Elizabeth

Act 1: Queen, Kingdom, and Religion (1558–1569)

Theme: A young, illegitimate queen takes power in a divided, bankrupt nation surrounded by foreign threats.

1. Elizabeth’s Accession & Problems in 1558

In 1558, 25-year-old Elizabeth I inherited a country in turmoil following the death of her Catholic half-sister, Mary I:

Legitimacy & Gender: Many Catholics viewed Elizabeth as illegitimate because Henry VIII had divorced Catherine of Aragon to marry Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn. Furthermore, 16th-century society believed women were too weak to rule alone.

Financial Weakness: The Crown was £300,000 in debt (a massive sum at the time), and selling off royal land was reducing long-term income.

Foreign Threats: England was at war with France and had lost its last French territory, Calais. France and Scotland had a strong Catholic alliance (the Auld Alliance), made worse by Mary, Queen of Scots (a Catholic with a strong claim to the English throne) being married to the French heir.

2. The Religious Settlement (1559)

England had switched back and forth between Catholicism (Henry VIII / Mary I) and Protestantism (Edward VI). Elizabeth was a Protestant and wanted to create a "middle way" (via media) to stabilize the kingdom.

Act of Supremacy (1559): Made Elizabeth Supreme Governor (rather than "Head") of the Church of England to appease Catholics who recognized the Pope as spiritual head. All clergy had to swear an oath of loyalty to her.

Act of Uniformity (1559): Set out the appearance of churches and services:

Protestant features: Services and the Bible were in English; the Book of Common Prayer was introduced.

Catholic concessions: Priests wore traditional vestments; some decorations and crucifixes were allowed.

Royal Injunctions (1559): Instructions enforcing the Settlement. Clergy were required to teach royal supremacy and report those who refused to attend church (Recusants, who were fined 12d for missing services).

3. Challenges to the Religious Settlement

The Puritan Threat: Extreme Protestants (Puritans) wanted to purify the Church of all Catholic practices:

Vestment Controversy: Puritans refused to wear the mandated vestments (surplices). By 1566, Archbishop Parker dismissed 37 London priests for refusing.

Crucifix Controversy: Puritans opposed crucifixes as idols. Elizabeth compromised by removing crucifixes from parish churches, though keeping one in her private chapel.

The Catholic Threat & Mary, Queen of Scots:

Papal/Foreign Challenge: Initially, the Pope did not excommunicate Elizabeth, hoping she would convert back. However, France and Spain posed a constant risk of Catholic invasion.

Arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots (1568): Mary fled Scotland after Scottish Protestant lords rebelled against her. Her arrival in England created a massive danger for Elizabeth: Mary was Catholic, legitimate, and had a blood claim to the English crown. Elizabeth placed Mary under house arrest.

Act 2: Threats at Home and Abroad (1569–1588)

Theme: Catholic plots to replace Elizabeth lead to war with Spain and Mary’s execution.

1. Catholic Revolts & Plots

The Revolt of the Northern Earls (1569):

The Plan: Catholic nobles (Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland) planned to free Mary, Queen of Scots, marry her to the Protestant Duke of Norfolk, and restore Catholicism.

Outcome: Elizabeth sent an army of 14,000 men. The revolt collapsed, and 450 rebels were executed.

Significance: Showed Mary was a dangerous figurehead for Catholic rebellion.

Excommunication & Foreign Plots:

In 1570, Pope Pius V issued a Papal Bull excommunicating Elizabeth and calling on Catholics to depose her. This made English Catholics choose between their Queen and their religion.

Ridolfi Plot (1571): Roberto Ridolfi planned a Spanish invasion to depose Elizabeth and marry Mary to the Duke of Norfolk. Discovered by Walsingham's spies; Duke of Norfolk was executed in 1572.

Throckmorton Plot (1583): Francis Throckmorton organized a French Catholic invasion funded by Spain and the Pope. Discovered by Sir Francis Walsingham; Throckmorton was executed; heightened fears of foreign invasion.

Babington Plot (1586): Anthony Babington sent coded letters directly to Mary regarding Elizabeth's assassination. Walsingham intercepted and decoded the letters, securing direct proof of Mary's treason.

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1587): With undeniable proof from the Babington Plot, Elizabeth signed Mary’s death warrant. Mary was executed at Fotheringhay Castle in February 1587. This removed a Catholic alternative to Elizabeth's throne, but enraged King Philip II of Spain.

