Elizabeth revision
What did Elizabeth want her portraits to show?
Legitimacy and purity – shown by Tudor roses, sceptre and the orb, sword of justice and the
crown. Purity by white face and normally clothes, often with pearls, white roses and fur.
Strength and power - shown using symbols like pillars and hand on globe and standing on
map.
Wealth – shown by magnificent dresses with pearls and jewels to conceal financial troubles.
Ageless – shown by smooth white mask for eternal youth.
Success and wisdom – shown by serpents present, springs flowers and rainbows, and with
Spanish Armada.
What problems did she face?
Factor Things going well Problems
Government Mary increase Crown’s income War with France left debts of
£250,000
Mary strengthened army
Was not enough money for full
time army
Economy Very good harvest in 1558 Many labourers losing jobs as
keeping sheep not crops
Thousands of spinners and
weavers out of work so woollen
cloth industry collapsed.
Prices rising as farmers faced
higher rent and wages were
losing value.
Cultural developments Developments of new styles of
art, music, architecture.
Printing press invented
New schools, universities and
colleges – even better education
than before.
Relationships with other England was weak compared
countries with France and Spain
Elizabeth was Protestant which
could lead to problems with
Spanish
France and England at war as
Mary married to heir of French
throne.
, Mary declared she was rightful
heir so Catholics supported her
instead.
Society Poverty and unemployment
growing in lower classes.
Religion Had already experienced 3
religion changes in 20 years.
Thought religious difference was
leading to civil war.
Extreme Protestants who fled
during Mary’s reign were
returning.
Reactions to new Queen She was very popular Worried about a female ruler as
thought men were stronger
Offered a fresh start
Previous females (Mary and
Ambitious nobles wanted to Lady Grey) were unsuccessful
marry her
Who should she marry?
English Nobleman – plenty of interest and all good looking although other families would get jealous
and might want to assume control over her power.
Philip of Spain – head of strongest and richest countries but Catholic and married to Mary so is
unpopular in England after loss of Calais.
However if she made it seem like she was available he would hold off declaring war on England
which was good as country in debt and it would destroy England for good if Armada invaded.
Rich foreign Duke (such as Charles of Austria) – strong country but Catholic and will draw England
into wars within European countries.
Nobody – nobles won’t be upset as no favouring but won’t have an heir which some will think
unnatural and strange.
Robert Dudley – thought to be the love of her life, English and handsome, Earl of Leicester but
relationship involved her in large scandal and destroyed chances of married when his wife died
under suspicious circumstances. In September 1560 Amy Dudley found dead.
,How she gained support
Good publicity from impressive coronation
Her progresses allowed people to see her and felt privileged that she was ‘mingling’ with her peers
(and saved her money) and concentrated more in south east as cloest and needed them happy and
as allies.
~
Why were they scared about Poverty?
Scaremongering – the vagabonds travelling were large although were exaggerated who they
thought were plotting and committing crimes so were hard to control consequently felt threatened.
Disease – many outbreaks of plague and many died at early age although didn’t understand why so
believed wandering vagabonds spread disease as did lower classes when went to theatre and
gathered.
Crime – beggars often turned to crime and there was no police force to catch them, Justices to the
Peace were responsible for enforcing law but felt threatened and wanted to do a good job for their
Queen.
Idleness – felt it was the fault of the individuals and everyone should work harder to support
themselves, beggars set a bad example. Puritans felt strongly about importance of hard work and it
was a sin which displeased God and that the devil made them sinful and should be punished as were
refusing to work. Some Councillors, JPs and Mps were Puritans – all surrounding Elizabeth.
Social Order – Beggars didn’t seem to know their place and weren’t obeying superiors which feared
would spark a rebellion and overthrow higher classes. Nearly happened 200 years earlier with
Peasants revolt in 1381.
Rebellions – also worried about rebellions as didn’t have a permanent army and rising numbers of
poor people made the threat even greater sp those who opposed Elizabeth tried to win support of
the poor.
What did Poor think?
Would have seen being whipped in street and may have felt sorry and blamed rich and others would
have been frightened of them stealing their few possessions or giving all poor a bad name.
