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Elizabeth I was reluctant to sign Mary's death warrant. Eventually, it was presented to her in a large pile of papers that she signed without reading. On 8 February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle. She wore a blood red bodice, symbolising Catholic martyrdom. James VI had Fotheringhay destroyed after he became King of England, where he was known as James I. He united the two nations, and had Mary and Elizabeth buried side by side in Westminster Abbey.

This clip could be used to introduce an analysis of the relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Pupils could be asked to consider why Elizabeth was unwilling to sign Mary's death warrant, and why James VI / I felt he should bury the bodies of his mother and Elizabeth side by side when he became king.

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The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots - GCSE History - BBC Bitesize

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Elizabeth I was reluctant to sign Mary's death warrant. Eventually, it was presented to her in a large pile of papers that she signed without reading. On 8 February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle. She wore a blood red bodice, symbolising Catholic martyrdom.

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The imprisonment and execution of Mary Queen of Scots

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The imprisonment and execution of Mary Queen of Scots

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Neil Oliver describes the events leading up to the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. Imprisoned and having lost everything, Mary decided to join a plot against Elizabeth I. When this was discovered, she was tried for treason and sentenced to death. Her son, James found himself in the difficult position of trying to save his mother, but without losing his assumed place to succeed to the English throne.

Students could be invited to consider the events of the Babington plot and to discuss this with reference to the term of the crime of treason. This could be extended into a consideration of whether it was acceptable to charge a member of the royal family with treason. Students could also use this clip to examine and evaluate the difficulties faced by James I of Scotland in balancing the need to extricate his mother from possible execution versus his need to remain on good terms with Elizabeth.

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Imprisonment and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots - GCSE History - BBC Bitesize

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Neil Oliver describes the events leading up to the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. Imprisoned and having lost everything, Mary decided to join a plot against Elizabeth I. When this was discovered, she was tried for treason and sentenced to death.

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Kenilworth Castle - marriage and succession

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Kenilworth Castle - marriage and succession

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As Elizabeth I's spymaster, Francis Walsingham was determined to bring about Mary's downfall. In 1586, he found Mary was corresponding with a group of Catholics lead by Anthony Babington. The group were plotting the death of Elizabeth, and Mary's involvement would lead to her execution.

Students could do some online research about Francis Walsingham and his role supporting Elizabeth I. Students could also find out about the Babington Code and see if they can work out what the plotters were attempting to do.

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Mary, Queen of Scots plots against Elizabeth I - GCSE History - BBC Bitesize

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As Elizabeth I's spymaster, Francis Walsingham was determined to bring about Mary's downfall. In 1586, he found Mary was corresponding with a group of Catholics lead by Anthony Babington. The group were plotting the death of Elizabeth, and Mary's involvement would lead to her execution.

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From allies to enemies: Elizabeth I and Philip II

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From allies to enemies: Elizabeth I and Philip II

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During the summer of 1588, England prepared to face the full might of the Spanish Empire, its most dangerous foe. The indomitable Spanish Armada was sailing toward Albion's shores, carrying soldiers set to invade. Anticipating the attack, Queen Elizabeth I prepared to address her troops stationed at Tilbury Fort in England. Accounts describe her like a goddess of war: white plumes in her hair, a metal cuirass over white gown, and astride a warhorse as she delivered a rousing speech to her men: "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman," she said, "but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that . . . Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm."

The ultimate defeat of the Spanish would cement Elizabeth's position as a formidable leader of a world power, strong enough to rival Philip II of Spain. But Philip had once been Elizabeth's family, then a potential mate and uneasy ally. Elizabeth and Philip-these two powerful people-would begin their relationship peacefully, even warmly, but they would become enemies, facing off in a battle of empires and faiths that would last until death.

An Unlikely Queen

The future Queen Elizabeth I was conceived in controversy, a beginning which perhaps forged her strength and skill. Her father, Henry VIII, divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and broke with the Catholic Church, to wed Anne Boleyn, who would bear Elizabeth. The birth did not please Elizabeth's father, who had hoped for a son and heir. Anne Boleyn soon fell from favor and lost her head, as Henry's wandering eye sought a new queen, one who would give him a son. He eventually found one.

When Henry's son Edward was born, Elizabeth became third in line to the throne behind her new half brother and her older half sister, Mary, the Catholic daughter of Henry's first marriage. After Henry died in 1547, Edward, age nine, succeeded him, but the young Protestant king's reign was cut short by illness. Mary took the throne in 1553, to the delight of her Catholic subjects and the shock of Protestants. Throughout the religious turmoil of Henry's reign, Mary had remained a devout Catholic, and now she sought a husband so that she could produce a Catholic heir for England. She found her match in the 27-year-old prince Philip of Spain, son of the Holy Roman Emperor and heir to the Spanish Empire. If the two produced a successor, the Protestant Elizabeth would never take the throne.

Mary's pending marriage was unpopular, and in March 1554, English Protestants rebelled. They hoped to overthrow Mary and place the Protestant Elizabeth on the throne. The rebellion was quashed, the conspirators executed, and Elizabeth imprisoned. Claiming she had no involvement in the conspiracy, Elizabeth was nonetheless held in the Tower of London for two months before being placed under house arrest in Woodstock Palace, some 75 miles to the north.

Four months later, a Spanish fleet of 180 ships carrying 10,000 soldiers and Mary's groom arrived in England. Although the man who stepped onto the quay at Southampton was an ardent Roman Catholic, Philip opposed attempts to put Elizabeth on trial because he did not want to stir Protestant ire. His intervention saved Elizabeth, a move he might have later come to regret.

