Elizabeth’s Accession and Coronation (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes
Elizabeth's Accession and Coronation
The context of Elizabeth's accession
Historical narratives often present Elizabeth's accession in November 1558 as an occasion of universal celebration. While many people did welcome the end of Mary's reign with considerable relief, the reality was more complex.
The Tudor Myth vs Historical Reality
The traditional narrative suggests Elizabeth's accession was met with unreserved joy throughout England. However, contemporary evidence reveals a more nuanced picture. From 1576 onwards, the date of Elizabeth's accession was observed as a public holiday, and it later gained recognition as a holy day - but this retrospective celebration doesn't fully capture the uncertainty and anxiety that existed in 1558.
Though Mary's death brought relief to many, particularly Protestants who had endured persecution, Elizabeth inherited a realm beset by multiple and interconnected problems.
Critical Challenges Facing England in 1558
England faced immediate challenges across several areas:
- Religious division following years of rapid change under Edward VI and Mary I
- Foreign policy complications, with wars against France and Scotland
- Economic difficulties including inflation and disrupted trade
- Domestic disorder and weak law enforcement
- The unresolved question of the succession
These problems were compounded by rising prices and economic recessions in the cloth trade. Without a husband or heir, Elizabeth's position appeared vulnerable, raising concerns about the long-term stability of the Tudor dynasty.
England's condition in 1558
Contemporary observers held differing views about England's strength and prospects. Some writers portrayed the realm as dangerously weak and vulnerable, while others saw resilience beneath apparent weakness.
Primary Source Evidence: Armigal Waad's Assessment
Armigal Waad, Clerk to the Privy Council, summarised the government's concerns in a memorandum describing a country in severe difficulty:
- The Crown lacked money, and the realm appeared exhausted
- The nobility had declined in wealth and influence
- England suffered from a shortage of experienced military commanders and soldiers
- Social order had broken down, with justice failing to operate effectively
- Economic problems were widespread, with high prices affecting all goods
- The realm faced simultaneous conflicts with both France and Scotland
- French forces occupied Calais and maintained a presence in Scotland, creating what Waad described as an enemy with "one foot in Calais and the other in Scotland"
- Diplomatic relations offered no comfort, with France representing a direct threat
However, this pessimistic assessment was not universally shared. Sir Thomas Smith, a Protestant who served as one of Elizabeth's councillors, wrote in 1560 offering a contrasting perspective. He claimed never to have witnessed England in a weaker condition in terms of military strength, financial resources, and wealth. Yet he also expressed confidence in his countrymen's ability to respond. Smith recalled that when called to serve, Englishmen proved capable warriors despite their peacetime pursuits. He described domestic conditions before mobilisation as chaotic: "at home was nothing but fining, heading, hanging, quartering and burning; taxing, levying, and beggaring; and foisting our strongholds abroad."
Interpreting Conflicting Sources
These sources present tension between perceived weakness and resilience. The debate over England's condition in 1558 would prove relevant to assessments of Elizabeth's achievements during her early years as queen. Waad's memorandum emphasized immediate problems requiring urgent attention, while Smith's account, written two years into Elizabeth's reign, reflected both the difficulties and the potential for recovery.
Restructuring the Privy Council
Elizabeth approached the formation of her government with careful deliberation yet firm purpose. The timing of her accession worked in her favour: Cardinal Pole, Mary's chief adviser, died on the same day as the queen. This allowed Elizabeth greater freedom in selecting her advisers without immediate pressure to retain Marian councillors.
The Privy Council under Mary had expanded to between 40 and 50 members, a size that made effective decision-making difficult. Elizabeth determined to establish a smaller, more manageable council. She showed preference for individuals who had demonstrated loyalty to the Tudor dynasty, either through personal service to her or through membership of established families with records of royal service.
Strategic Reduction of the Privy Council
Elizabeth's decision to reduce the Privy Council size was a calculated political move:
- A smaller council enabled more efficient decision-making
- Selecting loyal Tudor supporters reduced potential opposition
- Appointing professional administrators ensured competent governance
- The strategy of retaining some Marian councillors provided valuable continuity while signaling that loyalty would be rewarded regardless of past service
This approach enabled her to construct a core group of professional administrators who earned her trust and consequently served for extended periods.
