CHARACTER & AIMS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
ELIZABETH I SOCIO-ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
CONSOLIDAT
Financial reforms? Was it an easy or
STABILISING THE CURRENCY: Both Northumberland & MI had sought to do this, but it was EI that actually did it. Early
in the reign (c.1560), a scheme to withdraw debased coins and replacing them with soundly minted coins was EA
announced. Wisely, the government also didn't resort to debasement during the rest of the century. Prices continued - MI's councillors (Catholic) made no attem
defined by HVIII. On the 17th Nov, the Arcbof
to rise but the gov couldn't be held responsible anymore.
Legally, this shouldn't have happened as u
dissolved. SIGNIFICANCE? It showed the political
trans
- MI had recognised E as her successor, as had
POOR RELIEF ELIZABETH I AIMS Feria) to see E b
- Poverty & vagabondage remained widespread, due to population increase, low real
wages, rising prices, harvest failures. - The Royal Supremacy was at the very centre of her political and religious ideals: HA
- Despite religious changed, private benefactors still left alms for the poor, but this she would not tolerate a Church independent from the State. - England was in a precarious position: a ser
was no longer enough. - She took an informed interest in the decision-making process (not as intense as expe
- Cecil was concerned that this rise could pose a serious threat to law & order. HVII) and was determined to preserve the prerogative powers of the Crown. - A flu epidemic had killed many (highe
- There was the idea of the 'deserving poor' and the 'undeserving poor' & after the - Politically England was delicate, having
reformation, alternative forms of relief were necessary. Upon coming to the throne she had 3 SHORT-TERM aims... - Religiously people anticipated protestant cha
- Like earlier ineffective Acts in 1552 & 1555, a further one was passed in 1563 to no 1. To consolidate her position
avail.
2. To settle religious issues (through her Religious Settlement) Ways she consol
3. To pursue a peaceful settlement with the French 1. She showed herself familiar with monarch
National legislation lagged behind local provision and this didn't change until the show herself to her new subjects. (Even her co
1570s when parliamentary legislation began to seriously tackle the problem. - Cont
2. She was wise upon her accession and app
but withheld further appointments, leaving M
retaining an
3. She proceeded quickly (within 2
4. She gained some measure of international
broker a marriage with Philip II (nothing came
Anglo-Spa
ELIZABETH I CHARACTER
1. Skills & interests -
2. Personality - Her succinct dismissal of the executed Thomas Seymour showed
ACCESSION she had learnt from the temporary disgrace of their relationship - wise,
pragmatic. Her clear-headedness under interrogation (Wyatt's Rebellion) &
marking her letter to MI with diagonal lines so it couldn't be doctored showed
the signs of a calm and effective sovereign.
3. Suitability to rule - She acceded to the throne at 25 (significantly younger than
THE STATUTE OF ARTIFICERS (1563) MI). E was better educated, and had a much shrewder grasp of political
- Compulsory labour (esp. at harvest processes.
time) WHAT ENGLAND WAS SHE INHERITING? 5. Sovereignty - She clearly believed she was entitled to rule & readily invoked
- JP's set maximum wage rates 1. Socio-economic - England's economy was at a difficult point. The combination of her father's memory and legacy.
- You can't follow a craft unless you'd bad harvests, high mortality rates, high taxation and a cut in real wages caused 6. Religion - E was a protestant, although she gained a reputation for being a
completed a seven-year fear about social instability. conservative in matters of church ceremony & decoration: she was tolerant
apprenticeship. The local authorities also towards Catholic behaviour.
2. Religion - tried to deal with these issues.
3. Government - Various pieces of legislation were proposed during her 1st The Council of the North tried
to get York & Hull to enforce a
Parliament, but none were passed, so the gov had to rely on issuing royal schedule of wage rates.
proclamations & instructing JP's (both rather ineffective). The gov lacked powers of
enforcement, JP's even struggled to do this in their counties.
4. Foreign relations - Disastrous relations with France, stuck with the humiliation of
having lost Calais at the end of MI's reign.
39 Articles (1563):
RELIG
An attempt to define English Protestantism &
differentiate it from the Catholic Church. They
were broadly supportive of reformed doctrine,
but the Queen didn't share the views of the
convocation & the CofE, although becoming
Calvanist in its official doctrine was 'half-
reformed' in its structures.
The publication of a new Book of Common
Prayer (1563)
Elizabeth's Religious Settlement 1559
- TWO KEY aspects to settling religion:
1. Legal status of the Church
2. Liturgal books used in services
This shouldn't have worked for 1. There was never any doubt that the Church's ties with Rome would be severed & the CofE reinstated
them, but it did. Luck! What was in doubt was the nature of this CofE. Whether it would be an...
'Anglo-Catholic' Church (Catholic doctrines & practices, but one that rejected papal
supremacy)
SCOTLAND A moderate Protestant Church (similar to that implied by Act of Uniformity 1549)
A more radically evangelical Church (Act of Uniformity 1552).
What was the state of Anglo-Scottish relations upon E's accession?
After the failure of the 'rough-wooing' under Evi, and ending war with Scotland, under MI Anglo-Scottish relations had - The Religious Settlement created a 'via media' (middle way) between Catholicism & Protestantism,
been quite docile, with the rise of the Scottish Reformation and EI as a Protestant monarch no immediate conflict was established through two Acts of Parliament:
obvious to arise. However, the threat to England of French control in Scotland & the 'auld alliance' was still strong & this 1. Act of Supremacy 1559:
fear caused issues again. Abolished the papal supremacy in law, establishing royal supremacy again (as est. under Hviii), but define
E as Supreme Governor rather than Supreme Head of the CofE.
SIDE NOTE:
What happened? John Knox was a raging
It also restored the Reformation legislation under Hviii, repealed the heresy law under MI, revived the
- Problems emerged after Henry II of France death in 1559. He was succeeded by his son Francis II and his wife Mary, misogynist, who thought powers of royal visitation of the Church (Hviii) to correct errors, heresies & abuses. An oath of supremac
Queen of Scots (main Catholic claimant to the English throne).
female rule was was to be taken by clergymen & church officials (most Marian bishops didn't & were deprived of their
repugnant to nature. posts).