All in the Family

Six years older than the intelligent, vivacious Elizabeth, Phillip had come grudgingly to England to marry Mary. He routinely referred to his bride as "my aunt," since she was not only 11 years his senior but also the daughter of his great aunt, Catherine of Aragon. Like most royal marriages, the union with Mary was for power, not love.

Philip's father, Charles V, ruled an empire that stretched from Spain to Holland to Naples and the New World. Perhaps the most powerful man in Europe, Charles wanted to secure an alliance with England, partially motivated by the fact that their two enemies-France and Scotland-were about to ally through marriage. To bolster Philip's standing, Charles bestowed control of the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily to Philip in 1554.

Many of Mary's subjects were not pleased that Henry VIII had separated the church in England from Rome after the pope had refused to sanction his divorce. During the reign of Edward VI, England moved further away from Catholicism, laying the foundations of a Protestant reformation. As king consort of England, Philip, Mary believed, would soon have helped reverse that course.

In her quest to return England to the Catholic faith, the queen earned the nickname Bloody Mary for persecuting heretics and burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake. Mary adored her husband, who was described by one observer as having a "perfectly" proportioned body and "well-favored" face, "with a broad forehead, and grey eyes, straight-nosed and manly countenance . . . and of most gentle nature." Despite her happiness, Mary endured several false pregnancies and never had any children. If she had, the restoration of Catholicism in England might have been a success.

Because of Mary's brutality, Philip grew unpopular in England, and murder plots were hatched against him. Luckily for him, he spent little time there, preferring his father's realms in Holland. He was there when he heard that Mary was dying in 1558. His reaction was as pragmatic as his marriage had been. While the French king denounced Elizabeth as "a bastard" who was unfit to rule, he offered her his support as heiress. By the end of the year she was England's queen.

Philip the Prudent

In many ways these two young monarchs were remarkably similar. Learned and with lively minds, they dressed simply-at this stage of their lives-as required by both Protestants and Catholics alike. They shared favorite pastimes-hunting, hawking, and riding. But when Philip asked to marry Elizabeth, claiming he would take no less care of the affairs of "the sister whom I love so much, than I take of my own," his reasons were strategic. After a long engagement, the heir to the French throne, Francis, had married Elizabeth's Catholic cousin Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, cementing an alliance that threatened Spain as much as England. An Anglo-Spanish alliance seemed prudent.

Philip insisted, however, that Elizabeth first abandon her faith-a step too far for the young English queen. Perhaps that is why she stalled and ultimately turned him down, making the Spaniard the first of many failed candidates to attempt to marry the new monarch. They nevertheless remained on good terms, but their relationship would deteriorate in years to come.

Both Philip and Elizabeth believed that monarchs were chosen by God. That God, however, was worshipped differently. As Protestants and Catholics fought all across Europe, the conflict would shape their relationship. At first Philip was upset with the pope for excommunicating Elizabeth in 1570. But in time his religious instincts won out against other political considerations. He had always been a devout Catholic, with a messianic belief that the world must be cleansed of heresy before the Second Coming.

Changing Sides

After Philip's father abdicated in 1556, he split his empire and handed his son control of Spain, as well as his territories in the Americas and the Netherlands. Spain was Europe's dominant power, and now Philip II was its leader. As Spain's might grew, though, so did its enemies. Chief among them were Protestants, France, and the Ottoman Turks. A notorious micro-manager, Philip attempted to handle these myriad threats himself. With bullion ships from the New World flooding Spain with gold and silver, Philip could, in the short term, pay for armies. But eventually even his finances grew strained. To raise funds, Philip levied new taxes on the Dutch in the 1560s, which would spark a rebellion fueled by religious edicts and laws against Protestants. Philip and his subordinates were attempting to defend the Catholic faith from heresies and became entangled in a protracted war as the Netherlands began to revolt. Queen Elizabeth at first watched this conflict from the sides, reluctant to involve her country in the affairs of another.

In 1571 Philip masterminded a crushing defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the naval Battle of Lepanto. That same year, the Spanish emperor changed his position on Protestant England. He instructed his finest general, the Duke of Alba, to invade England with an army of just 6,000 men. When the duke told him this was lunacy, Philip insisted that it was God's will. He had already, with Mary, restored England to Catholicism once. Now he would do it again. Elizabeth held England through "tyranny," he claimed, while Mary Queen of Scots was the "true and legitimate successor." Her French husband had died in 1560, ending the Scottish-French alliance. Philip began to see Mary Stuart as a potential Catholic replacement for Elizabeth on the English throne.

"His majesty is hot for this venture," wrote one Spanish adviser, amazed that, even after Elizabeth discovered this dramatic change in policy, Philip insisted on sticking by it. The invasion attempt did not happen this time, but Spain and England had become open enemies.

The Queen's Challenge

Elizabeth maintained a firm grip on her kingdom through her mastery of creating a charismatic public image. Her colorful language, biting wit, and willingness to display herself to her people-often after delving into a vast wardrobe, replete with symbols of power-combined to make her both popular and revered. She boasted of her "mere English" bloodline and soon became known as Good Queen Bess. She played both domestic magnates and foreign allies against one another by dangling in front of them the possibility of marriage, dazzling them with her command of languages, deep culture, and ability to compose a well-constructed sonnet.

