Elizabeth I: 1558-1603

Ridolfi Plot date

1571

Significance of the Ridolfi plot

• Norfolk was arrested and executed in 1572

• Mary kept under tight surveillance, Elizabeth did not want to execute a fellow queen

Details of the Ridolfi Plot

• uprisings of Catholics

• marriage of the Duke of Norfolk to MQS, sieze the English throne

Throckmorton Plot date

1583

Significance of the Throckmorton Plot

• Thockmorton was executed

• 1584: Bond of Association to protect Elizabeth's life against all threats from enemies

• worsened Anglo-Scottish relations

• Parliament and Council wanted MQS to be executed

Details of the Throckmorton Plot

• Throckmorton was arrested by Walsingham

• under torture reveal a plot to use Spain to invade England and place Mary on the throne

• named several allies in his confession

Parry plot date

1583

Details of the Parry plot

• Parry, welsh MP, hid in Queen's garden

• wanted to assassinate Elizabeth

• but when he saw the Queen he could not murder her, he saw the image of her father

Significance of the Parry plot

• sentenced to death

• acceleration of parliamentary proceedings on a bill to ensure the Queen's safety

Babington plot date

1585

Details of the Babington plot

• Babington was a servant of MQS

• set up a secret society, aimed to get rid of heretic Elizabeth I

• society had links with Mary's representatives in Europe

• Walsingham uncovered this plot saving Queen's life

Significance of Babington plot

• Babington was arrested and executed in 1586

• enabled Burghley to secure MQS execution

Oxfordshire Rising date

1596

Significance of Oxfordshire Rising

• 4 bad harvests 1594-97

• caused huge poverty

• group of men planned to march on London

• no support

• arrested

• disbanded within 2 hours

• gov prosecuted several landowners over illegal enclosure - gov did listen and respond to rebels

Elizabethan government successfully dealt with the problem of the poor

• individuals recognised as 'deserving poor' for the first time

• JPs provide raw materials for those who could not find work

• 1572: compulsory contributions to poor relief -> turning point in dealing with poor. Much more awaree that people can be helped out of poverty, not always laziness

• 1596 & 1601 poor law acts remained in force for over 250 years

• no major disturbances -> lack of rebellions

When was the Act of Uniformity?

1558

Elizabethan government did not successfuly deal with the problem of the poor

• 1572: punishments for vagrancy increased: whipping

• 25% of the population were poor

• Overall Elizabeth did not deal succcessfully with the poor bc it was out of her control -> bad harvests

What did the Act of Uniformity involve?

• everyone do the same thing, no deviation

• Recusancy (not going to Church) - punished by a shilling

• Penalty for not following rites (ceremonies) was 6 months imprisonment and loss of a year's income

Church Papists

• conservative / Catholic

• disliked radical changes to traditional patterns of worship

Recusants

• refused to attend church services

• believed in Catholic doctrine

• not prepared to compromise

• 1582 - 1939 known recusants

• Recusant priests offered Catholic sacraments to the people

• established underground churches

Seminary priests

• duty to return to England to work for the salvation of souls and seek martyrdom in order to re-establish Catholicism

• 438 seminary priests returned to England

• determined to inspire the English Catholic community to risk their lives for their faith

• protected by Catholic gentry

• most threatening to Elizabeth: sheer number so could provide significant opposition to Elizabeth's reforms

Jesuits

• destroy heresy (Protestantism)

• carried out rigorous spiritual exercises designedd to train and discipline the human mind

• vigorously opposed compromise insisting every Catholic should obey the Pope first

• Catholic community should keep itself completely seperate from the Elizabethan church

Why did Elizabeth face limitations to enforcing the Act of Uniformity of 1558

• recusant fines not carried out - energy instead spent on removing Catholic images

• clergy - most english catholics survived as 'church papists' outwardly conforming and obeying the law by attending Anglican services

• swearing the oath - no one to follow through with those who didn't

When was the Treason Act passed

1571

What was the Treason Act of 1571

• treason to deny Elizabeth as lawful queen

• treason to bring Papal Bull into England

Who was killed in 1577

• Cuthbert Mayne became the first Catholic seminary priest to be killed

• turning point in Elizabeth's religious reforms -> became much more aggressive and violent

• 1578: 2 more priests exected for denying Royal Supremacy

When did MQS arrive in England seeking protection from Elizabeth?

1568

When was Elizabeth excommunicated?

1570

What challenges did Elizabeth's excommunication in 1570 cause?

• forced English catholics to choose between their loyalty to the church and their loyalty to the monarch

• heightened the fear of a Catholic assasination of Elizabeth

• no longer a sin to rebel against Elizabeth

When was the Three Acts passed?

