prophet) started a riot in London against the queen. He declared himself God’s messenger

When was the Lopez Plot?

1594

What was the Lopez Plot?

Her surgeon Lopez, was found guilty of plotting with Phillip II’s cousin to poison Elizabeth

• however this could be false, Essex led the investigation knowing Elizabeth was considering peace with Spain

What was the Edward Squire plot?

Squire was a royal stable hand who was accused of rubbing poison into Elizabeth’s saddle

Who were the potential candidates for the sucession?

• James VI

• daughter of Phillip II, Isabella

• Phillip II

• Arabella Stuart

Why was each candidate suitable/not suitable for the throne?

James VI - a relation of Elizabeth and the closest male. Protestant unlike his mother, and distanced himself from his Mother’s actions

Isabella - Was descended from Edward III, so had a vague claim to the throne

Phillip-had claimed Mary QOS had named him heir so he could be King of England

Arabella Stuart - cousin of James VI and also a Protestant, some pushed for her rather than James as he was already King of Scotland.

When was the revolt of Essex?

1593-1601

Why did Essex start his revolt

He felt he had the right to guide the succession in the direction he wanted

Who Did Essex work with from 1593

James VI

What was Essex’s aim in the sucession

To be the one to arrange James VI taking the throne

What did Essex do in/after Ireland?