Abroad, however, she could not compete with Philip's growing global empire. Although England's naval power grew under Elizabeth, her navy was still heavily dependant on merchant and private ships to defend England's shores. The key expeditions of Elizabeth's reign, such as Martin Frobisher's adventures in Greenland and Canada, and Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580, were remarkable achievements, but they did not present a threat to Spain. Philip II's empire could count on ports in the Americas, while England had none. In the 1580s Humphrey Gilbert's attempt to set up an English colony on Newfoundland failed, as did Sir Walter Raleigh's attempt on Roanoke Island (North Carolina).

Faced with the imbalance, the queen found other ways to challenge Spain. One of the most successful was piracy, which took Spain's wealth and gave it to England. Many of the greatest pirates of the age were English, hardened sea dogs like John Hawkins and Drake. Elizabeth encouraged them, invested in their ventures, and made money for herself as they sacked Spain's Caribbean outposts and raided its treasure fleets carrying wealth from the New World.

In 1584 Elizabeth changed her low-key stance toward the conflict in the Netherlands and took an active role in backing Philip's opponents. The queen set into motion a plan "for the annoying of the king of Spayn [sic]," which-after another murder plot against her was discovered-turned into full-scale aggression. Not only did she back the rebels and fund them with her pirate booty, in 1585 the queen also sent Drake with a fleet on a 10-day ravaging of Spain's northwest coastal region of Galicia-taking hostages, stealing booty, and desecrating churches. Drake would carry out a similar raid on Cádiz two years later, famously "singeing [sic] the king of Spain's beard."

Elizabeth had roused a dangerous beast. Two weeks after Drake's raid on Galicia, Philip decided to strike back with greater force. Combining a talent for bold gestures with obsessive micro-management, he resurrected the Enterprise of England. "It's ten o'clock and I have not dined or lifted my head all day," he complained at one stage. He personally oversaw a campaign unlike any seen before: 130 ships carrying 30,000 troops from Iberia and ferrying 30,000 more into England from the Netherlands. Through his attack, he sought to seize England and restore it to Catholicism.

Attack of the Armada

In May 1588 his "great and joyous Armada" (later sarcastically dubbed "invincible" by his enemies) sailed from Lisbon-which had become part of his empire, along with the rest of Portuguese lands, seven years earlier. The plan was brilliant, involving the biggest armed fleet ever seen in European waters, but the plan had a crucial weakness. For while Philip set rules to prevent drunkenness, gambling, and sodomy in his fleet, he paid little attention as to how his two massive forces should coordinate. The Armada was first sighted off the English coast on July 29, forming a crescent-shaped battle order three miles wide. Hilltop fires had been readied to signal its approach and, as columns of smoke rose along the coast, the smaller, nimble boats commanded by Drake harassed the powerful Spanish fleet.

The Armada anchored off the French port of Calais on August 6, with the landing ground on the English coastline in Kent also in view. The army it had to help transport was just 25 miles away at Dunkirk, but it had not been informed and was not yet ready. While the fleet held its position for 36 hours, two things happened: First, it was attacked by eight English fireboats filled with burning pitch and brimstone (sulphur); then, the weather changed. After the Spanish captains had slipped their anchors to avoid the fireboats, they found themselves unable to turn back due to a violent storm. Using the available winds-they headed home on the only path available: a long, dangerous route around Scotland and Ireland. By the time they limped back to Spain, half of the Armada's men were dead and more than half of the ships were lost.

It appeared that Philip's God had betrayed him. His enemies taunted him, proclaiming that a "Protestant wind" had driven the Armada away. "God breathed and they were scattered," boasted the special medal struck by Elizabeth to commemorate the victory. Spain went into mourning. Was "the greatest disaster to strike Spain in 600 years" (as one contemporary complained) a sign that it had fallen out of favor with God?

Spain's empire was still enormous, but this was a turning point. Over the next decade, the two monarchs continued to send fleets against one another, with Cádiz raided again in 1596. Philip's wars, meanwhile, bankrupted his country, and he defaulted on his debt. By the time he died in 1598, Spain was suing for peace with many of its enemies. Before her death in 1603, Elizabeth was hailed as Gloriana, who had wed herself not to a man but to her country. England's enmity with Spain ended with the deaths of Philip and Elizabeth, when King James I-son of Mary Queen of Scots-signed a peace treaty in 1604 bringing more than 15 years of conflict to a close.

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From allies to enemies: Queen Elizabeth and King Philip

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During the summer of 1588, England prepared to face the full might of the Spanish Empire, its most dangerous foe. The indomitable Spanish Armada was sailing toward Albion's shores, carrying soldiers set to invade. Anticipating the attack, Queen Elizabeth I prepared to address her troops stationed at Tilbury Fort in England.

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What was life like in Elizabeth's Court?

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What was life like in Elizabeth's Court?

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Here he discovers that appearance played a vital role at court helping to denote a person's social status, and whether they were of sufficient importance and wealth to be granted an audience with the Queen.

He then retraces Elizabeth's royal progresses around the country and uncovers evidence that increasing numbers of people were becoming richer, and using their new found wealth to build their own manor houses.

A visit from the monarch and her vast entourage would be a mixed blessing, the ultimate privilege and confirmation of the highest social status, but also ruinously expensive.

This short film is from the BBC series, Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England.

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History KS3: What was life like in the court of Elizabeth I?

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Here he discovers that appearance played a vital role at court helping to denote a person's social status, and whether they were of sufficient importance and wealth to be granted an audience with the Queen.