1571

What did the Three Acts involve?

• treasonable to declare that Elizabeth was not Queen

• treasonable to introduce of publish any Papal Bulls

• all those who had fled abroad and who fail to return within 12 months had to forfeit their property

• response to E's excommunication, Northern Rebellion

Evidence showing Elizabethan government becoming more ruthless and less willing to compromise

• 1594

• gov refusedd to follow a policy of toleration towards English secular Catholics who promise not to rebel against Elizabeth

• 1602

• royal proclamation ordered all Jesuits to leave the country

• by 1603 many of the Catholics had realised that the Church of England was here to stay and had joined

Why was Elizabeth's excommunication in 1570 a serious threat

• possibility of foreign invasion to support English catholics against the Queen

• failure of the Northern Rebellion suggests a lack of enthusiasm from English Catholics

Why did the Catholic threat increase after 1568?

• 1584: William Prince of Orange, leader of the Protestant rebels in the Netherlands was assasinated by a Catholic extremist

• 1586: Phillip II begins an invasion of England & Babington Plot

• as relations with Spain deteriorate the Catholic plot becomes more threatening

When is Mary Queen of Scots executed?

1587

When was the Spanish Armada

1588

What issues does the Puritan challenge in Parliament face?

- removing Catholic practices from the Book of Common Prayer

When was the first time Elizabeth intervened with Protestant Bills

• 1572

• bill introduced on rites and ceremonies to remove many practices from prayer book

• Queen intervened to prevent parliament discussing religious matters

How threatening was the Puritan challenge in England?

• government intervene before anything is passed

• 1572 - most threatening, published a 'biting attack' on the Church whih criticised its structure and doctrine

• undermining Elizabeth's authority

• forces government to take control

• Puritan printing press destroyed

What were the 3 Articles of 1583?

• all ministers must accept Royal Supremacy

• ministers must agrree that the BCP contained nothing contrary to the word of God

• achknowledge that the 39 Articles were agreeable to the word of God

The Puritan threat was very threatening?

• prompted Elizabeth's involvement in blocking bills

• undermining Church of England and royal authority

• preaching and prosphesysing seen as very threatening

The Puritan threat was not threatening at all?

• minor threat in comparison to Catholic threat -> no massacres / assasination attempts

• very little attempt to remove Elizabeth apart from William Hacket

• used llegitimate methods to bring change (through parliament)

How threatening where Catholic plots in comparison to Tudor rebellions?

• plots esculate to removing Elizabeth from the throne

• recieve foreign support from Spain

• Tudor rebellions -> POG -> aim is not to assasinate Elizabeth

How does Elizabeth deal with MQS's execution?

• leaves the opportunity up to her ministers specifically William Cecil

• doesn't have to take personal responsibility for it enabling her to create a vasard that it wasn't her personal choice it was her councillors who manipulated her

Elizabeth's foreign policy aims 1560-72

• preserve the Antwerp cloth trade

• secure the Northern Frontier (MQS) (Scottish border)

• protect the channel coastline

• doesn't want to be sucked into war -> expensive

• needed to establish a strong position before moving to foreign policy

1563-72 : Tensions between England and Spain begin

• John Hawkins (English trader) attempted to break Spanish trading monopoly in the Carribean

• Philip's involvement in the Ridolfi plot of 1571 + encouragement of the Northern Rebellion + Elizabeth's excommunication in 1570

Most important reason for the decline in relationship between England and Spain?

• religion: Catholicism v Protestantism

• rivalry over trade

From 1580 onwards why does Elizabeth adopt an increasingly anti-Spanish position?

Spain's increase in power

• 1579-80: Spain started reconquering the North of the Netherlands increasing their power

• 1580: Spanish annexation of Portugual

Elizabeth's actions:

• supported Portugual pretender

• knighed Francis Drake -> English privateer

When was the Treaty of Joinville signed?

1584

What did the Treaty of Joinville involve?

• Philip II and the Catholic League in France reached an agreement

• gave Philip the impression that if he attacked England France would not react

When was the Treaty of Nonesuch?

1585

What did the Treaty of Nonesuch involve?

• 5,000 troops and 1,000 calvalry led by Leicester to the Netherlands

• E became Protector of the Netherlands

Why was the Treaty of Nonesuch a failure?

• troops badly and irregularly paid -> alienated the Dutch

• English commanders quarrelled among themselves

• Leicester quarreled with the Dutch

• Philip sees England as weak and vulnerable giving him confidence of an invasion

• unofficial start of the Anglo-Spanish war

Why was Elizabeth so reluctant to go to war with Spain?

