Elizabeth and marriage Elizabeth never intended to marry (Haigh) vs. Elizabeth recognised her duty to marry and produce a Tudor successor but never found the right political suitor (Doran). Xenophobic attitudes The attitude of the English public played a large role in Eliz’s decision not to marry. Potential foreign suitors – Charles of Austria (religion), Philip II of Spain (religion), Eric of Sweden (, Francis of Alencon. The fears were of a take over of the government by councillors and gentry from the country her husband would be from. Fears that England would be drafted into foreign wars and into foreign policy issues of the foreign husband’s country. Fears that Eliz’s husband would have a heavily influential affect over Eliz and he policies (contemporary ideas of gender at the time). Fears that Elizabeth would not be in the country as have to live abroad leaving a regency, and therefore less powerful or secure government of England – look at what happened under Edward. Evaluation: Although there were fears because of Mary’s marriage to Philip II of Spain, in reality the Marriage Treaty did alleviate the xenophobic fears and there is little evidence that Philip influenced Mary’s that her policies changed from what she originally wanted. Judgement: The contemporary fears never went away throughout marriage negotiations and came primarily from the view of a female monarch. In reality Eliz was a politique and as such had no choice but to recognise the public fears. Although the reality of the Marriage Treaty meant all the xenophobic fears had no impact on policy, at the time both the Privy Council and Parliament was fearful of the impact. Eliz had every intention of marrying however due to the lack of support of all foreign matches she had no choice but to reject all foreign matches.

Privy Council: The support of the PC was vital to Eliz and something she was not prepared to risk in order the keep her govt strong and stable. Dudley was not an option due to the scandal surrounding his wife’s death and that factional rivalry from Cecil’s faction were advising Eliz not to marry a subject – but mainly because they were concerned about the rise in power and authority Dudley may have. As the majority of her Privy Council were not in favour of a Dudley marriage, Eliz rejected it. The Council could not agree also on Charles of Austria mainly because of his religion. The first negotiation with Alencon came to an end following the massacre of St Bartholomews Day in 1572 with all of the PC in agreement. The 2nd negotiations brought a different reason for rejection by the PC – by this point the issue of succession was no longer pressing as Eliz was older and there was far less chance of her being able to have a child. The PC discussed marriage suitors for political reasons, but the xenophobic attitudes arose again and the PC were very concerned about the imbalance of power that may well come with a French match. In reaction to theses fears combined with Eliz’s support for the marriage and interest in it, Cecil and Dudley organised a printer – John Stubbs – to produce pamphlets criticising the proposed match – mocking Eliz for marrying a much younger man and advertising xeonophobic fears meant public opinion turned very much against the match meaning Eliz, along with the lack of support of the PC, finally rejected the French match. Eval: The support of the PC was valuable to Eliz throughout her reign and the French match may also have been a reaction to Dudley’s marriage and the fact that Eliz’s vanity was used by the French. Judgement: Eliz intended to marry which can be shown by the serious attention a number of foreign matches received, and that the 2nd French match was taken so seriously even when the option of children was no longer really valid. It is difficult to argue that Eliz never intended to marry when a number of these matches came very close to fruition and it was contextual politics which put an end to all matches.

Her past: Haigh would argue that events from Eliz’s past were reasons which contributed to her decision never to marry. Psychological impact of her father’s marriages and the execution of her own mother made Eliz not want to marry given all the negative experiences. Add to this the experience with Thomas Seymour and his influence and control over her as a teenager. Eval: Only three when mother executed, under 10 when Henry married other wives. Execution was the ‘norm’ for the time – be careful not to judge her by 21st century psychology. The relationship with Seymour is only speculative. Judgement: Although Eliz had a number of difficult experiences when younger, a decision by her not to marry at all goes against her political nature. It is easy to judge her reaction to childhood experiences as a reaction to 21st century but in the context of Eliz’s political awareness it seems more likely that she did intend to marry if and when the right political suitor was found.