Assess the motives and impact of Elizabeth's intervention in Scotland between 1559-1560.

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HY302 – Anglo-Spanish relations in the Age of Elizabeth I and Philip II

Sarah Pickwick

Teacher: Professor M.J Rodriguez-Salgado         Essay Question: 2002 Exam Paper Q

Assess the motives and impact of Elizabeth’s intervention in Scotland between 1559-1560.

Elizabeth was by no means the first monarch to have problems with Scotland but her intervention differed from other cases namely because of the involvement of France in Scottish affairs. This brought into play a unique set of motives for intervening, the biggest one being a fear of French power north of the border spilling over, and eventually overtaking England. This fear was culminated by other factors such as Mary Queen of Scots being the next heir to the English throne and allied to the French by marriage, and an alliance forming between Spain and France (the joining of two Catholic nations, possibly against Protestant ones). It was in this light that English ministers sought to persuade their reluctance mistress to support Protestant rebels in Scotland in an effort to remove French troops. When she did, secretly at first and then more openly later on, it was heralded as a great success. The impact Scottish intervention was far reaching within England, as it affected not only Elizabeth, but also her ministers (especially Cecil), and her national policy. It also had profound effects for France and Scotland as well. 

The official motives for intervention in Scotland were set out to Elizabeth by Cecil in order to show the grave danger to her crown and to her country. Cecil started off by pointing out the disposition of the French to conquer England. Mary “ the Scottish Queen, whose right was next in succession, was a Catholic, raised in France and also allied to France through her marriage to Francis II. Although soon King and Queen of both France and Scotland, power lay with their relatives, the House of Guise, “which was always hostile to England. The English were particularly suspicious towards them, as they had been the ones who had taken away Calais in 1559. This culminated in a fear that they were making Scotland into a French colony and “have entered upon the invasion of England by means of Scotland, it being the “the easiest road,“pressing with all possible means Mary’s claims to the English Crown. France itself was putting a “band of soldiers already there planted as well as “warlike munitions. So therefore intervention was “necessary for the defence of the realm to arm some convenient force. However there were voices of opposition in the cabinet from people like Arundel who claimed that intervention in Scotland would be seen as provocative. England could not currently fight a war against France, as it had neither the money nor the men to do so whereas France obviously had.

In connection with the suspicion of French designs in Scotland, Cecil went on to give further evidence of their ill intent towards England. This could be seen in the attempts of the French to get a separate peace treaty with Spain in 1559 following Cateau -Cambresis and thereby try and undermine the Anglo-Spanish alliance that existed. The alliance was further threatened when it was announced that “The King hath lately matched with France, hath gotton a young lady. A marriage thus joined the two catholic countries and England saw in it the “possibility of united action by the two catholic governments against the protestant cause. Therefore Elizabeth’s ministers were split. It could be argued that intervention could be approved because Spain was already lost to England and would eventually turn on England later. So why not gain other Protestant allies in the north. But the Anglo-Spanish relationship could also work to England’s advantage as Philip was caught between two sides, and didn’t want to alienate either. So this might cause him to stay out of the conflict (which he did to certain extent) and rather play the role of mediator. Those that argued against intervention believed that action in Scotland might sour relations with Spain, making them even worse that they already were. It would complete Spain’s estrangement from England and drive it firmly onto France’s side. The warning of alienating others came particularly from people abroad like the bishop of Arras who claimed that England was  “wilfully provoking of wars with France…ye have given so just a colour and excuse to the world to break with you.

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As well as French attempts to bring Spain on its side Cecil claimed they had also cast doubts on the Queen’s title and had “began to say that the Queen of England was illegitimate”. In “ catholic eyes, the legitimate ruler was considered to be Mary, and Cecil cleverly knew that this threat was the one that would upset Elizabeth the most. Having just newly come to the throne and not yet being firmly established “she was especially susceptive to any slightest aspersion on her title to the throne. It greatly aroused her suspicion and animosity towards them. Finally ...

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