• Spain had the best infrantry in the world

• the Spanish army was permanent whereas the English was only temporary

• the Spanish army was properly supplied, more experienced

• but England had the better navy because of the variety of ships

• only a minority of Spanish sailors had experience which was limited

When was the Spanish Armada

1588

What was the impact of the Spanish Armada on England?

• propaganda victory

• boost for 'English protestantism'

• pride -> defeated Spanish giants

• no long lasting effects -> war continued for 15 years with no decisive battles

When did England make 3 attacks on mainland Spain and its colonies? Where they successfull?

• intially YES

• capture and occupation of Cadiz from 1596 with 50,000 men

• sinking of 4 galleons and 50 ships

• humiliating for Philip II -> responded with 1596 Armada but was defeated by storms, Philip was officially bankrupt

• British success was short lived

• 1597 -> Essex and Raleigh tried to repeat their escapades , disaster filled with quarrels and bad weather

How were Spain involved with Ireland?

• Spanish tried to exploit a rebellion in Ireland for its own ends by sending a third Armada

• fleet under Essex's command was despatchd to attack the Spanish fleet but was unsuccessfull bc of adverse winds

• Armada set sail for Ireland -> defeated by wind

When was the last Spanish Armada sent

1601

• finally managed to land troops in Ireland

• eventually defeated the English

When was a peace treaty signed between England and Spain

1604

When did the Northern Netherlands become an independant state (Spanish had been expelled)?

1594

What were the problems with Elizabethan trade?

• to heavy reliance on a single market

• increasing clashes with Spain

Success of John Hawkins

• his missions were so lucrative E sponsered his subsequent journeys and provided ships, supplies and guns, gave him a unique coat of arms

• 3 major slavery expeditions in the 1560s -> paved way for slave traingle between England, Africa and New World

Success of Francis Drake

• granted privateer's commission by E giving him right to plunder the Spanish ports in Carribean.

• aim of this commission was to capture and exploit the South American portss that were under Spanish rule

• 1572: returned with £40,000 worth of Spanish treasure -> earned a reputation as a leading privateer

• in total he captured £140,000 of treasure

• he circumnavigated the globe from 1577-1580 which won him a knighthood

Success of Sir Walter Raleigh

• granted the right to explore the New World and colonise it by Elizabeth

• lost colony

Success of East India Company

• gained a royal charter from Elizabeth

• responsible for almost half of Britain's trade

• pepper, spices, silk fabric, tea

Continuity - Elizabethan Nobility

- English society remained under aristocratic domination during E's reign

Change under the Elizabethan nobility

• E did not create any more Dukes after 1572 ( traitors - Somerset, Northumberland etc)

• nobility were more peaceable and less concerned with defence

• to reduce costs she modified some of many building projects of her father

Change under the Elizabethan gentry

• increased from 300 to 600

• E was careful with the number she personally created

• more gentry at end of her reign because of positions at court or making their fortune through trade and law

Change under other layers of Elizabethan society

• mainly did not change

• gap betweeen rich and poor hugely widened

• among prosperous -> increased consumerism as land income increased and exploration and trade developed

• increase in population -> recovering steadily since Black Death

• life expectancy increased to 40

• rise in skilled craftsmen -> Statue of Artificiers of 1563 - craftsmen had to complete a 7 year apprenticeship before qualifying

Continuity of Elizabethan Regional variation

- 90% of people still lived in villages

When was the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis

April 1559

What was the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis?

-1559

• peace treaty with England, France and Spain

• End Habsburg Valois war

• cemented England's loss of Calais - France would retain it for 8 years after which it would be restore to England 'as long as England kept the peace' -> not possible England could not support Spain and Netherlands)

• if France did not return Calais they would give England 500,000 crowns

What was the signifcance of the death of Henry II (King of France) in June 1559 ?

• succeeeded by Francis II, husband of MQS

• radical Calvinist (John Knox) and his alies start fighting against French (didn't want Scotland ruled by 2 French princesses who lived in France)

• appeal to help from fellow Protestants in England

When was the Treaty of Berwick

Feb 1560

What did the Treaty of Berwick involve?