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Following the death of Francis, Mary returned to Scotland. Although she publicly supported and relied upon Protestant nobles, privately Mary insisted on attending Catholic mass. John Knox was suspicious that she was merely biding her time before attempting to make Scotland a Catholic nation again.

Students could pretend that they are John Knox and write a letter to the Protestant nobles, explaining his fears regarding Mary's plans to convert Scotland to Catholicism.

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Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland - GCSE History - BBC Bitesize

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Following the death of Francis, Mary returned to Scotland. Although she publicly supported and relied upon Protestant nobles, privately Mary insisted on attending Catholic mass. John Knox was suspicious that she was merely biding her time before attempting to make Scotland a Catholic nation again.

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British Library resources - what can we learn from sources about the English defeat of the Spanish.

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Background

England and Spain had actually been allies for much of the 16th century. But that had changed by the 1580s and relations had become outwardly hostile.

Neither monarch particularly trusted the other. Philip II of Spain was unpopular in England as the former husband of Mary I, a champion of Catholicism and head of the most powerful country in Europe. Elizabeth was considered untrustworthy and a heretic by Philip. However, they tolerated each other provided neither posed too much threat to the other's interests.

In 1568, the Spanish invaded the Netherlands. This became a great problem for the English because Elizabeth, as a Protestant monarch felt bound to help the Dutch. It was also politically expedient to stop the Spanish army from taking over the Netherlands because from here, it would be easy for them to invade England.

By 1584, the Spanish, under the excellent military leadership of the Duke of Parma, seemed to be winning complete control. In 1585, the situation was so grave that Elizabeth felt compelled to send English troops and a large amount of money to support the Dutch rebels. She also sent an expedition of 25 ships with Sir Francis Drake to attack Spanish ports in the Caribbean.

The two countries were now drifting towards war.

The Building of the Great Armada

By late 1585, Philip II decided on his invasion plans. His project was called 'the Enterprise of England'. The Spanish army and its commander, the Duke of Parma were in the Netherlands. Philip planned to send a huge fleet to the Netherlands, meet up with Parma and ferry the army to England.

The Armada was a hugely ambitious project. At 130 ships it was the largest fleet ever known. It cost two-thirds of the entire revenue from the Spanish Empire to build. Contributions - both in money and men- came from all over the empire.

But its mission was plagued by huge practical problems. How could the fleet meet and load up with Parma's army, when there was no suitable deep water port in Spanish control? How could they avoid attacks from the Dutch rebels? How could they sail the channel avoiding English attack? Many of Philip's advisers including the Duke of Parma opposed the expedition, but the king, who felt he had a just cause, was determined.

The Armada was delayed in 1587 by an English raid on the Spanish port of Cadiz which succeeded in destroying or capturing 35 ships in the harbour. But it set sail in summer of 1588 under the command of the hardworking but inexperienced Duke of Medina Sidonia.

The Armada in Action

In July 1588, the Armada sailed up the English Channel in a defensive crescent formation. They were spotted and followed by the English fleet which had set off from Plymouth. The English hoped to block the Spanish attempts to meet up with Parma or at least destroy as much of the Armada as possible.

There were a number of skirmishes between the two fleets off Portland and the Isle of Wright, which caused little damage to the Armada. The Armada continued up the Channel until Medina Sidonia received word that Parma's army was not yet ready. On 7th August, he decided to anchor the fleet at Calais and wait.

This left the Armada dangerously exposed. The English sent fire ships into the Spanish fleet, which caused chaos, with many ships having to cut anchor and abandon their crescent formation. The next day on 8th August, seeing their chance, the English attacked and the final battle was fought off Gravelines. The English fleet, under experienced commanders such as Sir Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and John Frobisher, had smaller, faster vessels and were able to out manoeuvre and probably out fire the Spanish ships.

The remnants of the Armada regrouped. Cut off from their route back to Spain by the English fleet, they were forced to make the treacherous journey north around Scotland and Ireland. They lost more ships and men, before arriving back to Spain.

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England and Spain had actually been allies for much of the 16th century. But that had changed by the 1580s and relations had become outwardly hostile. Neither monarch particularly trusted the other. Philip II of Spain was unpopular in England as the former husband of Mary I, a champion of Catholicism and head of the most powerful country in Europe.

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In 1595, Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh set sail for South America, hoping to discover El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. The epic voyage took nearly two months. Now the Serious Explorers, a team of children from the UK, are following in the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh to find out about the challenges he faced, and the amazing landscapes he discovered. The children learn that four hundred years ago, navigating across the oceans took great skill using special tools like an astrolabe. For the Serious Explorers, using the latest satellite navigation tools makes navigation easier. Life on board a ship in Raleigh's day was hard and dangerous. The sailors spent many weeks at sea, lived in incredibly cramped conditions and risked dying from diseases such as scurvy. The Serious Explorers spent just four days at sea but spotting land is a welcome sight for them too.

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Expedition to Guyana - navigating an ocean journey

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In 1595, Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh set sail for South America, hoping to discover El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. The epic voyage took nearly two months. Now the Serious Explorers, a team of children from the UK, are following in the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh to find out about the challenges he faced, and the amazing landscapes he discovered.

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A detailed overview of Elizabeth's reign

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A detailed overview of Elizabeth's reign

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Elizabeth - The Virgin Queen - Part 2 of 4 (British History Documentary) | Timeline

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Quick recap of problem present by Mary Queen of Scots

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Quick recap of problem present by Mary Queen of Scots

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On arrival in England, Mary wrote to Elizabeth to help her return to Scotland and re-establish herself as queen. Elizabeth decided that Mary was too dangerous to set free, so she stalled for time, only agreeing to meet Mary once she had been cleared of allegations about her involvement in Darnley's murder.

