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5.the Elizabethan Settlement and Its Challenges
5.the Elizabethan Settlement and Its Challenges
Marital Diplomacy I
Society uncomfortable w/ woman w/ no man
o Succession issue
o England needs friends
Lots of potential grooms; foreign, domestic; RC or PROT
o Habsburg Archduke Charles of Styria, King Charles 9 FR, King Erik 14 Sweden
o Earl of Arundel, Sir William Pickering
o P2 proposed after decent interval – wanted alliance & no EN friendship w/ FR
Eliz didn’t like Mary’s loveless, unpopular marriage
Eliz attracted to someone else – Dudley
“Sweet Robin” – already married to Amy nee Robsart, d. 1560 @ bottom stairs
o Rejected, breast cancer, probably accident or suicide (foul play?)
o Cecil opposed 66 repudiated “I will have but one mistress, and no master!”
o Remained favorite until d. 1588
PARL, PC, people urge marriage
o Eliz wants to use as diplo trump card or bait for peaceful, inexpensive alliance
o Thru 1st ½ reign, entertained stream FR, GERM suitors
Knew she could only play hand once
Freedom to maneuver for self & country gone w/ marriage –
Preferred to play the game
o Never married: virtue of singleness by 80s: embrace “Virgin Queen”
Wed to country
Referred to subjects 99: “all my husbands, my good people”
Affection for her people – common touch
Cross-country progresses & open chair in chaise lounges
Celebtrated in art as people’s bride & goddess
o Virgin Queen replaces Virgin Mary
o Softer, gentler female face of power
o Gloriana above faction, impartial lover – available for veneration
o Ambiguous sentence from 49 BCP (transubstantiation?) – “The Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ”
63: new Treason Act – capital crime to support pope or twice refuse Oath of Allegiance
o 63: 39 Articles adopted by Convocation, law statute in 71
o Protestant (even Calvinist), predestination, denounced Purgatory & sacrifice mass
o Enforced by Episcopal hierarchy w/ colorful vestments
o Most seem to accept compromise
Vast majority by 80s, except for 2 groups
1559: pope refused to sign Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis (peace b/w EN, FR, SP) b/c of recognition of Eliz
o Keep hope of denounce as heretic & dissolve allegiance
o Explains not too PROT & playing w/ RC diplo marriage
Prevent papal condemnation
Navy in decay, no army, financial mess
Marital Diplomacy II
Cecil party: England not ready financially or military in 1570s for war vs. SP
o Prepare Navy
o Opposed by Leicester
1) Eliz toned down Dutch & pirate support
2) 70s, 80s: revive marriage talks – most serious w/ Francois, duke of Alencon & Anjou (H3 bro)
o 1579, 1581-2: Visit England
o Eliz claims in love in 1579 (w/ idea of marriage?)
“my ape” and “my frog”
By mid-1580s too unpopular to marry RC
o FR also too weak for much aid
o SP growing – take PORT in 80, William of Orange d. 1584
Parma offensive 1585
Eliz’s hand forced – Leicester to Neth w/ 6-7000 troops
This war was the greatest challenge to the Tudor throne