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ENGLAND UNDER THE TUDORS
ENGLAND UNDER THE TUDORS
In England, as in France and Germany, the main characteristic of the last twenty years, from the point of view of the student of history, has been that new material has been accumulating much faster than it can be assimilated or absorbed. The standard histories of the last generation need to be revised, or even to be put aside as obsolete, in the light of the new information that is coming in so rapidly and in such vast bulk. But the students and researchers of to-day have shown little enthusias
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
THE TUDOR PERIOD, 1485-1603 An era of Revolutions—The Intellectual Movement—The Reformation and Counter-Reformation—The New World—The Constitution—Nobility, Clergy, and Gentry—International Relations....
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
HENRY VII (i), 1485-1492-THE NEW DYNASTY 1485. Henry's Title to the Crown— Measures to strengthen the Title—1486. Marriage—The King and his Advisers —Henry's enemies—1487. Lambert Simnel—The State of Europe—France and Brittany—1488. Henry intervenes cautiously—England and Spain—1489. Preparations for war with France—Spanish treaty of Medina del Campo—The Allies inert—1490. Object of Henry's Foreign Policy—1491. Apparent Defeat —1492. Henry's bellicose Attitude—Treaty of Etaples....
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
HENRY VII (ii), 1492-1499-PERKIN WARBECK Ireland; 1485—1487-1492. The Earl of Kildare—1491. Perkin Warbeck's Appearance—Riddle of his imposture— 1492-5. Perkin and Margaret of Burgundy—Diplomatic Intrigues—Ireland: Poynings, 1494-6—1495. Survey of the Situation—Perkin attempts Invasion —Success of Henry's Diplomacy—1496. Perkin and the King of Scots—A Scottish Incursion—1497. The Cornish rising—Its suppression—Perkin's final effort and failure—The Scottish Truce—The End of Perkin Warbeck: 1497-9
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
HENRY VIII (vii), 1509-1547—ASPECTS OF HENRY'S REIGN Ireland : 1509-1520—Surrey in Ireland, 1520—Irish Policy, 1520-1534—Fitzgerald's Revolt—1535-1540: Lord Leonard Grey—1540: St. Leger—"King of Ireland"— England : Wolsey's work—The Army—The Navy—The New World— Absolutism—The Parliamentary Sanction—Depression of the Nobles— Parliament and the Purse—Finance—The Land—Learning and Letters—The Utopia —Surrey and Wyatt— Appreciation of Henry VIII. : Morals and Character—Abilities and Achievement—Domi
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
EDWARD VI (i), 1547-1549—THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET 1547. The New Government— Relations with France and Scotland—with Charles V.—Somerset's Scottish Policy—Pinkie—The Advanced Reformers—Benevolent Legislation— Ecclesiastical Legislation—1548. Progress of the Reformation—Somerset's Ideas—The French in Scotland—The Augsburg Interim—Parliament—1549. A New Liturgy—The Treason of the Lord Admiral: 1547-9—1549—Troubles in the Provinces—The Western Rising—Ket's Insurrection—The Protector's Attitude—The Cou
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APPENDICES
APPENDICES
I. THE WORLD: AS KNOWN circa 1485-1603. II. WESTERN EUROPE: circa 1558 III. ENGLAND AND IRELAND IV. SPANISH AMERICA: _circa 1580 V. THE LOW COUNTRIES AND THE CHANNEL THE FLODDEN CAMPAIGN...
