elizabethan england 1570s

• Pope excommunicates Elizabeth


  1570
• Pope excommunicates Elizabeth details

  *Pope Pius V declared that Elizabeth was a heretic. The term later came to mean any opposition to the established religion. and, as such, she was excommunicated by way of a Papal Bull (order)

  *The Bull released Catholics from any loyalty to Elizabeth and called upon them to remove her from the throne and actively encouraged plots against her
• Treason Act passed


  1571
• Treason Act passed details

  *It was now a crime to deny Elizabeth as the queen

  *The beginning of Catholic persecution in law - Elizabeth balances tolerance and punishment
• Vestiarian Controversy


  1571
• Vestiarian Controversy details

  *Walter Strickland, leader of the Puritan group in Parliament, wanted to reform Elizabeth's new Prayer Book and ban clergy vestments (this was known as the Vestiarian Controversy)

  *Elizabeth silenced him by closing Parliament so his ideas could not be discussed
• The Ridolfi Plot


  1571
• The Ridolfi Plot details

  *Roberto Ridolfi, an Italian banker, planned to assassinate Elizabeth and make Mary queen

  *He had the support of King Philip II of Spain, the Duke of Norfolk, and Mary, Queen of Scots herself

  *The plot was uncovered by Elizabeth's advisor, Cecil

  *Ridolfi and the Spanish ambassador were arrested and expelled from the country
• William Cecil receives the title Lord Burghley


  1571
• William Cecil receives the title Lord Burghley details


  *He received this title after uncovering the Ridolfi Plot
• St. Bartholomew's Day massacre

  1572
• St. Bartholomew's Day massacre details

  *This was a widespread slaughter of French Protestants (Huguenots) by Catholics during the French Wars of Religion

  *Confirmed Elizabeth's fear of Catholic extremism and damaged hopes of marrying a French Catholic prince
• Vagabonds Act


  1572
• Vagabonds Act details


  *Harsh punishment (e.g. whipping) for able-bodied beggars (undeserving poor) - also included street actors

  *Local parishes had to care for the deserving poor

  *Early development of the Elizabethan Poor Laws

  *Recognition of growing social issues
• Elizabeth expels sea beggars from English ports

  1572
• Elizabeth expels sea beggars from English ports details

  *Elizabeth ordered Dutch Protestant rebels (Sea Beggars) to leave English ports

  *They then seized Brill in the Netherlands, sparking wider rebellion against Spanish rule

  *Elizabeth indirectly helped the Dutch Revolt against Catholic Spain

  *Beginning of long-term support for Protestant rebels abroad
• Sir Francis Walsingham appointed secretary of state date

  1573
• Sir Francis Walsingham appointed secretary of state date details

  *Held this position until his death in 1590
• Treaty of Nonsuch Negotiations begin

  1573
• Treaty of Nonsuch Negotiations begin details

  *Official treaty signed in 1585, but early diplomatic support for Dutch rebels begins in the early 1570s

  *Elizabeth starts drifting closer to war with Spain by helping Protestants in the Netherlands
• First missionary priests arrive in England

  1574
• First missionary priests arrive in England details

  *Catholic Seminary Priests (also known as missionaries) arrived in England

  *They had been trained at Douai by Cardinal William Allen

  *They hoped to convert the English back to Catholicism

  *Led to growing fear of Catholic underground networks
• Banning of plays within city limits

  1574
• Banning of plays within city limits details

  *The Council of London banned plays within the city limits due to the poor reputation of theatres and the belief of them encouraging crime and disorder

  *By the 1590s all plays had moved south of the River Thames
• Rising number of recusants tracked

  1574
• Rising number of recusants tracked

  *Government reports increase in recusants (Catholics who refused to attend church)

  *Many were wealthy nobles or gentry

  *Elizabeth responded by tightening surveillance

  *Shows rising internal religious tension

  *Justifies later fines and harsher punishments
• Kenilworth entertainment


  1575
• Kenilworth entertainment details


  *Robert Dudley hosted Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle in an extravagant festival

  *One of the most famous royal progresses

  *Dudley may have hoped to win her hand in marriage

  *Symbol of Elizabethan court culture and image-building

  *Reinforced her virgin queen persona and love of spectacle
• Prophesyings


  1575 - 1583
• Prophesyings details


  *Some Puritan clergy started organising prayer meetings known as 'prophesyings' which displeased Elizabeth - in these meetings Puritans took a freer approach to prayer and did not follow what Elizabeth had specified

  *She was concerned ideas might spread that challenged the Religious Settlement. Elizabeth ordered her new Archbishop of Canterbury, Edmund Grindal, to ban the meetings but he protested

  *She suspended him, suggested he resign, and 200 Puritan priests were expelled from their roles - Grindal then apologised and was reinstated
• MP complains about freedom of speech

  1576
• MP complains about freedom of speech details

  *Puritan MP, Peter Wentworth, complained that MPs were not free to discuss whatever they liked

  *Elizabeth sent him to the Tower of London for a month for speaking out
• Peter Wentworth challenges Elizabeth in Parliament

  1576
• Court of requests opened to the poor

  1576
• Court of requests opened to the poor details

  *Created as part of Elizabeth's response to growing poverty

  *Allowed the poor to petition for justice in civil matters.

  *Part of social reform

  *Early recognition of economic inequality
• Peter Wentworth challenges Elizabeth in Parliament details


  *MP Wentworth demanded free speech in Parliament

  *Criticised the Queen for controlling debate, especially over religion and succession

  *Elizabeth imprisoned Wentworth

  *Reinforced her firm control over Parliament
• Drake's circumnavigation of the globe begins

  1577
• Drake's circumnavigation of the globe begins

  *Sir Francis Drake set sail on his global voyage

  *Secretly encouraged by Elizabeth to raid Spanish ships and colonies

  *Boosted English naval prestige and wealth with treasures, getting England out of the debt that Elizabeth inherited (worth around £300000)

  *Established trading connections in Spice Islands, where he acquired valuable goods

  *Provoked Spain and worsened relations by posing as a threat against Spain

  *Francis Drake gained the nickname "El Draque" due to his perceived ruthlessness and success in raiding Spanish treasure ships and settlements

  *Drake knighted on return (1580)
• Elizabeth considers marriage to Duke of Anjou

  1578
• Elizabeth considers marriage to Duke of Anjou

  *Negotiations to marry Francis, Duke of Anjou, a French Catholic

  *Parliament strongly opposed it

  *Elizabeth used marriage talks as diplomacy but never intended to marry

  *Reinforced her image as the "Virgin Queen"