Elizabethan foreign policy was very much the policy of Queen Elizabeth l herself. It was not foreplanned, envisaged whole in advance. It was built up out of her responses to questions and problems posed by her relations with neighboring and, in the case of France and Spain, far more powerful countries. The responses, inspired by consistant instincts and opinions concerning her own country's true interests, grew into a coherent policy.

Elizabethan foreign policy was very much the policy of Queen Elizabeth l herself. It was not foreplanned, envisaged whole in advance. It was built up out of her responses to questions and problems posed by her relations with neighboring and, in the case of France and Spain, far more powerful countries. The responses, inspired by consistant instincts and opinions concerning her own country's true interests, grew into a coherent policy.

At her accession in 1558 Elizabeth I inherited a troublesome legacy with a long history of wars against France and Scotland. This international situation was becoming a huge financial burden on the English crown and economy. Elizabeth I and Foreign Policy describes and assesses England's foreign policy during the second half of the sixteenth century. It includes coverage of Elizabeth's relations with foreign powers, the effect of Reformation on foreign affairs, Elizabeth's successs as a stateswoman and the war with Spain.

Acclaimed for their dramatic rendering of the personalities and forces that shaped Elizabethan politics, Wallace T. MacCaffrey's three volumes thoroughly chronicle the Queen's decision making throughout her reign in a way that combines pleasurable reading with subtle analysis. Together in paperback for the first time, these books will find a wide readership among those interested in debunking Elizabeth's many mythic images and in following the steps of Elizabethan policy-makers as they grapple with the most crucial political problems of their day. To determine how policy evolved from the interaction between Elizabeth and her councillors from 1572 to the Armada in 1588, MacCaffrey begins with domestic affairs, focusing on the central problem of religious dissent, both Protestant and Catholic. Turning to foreign affairs, he then examines England's external relations with the Continental monarchies and Scotland. Lastly, he analyzes the two focuses of decision making, the Court and Parliament. Originally published in 1981. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, University of Hannover (Englisches Seminar ), course: Einführungsseminar: Literaturwissenschaft, language: English, abstract: This assignment should give an overview of the most important events during the time of Elizabeth as the Queen of England - the Elizabethan Age. At first it must be said that it is only possible to give a survey of the most decisive aspects and facets of this long period which was of such detail that it cannot be captured in full detail in a rather short assignment. Thus, I will concentrate on the most significant chapters of Elizabeth’s life and her time. When working on the subject of the Elizabethan Age, it becomes obvious that the reign of Elizabeth I. is not clearly distinguishable from the years before. Thus, it is necessary to take a brief look on the family background in order to understand Elizabeth’s life, her attitude and position in life. Here it is also important to shed light on her childhood and her position at court as an illegitimate child of Henry VIII.. Although historians still argue about Elizabeth’s own attitude towards religion and religious beliefs, it is known that she was hated by the Catholics but fully and truly loved by the Protestants. In order to shed light on the religious conflicts of the 16thcentury, an analysis requires a detailed description of Elizabeth’s policy with regard to the conflict between Protestants and Catholics, but also her own religious belief and her motives for the establishment of the state church in England. As the policy concerning religious interests is closely linked to the home affairs of England during Elizabeth’s reign, this assignment will take a look on Elizabeth’s policy which helped England to rise again from the economical and political valley in which it was brought by her ancestors. In addition to that, England’s role in Europe between 1558 and 1603 should be emphasized and therefore I will also analyse Elizabeth’s foreign policy and its consequences for England’s position in Europe as well as the consequences for the European continent in general. Closely linked to this aspect is the difficult relationship between Elizabeth and Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scotland. Mary has always been considered as a threat or a rival for Elizabeth and it is therefore important to recognize why Elizabeth in the end succeeded. When portraying the Elizabethan Age, it is furthermore important to shed light on the cultural and artistic life in England, in particular in England’s capital London. [...]

First published in 1936, this is a classic account of the reign of Elizabeth Tudor during the Sixteenth Century. The book provides a comprehensive account of the political, economic, social, literary, artistic, scientific, and cultural features that made it one of the richest periods in British history. It ranges from the Religious Settlement, England's relations with France, and the succession to Catholic and Puritan challenges to the establishment, the execution of Mary Stuart, the Armada, the Irish problem, and the later years of Elizabeth’s reign. “Professor Black brought to his task the knowledge and experience of a scholar who is a specialist in the period, the balance and wisdom of a philosophical mind, and the skill of a distinguished stylist. Need one be surprised that his book is not merely a first-rate text-book but a work which any serious-minded person will read with abounding pleasure.”—Sunday Times “This volume is one of those books which are so packed with information that its value can only be discovered in use. For those about to make a serious study of a difficult and complex period of English history it should be a most useful introduction, for Professor Black has the rare virtue of being impartial, even on the most controversial topics....The best advanced text-book of the Elizabethan period that has yet been written.”—Listener “Professor Black’s book is a solid achievement of sound and accurate scholarship, whose clearness of thought and balance in judgement make it a pleasure to read.”—Oxford Magazine “A most moderate, well-balanced, and ably written work, which should form a useful corrective to the many biased and unscholarly publications associated with the period it covers.”—Glasgow Herald