by John, Judith
SPENCER’S EPIC: THE FAERIE QUEENE
EDMUND SPENSER’S EPIC poem, first published in 1590, extols the virtues of the Elizabethan court that the Queen so enjoyed. She herself was famously represented by Gloriana – ‘great lady of the greatest isle’ – the Faerie Queene who symbolizes glory and beauty. We also see the rather more unflattering metaphor of Duessa (or duplicity), who represents Mary, Queen of Scots. The poem can be split into two groups of characters, with virtues largely symbolizing the Protestant church and vices being represented by the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and its servants. Even Henry VIII appears in the form of a lion, symbolizing honour. Depictions of Elizabeth as Gloriana show her to be forever young and beautiful – just how Elizabeth liked to be remembered!
One of the reasons for this large upsurge in creative output during Elizabeth’s reign is thought to be a result of the religious reforms away from Catholicism.
One of the reasons for this large upsurge in creative output during Elizabeth’s reign is thought to be a result of the religious reforms away from Catholicism. As the rituals of mass became less of a theatrical spectacle and many religious festivals were curtailed, people needed somewhere to go for enjoyment. That place soon became the theatre. While Elizabeth herself was never a confirmed patron of the arts like some of her court, she expected and received their adoration. The Queen was idolized forever by the poet Edmund Spenser, whose The Faerie Queene sees her as the goddess-like Gloriana, the adored dream-like woman that Arthur, the chivalric knight, wishes to marry. The Faerie Queene has interesting parallels with several members of court, plus other members of the Tudor family, and can be read as an allegory of English life in the sixteenth century, squarely on the side of the Queen and Protestantism.
Elizabeth was an avid lover of music, which she enjoyed playing herself. There was no way she could do without many of the beloved hymns sung during mass that were banned under Edward VI. The Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti was so influenced by the Tudors that he wrote operas based on their lives. One of these, Maria Stuarda, was in turn based on a play by Freidrich Schiller. It depicts a dramatic fictional meeting between Elizabeth and Mary, who in fact never met. Donizetti was by no means the only musician, artist or writer to be influenced by the lives of the Tudors. The family has inspired many novels, films, plays and television shows, one of the most notorious representations of Elizabeth being ‘Queenie’ in Blackadder II. There are even video games in which she makes an appearance!
The Warrior Queen, Virgin Queen or plain old ‘Bess’ is captured here in this lifelike effigy that adorns her tomb at Westminster Abbey, proof that even Faerie Queens cannot defy time forever.
This allegorical painting shows Henry VIII flanked by his children. Edward is handed the sword of justice. Mary and Philip, left, are with Mars, the God of War, while Elizabeth, right, brings Peace and Plenty to England, marking the end of discord.
Legacy
Elizabeth died on 24 March 1603. Finally naming her successor, James VI of Scotland became James I of England – the first monarch to simultaneously rule both countries. Unlike the happiness and relief exhibited at Mary I’s death, Elizabeth’s loyal subjects were saddened by the loss of their beloved monarch, knowing that their lives would not be the same after her death. She lies in Westminster Abbey near her relations, united in death as they could never be in life. Elizabeth certainly knew how to give her subjects what they wanted. These were by no means prosperous times, but the nation was able to share her love for spectacle by means of these pastimes. She had won their hearts a long time ago and showed an astounding ability to hold on to them. Affectionately remembered as Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth’s life is an astonishing account of fate, luck, power and personality.
Her place in history was assured even before her death. The mystery with which she led her life still intrigues even if the truth has died with her. Even as her story ends, Good Queen Bess and the entire Tudor family remain constant sources of interest, intrigue and fascination.
Instigating the rule of the Stuarts, King James I of England and James VI of Scotland is pictured here, painted by the Flemish artist Paul van Somer. James ruled Scotland, England and Ireland for 22 years, uniting Tudor rose with Scottish thistle.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ackroyd, Peter. The History of England: Volume II Tudors. Macmillan, 2012.
Bell, Ilona. Elizabeth I: The Voice of a Monarch. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
Doran, Susan. The Tudor Chronicles 1485–1603. Quercus, 2008.
