ELIZABETH CHARACTER AND AIMS
Spec :
- Character and aims. Consolidation of power. Religious settlement + relations
with foreign powers up to 1563
Character and Aims of E :
- Acceded to the throne at age 25, arguably E had been prepped for ruling - she had a
shrewd grasp of political processes and a judge of character.
- Development of her political skills as a result of her early life - dismissal of Thomas
Seymour, her letter to Mary after Wyatt’s rebellion.
- Elizabeth saw herself as the rightful monarch - readily invoked her father’s memory -
no desire to closely involve herself in details of government but interested in decision
making.
E determined to conserve the prerogative of the Crown - her short term aims were to
consolidate position, settle religious issues + pursue peaceful settlement with the French.
Consolidation of power : Mary died 17 November 1558 - William Cecil rode to tell E.
- Despite religious differences - Mary and her councillors recognised Elizabeth as the
rightful successor (confirmed by Philip when sending Count of Feria to visit).
Issues :
- A difficult succession in other respects = bad harvests meant scarcity - suffering from
an epidemic bringing high mortality rates.
- Delicate political and religious context.
- Loss of Calais and disastrous war against France…
- Evident there would be changes to religion, question of the Queen’s marriage.
Key features of the consolidation :
- Acceptance of her succession by Mary’s councillors. Nicholas Heath (Lord C and
Archbishop of York) proclaimed Elizabeth’s succession - not official protocol -
showed that the political elite of nation assented to E’s accession. 9 of Mary’s
councillors assured Elizabeth of loyalty, there was not an attempt to deny her
succession.
- William Cecil - appointed secretary, a vital political partnership.
- E associating herself with the customs of newly aceded monarchs - taking herself to
the Tower from which she emerged
- Proceeded within 2 months to Coronation - 15 Jan 1559
- International confirmation - Count of Feria had visited, tried to broker marriage w
philip - confirmation of spanish support.
THE ELIZABETHAN RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT : a priority - legal status + books used.
,Legal status was not altered with death of Mary - part of Catholic Church of Rome.. no doubt
that CofE would be reinstated with monarch at head, but the nature of the Church was
undetermined
- The elizabethan settlement - embraced 2 x acts of parlaiment + issued a set of royal
injunctions to enforce the acts + a publication of new Book of Common Prayer…
- 39 Articles of religion introduced in 1563
Act of Supremacy - restored the royal supremacy as instigated by HVIII
- Rejected papal supremacy.
- Restored the Reformation Legislation.
- Repealed Heresy law.
- Power of royal visitation of the Church revived - Crown allowed to ‘correct’ ‘amend’.
- Queen described as ‘supreme governor (could be concession to Catholic opinion, or
a reflection of attitudes towards women - ambiguous)
- Oath of Supremacy to be taken by clergymen and Church officials. Those who
refused (eg Marian Bishops) were deprived of posts
Act of Uniformity - single book of common prayer - a modification of Cranmer’s
- Variations in Eucharist were possible, permitting the 1549 and 1552 wording
- Omission of ‘the Black Rubric’ - which explained kneeling at the eucharist.
- Ornaments of the church to be before the passing of Act of Uniformity in 1549 - issue
of contention Eg calvinist clergy see these ornaments as popish.
The royal injunctions 1559 - set of instructions about church services.
- Established protestant character - suppression of superstition, rooting out abuses
- Eucharist at a single table rather than altar - sign of reform
- Removal of superstitious items + Catholic practices (pilgrimages nad candles)
described as works devised by men’s fantasies’ clear attack on catholicism!!
- Parish churches have to purchase English Bible and Paraphrases
Although - also showed E’s personal idiosyncrasies - disapproval of clerical marriage when
she demands a certificate signed by 2 x JP’s….
Significance of the settlement - unclear whether there was pressure coming from radical
protestants or catholics
- Some historians have argued E saw the settlement as final
- THe idea that E wanted the settlement to be firmly protestant - but was an attempt to
accommodate the Conservatives in House of Lords, who showed resistance to
uniformity bills and the restoration of supremacy.
Relations with Foreign powers : 1558 - 1564 :
1559 = Treaty of Cateau- Cambresis
- E came to throne when in conflict with france, which had weakened finances - ended
in loss of Calais. Elizabeth wants to extricate from the war - neither party could
afford.
, - Peace treaty in April 1559 - France to keep Calais for 8 years - then restored to
English control if England kept the peace - France to pay £125,000 if they don’t
return it.
June 1559 - intervention in Scotland
- Death of H2 France - succeeded by Francis II married to MQS - main catholic
claimant. Francis’ ascension brought the Catholic Guise faction to power in France
- Guises - wanted to use Scotland as tool in French policy.
- French troops sent to garrison scottish fortresses - alarmed John Knox, Scottish
Reformation leader - CONFLICT between guises and Lords of Congregation
(protestants)
Elizabeth cautious to intervene in scottish affairs - Cecil wanted to interfere.
- Religious reasons, MQS posed a threat to throne - Cecil persuades E - decision to
intervene - shows that key individual + religious considerations shape a policy
December 1559 - navy sent to Firth of Forth to stop French reinforcements.
Feb 1560 - Treaty of Berwick - support for Lords of Congregation, an army sent in March.
- Blockaded Leith - but failed, other circumstances forced french withdrawal, weather.
July 1560 - Treaty of Edinburgh - cecil securing favourable terms, accepted Lords of the
Congregation as provisional government, guises fell from power, Mary returned to France.
A SUCCESS - Cecil had won, interests of protestants protected - although E still cautious
Intervention in France :
March 1562 : conflict broke out between Catholics and Protestants - Dudley encouraged E
to apply military pressure, to ensure return of Calais - E promised the Huguenot leader, 6000
men and a 30,000 loan + control of Le Havre as security…
- Huguenot army defeated - Conde captured, catholic duke of Guise killed - both
leaderless… French factions accepted peace terms and drove England away.
Treaty of Troyes 1564 : england seeking settlement - E lost the indemnity from Cateau-
Cambresis and lost Calais - significant blow to prestige, exacerbated her caution.
THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY
YEARS
Penry williams - poor harvests, heavy war expenditure, influenza epidemics all presented
problems at least as pressing as religious dissensions.
The im pact of social and economic developments - 58-63 :
- High mortality rates, bad harvests, high taxation - cut in real wages - fear of
instability. Legislation proposed in first parliament to deal with these issues but none
passed into law - central gov left with 2 ineffective mechanisms : instructions to JP#s
and Royal Proclamations
The statute of Artificers 1563 - national attempt to establish rules, compulsory labour,
minimum period for workmen hire, maximum wage rates - BUT lacked enforcement.
