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Mary Queen of Scots Vs. Elizabeth I: Manipulating Or Manipulated Bachelor’S Diploma Thesis

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Mary Queen of Scots Vs. Elizabeth I: Manipulating Or Manipulated Bachelor’S Diploma Thesis Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies English Language and Literature Martina Jelínková Mary Queen of Scots vs. Elizabeth I: Manipulating or Manipulated Bachelor’s Diploma Thesis Supervisor: PhDr. Lidia Kyzlinková, CSc., M.Litt. 2013 I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently, using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography. …………………………………………….. Martina Jelínková Acknowledgement I wish to express my gratitude to PhDr. Lidia Kyzlinková, CSc., M.Litt. for her invaluable advice and the time she dedicated to supervision of this thesis. I would also like to thank my friends for their support and encouragement. Table of Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................... 2 2. Historical Background ......................................................................... 4 2.1 Introduction to the Political Situation before Mary’s Accession ..... 4 2.2 Mary Queen of Scots: Matrimonial Alliances and Claims .............. 6 2.3 Negative Queenhood and Knox ...................................................... 9 3. Mary vs. Elizabeth ............................................................................. 13 3.1 The Mysterious Case of Amy Robsart .......................................... 13 3.2 The Murder of Lord Darnley ........................................................ 19 4. Fictional Representation: Fiction and Faction .................................... 28 5. Conclusion ......................................................................................... 36 6. Works Cited ....................................................................................... 41 7. Résumé .............................................................................................. 46 8. Resumé .............................................................................................. 47 1 1. Introduction Sixteenth century England experienced a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the Age of Queens. The decisive power of the country was placed in women’s hands and their reigns were watched with a reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, the main aim of this thesis is not primarily to defend women’s right to rule; on the contrary, it is to analyse the primary aspects undermining the power of the Queens, of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, both of whom were engaged in a protracted struggle for the English throne. Beside the legitimacy of their claims, there are more significant considerations which predestined them to either increase or lose their power. The rule and attitudes of the two monarchs bore significant influence upon the times in which they lived, including social, political and legal precedents which were being challenged and in some cases reversed. A closer analytical comparison is drawn between the actions of the two Queens during the most critical moments of their personal lives which resulted in a far-reaching political impact. Specifically, the analysis is concerned with the scandal that emerged on the political scene in England after Amy Robsart, the wife of Elizabeth’s alleged favourite lover, died. And broad hints appeared about the contextualization with a conspicuously similar affair surrounding Mary Queen of Scots after the death of her husband and King, Henry Darnley. These behavioural patterns, whilst often overlooked in historical reconstructions, were seen to be demonstrative of the political competence. The aforementioned examination is preceded by an outline of historical background to provide a general notion of the predicating circumstances which surrounded this particular phase in history. It includes the prejudicial anti-Catholic and anti-feminist sermons of the Protestant leader, John Knox, who was at the centre of a contentious debate regarding the ruling women and queenhood. 2 In the last chapter, a parallel analysis is based upon interpretations in the novels by two prominent contemporary writers, Royal Road to Fotheringay (1955) by Jean Plaidy (1906-1993) and Mary Queen of Scots and the Isles (1992) by Margaret George (born 1943). It is taken into account that the authors of historical novels and those of biographies base their research of many of the same texts of which there is a limited number. This does however still offer a reasonable possibility of different interpretations. Methodically, the present work proposes a systematic exploration of the selected aspects cardinal for a successful female ruler in male surroundings, with particular relevance to enticements that women, for innate reasons, are inclined towards. Subsequently, the crucial moments of this complex phenomenon are minutely examined within its fictional illustrations. 3 2. Historical Background Since the principle figure of this work is Mary Queen of Scots, her life is sketched in greater detail. Her contemporary, Elizabeth I, which cannot be left out is accentuated only in crucial moments of the course of events in the British Isles with the emphasis on her intervention in Scottish affairs. 2.1 Introduction to the Political Situation before Mary’s Accession Prior to Mary’s birth, her father, James V, managed to keep the country strong despite facing a constant threat from England. According to Roger Mason, he encountered a difficult situation in Scotland after the defeat at Flodden when the country was challenged by uneasiness (98-104). Although believed to be severe, vindictive and sadistic, James V proved to be a competent renaissance ruler since he managed to restore the authority of the Scottish crown, uplift the kingdom and stay favourably disposed to cultural influences (101). The Scots then believed that Scotland was an empire comparable to other European monarchies (98). By his marriage to Madeleine of Valois and, after Madeleine’s death, to Marie de Guise, James V also strengthened the so-called ‘Auld Alliance’ concluded between Scotland and France in 1295 (Bonner, “Naturalization” 1085-6). However, according to Godefroy, this strategic alliance may be dated even back to Achaius 65th King of Scotland and the alliance he formed with Charlemagne in the 9th century (qtd. in Bonner, “Auld Alliance” 7). Thus, the treaty brought significant benefits to the countries over several centuries, under the condition that “neither the French nor the Scots would make a separate peace with England” (Boner, “Auld Alliance” 11), rendering the later Henry VIII’s marriage proposal unattainable. Altogether, James’s rule posed a serious jeopardy to England as he strengthened the Scottish position inside the British Isles by aptly managing his 4 country and supporting an alliance that eventually forestalled Henry VIII’s plans to seize Scotland. The stability of the alliance between Scotland and France remained untouched during the time of Henry VIII’s reign in spite of his attempts to achieve the opposite. After James V’s death, Henry tried to avail himself of the opportunity to finally reunite Scotland and England through the betrothal of his heir, prince, Edward VI and Mary, the Queen of Scotland, born 8 December 1542, who was only six days old when she became the Queen of Scotland in 1542. Caroline Bingham adds that Mary’s betrothal to Edward as well as the peace between Scotland and England was negotiated and attained by the Treaty of Greenwich in July the following year (190). This concluded Treaty infringed the long-standing French-Scottish alliance and was perceived as a violent enforcement of the English ambitious political interests. Through George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, the first reference to coercion becoming known as a 'rough wooing' is revealed: “We lik’d not the manner of Wooing and me could not stoop to being Bully’d into Love [sic]” (qtd. in Abercromby lii). The marriage was proclaimed by Henry VIII to be an opportunity sent down by God in order to create the desired British union governed by a Protestant (Mason 106), thus an English sovereign. The Scottish regent James Hamilton, who was supposed to approve the proposed document, hesitated to do so since this strong pro-English campaign spread a pessimistic mood of resignation throughout Scotland with respect to the intense religious factions (Head 23). Twenty years later, words of a Scottish lawyer, Adam Otterburn, expressing the Scottish opinion of the marriage were reported: . though the Governor and some of the nobility have consented to the marriage yet I know that few or none of them do like of it; and our common people do utterly mislike of it. I pray you give me leave to ask 5 you a question: if your lad was a lass, and our lass were a lad, would you then be so earnest in this matter? . And lykewise I assure you that our nation will never agree to have an Englishman king of Scotland. And though the whole nobility of the realm would consent, yet our common people, and the stones in the street would rise and rebel against it. [sic] (Otteburn, qtd. in Strickland 16) Throughout Scotland, popular discontent was expressed about the repeated English attempts, and the tools chosen, to submit the rival country. Scotland set a defiance but manifested it more likely in a broad resignation than in open revolt, after the signing of the Treaty of Greenwich sealed the future union via Edward VI’s marriage to Mary Queen of Scots. 2.2 Mary Queen of Scots: Matrimonial Alliances and Claims Beauty so wonderful that it shed around her a charm which no one whom she wished to please could escape, and which was fatal to almost everyone. (Dumas
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