2. War with Spain & The Spanish Armada (1585–1588)

Causes of Conflict with Spain:

Religious Differences: Protestant England vs. Catholic superpower Spain.

Privateering & Drake: English "sea dogs" like Francis Drake raided Spanish treasure ships in the New World with Elizabeth's secret backing (such as Drake's raid on Cadiz in 1587 - "Singing the King of Spain's beard").

The Netherlands Crisis: The Dutch Protestants rebelled against Spanish rule. Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch (1585), sending an army led by the Earl of Leicester to assist the Dutch—an explicit act of war against Spain.

The Spanish Armada (1588):

Philip's Plan: A fleet of 130 ships commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia would sail through the English Channel, pick up 27,000 veteran troops led by the Duke of Parma in the Netherlands, and invade England.

Sequence of Events: Armada sailed up Channel -> Anchored at Calais -> Hellburners (Fireships) scattered fleet -> Battle of Gravelines -> Blown around Scotland.

Why the Armada Failed:

1. English Tactics & Ships: English ships were faster, more maneuverable, and equipped with long-range cannons that could be reloaded quickly.

2. Fireships at Calais: The English sent burning ships ("hellburners") into the anchored Spanish fleet, forcing them to cut their anchors in panic.

3. Battle of Gravelines (Aug 1588): English ships battered the scattered Spanish fleet in close-range gun battles.

4. Poor Communication & Weather: Medina Sidonia and Parma could not communicate easily. Strong winds ("the Protestant Wind") blew the remaining Spanish ships north around Scotland and Ireland, where dozens wrecked.

Act 3: Elizabethan Society, Exploration, and Settlement (1558–1588)

Theme: A golden age of culture and global expansion, offset by rising poverty at home.

1. Education, Leisure, and Poverty

Education & Leisure:

Education: Grammar schools expanded for wealthy boys (curriculum focused on Latin and Greek); literacy rates rose slightly, but girls and poor boys remained uneducated.

Leisure: Included theater (Shakespeare, Globe Theatre), bear-baiting, hawking, and football (a violent street game for lower classes).

The Problem of Poverty: Poverty grew dramatically due to population growth (rising from 3 million to 4 million), bad harvests, inflation, and enclosure (fencing off common land for sheep farming instead of crop growing).

Categorization and the Poor Laws:

Elizabethans divided the poor into two distinct groups:

The Impotent / Deserving Poor: Unable to work due to age, illness, or disability; deserving of charity/relief.

The Idle / Able-Bodied Poor: Capable of work but refused or roamed looking for work ("vagabonds"); treated harshly with whipping, branding, or prison.

Statute of Artificers (1563): Fined those who refused to pay poor rates.

Vagabonds Act (1572): Severe punishments for vagrants; established a local poor rate to help the impotent poor.

Poor Relief Act (1576): Required justices of the peace to provide raw materials (wool, hemp) to put the able-bodied poor to work.

2. Exploration and Colonization

Francis Drake’s Circumnavigation (1577–1580):

Key Achievements: Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe aboard the Golden Hind.

Impact: Brought back £400,000 in Spanish treasure, established new trade links, and demonstrated English naval skill, boosting national prestige.

Walter Raleigh and the Colonization of Virginia:

Sir Walter Raleigh was granted a royal patent to colonize land in North America, naming it Virginia in honor of Elizabeth (the "Virgin Queen").

Attempted Settlement (Roanoke, 1585–1587):

First attempt (1585): Failed due to lack of supplies, poor timing for crops, and hostile relations with local Native Americans; colonists returned with Drake.

Second attempt (1587): Led by John White; the entire colony vanished without a trace by 1590 (the "Lost Colony").

Significance: Laid the groundwork for future English colonization of America despite its immediate failure.

Exam Tip: Paper 2 Question Types (Elizabeth)

Q1: Describe two features of... (4 marks): Write 2 short points with a detail for each ("One feature was... [Detail]").

Q2: Explain why... (12 marks): Write 3 detailed paragraphs. State a clear reason in each paragraph (for example, "One reason war broke out with Spain was..."), include specific evidence, and link back to the question.

Q3: "Statement" - How far do you agree? (16 marks + 4 SPaG): Write a balanced essay across 4 paragraphs plus a conclusion. Paragraphs 1 and 2 cover arguments agreeing with the statement, Paragraph 3 covers arguments disagreeing (alternative factors), and the conclusion provides a clear final judgment.