Elton, G.R. England Under the Tudors. Routledge, 1991.
Jones, Philippa. The Other Tudors: Henry VIII’s Mistresses and Bastards. New Holland Publishers, 2009.
Loades, David. Mary Tudor: The Tragical History of the First Queen of England. National Archives, 2006.
Loades, David. The Tudors: History of a Dynasty. Continuum Books, 2012.
Loades, David and Trow, Mei. The Tudors for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
Penn, Thomas. Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England. Penguin, 2012.
Rex, Richard. Elizabeth: Fortune’s Bastard. Tempus Publishing, 2007.
Rex, Richard. The Tudors. Tempus Publishing Limited, 2005.
Ridley, Jasper. A Brief History of the Tudor Age. Robinson Publishing, 2002.
Schama, Simon. A History of Britain: Volume I. Bodley Head, 2009.
Skidmore, Chris. Edward VI: The Lost King of England. Phoenix, 2008.
Starkey, David. Henry: Virtuous King. Harper Perennial, 2009.
Starkey, David. Monarchy: From the Middle Ages to Modernity. Harper Press, 2006.
Whitelock, Anna. Mary Tudor: England’s First Queen. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2009.
INDEX
References to illustrations are shown in italics
A
Act of Supremacy 60, 88
Act of Uniformity (1559) 166
Acts of Succession 71, 78, 99, 105, 125, 133
Amicable Grant 65
Anjou, Francis, Duke of 209–10, 210
Anne of Brittany 36
Anne of Cleeves 86, 86–8, 98
annulment of marriage 53–5, 59, 69, 71, 87, 87
Armada, Spanish 197, 197–202
Arthur, Prince (Henry VII’s son) 33, 34, 37, 39, 44, 47, 53
Aske, Robert 77
Ayton, Treaty of 31
B
Babington plot 186
banquets 106
Beaufort, Margaret 13, 23, 24, 24, 40, 67, 69
Bible 88, 89
blessing of the bed 131
Boleyn, Anne 56, 79, 98
alleged infidelities 72, 80, 82
children of 78
coronation of 73
courted by Henry VIII 55, 55–6, 58–9
and Cromwell, Thomas 72
downfall 72, 80, 82
enemies 72, 80
execution of 81, 82
life with Henry VIII 78–80
and Mary I 130–1
miscarriages 78
personality 78, 80
public’s attitude 58
trial of 80, 82
and Wolsey, Thomas 65, 78
Boleyn, Mary 56
Bond of Association 186–7
Bonner, Edmund 150, 152
Book of Common Prayer 111, 112, 166
Book of Martyrs 152, 154, 157
Bosworth, Battle of (1485) 19–20, 21–2
Brandon, Charles, Duke of Suffolk 33, 35
Brittany 14, 33
burning at the stake 150–1, 153, 153, 157
C
Cadiz 193–4, 195
Catherine of Aragon 47, 98
annulment of marriage 52–5, 59, 69, 71
banished from court 58–9
death of 78
and Flodden Field, Battle of 50–1
marries Henry VIII 44, 45, 47–8
marries Prince Arthur 33, 37, 44, 47
Catherine de Medici 116
Catherine of Valois 8
Catholicism see Roma
n Catholic Church
Cecil, Robert 206, 207–8
Cecil, William 166, 166, 168
Charles V of Spain 52, 54, 54, 59, 65, 135, 145
Charles VIII of France 16, 33, 36
Cheke, John 105
Church of England 54, 59–60, 63, 70, 71, 88, 111
circumnavigation of the globe 191–2, 192–3
Clement VII, Pope 53, 53–4, 58
clothes 173
coins 124, 125
Cornwall 28, 31
Courtenay, Edward 143, 146
Cox, Richard 105
Cranmer, Thomas 57, 59, 69–70, 82, 111, 112, 139–40, 140, 143
Cromwell, Thomas 70–2, 72, 88, 91
Culpepper, Thomas 92, 94, 94
customs duties 34
D
