The History Of England

The final years of Elizabeth's reign inevitably have the sense of the end of an era; she retreated to her chambers, court was no longer the attraction it had been, dearth stalked the land. But her reign had seen such changes as would deeply influence England's future.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Crime in England saw a sharp growth between the 1580s and 1640s; and the hand of justice lay heavy. But at the same time was forged a system of local and royal governance that was deeply participatory, was trusted by most and delivered social stability  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The last 15-20 years of Elizabeth's reign have been described as the Golden Age. It's a description that might have seemed incomprehensible to many of the people that lived through it; but it did see the completion of Europe's first comprehensive state system of poor relief.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Ulster near the end of the 16th century, it appeared that Elizabeth could reply at least on one of her favoured Irish subjects - Hugh O'Neill, Baron of Dungannon and Earl of Tyrone. But O'Neill was becoming increasingly disenchanted with English rule.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry IV of France, regarded as one of France's greatest leaders, looks for way to bring peace and unity to his divided country, while England and Spain trade blows. And the story of Grainne Ni Mhaille, aka Grace O'Malley.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The defeat of the Armada feels in retrospect like a watershed in Elizabeth's reign; many of her closest advisers and companions died, and for the remainder of her reign England would be at war. Much of that war was fought on land, contrary to the normal story.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the Armada sailed serenely up the Channel, the English tried desperately to make some impression before it reached Flanders. But Medina Sidonia had worries of his own...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Great Armada was do to sail in 1587; but Elizabeth had other ideas. By in May 1588 the Duke of Medina Sidonia led his fleet of 130 ships down the Tagus towards the open sea - and the Enterprise of England was on.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From a desk in a small suite of rooms in El Escorial Philip II ran a vast colonial empire. With France torn by civil war, war against the Dutch improving, thoughts turned to the Enterprise of England  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

By the mid 1580's Mary was at her wits' end - feeling betrayed by her son, 18 years of incarceration, beset by a unsympathetic jailer. She would listen to anything to escape - and then came Gilbert Gifford and Anthony Babbington  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a time of existential and moral threat, the English state developed a network of informants and spies at home and abroad. While Catholics tried to steer a path through the demands for loyalty from both Queen and Pope.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

By the 1580s, the confessional lines between Protestant and Catholic were increasingly strongly drawn; repressive legislation increased, and the English College was established to renew the stock of priests able to support the Catholic population in England  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Elizabeth set her face against further reform, against pressures from within the church and without; in her view, hers was a Godly church. How far did her church resist Puritanism and embed itself in the life of ordinary people?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A host of Elizabeth explorers explored the world in the late Elizabethan reign. Did they achieve anything, or were there efforts a false start?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For a couple of years in the mid 1570s Elizabeth nixed proposed exploration projects for fear of Spain. At the same time she was discussing a secret voyage with a select group of Councillors - not west or north this time - but southwards  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Together the Elizabethan explorers, and authors like John Dee and Richard Hakluyt built excitement about the possibilities of global exploration. Francis Drake gave it expression.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From 1578 to 1582 the courts of France, Spain and England buzzed with the possibility of the latest office romance - between the Queen of England and Duke of Anjou. Was this classic Elizabethan distraction or an affair of the heart?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

By the 1580s, the English atrocities and the rebellion of James Fitzmaurice and the Earl of Desmond, Catholicism and its association with resistance ot English rule was clearly established. Events at Smerwick convinced the English that the foreign threat through Ireland w  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The later Tudors faced a choice in their policy towards Ireland - would they resign themselves to the old ways, ruling through the Old English with minimal control; or would they turn to outright conquest? In the 1560's Shane O'Neill demonstrated the weakness of Tudor power  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are many myths about the Elizabethan Navy, the idea of a world-beating tool that created an international Empire. It wasn't quite, and it didn't, at all. None the less Elizabethan's reign and innovations did change England from naval also-ran to Premier league.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.