Elizabeth I

Describe elizabeths youth?

• ascended to the throne age 25

• unusual upbringing → outside court life but well educated

• much better educated than Mary, had a better understanding of the political processes and generally a better judge of character.

• had a remarkable gift for winning the devotion of the public 

• unmarried 25

• in danger from 2 serious plot implications → taught her caution

Short-term priorities of her coming to power:

• Consolidate her position

• Settle religious issues

• Pursue a peaceful settlement with the French

How did Elizabeth I consolidate her power:

• Mary’s councillors aware that Elizabeth did not share their religious views and were aware that their careers were over. 

• The councillors made no attempt to alter the will. Mary had named Elizabeth as her successor and Philip signified her right to rule when he sent an envoy, the Count of Feria, to see Elizabeth a month before Mary’s death

• Nicholas Heath, Mary’s Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York, announced Mary’s death to Parliament and proclaimed Elizabeth’s right of succession. Legally he had no right to do so; Mary’s death should, in law, have brought about the immediate dissolution of Parliament. Politically, however, it was a significant move because it showed that the political elite of the nation collectively assented to Elizabeth’s accession. Within a couple of days, 9 of Mary’s councillors rode to Hatfield to assure Elizabeth of their loyalty. There would therefore be no attempt to deny Elizabeth’s succession by devout Catholics who had never accepted the validity of her father’s marriage to Anne Boleyn

• On the advice of an astrologer, Elizabeth proceeded to coronation within two months.

Early actions of Elizabeths consolidation of power

• Spanish recognition of Elizabeth’s succession- Count of Feria and early marriage deal

• Mary’s Lord Chancellor Heath announced Mary’s death to Parliament and proclaimed Elizabeth’s succession - not legal as Parliament  continued

• Showed Mary’s councillors accepted Elizabeth

• William Cecil appointed principal secretary ( 40 year partnership) but few other posts decided - to keep Catholics guessing and supportive

• Propaganda - Tower visits to show herself to her people, quick coronation to consolidate - 15 Jan 1559

explain the rise of puritanism

• a strand of religion focusing on radicating popish superstitions between 1560s-1570s

• wanted to purifiy catholic elements

• wanted Calvinist prayer book

• blamed bishops for not pushing key religious changes

• believed through liz settlement → church still not fully reformed

who did liz write to in 1565 & why?

Archbishop Parker for assurance that the clergy were upholding her 1559 injunctions

What did parker publish in 1566?

the book of advertisements where he had some radical changes such as - receiving the communion kneeling

what were the vestments controversy 1566?

• Reforms were wanted against the preservation of popish vestments

• Ambiguity in the language of Parker’s book of advertisements led to controversy

• Protestant reformists wanted simpler attire

• Parker threatened to impose penalties on those who refused to comply with his book

what did vestments controversy 1566 lead to?

• debate within the Church of England and reforms were defeated by one vote.

• 1566, Elizabeth saw this as a challenge to her authority and removed 37 priests from office

• Archbishop Parker issued Advertisements - strict rules for services and vestments

what was the presbyterian movement?

• All ministers believed to be equal

• Church liturgy had to be reformed from within the church

when was the admonition to parliament?

1572

what did the admonition to the parliament consist of?

• Said that England wasn’t fully reformed and neither was the book of common prayer

• Wanted the removal of hierarchical structures

• Wanted the abolition of bishops 

what did Liz motion to the parliament in 1576?

• Ordered parliament to not discuss religion without her presence

• Peter Wentworth criticised her for this and Leicester and Burghley supported him

• She imprisoned him

who was the new Archbishop from 1576?

Grindal

what occurred in terms of prophesying under Grindal?

• PROPHESYSINGS were gatherings of preachers who would discuss reform and protestantism/puritanism

• Elizabeth heard of radical prophesyings which began to criticise her settlement

• She wanted Grindal to reduce preachers in each shire to around 3 or 4 to prevent the danger of prophesyings

• Grindal refused and concluded that they weren’t dangerous

• He wrote to the queen and reminded her that she was a ‘mortal creature’

• Elizabeth responded by suspending him from his duties as Archbishop of Canterbury and placing him under house arrest

• She directly banned bishops from enabling prophesyings 

when was whitgift archbishop appointed

1583

what were whitgifts views?