Of Mary's Privy Councillors, 11 out of 30 received reappointment. The most notable continuity came with the Marquess of Winchester, who retained his position as Lord Treasurer. Winchester had held this office since 1550 and had therefore served under two previous monarchs. His reappointment demonstrated Elizabeth's pragmatism in retaining experienced financial administrators regardless of their religious position.
Elizabeth appointed nine new councillors, with the most important being Sir William Cecil, aged 38, as her Principal Secretary. This appointment would prove one of the most consequential decisions of her reign; Cecil served Elizabeth for the next 40 years until his death. His brother-in-law, Sir Nicholas Bacon, received appointment as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, an office that combined administrative and judicial functions.
These appointments established the administrative framework through which Elizabeth would govern. The smaller council size and careful selection of loyal, capable men provided her with an effective instrument for policy-making and implementation.
The coronation of January 1559
Elizabeth's coronation in January 1559 served as an elaborate public demonstration of her authority and legitimacy. The ceremony stood in deliberate contrast to Mary's coronation, which had been characterised by restraint and limited applause, with some contemporary accounts noting jeering from the crowd.
The new queen received an enthusiastic welcome during her procession through the City of London. Citizens greeted her with speeches and pageants, most incorporating a distinctly Protestant tone. Elizabeth presented herself as open and welcoming in both manner and demeanour, which pleased the crowds who witnessed the spectacle. On 15 January 1559, Owen Oglethorpe, the Catholic bishop of Carlisle, crowned Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey. She then emerged from the Abbey to greet the people amidst loud celebration featuring musical instruments and drums.
Historical Account: The Splendour of the Coronation
The historian Neville Williams described the coronation's splendour in his 1971 biography, emphasizing the extraordinary expense and magnificence:
Elizabeth's Ceremonial Robes:
- On the eve of the coronation, travelling in procession through London, she wore a gown made from 23 yards of gold and silver fabric with trimmings and lace made of silk and gold
- During the coronation ceremony itself, she changed her robes twice
- Her parliament robe consisted of crimson velvet with a fur trim of powdered ermine
- Her Robes of State used purple velvet
- For the procession to the Abbey, she wore a hat of crimson velvet embroidered with Venetian gold and pearls
Significance: Williams observed that while Elizabeth had received unfavourable commentary from some historians regarding parsimony, nothing was withheld at her coronation. All ceremonial elements were newly manufactured for the occasion.
The Political Purpose of Coronation Splendour
The scale and expense of the coronation served both symbolic and practical purposes:
- It demonstrated the new regime's confidence and resources
- It provided an occasion for public celebration and displays of loyalty
- The Protestant elements in the pageants signaled the religious direction of the new reign
- The contrast with Mary's restrained ceremony emphasized a break with the immediate past
While few people could witness the actual crowning ceremony, countless Londoners and visitors observed the various processions and public spectacles connected to the event. This public engagement was crucial for establishing Elizabeth's legitimacy and popularity in the capital.
Key Points to Remember:
- Elizabeth inherited a realm facing multiple interconnected problems: religious division, foreign wars with France and Scotland, economic difficulties, and an unresolved succession
- Contemporary sources disagreed about England's condition in 1558, with Armigal Waad emphasising weakness and exhaustion while Sir Thomas Smith expressed confidence in English resilience
- Elizabeth strategically reduced the Privy Council from 40-50 members to a smaller, more effective body, selecting loyal administrators including Sir William Cecil (Principal Secretary, aged 38, served 40 years) and Sir Nicholas Bacon (Lord Keeper)
- The January 1559 coronation was deliberately elaborate and public, contrasting with Mary's restrained ceremony and incorporating Protestant elements to consolidate Elizabeth's position
- The appointments of experienced administrators like the Marquess of Winchester (who continued as Lord Treasurer from 1550) provided valuable continuity alongside new Protestant advisers
- Only 11 out of 30 of Mary's Privy Councillors received reappointment, demonstrating Elizabeth's careful balance between change and continuity