• mutual agreement between England and Scotland to expel the French from Scotland

• Elizabeth agreed to support Scottish government - John Knox and his allies

When was the Treaty of Edinburgh

July 1560

What was the Treaty of Edinburgh

• England and France agree withdraw troops from Scotland

• MQS agrees to give up her claim to the English throne - bc she is Queen of France

• Lords of Congregation (Protestant government) come to power in Scotland

• MQS never formly agrees to treaty but doesn't oppose it

What happened in October 1562

• Conflict between French Catholics and French Protestants

• massacre of the Hugenots (French protestants)

• Elizabeth promise Prince of Conde (leader of Hugenots) 6000 men and a loan of £30,000

• Robert Dudley (very Protestant) heavily encouraged Elizabeth to intervene in France

• leader of French catholics and French protestants captured

• troops join forces, accept peace and unit to drive England out of France

• results in the Treaty of Troyes

When was the Treaty of Troyes

1564

What was the Treaty of Troyes

• England looses Calais permanently

• Elizabeth becomes much more cautious helping foreign protestant countries

• massive blow to Elizabeth's presitgue

• Long run: not a big deal, Calais -> expensive to maintain, land not in a significant place

Summary of Elizabeth's initial foreign policy

• decisions were bad in short term

• success in Scotland is luck -> death of Mary of Guse, matriachal powerhouse of Scotland removed

• trying to please too many people, can't please Protestants but maintain peace with France

• teaches her lessons useful in the long run influencing future FP

• makes a scene on the diplomatic international stage because she inherited HVIII's charm and charisma

To what extent did Elizabethan foreign policy represent a change in direction from 1547?

• continuity: Edward, Mary I, 1st 5 years of Mary's reign

• England not a key player

• defensive

• reacting to the actions from surrounding superpowers

Elizabeth's privy council

• 20 members

• met 3 times a week

• advised monarch on policy

• ensured orderly government and security of the state

Importance of recieving the Queen's patronage

- determined their career

What was the role of the Secretary of State?

• closet to the Queen

• principal advisor

• in constant contact with the Queen

• William Cecil 1558-1573

• Francis Walsingham 1573-87

• Robert Cecil 1591-96

When did William Cecil die

1573

Elizabeth's tactics for controlling her council

• she participated in it to prevent them on agreeing on formal advice which she would later reject

• refused to deal with the council as a whole - only discussed policy with small groups

• consulted with men outside the council - foreign ambassadors

• promoted division within the council encouraging them to compete for rewards

Issues with Elizabeth's council in the late 1580s

• number of ministers die closely together

• E fails to make immediate replacements

• when she did she relied on middle-aged sons of former councillors

What were Elizabeth's immediate aims for when she came to the throne in 1558

• consolidation of power

• religious settlement - most challenging

• peace with France

What laws were involved in Elizabeth's religious settlement of 1559?

• Act of Supremacy: establishing headship of Church

• Act of Uniformity: setting out appearance of Church

• Book of Common Prayer: setting out form of worship

• Royal Injunctions - further religious instructions

Issues left outstanding with regards to the Elizabethan Religious Settlement

• did not mention doctrine

• Clergy: loss of leading Catholic members of clergy meant she had to appoint protestants. Shortage of qualified clergy so bishops had to accept poor trained clerics

• crown had taken huge sums of money from church - caused spiritual and physical poverty in church

• expected that the Pope would excommunicate elizabeth

Impact of Elizabeths religious settlement of 1559

• all but 1 Marian Bishop refused the Oath of Supremacy

• 300/8000 priests refused the Oath

What problems did Elizabeth's settlement of 1559 cause

• all catholic bishops resigned

• lower clergy mainly accepted settlement but lacked religious education

• Protestants were disappointed but services were acceptable to most English catholics

• some Catholics organised the Northern Rebellion in 1569 calling for the restoration of Catholicism and recognition of MQS

Gov's response to the decline in quality of clergy bc of Settlement of 1559

• Elizabeth appointed Marian Exiles to leading bishoprics

• Matthew Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1559

• failed to appoint enthusiastic preachers - lead the way open for Puritans to do so

Why did gov publish the 39 Articles in 1563?

• present a united Protestant front against the Catholics

• Elizabeth removed Act 29 in order to avoid offending Catholics

• doctrine of Church began to move in more Protestant direction

• pleased senior clergy but was unacceptable to Catholics

Why did gov publish the Advertiseements 1566

• prior Marian Exiles had believed that the Ornament Rubric would not be enforced

• publication lead to resignation of able clergymen

• failure to make concessions to the reformer's demands led to more extreme Protestants to challenge the legality of Church government and turn to Presbyterianism

How would you describe Elizabethan religion 1559-63?

• extremely ambigious: caused confusion and dismay among Protestant reformers, catholic bishops resigned

• Eliz did not fully commit to move towards Protestantism

• to afraid to offend people - removed Act 29 from 39 Articles 1563

What economic problems did Elizabeth inherit ?

• bad harvests : 1554-56

• high mortality : plague and influenza

• population increase - 2.3 mil in 1520s to 4 mil in 1603

• high taxation

• fear of social instability

Why was the Statue of Artificiers introduced in 1563?

- growing concern over increase number of vagabondage and escalating crime