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ENGLAND UNDER THE TUDORS
ENGLAND UNDER THE TUDORS
[Sidenote: An era of Revolutions] The historian of the future will, perhaps, affirm that the nineteenth century, with the last years of the eighteenth, has been a period more fraught with momentous events in the development of the nations than any equal period since the Christian era commenced. Yet striking as are the developments witnessed by the last four generations, the years when England was ruled by Princes of the House of Tudor have a history hardly if at all less momentous. For though wh
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
HENRY VII (i), 1485-92—THE NEW DYNASTY [Sidenote: 1485 Henry's title to the Crown] On August 22nd, 1485, Henry Earl of Richmond overcame and slew King Richard III., and was hailed as King on the field of victory. But the destruction of Richard, an indubitable usurper and tyrant, was only the first step in establishing a title to the throne as disputable as ever a monarch put forward. To establish that title, however, was the primary necessity not merely for Henry himself, but in the general inte
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
HENRY VII (ii), 1492-99—PERKIN WARBECK [Sidenote: Ireland, 1485] Before entering upon the career of Perkin Warbeck, we must give somewhat closer attention to the affairs of the sister island, to which reference has already been made in connexion with the Simnel revolt. Ireland had never been really brought under English dominion. Within the district known as the English Pale, there was some sort of control, extending even less effectively over the province of Leinster, and beyond that practicall
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
HENRY VII (iii), 1498-1509-THE DYNASTY ASSURED [Sidenote: Scotland and England] From time immemorial almost, it might be said that Scotland had been a perpetual menace to her southern neighbour. Since the days of Bruce she had, it is true, been torn by ceaseless dissensions; a succession of long royal minorities with intrigues over the regency, family feuds between the great barons, strong kings who found themselves warring on a turbulent nobility, weak ones who could exercise no control, had no
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
HENRY VII (iv), 1485-1509—ASPECTS OF THE REIGN [Sidenote: 1485 Henry's position] The task before Henry when he ascended the throne was a difficult one. He had to establish a new dynasty with a very questionable title, under conditions which could not have allowed any conceivable title to pass without risk of being challenged. It was therefore necessary for him not merely to buttress his hereditary claim by marrying the rival whose title was technically the strongest, and securing the pronounceme
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
HENRY VIII (i), 1509-27—EGO ET REX MEUS [Sidenote: Europe in 1509] Roughly speaking, the forty years preceding the accession of Henry VIII. had witnessed the birth of modern Europe. The old feudal conception of Christendom had passed away: the modern conception of organic States had taken its place. The English Kings had for some time ceased to hold sway in France, whether as claimants to the throne or as great feudatories. France herself had become a united and aggressive nation; the fusion of
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
HENRY VIII (ii), 1509-32—BIRTH OF THE REFORMATION [Sidenote: The Reformation in England] Down to a comparatively recent date, the popularly accepted accounts of the Reformation in England treated it as a spontaneous outburst of the deep religious spirit pervading the mass of the people; a passionate repudiation of the errors of Rome, born of the secret study of the Bible in defiance of persecution, and of repulsion from the iniquities of the monastic system. Then there arose a picturesque histor
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
HENRY VIII (iii), 1527-29—THE FALL OF WOLSEY [Sidenote: "The King's affair"] The whole prolonged episode concerned with the "Divorce" of Queen Katharine is singularly unattractive; the character of almost every leading person associated with it is damaged in the course of it—save that of the unhappy Queen. Unfortunately it is an episode which demands close attention and examination, because its vicissitudes exercised a supreme influence on the course of the Reformation initiated by the King, bes
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
HENRY VIII (iv) 1529-33—THE BREACH WITH ROME [Sidenote: 1529 No revolt as yet] It will have been observed that when Wolsey found that the divorce was inevitable, his energies were concentrated on the single purpose of securing it under papal authority. For this he had two reasons—one, that without that authority the King's act would appear in all its arbitrariness, causing grave scandal: the other that if that authority were refused, he foresaw the cleavage between England and Rome which did eve
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
HENRY VIII (v), 1533-40—MALLEUS MONACHORUM [Sidenote: 1533 Ecclesiastical Parties] WE have noted that a proportion of the higher clergy were at least not unwilling to be freed from the domination and the financial exactions of Rome; this attitude being either the cause or the effect of the line they took as to the divorce. When, however, it was borne in upon them that the price of escaping the yoke of the Popedom was to be the subjection of the Church, in form to the lay monarch, and in fact to
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
HENRY VIII (vi), 1540-47—HENRY'S LAST YEARS [Sidenote: 1540 Katherine Howard] The complaisant and very plain lady who had been the cause of Cromwell's downfall had no objection (subject to compensation), to being discarded on technical grounds by her spouse. Before the minister was dead, the marriage had been pronounced null: not without compensatory gifts. But her brother the Duke of Cleves was less easily pacified, and all prospect of an alliance with the Protestant League was at an end. A new
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