Types of beggars – (according to William Harrison)
Physically unable were orphans, the elderly, the blind and lame and those with terminal illnesses.
Misfortunates were wounded soldiers, evicted householders and the sick.
The idle were rioters, vagabonds, strumpets, rogues – were said to be thieves who were consumed
by the charity of the well disposed.
, Vagabond – a wandering beggar that resorted to crime and were severely punished
Sturdy beggar – able to work but choose to beg.
Examples
Counterfeit cranks dressed in old clothes and sucked on soap and had fake fits to show they had
epilepsy.
Anglers begged during the day but at night used a hook on end of stick to steal clothes off the high
lines.
Clapper dudgeons pretended to be injured by soaking clothes and used arsenic to make skin bleed.
A doxy carries steals in a bag and knits while begging then lures chickens away with bread on a stick
with a hook which killed them then hid them in her cloak.
Abraham men pretended to be mad by walking around half naked making weird noises.
Approaches to poverty were shaped by 2 main beliefs
There was plenty of work for everyone and it was their own fault if they were poor and
should be punished to set an example.
Poverty was not a national problem and only affected certain parts of the country so JPs and
town councils should deal with their own areas.
1495 – Henry VII order for beggars to go into stocks for 3 days then sent back to last place they lived.
1531 – Henry VIII said anyone genuinely unable to work should be given a begging license and those
that didn’t should be whipped until ‘his back be bloody’ then returned to last residence.
1536 – Henry VIII asked for donations in church for the poor and was voluntary.
1547 – Edward VI ordered all beggars should be branded with a V and whipped then be a slave for 2
years and would continue if tried to escape but repealed 3 years later.
How successfully did Elizabeth deal with poverty?
Town Impotent poor Sturdy beggars
London Several hospitals set up for the 1574 – 5 sentenced to be
mad, old and orphaned. whipped and burnt on right ear
1576 – 3 sentenced to be hung
Houses of Correction set up in
Edward’s reign a workhouse for
the idle
Ipswich Each parish informed bailiffs Beggars had permit badge
about the poor
Hospitals set up for poor
What did Elizabeth want her portraits to show?
Legitimacy and purity – shown by Tudor roses, sceptre and the orb, sword of justice and the
crown. Purity by white face and normally clothes, often with pearls, white roses and fur.
Strength and power - shown using symbols like pillars and hand on globe and standing on
map.
Wealth – shown by magnificent dresses with pearls and jewels to conceal financial troubles.
Ageless – shown by smooth white mask for eternal youth.
Success and wisdom – shown by serpents present, springs flowers and rainbows, and with
Spanish Armada.
What problems did she face?
Factor Things going well Problems
Government Mary increase Crown’s income War with France left debts of
£250,000
Mary strengthened army
Was not enough money for full
time army
Economy Very good harvest in 1558 Many labourers losing jobs as
keeping sheep not crops
Thousands of spinners and
weavers out of work so woollen
cloth industry collapsed.
Prices rising as farmers faced
higher rent and wages were
losing value.
Cultural developments Developments of new styles of
art, music, architecture.
Printing press invented
New schools, universities and
colleges – even better education
than before.
Relationships with other England was weak compared
countries with France and Spain
Elizabeth was Protestant which
could lead to problems with
Spanish
France and England at war as
Mary married to heir of French
throne.
, Mary declared she was rightful
heir so Catholics supported her
instead.
Society Poverty and unemployment
growing in lower classes.
Religion Had already experienced 3
religion changes in 20 years.
Thought religious difference was
leading to civil war.
Extreme Protestants who fled
during Mary’s reign were
returning.
Reactions to new Queen She was very popular Worried about a female ruler as
thought men were stronger
Offered a fresh start
Previous females (Mary and
Ambitious nobles wanted to Lady Grey) were unsuccessful
marry her
Who should she marry?
English Nobleman – plenty of interest and all good looking although other families would get jealous
and might want to assume control over her power.
Philip of Spain – head of strongest and richest countries but Catholic and married to Mary so is
unpopular in England after loss of Calais.
However if she made it seem like she was available he would hold off declaring war on England
which was good as country in debt and it would destroy England for good if Armada invaded.