Students can list the ways in which Queen Elizabeth I dealt with Mary Queen of Scots and why she thought her to be such a problem. Could be used to generate a 'What happens next' task with students producing a timeline of events that led to Mary's execution in order to pinpoint key turning points in their relationship. The clip can lead to a deeper exploration of the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth.

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Mary Queen of Scots in England - GCSE History - BBC Bitesize

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On arrival in England, Mary wrote to Elizabeth to help her return to Scotland and re-establish herself as queen. Elizabeth decided that Mary was too dangerous to set free, so she stalled for time, only agreeing to meet Mary once she had been cleared of allegations about her involvement in Darnley's murder.

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Armada 12 Days To Save England (2015) Season 1 Episode 1

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Miranda Kaufmann on Black Faces of Tudor England

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Miranda Kaufmann on Black Faces of Tudor England

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To what extent was life changing in Elizabethan England

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To what extent was life changing in Elizabethan England

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Developments in housing, literature, printing, explor

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His journey starts at the heart of the country in Stratford upon Avon, where the arrival of the humble chimney and mass produced bricks revolutionised house building. It also made comfortable townhouses affordable for the Elizabethan middle classes. This was just as well because the country's population was increasing rapidly. Ian discovers that revolutionary change is not confined to house building; printing led to a big increase in literacy levels, while the invention of gunpowder and the compass enabled the Elizabethans to embark on great voyages of exploration. The most famous adventurers included Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, who brought back untold riches and new plants and animals, which had a profound effect on everyday life in sixteenth century.

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To what extent was life changing in Elizabethan England?

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His journey starts at the heart of the country in Stratford upon Avon, where the arrival of the humble chimney and mass produced bricks revolutionised house building. It also made comfortable townhouses affordable for the Elizabethan middle classes. This was just as well because the country's population was increasing rapidly.

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Elizabeth I - Video - KS3 History - BBC Bitesize

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Learn and revise about Elizabeth I with BBC Bitesize KS3 History. Was she a great queen of England or a master of public image?

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Elizabeth tries to keep Protestants and Catholics happy

was brought up a . She realised that religion had caused a lot of problems for England. She tried to find a that both and Protestants could accept:

She called herself 'Supreme Governor', not 'head' of the Church of England.

Church services and the Bible were in English.

Many elements of Catholic services were allowed, including bishops, ordained priests, church decorations, music and colourful robes.

The English prayer book was brought back, but a Latin edition was also printed.

The new prayer book said that Christ was 'really present' in the bread and the wine in the Communion service. This was halfway between Catholic and Protestant beliefs.

There was no question, however, that people could believe what they wanted. The Act of Uniformity (1559) stated that everybody had to attend the Church of England and use the Book of Common Prayer.

She punished the and any Catholics who refused to go to Church of England services. These people were called .

The key to the 'middle way' was that the monarch was responsible for the faith of the state. For Elizabeth, the success of the 'middle way' would be a means to extend her control over the country.

Did Elizabeth change her 'middle way' policy?

Towards the end of her reign, however:

There were plots and against Elizabeth led by Catholics. The leaders of these were executed.

Catholic priests who conducted secret services for Catholics were tortured and executed. Elizabeth executed as many Catholics as Mary burned Protestants.

By the end of Elizabeth's reign, England was firmly a Protestant country.

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The Reformation - Revision 6 - KS3 History - BBC Bitesize

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was brought up a . She realised that religion had caused a lot of problems for England. She tried to find a that both and Protestants could accept: She called herself 'Supreme Governor', not 'head' of the Church of England. Church services and the Bible were in English.

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The significant rise in poverty during the Elizabethan era has caused some historians to question the extent to which her reign was a 'Golden Age'.

Towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, harvests were frequently poor. Jobs were hard to find and food prices rose rapidly. Starvation was a very real fear for the ordinary people of Elizabethan England.

These pressures meant that homelessness increased, and people were forced to migrate across England in search of work. The gentry, nobility and Elizabeth's government became increasingly concerned that these people might turn to crime.

In Elizabethan society, there was not much sympathy for the poor. The Elizabethans classified the poor into the 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor:

The deserving poor might need support as a result of injury, illness, disability or old age.

The undeserving poor were those who were able-bodied but couldn't find work, women who became pregnant outside of marriage or those perceived to waste their money.

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The significant rise in poverty during the Elizabethan era has caused some historians to question the extent to which her reign was a 'Golden Age'. Towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, harvests were frequently poor. Jobs were hard to find and food prices rose rapidly.

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The 'air of freedom' - whilst people of African origin were enslaved elsewhere in the world in Tudor England they were freemen.

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BBC teach consider which people prospered in Elizabethan England

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Who were the rich in Elizabethan England? | History - Elizabethan England

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Shakespeare's World - Timelines.tv History of Britain A08

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What was life like for the rural poor in Elizabethan England?

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Through a journey back in time, we discover that for many Elizabethans living in the countryside life could be very harsh.
Ian Mortimer visits a reconstructed Elizabethan thatched cottage to experience the living conditions for himself.

Inside it is very basic and its inhabitants would have had few possessions.

Society was strictly divided by class, and these people were among the poorest.

They would have earned a meagre living by labouring on nearby farms.