HENRY VIII (vii), 1509-47-ASPECTS OF HENRY'S REIGN [Sidenote: Ireland, 1509-20] Affairs in the sister island did not, after the final collapse of Perkin Warbeck directly affect the course of events in England: so that they lend themselves more conveniently to summary treatment. Ireland in fact hardly thrust herself forcibly on English notice until Thomas Cromwell was in power, and even then she only received incidental attention. [Sidenote: Surrey in Ireland, 1520] It appears to be generally rec
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
EDWARD VI (i), 1547-49—THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET [Sidenote: 1547 Jan.-Feb. The New Government] In accordance with the extraordinary powers granted to him, Henry VIII. laid down in his will both the order of succession to the throne and the method of government to be followed during his son's minority. Under this instrument he nominated sixteen "executors," forming virtually a Council of Regency, giving precedence to none. Superficially, the list represented both the progressive and the reactionary
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
EDWARD VI (ii), 1549-53—THE DUDLEY ASCENDANCY When Somerset fell, the state of affairs which his successors had to face was singularly threatening, calling for the most skilful statesmanship both at home and abroad. [Sidenote: 1549 (Winter) The Situation] Externally, the chance of maintaining the hold on Boulogne was disappearing: but while it was maintained, the hostility of France was assured. Scotland, defiant, allied with France and helped by French troops, might become actively embarrassing
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
MARY (i), 1553-55—THE SPANISH MARRIAGE [Sidenote: The Marian Tragedies] From first to last, Tragedy is the note of the reign of England's first Queen regnant: the human interest is so intense that the political and religious issues seem, great as they were, to sink into the background of the picture, mere accessories of the stage on which are presented the immortal figures of Doom. First is the tragedy of the sweet-souled and most innocent child, Lady Jane Grey, sacrificed to the self-seeking am
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
MARY (ii), 1555-58—THE PERSECUTION Here we reach the turning point of the reign; the point at which the great persecution began. If anything like justice is to be rendered to the leading actors in the ensuing tragedy, it is necessary to differentiate between these two divisions of Mary's rule. [Sidenote: Mary's policy, 1553-4] We must remark that throughout these first eighteen months, Mary had proved herself to be the reverse of a vindictive woman. Her leniency in the case of Northumberland's a
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
ELIZABETH (i), 1558-61—A PASSAGE PERILOUS [Sidenote: 1558 Accession of Elizabeth] On November 17th 1558, the sun had not yet risen when Mary passed away; within a few hours, Elizabeth had been proclaimed Queen. No dissentient voice was raised in England. Heath, Mary's Chancellor and Archbishop of York, announced her accession to the Houses of Parliament; the proclamation was drawn up by Sir William Cecil, the Council's Secretary under Edward VI. From one quarter, and only one, could a colourable
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
ELIZABETH (ii), 1561-68—QUEENS AND SUITORS [Sidenote: 1561 The Situation] On August 19th, 1561, Mary Stewart returned to Scotland; in May 1568, she left her kingdom for ever. During those seven years, what she did, what she was accused of doing, what she was expected to do, what she intended to do, formed the subject of the keenest interest and anxiety in England at the time; and the problems and mysteries of those years, never unravelled to this day, never with any certainty to be unravelled at
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
ELIZABETH (iii), 1568-72—THE CATHOLIC CHALLENGE [Sidenote: 1568 May, Elizabeth and Mary] Before crossing the Solway, Mary wrote to Elizabeth throwing herself on her hospitality. She followed hard on the heels of her missive, and awaited the reply at Carlisle, where the Catholic gentlemen of the North rallied to receive her. The situation indeed was a singularly embarrassing one for the English Queen. Mary claimed in fact that Elizabeth should either restore her, or allow her to appeal to those w
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
ELIZABETH (iv), 1572-78—VARIUM ET MUTABILE [Sidenote: The Queen's diplomacy] The picture of Elizabeth and of her surroundings hitherto presented in these pages has been one which rouses rather a reluctant admiration for a combination of good fortune and dexterity than a moral enthusiasm. Statesmen, in fact, had to pick their way with such extreme wariness through such a labyrinth of intrigues that little play was permitted to their more generous instincts; and it is undeniable that Elizabeth her
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CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
ELIZABETH (v), 1558-78-IRISH AND ENGLISH [Sidenote: 1549-58] The Deputyship of Bellingham in Ireland, which terminated just before the fall of Somerset, left the Irish chiefs in a state of angry discontent. As inaugurating a system of severe but consistent government, Bellingham's rule might have been valuable; as matters stood, no doubt he gave the Irish what is commonly called a lesson— from which nothing was learnt. If the Geraldines—Kildare and Desmond— of the South, the O'Neills and O'Donne
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CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
ELIZABETH (vi), 1578-83—THE PAPAL ATTACK [Sidenote: Union of Utrecht 1579] The presence of Alexander of Parma in the Netherlands soon resulted in a definite division between the seven northern and the ten southern States. The latter, Catholic themselves, were not inclined to hold out for religious liberty. The rest, being Protestant, and realising that, while William of Orange lived, two at least, Holland and Zealand, would hold out to the very death, resolved to stand together; combining, under
