Pamphlet Literature and the Anglo-Spanish War: a Study of Anti-Spanish Sentiment in England Between 1580 and 1590
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Pamphlet literature and the Anglo-Spanish war: A study of anti-Spanish sentiment in England between 1580 and 1590 Sara Bradley A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy This research programme was carried out in collaboration with the Midlands 3 Cities Doctoral Training Partnership September 2019 1 This work is the intellectual property of the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed in the owner(s) of the Intellectual Property Rights. 2 Abstract This thesis examines the role played by anti-Spanish sentiment in English pamphlet literature printed between 1580 and 1590. The study identifies the negative traits that were most commonly associated with the Spanish: dishonesty; brutality; cowardice and pride, exploring why these were regularly ascribed to them in the 1580s. Focusing on texts that were less than ninety-six pages in length, the thesis establishes that the pamphlets were accessible to a broad section of English society, suggesting that the ideas within were widely disseminated in late Tudor England. The investigation demonstrates that the anti-Spanish sentiment present in the texts was reflective of the political climate in England. After decades of amicable diplomacy, Anglo-Spanish relations deteriorated rapidly in the late 1570s. The project shows that this was instrumental in the development of English expansionism, as there was no longer the need to appease King Philip II, and much of the anti-Spanish sentiment at the start of the 1580s was aimed at encouraging investment in voyages of exploration. The study demonstrates that as relations worsened, leading to the declaration of war in 1585, the focus of anti-Spanish sentiment shifted. The introduction of ‘cowardice’ and ‘pride’ in the middle years of the decade suggests that the dissemination of Hispanophobic attitudes were intended to bolster English resolve as the threat posed by Spain grew. However, after the attack of the Armada, these negative traits were still being associated with the Spanish in pamphlets literature. The thesis explores why this was the case, establishing that texts about Spanish colonial success and English voyages of discovery, less prevalent in the middle years of the decade, were revived at the end of the 1580s. This project identifies a developing sense of an English identity between 1580 and 1590, built on colonial aspirations, conceived in opposition to the Spanish method of conquest and colonisation. 3 Conventions and Standardisations In all quotations the original spellings have been reproduced, modernising ‘i’ to ‘j’, ‘u’ to ‘v’, ‘vv’ to ‘w’ where relevant. Uses of long s (ʃ) have been modified to ‘s’. Common abbreviations such as ye and yt have been modernised in all cases. Pagination has been standardised: Br = B1r; Biir/B.ii.r = B2r, and so forth. Each pamphlet title has been reproduced in full in the first instance and shortened thereafter. These shortened versions have been silently capitalised in the text for clarity and readability. 4 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors, Amy Fuller and John McCallum, for their unerring belief in my ability to complete this project. Their positivity in meetings, and constructive comments, enabled me to achieve more than I could have imagined at the start of this journey. The process has been challenging, and at times overwhelming, and their understanding and encouragement made the tough times a little more bearable. I would also like to thank Jeremy Lawrance for his advice and guidance, especially in the early stages of the project. Thank you to Nottingham Trent University’s fantastic History department. From my first lecture as an undergraduate, I have been inspired by the knowledge and dedication of the faculty. Further thanks go to my long-suffering husband and son, Michael and Logan. There have been late nights, early mornings, tears, tantrums, and on rare occasions elation and pride. They have allowed me to follow this dream, supported me, picked me up when I floundered and celebrated each milestone with me. I am eternally grateful for their love and support throughout this process. Finally, I’d like to thank Rowan Atkinson. Without Lord Blackadder, my obsession with Elizabethan England may never have been born! 5 Contents Abstract 3 Conventions and Standardisations 4 Acknowledgements 5 Contents 6 List of Figures 8 Introduction 9 Background ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Literature Review ................................................................................................................................... 21 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 1 Anti-Spanish sentiment in the development of English overseas aspirations 62 Dishonesty .............................................................................................................................................. 64 Exploration and Navigation ................................................................................................................... 90 Brutality ............................................................................................................................................... 105 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 119 Chapter 2: ‘Othering’ the enemy 122 Navigation and Exploration ................................................................................................................. 124 Pride ..................................................................................................................................................... 134 Dishonesty ............................................................................................................................................ 142 Brutality ............................................................................................................................................... 150 Cowardice ............................................................................................................................................ 156 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 167 Chapter 3 – A necessary national narrative 170 Cowardice ............................................................................................................................................ 173 Brutality ............................................................................................................................................... 192 Dishonesty ............................................................................................................................................ 206 Pride ..................................................................................................................................................... 217 Navigation and Exploration ................................................................................................................. 221 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 224 Chapter Four: Towards an English Empire 227 6 Dishonesty ............................................................................................................................................ 230 Pride ..................................................................................................................................................... 243 Cowardice ............................................................................................................................................ 261 Brutality ............................................................................................................................................... 279 Navigation and Exploration ................................................................................................................. 283 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 285 Conclusion 287 Bibliography - Primary Sources 298 Bibliography – Secondary Sources 303 7 List of Figures Fig. 1: The discoverie and conquest of the provinces of Peru - Title page 100 Fig. 2: The discoverie and conquest of the provinces of Peru - Frontispiece 101 Fig. 3: The heroicall deuises of M. Claudius Paradin -The Waspes 264 8 Introduction This thesis will investigate how the anti-Spanish rhetoric found in pamphlet literature printed in the 1580s demonstrates that the English idea of ‘self’ was constructed in opposition to the Spanish ‘other’ by exploring how the growing hostilities between the two countries was reflected in these short texts. By analysing the pamphlets produced between 1580 and 1590 this thesis will demonstrate