Darnley, Lord 170–5, 171, 174, 181
de la Pole, John, Earl of Lincoln 26–7
de Vere, John, Earl of Oxford 18, 22
death and disease 85
Denny, Anthony 112
Dereham, Francis 92, 94
Devereux, Robert 187, 199, 202, 207, 208, 208–9
Devise for the Succession 122, 124, 125
di Ridolfi, Roberto 183
Donizetti, Gaetano 214, 216
Drake, Francis 191–4, 193, 194
Dudley, Edmund 33, 38, 47
Dudley, Guildford 125
Dudley, John 112, 117, 118, 120–2, 122–3, 125, 138
Dudley, Robert 167, 167–8, 196–7, 199
E
Edward IV, King 10, 10, 14, 16, 23, 25, 31
Edward V, King 10, 11, 28
Edward VI, King 110
advisors 105, 107, 108–12, 117, 118, 120–2, 125
birth of 85
childhood 84, 102, 103, 105
coronation of 104, 106, 107
death of 125
and Dudley, John 120–2, 125
and Elizabeth I (his sister) 124, 163
finding successor to 123–5, 135, 137–8
and France 117
illness 123, 125
his legacy 126
and Mary I (his sister) 119–20, 123–4, 135, 137
and money 124, 125
plays greater role 123
and religion 105, 124, 126, 135
and Scotland 105, 113–14, 117
and Seymour, Edward 108–14, 117–18, 120
Edward of Westminster 9
Edward, Earl of Warwick 26, 31
Elizabeth I, Queen 158, 188, 190, 189, 199
and Cecil, Robert 207–8
childhood 96, 110, 159–61
claim to the throne 99, 124, 146
coronation of 164, 164–5
and Devereux, Robert 199, 208–9
and Drake, Francis 191–4, 193
and Dudley, Robert 167–8, 196–7, 199
and Edward VI (her brother) 124, 163
and France 169, 209–10
golden age 210–16
as Henry VIII’s daughter 78, 96, 99, 110
and Ireland 187
her legacy 216
and marriage 161, 162, 166–9, 209–10
and Mary I (her sister) 136–7, 146, 148, 154, 163–4
and Mary, Queen of Scots 169, 169–70, 178–9, 181–7
Nine Years War 187
and Parr, Catherine 160, 160
and Philip II of Spain 143, 196, 197, 198, 209
plots against her 183, 186–7, 207, 209
pre-queen days 159–64, 162
public’s attitude 163, 164, 189
and Raleigh, Walter 200, 202–3
religion 164, 166, 196, 197, 198, 214
and Scotland 169–70, 187
and Seymour, Thomas 96, 110, 160–1
and Shakespeare 213–14
and Spain 143, 191–202, 209
speech 201
her successor 216, 217
suitors 167–9, 209–10
tomb 154, 155, 215
in the Tower 162, 163
and Walsingham, Francis 204, 204, 207
Elizabeth of Valois 121, 123
Elizabeth of York (Queen of Henry VII) 22–3, 23, 26, 27, 34–5, 41, 48
Empson, Richard 33, 38, 47
enclosures 117–18
Erasmus, Desiderius 61
executions 68, 70, 81, 81, 82, 120–1, 122, 126, 138, 148, 185, 203
burning at the stake 150–1, 153, 153, 157
exploration 191–3, 202
F
Faerie Queene, The 214
family trees 7, 13, 43, 75, 103, 129, 159
Ferdinand II of Spain 48, 49
Field of the Cloth of Gold 51–2, 52–3
Fisher, John 67, 69, 70
Flodden Field, Battle of (1513) 50–1
food 106, 106–7
Foxe, John 152, 154, 157
France
Brittany 14, 33
Charles VIII of France 16, 33, 36
and Edward VI of England 117
and Elizabeth I of England 169, 209–10
Étaples, Treaty of 33
Field of the Cloth of Gold 51–2, 52–3
Francis, Duke of Anjou 209–10, 210
Francis I of France 51–2
Francis II of France 169
Francis II, Duke of Brittany 16
Henry II of France 114, 117, 121
and Henry VII of England 14, 16, 18, 31, 33
and Henry VIII of England 48, 50, 51–2, 52–3, 63–5