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CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
ELIZABETH (vii), 1583-87—THE END OF QUEEN MARY [Sidenote: 1583 The Throgmorton Conspiracy] The collapse of Alençon was the precursor of a comprehensive conspiracy. Before the Raid of Ruthven (August 1582), the Guise faction in France had contemplated a descent on Scotland in conjunction with Lennox's friends there, with a view of course to raising England in favour of Mary. Alençon's relations with Elizabeth had not made the French King or his mother, neither of whom loved the Guises, particular
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CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
ELIZABETH (viii), 1558-87—THE SEAMEN As before we postponed the story of Ireland, in order to give a consecutive narrative down to the point at which the interaction of Irish and English affairs became marked and definite, so we have hitherto deferred consideration of the most tremendous factor in the Elizabethan evolution, the development of the Island nation into the greatest Ocean Power in the world. The charter of the Queen of the Seas was drawn by the Tudor seamen, and received its seal whe
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CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
ELIZABETH (ix), 1587-88—THE ARMADA [Sidenote: 1587 Results of Mary's Death] If Mary Stewart displayed the most royal side of her character in the hour of her doom, Elizabeth displayed the least royal side of hers in the weeks that followed. She disavowed Davison's act, disgraced him, sent him to the Tower; she would have had him tried for treason but that the judges declared emphatically that the charge could not hold water. She was obliged to be content with the infliction of a heavy fine, and
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CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
ELIZABETH (x), 1588-98-BRITANNIA VICTRIX [Sidenote: After the Armada] The sceptre had passed. The world awoke suddenly to the truth of which the great debacle was only the unexpected testimony. The Spanish People were slow to realise the overwhelming fact—overwhelming, because for the best part of a century at least they had accounted themselves the nation favoured by Heaven, chosen for the crushing of the heathen and the heretic, assured of victory. So, for a few years, had the English thought
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CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVI
ELIZABETH (xi), 1598-1603-THE QUEEN'S LAST YEARS [Sidenote: A new generation] By Burghley's death, Elizabeth was left alone, reft of all her earlier counsellors. Nicholas Bacon had died as far back as 1579, Leicester in 1588, Walsingham in 1590, her kinsmen Knollys and Hunsdon—less prominent, but of sober weight—more recently. Except Howard of Effingham (created Earl of Nottingham after the Cadiz expedition), Burghley was the last; and their sombre antagonist of forty years had followed him in a
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CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
ELIZABETH (xii), 1558-1603—LITERATURE The Elizabethan Literature demands from the general Historian something more than the incidental references which may suffice in other periods. In earlier days, he may draw upon Piers Plowman or Chaucer for evidence and illustrations of the prevalent social conditions; in the century following he may appeal to Milton and Bunyan to elucidate aspects of Puritanism. But the Elizabethan literature is in a degree quite unique, the expression of the whole spirit o
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CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXVIII
ELIZABETH (xiii), 1558-1603—ASPECTS OF THE REIGN [Sidenote: Features of the Reign] The reign of Elizabeth may be said to have been distinguished primarily by three leading features. The first is the development and establishment of England as the greatest maritime power in the world, a process which has been traced with some fulness. The second is that sudden and amazing outburst of literary genius in the latter half, and mainly in the last quarter, of the reign, for which there is no historical
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APPENDICES
APPENDICES
A. TABLES. i. Contemporary Rulers, 1475-1542. ii. Do. do., 1542-1603. iii. Genealogy of Lennox Stewarts. iv. Genealogy of Howards and Boleyns. v. House of Habsburg. vi. Houses of Valois and Bourbon. vii. House of Guise. B. Claims to the English Throne. C. The Queen of Scots. D. Bibliography. [Tables omitted] When Henry of Richmond was hailed king of England on Bosworth Field, the principles and the practice of succession to the English throne were in a state of chaos; as far
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HENRY VII CONTEMPORARY
HENRY VII CONTEMPORARY
André, Bernard, De Vita atque gestis Henrici Septimi , and Annales Henrici Septimi (to be found in Gairdner's Memorials, infra ). André was the court historiographer, and was blind. Honest, but not altogether trustworthy, or adequate. Fabyan, Robert, New Chronicles of England and France , (supplement), ed. Ellis: and London Chronicle : both, in their present form, probably summaries from the original record compiled by Fabyan as the events took place; upon which original it would seem that both
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B. CHRONICLES AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS
B. CHRONICLES AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Buchanan, History of Scotland . Foxe, Acts and Monuments . Holinshed, Chronicle . Knox, History of the Reformation . Lyndsay of Pitscottie, Historie of Scotland . Literary Remains of Edward VI., Ed. Nichols. Pole, Reginald, Epistolae . Sanders, Nicholas, History of the Anglican Schism . Smith, Sir T., De Republica Anglorum As for Henry VIII. Armstrong, E., Charles V. Dicey, A. V., The Privy Council . Froude, J. A., History of England . In this and the next reign, Mr. Froude is much less erratic.
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