How far did the popularity and effectiveness of Elizabeths government decline after 1588?

Remember that popularity and effectiveness are not the same thing. A teacher may not be liked when he sets his students extra homework, but he might still be effective in helping them to get a good grade. However there is no doubt that the two things are linked together: it is generally easier to be popular if you are effective, and vice versa. Exam questions on this topic may ask you about: - how popular? - how effective? - how serious (were the problems facing Elizabeth)? This key question draws on many of the other areas of the course and you should use your notes from these to add further detail, e.g. finance. It is also a nice question to write about as you can really link together the issues, and discuss relative importance. The Spanish War The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 has been described as the zenith (Starkey) of Elizabeths reign. The Spanish Armada was the highpoint of Elizabeths popularity and effectiveness. Almost half of Spains Armada had been destroyed. It cemented her image as Gloriana: married to her country and protector of Protestantism. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too (Elizabeth to soldiers at Tilbury 1588) Armada Portrait (with her hand resting on a globe, and the Armada smashed in the scene behind)

God was demonstrably on Elizabeths side. A commemorative medal struck afterwards stated Gods winds blew and they were scattered. However the success also sowed the seeds for many of the problems of her final decades. The war destroyed her financial policy of reducing expenditure. The Spanish War cost over 4 million. She was forced to ask for multiple subsidies, extend ship money to inland counties, sell crown lands, use forced loans and purveyance. The strain on the countrys economy was important in the unrest of the 1590s. Her conduct of the war was cautious and she failed to follow up successes eg in 1588 and 1596. Nevertheless, she died with England secure, Ireland controlled and an independent Protestant Netherlands. Irish Rebellion Ireland had been a problem for English kings since the Middle Ages. It was too big to conquer but too close to ignore. England only really had direct control over the Pale (the area around Dublin). The problems after 1588 were underpinned by the Spanish

War. Ireland was a base for possible invasion, especially as its population was Catholic and therefore sympathetic to Spain. The Earl of Tyrone led a rebellion against Elizabeth from 1598 to 1601. This was a well organised uprising and 1200 English soldiers were killed at the Battle of Yellow Ford. Essex was sent with 16000 soldiers to quell the rebellion. This was the largest force to leave England during Elizabeths reign. Essex fought a bad war, he: made many knights against Elizabeths orders avoided battle lost 12000 men to disease and desertion signed a secret truce with the Earl returned to England without permission

However, by 1601 Essexs replacement, Mountjoy, had defeated the rebellion and the Spanish troops who had been landed in Kinsale. Mountjoy went on to secure control with a brutal scorched earth policy. Spenser said at the time that he left the Irish like ghosts crying out of their graves. However, this was a short term victory. Mountjoys actions like the earlier policy of plantations (where huge areas of land were taken off of Irish landowners and given to English Protestants), created a bitter hatred of the English that would fuel conflict for a further 400 years. The Irish rebellion was also hugely expensive. In 1600, 320000 of Elizabeths 460000 expenditure was on Ireland. Relations with Parliament The key example of the difficulties with Parliament is the Monopolies Crisis of 1601 (see the notes on KQ5 for more detailed examples). Key points to make here are that the abuse of monopolies had come about because of the financial pressures of the Spanish War. Her abuse of monopolies was a product of her failure to reform, and her disregard for the impact of her policies on the wider economy. The Monopolies Crisis represented a serious challenge to Elizabeths authority but ultimately serves as an example of how her traditional methods and imagery, although tired, still worked. The Golden Speech was effective, and much of the anger was focussed at her ministers rather than at her. Essexs rebellion As Elizabeths ministers died (Dudley 88, Walsingham 90, Hatton 91, Bughley 98), they were replaced by a new, younger and more disloyal generation. Elizabeth indulged Essexs arrogance and allowed him to become a rival for popularity. Essexs success in destroying the Spanish fleet at Cadiz (1596) made him a hero, especially in London. So much so that celebrations were banned. Elizabeth showed poor judgement in appointing Essex to Ireland. He had already had engravings made of

himself as a Roman Emperor, and had turned his back on the Queen (leading to her boxing his ears) and even half drawn his sword (1598). Essex in Ireland was disloyal and ineffective. Elizabeth showed typical caution and indecision after his unauthorised return. She banned him from court, refused to renew his monopoly on sweet wines, but did not arrest or execute him. Essexs rebellion in 1601 was potentially serious: - he had the support of 5 nobles - he had support from Tyrone and possibly James VI - his soldiers were just 2 miles from the Queen However the heralds cried treason, London did not rise, and within 12 hours Essex was surrounded in Essex house. The failure of his rebellion and his subsequent execution could be said to be evidence of Elizabeths effectiveness. However they show the extent to which she had lost control of faction. Her council had become dangerously narrow and weak (Haigh) with only 11 Privy Councillors by 1597, of whom 5 were sons of former members. With Essex gone she threw in her lot with the Cecilians (Haigh), and there was considerable anger at Essexs execution. Defence of the Royal Prerogative Elizabeth dealt with the rebellions that she faced. Ultimately she died of old age. However there were challenges to the royal prerogative (the existing, traditional rights of the monarch). For example the monopolies crisis was a challenge from Parliament on a matter of state. But it was resolved relatively easily. Possibly a bigger challenge came from disloyal councillors it is notable that both Robert Cecil and Robert Devereux were secretly trying to secure the succession while publicly serving the Queen. However the biggest long term challenge to the royal prerogative came in the weakening of the monarchs financial position. Elizabeths failure to reform meant that the crown was increasingly reliant on Parliamentary subsidy taxes for ordinary spending. Although this weakness was not really exploited by Elizabeths parliaments (she was never denied funds), it became an issue for her Stuart successors. Economic and Social Problems The War with Spain exacerbated the problems caused by bad harvests between 1594 and 1597. Food prices rose quickly, and there were food riots in the South in 1595. The Oxfordshire rising in 1596 shows that they were easily dealt with (only four rebels turned up) but the problems were serious enough for new poor laws to be introduced in 1598. Image and the Queens reputation at the end of the reign The Cult of Gloriana reached its peak in the 1580s. Spenser wrote poems of The Faerie Queen, Elizabeth was compared to the Goddess Diana, and her beauty and virginity were celebrated in the ever-youthful portraits with their symbolic sieves and thornless roses.

However, the image of Gloriana was ridiculous by the end of the reign. There was war and revolt, she was old and ugly, no longer was her virginity to be celebrated, she was a bad tempered spinster: A lady shut up in a chamber from her subjects Harrington (her Godson) in 1602 irascible old woman (Haigh) Elizabeths poor judgement and failure to reform had created considerable problems at the end of reign, but the old image was promoted. She lived by her motto: semper eadem (always the same). However, much of the anger was directed at Robert Cecil rather than her. The end of her reign saw victory in Ireland, a truce with Spain, trade recovering and better harvests. Haigh claims that Elizabeth died unloved and almost unlamented. By contrast, Starkey states that there was a general sighing, groaning and weeping at her funeral, and claims few monarchs have been better loved by their subjects. You need to have a clear and supported view of your own.