• Liked by Elizabeth as shared her views

• Against Puritanism

• Wrote 3 articles which accepted different aspects of her settlement

• Elizabeth’s more radical councillors censored or shortened some of his lengthier article

what were separatists?

• Extreme puritans who believed that reform within the Anglican church was impossible and that separation from the church entirely was necessary

• 1580 - Brown started a congregation in Norwich where he rejected the Anglican church and spread his radical views. Brownist movement

• Brown was imprisoned and many brownists were exiled or fled

which injunctions in 1589?

injunctions against puritan preaching

who was executed in 1593?

suspected seperatists

Catholics under broad church to purging superstition

• Fines for recusants (those who refused to attend Church services

• Many were exiled to the Netherlands

• Lancaster was a significantly Catholic area

what were threats to catholicism in

what were threats of catholicism in 1567

pope told english Catholics not to attend the Anglican church

what were threats of catholicism in 1568

mqs came to england

what were threats of catholicism in 1569

northern rebellion → predominately catholic in nature

what were threats of catholicism in 1570?

the excommunication of elizabeth

how did elizabeth combat reistance in 1571

denial of her supremacy → treasonable

how did elizabeth combat reistance 1581

• mention of mass was punishable by a heavy fine

• 4 priests executed

how did elizabeth combat resistance in 1482

11 catholic priests were executed

how did elizabeth combat resistance in 1587

 Recusants who didn’t pay the fine could have ⅔ of their estate confiscated

1568 - DOUAI COLLEGE - William Allen

• Trained Catholic priests to be sent to England to revive Catholicism

• Spread the word that Elizabeth was an unlawful monarch

• 1574 = 3 priests 1580 = 100

how was/wasn’t in favour of her settlement

London was in favour of a Protestant settlement but the North were more conservative.

Cateau Cambrais made her settlement easier.

which main 3 main areas did the religious settlement of 1559 focus on?

• Act of supremecy 1559

• Act of Uniformity 1559

• Royal injuctions 1559

Act of Supremacy 1559

•  Restored her Royal Supremacy (under Henry VIII)

• Heresy law was repealed and papal supremacy was repealed.

• Elizabeth was the Supreme Governor - a concession to Catholicism.

• Oath of loyalty had to be sworn.

• Court of high commision in place to attack those who didn’t comply.

Act of Uniformity 1559

• ingle, modified book of Common Prayer.

• Variations of Eucharistic belief were allowed.

• Ornaments were restored to post 1549.

• Catholic artefacts were allowed.

• The Catholic appearance kept.

• Recusary was introduced.

• Catholic mass attendance could warrant death. 

Royal Injunctions July 1559

•  Nominated by strong protestants.

• 57 injunctions.

• Suppression of superstition.

• Eucharist at simple communion.

• Parish churches had to have an English Bible.

• Pilgrimages outlawed. 

Prayerbook

Compromise - transubstantiation was not prevented. 

1563 - 39 articles - aspects of Catholicism and Protestantism. 

reaction

400 clergy resigned, all Mary's bishops rejected the settlement. She could make new enthusiastic appointments. Local opposition - ministers ignored new book of common prayer. 

What was Elizabeth’s clear intention regarding religion? 

She wanted to find common ground between Catholics and Protestants in order to create a peaceful religious settlement which enabled her to succeed as monarch.

What did the Act of Supremacy, 1559 establish?

established Elizabeth as Supreme Governor, the language surrounding her supremacy was less radical than her father’s. This shows that Elizabeth wanted a less controversial power stance to sustain some Catholic support. This repealed Mary’s heresy laws and papal supremacy.

What did the Act of Uniformity achieve?

enabled Elizabeth to mediate religion. She preserved some Catholic doctrine whilst banning others. The book of common prayer allowed transubstantiation. It kept the Catholic appearance of church, but was harsher on recusants.

Why were royal injunctions needed in 1559? What did they state? 

The Royal Injunctions had 57 instructions e.g. repression of superstitions, english bible in every church and outlawing of pilgrimages. 

What different views are there on the religious settlement? 

• Catholics may have despised doctrinal changes but appreciated the ambiguity of rules on transubstantiation and the preservation of popish vestments and the extravagant appearance of the Anglican church.