Without growing some of their own food and making their own clothes, life would have been a real struggle for survival.

This short film is from the BBC series, Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England.

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History KS3: What was life like for the rural poor in Elizabethan England?

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Through a journey back in time, we discover that for many Elizabethans living in the countryside life could be very harsh. Ian Mortimer visits a reconstructed Elizabethan thatched cottage to experience the living conditions for himself. Inside it is very basic and its inhabitants would have had few possessions.

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Elizabeth's use of language as propaganda

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Elizabeth's use of language as propaganda

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Exploring how Elizabeth I used language to establish her power in an era of male rule. The Tilbury speech in particular is assessed and a context for it is given. Dr. Amanda Foreman and actress Fiona Shaw dissect the speech for emphasis and meaning. Elizabeth's difficult historical position as a queen in a male dominated society is contrasted with her subtle use of language to make her political points. Her methods are also inventively illustrated through portraits and a visit to Westminster Abbey, linking to more widely known visual aspects of her propaganda.

Student could examine the text to identify where and how Elizabeth addresses attitudes of opposition to female monarchs. They might then compare the speech to the Rainbow portrait (or similar) of Elizabeth, to identify recurring propaganda messages.

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Queen Elizabeth I and her use of language as propaganda - GCSE History - BBC Bitesize

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Exploring how Elizabeth I used language to establish her power in an era of male rule. The Tilbury speech in particular is assessed and a context for it is given. Dr. Amanda Foreman and actress Fiona Shaw dissect the speech for emphasis and meaning.

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Detailed coverage of Elizabeth's religious settlement

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Elizabeth I: From Prison to Palace (Episode 1)

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David Starkey documentary about the life of Elizabeth I.

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Armada portraits of Elizabeth I on show together

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Armada portraits of Elizabeth I on show together

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Three surviving versions of one of the most famous portraits of British history - showing a triumphant Elizabeth I after the defeat of the Spanish Armada - are to go on display together for the first time.

Royal Museums Greenwich said the three paintings had been brought together for technical research and conservation, but had never been publicly exhibited together in their 430-year history.

The three paintings are all versions of the Armada portrait of Elizabeth I by an unknown artist. One is in the Greenwich collection, acquired in 2016 after a nationwide fundraising campaign. The others are being loaned by their respective owners, the National Portrait Gallery and Woburn Abbey.

They will go on display in the Queen's House, a 17th-century Palladian villa designed by Inigo Jones, from next February for what Greenwich described as a once-in-a-generation event.

All three versions would probably have been painted shortly after one of the most famous conflicts in British history when, in 1588, the Armada was defeated to foil Spain's attempt to invade England.

They show Elizabeth in full Gloriana mode, the epitome of royal elegance and rich in symbolism. It is an image recognisable to generations of schoolchildren because of its inclusion in textbooks and one that has inspired film and stage portrayals by actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson and Cate Blanchett.

Behind the Queen in each painting are seascapes that depict episodes from the conflict. In the Greenwich and Woburn Abbey versions, Elizabeth I's right hand is resting on a globe showing the Americas.

Woburn Abbey is able to lend its portrait because the house is undergoing a major refurbishment. It has been in the collection of the family of the Duke of Bedford for centuries .

The NPG version is being lent as the gallery prepares to close for nearly three years for its own major revamp. Its painting was presented to the British Museum in 1765 by the 11th Earl of Buchanan and transferred to the NPG collection in 1879.

Greenwich got its Armada Portrait in 2016 after a high-profile and successful £10.3m fundraising campaign to buy the painting from descendants of Sir Francis Drake. It included £7.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Allison Goudie, curator of art at Royal Museums Greenwich, said they were absolutely delighted to unite the portraits for their first public display together. "This really is a very rare and special opportunity to come face-to-face with Elizabeth I like never before."

* Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I is a free display at Queen's House, 13 February to 31 August 2020
Topics

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Armada portraits of Elizabeth I on show together for first time

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Three surviving versions of one of the most famous portraits of British history - showing a triumphant Elizabeth I after the defeat of the Spanish Armada - are to go on display together for the first time.

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Justin Champion examines how the presence of Moorish, Black and Asian immigrants in London contributed to a veritable melting-pot of cultures and influences.

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BBC Radio 4 - Elizabethan Subjects, Black Elizabethans

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Justin Champion examines how immigrants in Elizabethan society influenced British culture.

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Something for everyone, from bear baiting to Shakespeare - the good, the bad and the ugly side of entertainment during Elizabeth's reign.

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Some Elizabethan entertainments, such as theatre and football, are still popular today. Others, such as animal-baiting, now seem shocking. Liza Picard takes a look at common 16th-century pastimes.

Plays and play-going

The great names of the Elizabethan stage - Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dekker, Ben Jonson - still retain their richness and power today. These plays could be bought to read at home, but it was much more fun to attend one of the several playhouses, such as the Globe, that had sprung up on the south bank of the river. The usual shape of the playhouse was, as Shakespeare put it, a 'wooden O', open to the sky, with the stage at one side of it and galleries all around. Refreshments of fruit and nuts were sold throughout the performance, and came in useful as missiles if the audience disapproved of the play. Most of the audience stood, or walked about, in front of the stage. The more select could pay for a seat in one of the galleries, or even on the stage itself, where they could smoke their tobacco pipes, and gossip, and generally draw attention to themselves, and torment the unfortunate actors. The cast was all male, women's parts being taken by boys. There was no scenery, but the costumes were often sumptuous, since it was the custom for the clothes of rich people sometimes to be given to the players after their death. Performances had to be given during daylight hours, because there was no stage lighting except by candles, which glinted on the gold lace and velvets of the costumes, and caused frequent fires.