Louis XI of France 14
Louis XII of France 31, 33
and Mary I of England 149, 150–1
and Mary, Queen of Scots 186
Pavia, Battle of 61
Saint Quentin, Battle of 150–1
and Scotland 114, 117
Treaty of London 52
Francis, Duke of Anjou 209–10, 210
Francis I of France 51–2
Francis II of France 169
Francis II, Duke of Brittany 16
G
Gardiner, Stephen 108, 111, 139, 139
Germany 70, 86, 133
Globe Theatre 212, 212
Gloriana 214
golf 170, 170
Great Bible 88, 89
Greensleeves 91
Greenwich, Treaty of 105
Grey, Henry 146
Grey, Lady Jane 124–6, 127, 137–8, 138
Guernsey Martyrs 157
H
Hampton Court 64, 64–5, 66
Henry, Duke of Anjou 209
Henry II of France 114, 117, 121
Henry VI, King 6, 8–10
Henry VII, King 12, 14, 29, 38, 50
and Arthur (his son) 33, 34, 37, 39, 44, 47, 53
Bosworth, Battle of (1485) 19–20, 21–2
his children 31–3, 34, 37, 39, 44, 47, 53
claim to the throne 13, 17, 18
consolidating his power 22
death of 37, 40
and Dudley, Edmund 33, 38, 47
early life 14
and Empson, Richard 33, 38, 47
and France 14, 16, 18, 31, 33
invades England 18
leadership 22
his legacy 39
marriage 22–3, 23, 24, 26, 34–5
and money 33–4
his mother 13, 23, 24, 24, 40
overseas threats 33
personality 37
plots against him 26–9, 31
and Richard III 14, 16, 18, 19–20, 21–2
and Scotland 27–8, 31, 32, 37
snatches crown 16, 18, 19–20, 21–2
and Spain 33
tomb 41
Wars of the Roses 22–3
Welsh roots 18
Henry VIII, King 42, 90, 100
and Anne of Cleeves 86–8, 98
annulment of marriage 59, 65, 67, 69, 71, 87, 87
appearance 44
backlash against 75, 77
and Boleyn, Anne 55–6, 55, 56, 58–9, 78–82, 98
and Catherine of Aragon 44, 45, 47–8, 52–5, 58–9, 69, 71, 98
and C
atholic church 46, 47, 58, 59–60, 63, 63, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77–8, 88
childhood 43–4
his children 47–8, 78, 85, 96, 99, 105, 110, 114, 119–120, 129–31, 133, 134
and Cranmer, Thomas 57, 59, 69–70, 82
and Cromwell, Thomas 70–2, 88, 91
death of 100
and Edward (his son) 105, 114
and Elizabeth (his daughter) 78, 96, 99, 110
final weeks 113–14
and France 48, 50, 51–2, 52–3, 63–5
health 99–100
and Howard, Catherine 92–4, 98
and Mary (his daughter) 78, 85, 99, 119–120, 129–31, 133, 134
and Mary, Queen of Scots 105, 114
his mistresses 48, 56
and monasteries 63, 72
and money 63
and music 91
and Parr, Catherine 95–7, 98, 99
personality 43–4
Privy Council 97
public’s attitude 44, 50, 75, 77–8
and Scotland 50–1, 105, 113–14
and Seymour, Jane 85, 98
his sisters 33
and Spain 44, 48, 52, 61
and succession 63, 78, 99
tomb 101
wars 48, 50–1
his will 112
and Wolsey, Thomas 51, 62, 63–5, 70, 78
Henry, Lord Darnley 170–5, 171, 174, 181
Hepburn, James 175, 175, 177, 181
heresy 59, 70, 126, 149, 150, 152
burning at the stake 150–1, 153, 153, 157
laws renounced 166
Holbein, Hans 99, 99
Howard, Catherine 92, 93, 94, 94, 95, 96, 98
Howard, Thomas (Duke of Norfolk) 76, 76, 108, 183, 183
I
illness 85
Innocent VIII, Pope 22, 26
Ireland 26–7, 149, 187, 208, 209
Italian Wars (1521–26) 61
J
James I of England (James VI of Scotland) 216, 217
James IV of Scotland 28, 31, 50–1
James V of Scotland 31, 32
James VI of Scotland (James I of England) 216, 217