• Calvinists and puritans would have despised the preservation of catholic doctrine but appreciated aspects such as the new book of common prayer and the 1559 injunctions which pushed for the English Bible.

• Elizabeth prosecuted recusants which angered Catholics but pleased Protestants. Elizabeth was hateful towards the radical presbyterians and prophesyings which spread radical protestantism and undermined her settlement as weak reform.

What problems might arise from the Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity?

• Supremacy may have angered Catholics and the Pope who despised the repeal of papal supremacy and heresy laws.

• The Act of uniformity would have pleased moderate protestants but likely not presbyterians and definitely not separatist puritans. 

what was act of supremecy/uniformity intended to be enforced? - Impact of religious change on ordinary people (laity)? On clergy/bishops? To which it was enforced?

• 400 clergymen resigned and so did all of Mary’s appointed bishops but Elizabeth was then able to appoint her own.

• Jp’s reported many clergymen who were reluctant to uphold Elizabeth's settlement but she passed strong acts against recusants and became more radical against Catholics in the 1580’s where she murdered 4 catholic priests in 1581 and 11 in 1582.

• Douai college showed that foreign Catholicism was still a threat and the priests would stay with Catholic families, exacerbating the underlying conflict of religious interest in society. Prophesyings also showed that clergymen were still preaching against her settlement. 

What problems did/didn’t Elizabeth solve through the settlement?

• The Pope’s hatred of her and her excommunication

• Recusants still existed despite the 1587 attempt to prevent their predominance

Europe in 1558 in terms of religion:

• Advent of Protestantism in Europe put an end to its greatest unifying force, Catholicism

• Holy Roman Empire was under threat from within

• France and Scotland were drifting towards religious conflict

• Religion determined a countries allies and enemies

• Pope and staunchly Catholic countries were committed to preventing the spread of Protestantism

• New-world put an end to the Euro-centric nature of national interests

What were Elizabeth's Foreign policy objectives?

• Elizabeth used her royal prerogative to direct foreign policy. 

• She wanted to avoid wars because they were costly and risky.

• She was unwilling to help rebels fight against their legitimate leaders. (This would become a problem because many Catholics did not regard her as legitimate). 

• She was unwilling to act as a Protestant champion in Europe.

What were Elizabeth’s specific aims?

• To secure independence from France and Spain. 

• Limit the power of France.

• To secure the Northern border with Scotland. 

• To protect the English cloth trade with the Netherlands. 

• To ensure that the Channel coastline was not under the control of any one power. 

How have historians interpreted Elizabeth’s foreign policy aims?

• Charles Wilson argued that Queen Elizabeth’s policy was purely reactive and lacked any overall aim or objective. He maintains this was because England was a second rate power and could not afford to wage war for long.

• However, R.B Wernham argued that Elizabeth’s foreign policy aims and objectives were very clear, but she was often restricted by events in England and the actions of foreign powers. 

Relations with Scotland 1558-1563 (Warren Religion and Foreign Affairs 93, Dawson 299)

• 1559 MQS and husband Francis II king of Fr.. The Guises sought once again to use Scotland as an instrument of Fr power. French troops were sent to garrison major Scottish forts -caused alarm amongst leading Scottish Lords in Edinburgh and allies i.e. Calvinist reformer - John Knox

• Cecil wanted intervention in Scotland, Elizabeth wary as she was cautious of interfering. Cecil threatened to resign unless action was taken. Dec. 1559 - Navy sent to River Firth of Forth to stop French reinforcements landing and 1560 an army sent north

• July 1560 Treaty of Edinburgh following the french withdrawal  - weather had damaged boats and Mary of Guise had died. Lords of the Congregation was accepted as a provisional councillor govt. And MQS had returned to Scotland where she was forced to accept the political and religious power of the Lords (her enemies) Success for Cecil (although lucky that Francis II had died, reducing status of MQS)

Relations with France 1558-1563 (SHP 218-219, Dawson 298)

• Treaty of Cateau - Cambresis(1559) - Fr retained Calais for 8 years after which it would be returned to England, so long as England kept the peace. If Fr failed to return Calais they would pay 500000 crowns to England.