Animal baiting

A modern audience would find this shocking, to put it mildly. Queen Elizabeth was a well-educated renaissance lady, yet in 1559, just a year after coming to the throne, she gave the French ambassador a special treat - a royal baiting of bulls and bears in her palace of Whitehall. The populace regularly attended the rings on the south bank, where they could watch various animals trying to kill each other - dogs against horses, sometimes with monkey riders for the dogs to bite, bears against the famous English mastiffs, mastiffs against bulls... The bears were well known to Londoners by their nicknames, rather like modern football stars.

There were probably many cock-pits scattered throughout London. There was, of course, one in royal Whitehall, but the common people patronised one near Smithfield, where the sessions could last four or five hours, and the betting was fast and furious.

View of London in Civitates Orbis Terrarum

On the south bank of the river can be seen two rings, one for 'Bowll bayting' the other for 'Beare bayting'.

Paintings of London in the friendship album of Michael van Meer, c. 1614-1615

At the cockpit, spectators bet gold coins on which cock will win. The seated man with the beard and hat is probably King James.

The Lottery

Someone in Government must have spotted this passion for betting, and decided that it could raise some revenue for the Treasury. In 1567 the first lottery promised as first prize the astronomical sum of £5,000.

They would be paid partly in 'ready money' and partly in plate, tapestries and 'good linen cloth'. Tickets cost 10 shillings each - far too much for the ordinary citizen to afford. To encourage as many people as possible to buy tickets, all ticket holders were promised freedom from arrest for all crimes other than murder, felonies, piracy or treason. If it had worked as planned the Government would have made £100,000. But alas, it didn't. Investors were slow in buying their tickets. Another lottery was tried in 1585, when Elizabeth was desperately trying to raise cash for her various wars. But I have found no record of any significant prizes.

Sports

Bowling greens were everywhere. Archery was losing ground to small arms shooting, but Elizabeth still required every male between seven and 60 to possess, and be able to use, bows and arrows. Wrestling and football were popular with young men. In a hot summer they could cool off by a refreshing dip in the Thames.

Recreational drugs

Tobacco was smoked everywhere, in taverns and inns, at playhouses and in homes. It began as a medicinal remedy for coughs and colds, but soon became known for its pleasant narcotic effect. A foreign tourist remarked that 'their preachers cry out on them for their self-destruction', but when did good advice ever stop a determined smoker?

Cannabis and opium poppies provided useful home remedies for earache and pain relief. Surely some gardeners found them an enjoyable means of relaxation?

The Queen

Elizabeth was expert at public relations, never missing a chance to remind her people of her status as their rightful monarch. She could be seen, and cheered, on her way down the river in the royal barge to visit friends, or to spend the summer in her favourite palace at Greenwich. When she came back to London from her frequent 'progresses' (tours) round the country, many hundreds turned out to greet her. If it was late in the evening her cavalcade was lit by a thousand torch-bearers. When she attended St Paul's Cathedral to give thanks for the victory over the Armada, she was carried in a 'chariot throne', bejewelled, painted, wearing sumptuously embroidered robes. No Catholic image could have outdone her in splendour: a fitting monarch for her adoring people.

Books

Pliny's The Secrets and Wonders of the World provided children with vivid descriptions of dragons and olipohants (elephants). For more serious tastes, Plutarch's Lives and Chapman's Homer were both available. The best seller of the time was Foxe's Book of Martyrs, published in 1563, describing Mary Tudor's persecution of her Protestant subjects, all too graphically illustrated with blood-curdling pictures.

The adventures of Francis Drake and his fellows fuelled an appetite for travel books. The Most Famous Travels of Marcus Paulius (otherwise known as Marco Polo) was published in English in 1579, describing the journey of three Genoese merchants by the overland route to (modern) Beijing, through the vast empire of Kublai Khan. Richard Hakluyt published the second edition of his The Principal Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English Nation... between 1598 and 1600. Hakluyt was noted for his meticulous research. The same could not be said of the 14th-century author of Mandeville's Travels, a highly fantastical account of travels in the Middle and Far East that included stories of men with eyes in their shoulders, and of weeping crocodiles. They still made a good read, and Walter Ralegh assured his readers that they were absolutely true in his 1596 publication The Discoverie of the Large Rich and Bewtiful Empire of Guiana, with a Relation [description] of the Great and Golden City of Manoa (which the Spanish call El Dorado), a shameless piece of advertising 'spin'.

Illustrated pornographic works, often Italian, were flooding the market. Ballads and pamphlets, too, could be fairly filthy. But some, imported secretly from the Continent, preached pro-Catholic subversion, the penalty for which could be death.

The Elizabethan poets, such as Edmund Spenser or John Donne, discovered the rich potential of the English language for simple, moving poetry.

Music

Any gentleman would be expected to play an instrument, such as a lute or one of the viols, which came in sets, or 'chests', varying from a small version of a modern violin through to an unwieldy version of a double bass. (It took Italians such as Stradivarius, in the next century, to fix for all time the shape and potential of the family of violins and their cousins.) Equally, most of the leisured classes could sing part songs such as madrigals. A Roman Catholic family needed a small-scale sung mass to perform in their house, with only the voices of the family, the priest and perhaps one or two brave neighbours. Surprisingly, some composers managed to compose sacred music for Catholic masses as well as for the new Protestant religion.