Rich foreign Duke (such as Charles of Austria) – strong country but Catholic and will draw England
into wars within European countries.
Nobody – nobles won’t be upset as no favouring but won’t have an heir which some will think
unnatural and strange.
Robert Dudley – thought to be the love of her life, English and handsome, Earl of Leicester but
relationship involved her in large scandal and destroyed chances of married when his wife died
under suspicious circumstances. In September 1560 Amy Dudley found dead.
,How she gained support
Good publicity from impressive coronation
Her progresses allowed people to see her and felt privileged that she was ‘mingling’ with her peers
(and saved her money) and concentrated more in south east as cloest and needed them happy and
as allies.
~
Why were they scared about Poverty?
Scaremongering – the vagabonds travelling were large although were exaggerated who they
thought were plotting and committing crimes so were hard to control consequently felt threatened.
Disease – many outbreaks of plague and many died at early age although didn’t understand why so
believed wandering vagabonds spread disease as did lower classes when went to theatre and
gathered.
Crime – beggars often turned to crime and there was no police force to catch them, Justices to the
Peace were responsible for enforcing law but felt threatened and wanted to do a good job for their
Queen.
Idleness – felt it was the fault of the individuals and everyone should work harder to support
themselves, beggars set a bad example. Puritans felt strongly about importance of hard work and it
was a sin which displeased God and that the devil made them sinful and should be punished as were
refusing to work. Some Councillors, JPs and Mps were Puritans – all surrounding Elizabeth.
Social Order – Beggars didn’t seem to know their place and weren’t obeying superiors which feared
would spark a rebellion and overthrow higher classes. Nearly happened 200 years earlier with
Peasants revolt in 1381.
Rebellions – also worried about rebellions as didn’t have a permanent army and rising numbers of
poor people made the threat even greater sp those who opposed Elizabeth tried to win support of
the poor.
What did Poor think?
Would have seen being whipped in street and may have felt sorry and blamed rich and others would
have been frightened of them stealing their few possessions or giving all poor a bad name.
Types of beggars – (according to William Harrison)
Physically unable were orphans, the elderly, the blind and lame and those with terminal illnesses.
Misfortunates were wounded soldiers, evicted householders and the sick.
The idle were rioters, vagabonds, strumpets, rogues – were said to be thieves who were consumed
by the charity of the well disposed.
, Vagabond – a wandering beggar that resorted to crime and were severely punished
Sturdy beggar – able to work but choose to beg.
Examples
Counterfeit cranks dressed in old clothes and sucked on soap and had fake fits to show they had
epilepsy.
Anglers begged during the day but at night used a hook on end of stick to steal clothes off the high
lines.
Clapper dudgeons pretended to be injured by soaking clothes and used arsenic to make skin bleed.
A doxy carries steals in a bag and knits while begging then lures chickens away with bread on a stick
with a hook which killed them then hid them in her cloak.
Abraham men pretended to be mad by walking around half naked making weird noises.
Approaches to poverty were shaped by 2 main beliefs
There was plenty of work for everyone and it was their own fault if they were poor and
should be punished to set an example.
Poverty was not a national problem and only affected certain parts of the country so JPs and
town councils should deal with their own areas.
1495 – Henry VII order for beggars to go into stocks for 3 days then sent back to last place they lived.
1531 – Henry VIII said anyone genuinely unable to work should be given a begging license and those
that didn’t should be whipped until ‘his back be bloody’ then returned to last residence.
1536 – Henry VIII asked for donations in church for the poor and was voluntary.
1547 – Edward VI ordered all beggars should be branded with a V and whipped then be a slave for 2
years and would continue if tried to escape but repealed 3 years later.
How successfully did Elizabeth deal with poverty?
Town Impotent poor Sturdy beggars
London Several hospitals set up for the 1574 – 5 sentenced to be
mad, old and orphaned. whipped and burnt on right ear
1576 – 3 sentenced to be hung
Houses of Correction set up in
Edward’s reign a workhouse for
the idle
Ipswich Each parish informed bailiffs Beggars had permit badge
about the poor
Hospitals set up for poor