• Fighting in 1562- Catholics and Protestants. Fr. managed to drive the English out (who were supporting the Huguenots). Elizabeth lost Calais and the indemnity she had secured in 1559. - ALthough in the long run - not such a disadvantage. Became v cautious about supporting Protestant

Relations with Spain and the Netherlands 1558-1563 (SHP 218, Dawson 302-3

• Declining relationship with Spain Spain felt angered that English piracy was attacking Spanish ships in the channel and supporting Protestants in the Netherlands. English ejected - by Conde. Treaty of Troyes 1563 - Calais to France (120,000 crowns payment)

• Cardinal Granvelle (Phillip's chief minister in Netherlands) banned all trade from England in 1563 (blamed an outbreak of plague) - Elizabeth retaliated with embargo on imports from Netherlands - trade between two stopped.  - lifted after 12 months as economic suffering too much.

• 1567 Philip II crushed heresy in the Netherlands. - Duke of Alva sent to do this. 

  Sought trading links with other countries i.e. Russia and Baltic

Why was the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis needed in 1559?

• When Elizabeth came to the throne, England was in conflict with France and England had lost Calais. Seriously weakened crown finances meant a treaty was needed to extricate England from the war. Henry II of France and Philip II of England agreed to a peace treaty.

• April 1559 - England and France also reached an agreement over the issue of Calais

What happened to Calais?

• Mary lost Calais due to her involvement in a war between Spain and France

• France would retain Calais for 8 years, after which Calais would be restored to English control provided England kept peace.

• If France failed to return Calais as per the terms, they then owed England £125,000.

How were Francis II and Mary Queen of Scots related?

• Mary Queen of Scots had a stronger claim to the throne due to Francis II ascending to the French throne after Henry II death

• Frabcis brought a strong Catholic Guise faction to power in France, who sought to use Scotland as an instrument of their foreign policy

Why were French troops sent to Scotland?

• Sent to garrison major scottish fortresses to the alarm of John Knox

who was John Knox?

• Radical Calvinist who led the Scottish reformation. Knox believed there was no biblical justification for female leadership and published a book attacking female leadership

• He sought power in Edinburgh 

Why was Elizabeth opposed to sending troops to Scotland and cautious in her policy towards MQS?

• She was cautious about interfering in domestic affairs with other nations

• She loathed Knox for being sexist, writing ‘the monstrous regiment of women’

• Cecil supported the intervention and sought the removal of Mary Queen of Scots

Why did Cecil want the removal of MQG?

Believed that Mary Queen Of Scots threatened Elizabeth’s reign

How did Cecil get his way?

• Threatened his own resignation

What was sent to the Firth of the Forth?

• Towards the end of December 1559 the navy was sent to the Firth and Forth to stop French reinforcements from landing

How were the French unlucky?

• The French fleet were severely damaged by storm and the regent, mary of Guise, died

What was stated in the Treaty of Edinburgh July 1560?

• Cecil was able to score favourable terms 

• The guises fell from power and Mary had to accept that her influence on French policy came to an end 

• The interests of the Scottish Protestants had been protected

Why was there a Civil War in France?

• Conflict broke out between the Catholics and and Protestants in March 1562

• Fr. managed to drive the English out (who were supporting the Huguenots). Elizabeth lost Calais and the indemnity she had secured in 1559. - Although in the long run - not such a disadvantage. Became v cautious about supporting Protestants.

How did this involve the English?

• Robert Dudley encouraged Elizabeth to put military pressure on the French Crown when it was in a relatively weak state as to ensure the return of Calais

• England supported the huguenot leader (French protestant leader), Elizabeth promised the Prince of Condé 6000 men and a loan of £30,000

What was agreed at the Treaty of Troyes 1564?

• French factions agreed to seek peace terms

• English were forced to seek an unfavourable peace settlement

• Losing the indemnity she secured at the Câteau Cambrais

Why were the years 15-68-72 start of crisis years for Anglo-Spanish relations?

Netherlands and the rise of Protestantism

Antwerp - Largest market for cloth for England so focus for Elizabeth. Tried new markets Baltic and Russia- but still need to keep Antwerp connection.

1558 Phillip II leaves Granvelle and others in charge - poor leadership. Poor Spanish Ambassadors in England