Usage terms

Public Domain in most countries other than the UK.

Queen Elizabeth prided herself on her mastery of the keyboard instrument known as the virginals. She even arranged to be 'surprised' playing, all alone and unaware of his presence, when the French ambassador came to call.

At the other end of society, there was a brisk trade in ballads, which supplied news and scandal rather as the popular press does today. During Elizabeth's reign, 3,000 ballads poured out of the printing presses. They cost a penny each, and told of all kinds of popular subjects.

Liza Picard researches and writes about the history of London. She spent many years working in the office of the Solicitor of the Inland Revenue and lived in Gray's Inn and Hackney, before retiring to live in Oxford.

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amusements and pastimes in elizabethan england

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Amuseuments and pastimes in Elizabethan England

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Some Elizabethan entertainments, such as theatre and football, are still popular today. Others, such as animal-baiting, now seem shocking. Liza Picard takes a look at common 16th-century pastimes. The great names of the Elizabethan stage - Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dekker, Ben Jonson - still retain their richness and power today.

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How significant was London in Elizabethan England?

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How significant was London in Elizabethan England?

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BBC teach considers the importance of London during Elizabeth’s reign.

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Why was London the centre of the Elizabethan world? | History - Elizabethan England

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What was life like for the poor in Elizabeth’s England?

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What was life like for the poor in the towns of Elizabethan England? | History - Elizabethan England

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BBC hunting for history - great introduction to the woman behind the crown

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Elizabeth I | Secondary History - Hunting for History

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An explanation of Elizabeth's religious settlement, including the Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity

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Royal Museums Greenwich | UNESCO World Heritage Site In London

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1534: The Reformation of Henry VIII made England's monarch the spiritual and secular head of the realm.

1547: Protestantism is continued under Edward VI.

1553: Queen Mary I reversed this decision when she restored Roman Catholicism as the state religion, and the Pope became head of the church once again.

1559: Queen Elizabeth wished to create a new moderate religious settlement derived from Henry VIII's break from Rome. She established the Church of England in 1559.

Queen Elizabeth I and religion

Queen Elizabeth I wanted to build a stable, peaceful nation with a strong government, free from the influence of foreign powers in matters of the church and the state. To realise this vision it was necessary to reach a new religious settlement that was as inclusive as possible. Changes needed to be introduced with a minimum of confrontation in order to overcome fear and suspicion at home and abroad.

The choice of state religion would have political consequences, whatever the decision. Choosing to remain Catholic would surrender power to Rome and ally England with other Catholic states, such as France and Spain. Returning to Protestantism would align England with the Dutch, its main trading partner, but risked antagonising Spain, the most powerful nation in the world. Protestantism would also create a fear of persecution among England's Catholics.

Building a united and prosperous England

Elizabeth's first Parliament was inaugurated on 25 January 1559. Queen Elizabeth was in attendance for the opening speech which was delivered by Nicholas Bacon, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. As spokesman for the government, Bacon delivered its mission statement, 'to unite the people of this realm into a uniform order of religion'.

Bacon outlined the course to reach this goal by explaining that members were not to insult each other with terms like 'heretic', 'schismatic' or 'Papist'. They were not going to waste time on abstract theological debates, but rather get down to the business at hand of finding concrete solutions to the problems of the day. Matters were to be debated in a respectful fashion. Extremism would not be tolerated and name-calling and mud-slinging would not move things forward. In this address, Elizabeth deliberately disassociated herself from the unpopular regime under Queen Mary I by signalling how hers would be different.

Debating the Elizabethan religious settlement

The first act passed by the House of Commons in February 1559 joined together a bill of supremacy, establishing Queen Elizabeth I as head of the church, with one of uniformity, dealing with the type of faith and service. The proposed settlement was roundly rejected and adulterated by the House of Lords, with its Catholic majority.

Elizabeth and her pro-reform ministers had to regroup and plan another strategy. A debate was scheduled during the Easter recess between a team of Catholics and a team of Protestants, with the Privy Council as judge and Bacon as Chairman. The debate quickly descended into name-calling and two of the Catholics were sent to the Tower for contempt.

What was the Act of Supremacy?

When Parliament reconvened in April, the two issues were presented separately and considerable concessions were made. The revised Act of Supremacy still abolished papal supremacy, but defined Elizabeth as Supreme Governor, rather than Supreme Head, of the church. This change of title placated those who did not feel that a woman could be the head of the church, and the act passed fairly easily.

What was the Act of Uniformity?

The Act of Uniformity of 1559 set out the groundwork for the Elizabethan church. It restored the 1552 version of the English Prayer Book but kept many of the familiar old practices and allowed for two interpretations of communion, one Catholic and one Protestant. The bill was hotly debated but eventually passed by three votes.

Using our collections for research

The collections at Royal Museums Greenwich offer a world-class resource for researching maritime history, astronomy and time.

The Armada Portrait

Recently saved for the nation, the Armada Portrait commemorates the most famous conflict of Elizabeth I's reign - the failed invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in summer 1588. This iconic portrait is now back on public display in the Queen's House after careful conservation.
Find out more and visit The Armada Portrait

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1534: The Reformation of Henry VIII made England's monarch the spiritual and secular head of the realm. 1547: Protestantism is continued under Edward VI. 1553: Queen Mary I reversed this decision when she restored Roman Catholicism as the state religion, and the Pope became head of the church once again.