17- Elizabeth I: Character and aims

The Character and aims of Elizabeth I

• ascended throne age 25

• Better educated than Mary

• issues with Thomas Seymour-he was fond of her but she was a child…

• Imprisoned for treason under Mary-Wyatt’s rebellion

• No desire to involve herself in details of government

• Liked making decisions

• Wanted to preserve prerogative powers of Crown

Elizabeth I’s consolidation of power

Her acceptance of her succession by Mary’s key councillors. 17 Nov-Mary’s Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York announced Mary’s death to Parliament and proclaimed Lizzy’s rule. Legally he had no right to do so- Mary’s death should bring dissolution of Parliament. Politically significant move- showed political elite of nation backing for Elizabeth’s reign. No attempt to deny her succession by devout Catholics-ppl who didn’t believe her mother married Henry.

Cecil appointed principal secretary. Lasted 40 years. Made household appointments. Made political sense for her to keep Mary’s councillors guessing about her intentions and their chances of keeping her favour

Took herself to the Tower-she emerged on several occasions to show herself to her new subjects and to benefit from pageants-organised by City of London

Proceeded quickly (within 2 months) to her coronation. On the basis of astrological advice- chose 15 Jan

Gained international confirmation- Spanish ambassador Count of Feria, already visited Elizabeth several days before Mary’s death and after her accession tried to broker a marriage between Philip II. Nothing came of that-demonstrated that Philip was unwilling to do anything to disrupt smoothness of Elizabeth’ succession

The Elizabethan religious settlement

main priority was to decide on form of religion the country would have. 2 aspects:
legal status of church and Liturgical books to be used in church services
not altered with death of Mary- English church remained catholic until law cld be changed. Assumed that this wld be severed and that CofE reinstated as a established State Church with monarch at end. unsure whether this is Anglo-Catholic Church- doctrines and practices remained Catholic even tho it rejected papal supremacy, or a modest Protestant Church-implied by Act of Uniformity of 1549, or a radical Evangelical Church- implied by Act of Uniformity in 1552
Settlement embraced Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, issue of a set of royal injunctions to enforce the Acts, and, to meet liturgical needs, publication of New Book of Common Prayer. Set up for 39 Articles of Religion in 1563

The Act of Supremacy, 1559

restored royal supremacy in Church, papal supremacy rejected, reformation legislation of Henry VIII restored, heresy law repealed, powers of royal visitation of the Church revived- allowed Crown to appoint commissioners to ‘visit, reform, order, correct and amend all such errors, heresies and abuses’- huge power to commissioners
Act described Queen as ‘supreme governor’ rather than ‘supreme head’
oath of supremacy taken by clergymen and church officials- penalties for refusing

The Act of Uniformity

specified use of a single book of common prayer- modified version of the 2nd and strongly protestant book that Cranmer introduced in 1552.
variations in eucharistic belief were allowed- either Cranmer’s wording or Zwingli’s wording
the ‘Black rubric’ omitted- it originally explained the practice of kneeling at administration of Eucharistic was omitted

The Royal Injunctions, 1559

Set of instructions about conduct of church services and government of Church issued in queen’s name as supreme governor
royal injunctions used in past 3 times (1536,38 and 47)- Protestant character clear- ‘suppression of superstition’. Emphasised that Eucharist must be administered at simple communion rather than at altar.
Removal of ‘superstitious things’ from churches- catholic practices like pilgrimages and candles
every parish church had to have English bible
cecil appointed v.protestant ppl to overlook this
injunction reflected elizabeth’s personal idiosyncracies-her disapproval of clerical marriage

The significance of the settlement

Queen faced pressure from radical clergymen and their allies in HoC- ‘Puritan Choir’. Queen had to back down and accept a much more Protestant prayer book and settlement.
CA: Elizabeth saw settlement as final, rather than a precursor to religious reform. Many of her subsequent religious controversies more easily explicable
Elizabeth and her ministers intended that the settlement should be firmly Protestant- never any intention to restore Edwardian prayer book but appearance had to be maintained- keep conservative support in HoL
Elizabeth and her ministers want complete religious settlement from the start. political opposition they faced came from Puritan choir and Catholic bishops-conservative peers grudgingly accepted restoration of royal supremacy. provided more opposition to uniformity bill-only passed in Lords by 3 votes

The Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis

1559
England war with France- gone badly for England with loss of Calais-weakened Crown’s finances. Elizabeth wanted to remove England from this war- financial situation of France and Spain meant that Philip or Henry wanted to continue fight.
Peace treaty concluded at Cateau-Cabresis in Apr 1559- England and France agreed that France would have Calais for 8 years, then returned to England (provided England kept the peace)
If France failed to return Calais, agreed to pay 500,000 crowns/£125,000

Intervention in Scotland

June 1559- Henry II of France. Succeeded by Francis II (wife Mary Queen of Scots)
His accession brought strongly Catholic Guise faction to power in France. They sought to use Scotland- sent troops to major fortresses.
John Knox, radical Calvinist leader of Scottish Reformation and his political allies, Lords of the Congregation- seeking power in Edinburgh. Led to conflict with Lords of Congregation requesting assistance from Protestants in England- Elizabeth cautious (didn’t like Knox).
Cecil supported intervention-sympathised with Scottish- England more secure without French in Scotland.
Cecil wanted Mary out-incorporate Scotland within wider ‘imperial’ British State- necessary for survival
Cecil persuaded Elizabeth-said he wld resign if she didnt support him
intervention initially limited to money and armaments but towards end of Dec 1559- navy sent to the Firth of the 4th to stop french reinforcements
Lords of Congregation offered conditional support at Treaty of Berwick in Feb 1560, and in March 1560 an army was sent North- blocked Leith (most of French were here). Siege failed- other circumstances caused French to withdraw (damaged ships, regent Mary of Guise died)
Cecil able to secure favourable terms in Treaty of Edinburgh in July
Lords of Congregation accepted as provisonal conciliar government and with death of Francis, Guises fell from power, Mary not as powerful

Intervention in France

Conflict broke out between Catholics and Protestants in France in Mar 1562
Robert Dudley (later Earl of Leicester), encouraged Elizabeth to put military pressure on French Crown (was in a weakened state)- ensure return of Calais
Elizabeth promised Huguenot leader, Prince of Conde, 6,000 men and a loan of £30,000, with control of Port Le Havre
Huguenot army defeated and Conde captured- Duke of Guise assassinated (Cath.)
Both sides leaderless- French factions agreed to accept peace terms and united to drive English out of Le Havre. English forced to accept unfavourable peace settlement at Treaty of Troyes in 1564
Elizabeth lost indemnity from Cateau-Cambresis, and Calais- permanently (although long term this was advantage- twas expensive)-significant prestige blow

Short term aims

To consolidate her position
Settle religious issues
Pursue a peaceful settlement with the French

When did Mary die

17 Nov 1558

Why was Elizabeth’s succession difficult

series of poor harvests- food was scarce and expensive
rlly bad flu- highest rate of mortality since Black Death (200 years ago)
England fought disastrous war against France- loss of Calais