Preview

The Doubt Of Future Foes Exiles My Present Joy?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1723 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Doubt Of Future Foes Exiles My Present Joy?
Many Early Modern texts can be considered to be quite political in nature, and can be considered to mediate the political issues of the time in which they were written. The Early modern period was one of much political activity, with England being ruled by four different monarchs within a thirteen-year span. This thirteen-year span also saw many spiritual reformations, with the religion of the court changing just as often as the monarchs. This kind of political and religious unsettlement caused unsettlement within the population, which Elizabeth I addresses in her poem ‘The Doubt of Future Foes Exiles My Present Joy’, which would have been circulated publicly amongst her subjects. Elizabeth also caused discontentment within her own court by …show more content…
Elizabeth’s refusal to marry, and name an heir caused some discontent within her court, with many of her nobles attempting to court her, or competing for the queen’s favour. There was also the problem of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, who was seen by many English Catholics to be the rightful heir to the throne. Mary became the focus of several Catholic rebellions, which were taken very seriously by Elizabeth. Mary was detained in England by Elizabeth, and was eventually found to have plotted an assassination attempt on Elizabeth, for which she was beheaded. Another cause for concern of the queen was the threats of invasions from foreign shores, including the threats of Phillip II of Spain, and his Spanish …show more content…
In this poem, fortune could be seen as a reference to the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux, who was courting Elizabeth at the time, and could be seen to be one of her favourite nobles. Ralegh claims that, because “fortune”, or Devereux has taken her away, he is now out of her favour, and cannot succeed in her court, and so he says “Sorrow, henceforth that shalt my princess be.”
Ralegh also makes quite a subversive statement in this poem, by suggesting that the queen is easily swayed by fortune, while he remains loyal to only her;
“though Fortune conquer thee,
No Fortune base shall ever alter me.”(Ralegh,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How and Why Had Elizabeth’s Policy to Catholics Changed by 1581?
    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How and Why Had Elizabeth’s Policy to Catholics Changed by 1581?

    There were several plots, rebellions and other disastrous events that led to Elizabeth changing her policy towards Catholics. Many of these were set off by Mary, Queen of Scots’ arrival in England in May 1658 when she fled from Scotland. This strong Catholic provided a figurehead for English Catholics to rally around and her arrival triggered a number of rebellions and plots.…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    ABC s of the Renaissance
    • 1181 Words
    • 9 Pages

    ABC s of the Renaissance

    When Henry, a Tudor king, died, his daughter Mary took the throne.  Elizabeth l half sister and daughter of Henry, became queen after Mary's death. She wanted Catholics and Protestants to exist…

    • 1181 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mary Stuart Research Paper
    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mary Stuart Research Paper

    Mary was the youngest queens; she inherited her throne at only six days old. Although she did not start ruling her kingdom until the age of sixteen. Mary of born to King James V and Mary of guise. Her father died when she was only six days old. When this tragic event happened, King Henry VII saw an opportunity to unite England and Scotland; he wanted Mary to marry his son, Edward. The Scots despised the idea; they wanted Mary to marry A French prince, as they already had an alliance with France. Mary of Guise also approved this idea since she was French. King Henry VIII was furious and declared war with Scotland. English troop were coming so Mary’s mother decided to send her to her home country, France.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Extent Was Finance The Major Problem Facing Elizabeth I's Succession In 1558
    • 1755 Words
    • 8 Pages

    What Extent Was Finance The Major Problem Facing Elizabeth I's Succession In 1558

    Although the issue of illegitimacy threatened to remove Elizabeth from the throne, I believe finance was a bigger problem as it affected the entire population of England, no matter which religion they followed, unlike the illegitimacy problem, which primarily affected Catholics only. Gender was another large issue because of marriage and the threat of foreign royalty getting joint power over England and pulling England into their countries affairs and problems, which could lead to war. Similarly, the problem Elizabeth faced with Parliament not backing her was the prospect of a civil war breaking out. War seems to be a large factor which runs through most problems Elizabeth faced and it seems war was primarily a problem because of England’s failing finances. All these points ultimately make finance the major problem which Elizabeth faced on her succession in…

    • 1755 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Far Do You Agree That Wyatt’s Rebellion Was a Serious Threat to Mary’s Authority
    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Far Do You Agree That Wyatt’s Rebellion Was a Serious Threat to Mary’s Authority

    Mary’s ascension to the throne of England was marked with extraordinary political and religious circumstance: the return of Catholicism in England marshalled by Mary was a decision met with gratefulness and one that pleased many of those citizens supressed under the Tudor dynasty’s progressive and eventually full protestant stance. However, Mary’s gender meant that she couldn’t enjoy the same levels of independence and power as those wielded by her brother and father. Mary’s announcement that she intended to marry Philip II of Spain in 1554 divided her privy council into two distinct groups; one opposing her marriage, favouring the possible courter, Edward Courtenay (Earl of Devon), and the other, who supported the Spanish Monarch. The reasons for these split alliances were deeply ingrained in foreign policy, with those supporting Philip’s prospects seeking the advantages of a strong Anglo-Spanish alliance, and those against it fearing the consequences of a future hereditary Spanish claim to the English throne and a possible need to aid Spain in future conflict.…

    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Mary Declined To Attend Edward's Funeral
    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Mary Declined To Attend Edward's Funeral

    Charles V of Spain wanted to marry Mary to his child Philip II of Spain, who was also a Catholic, but before Philip travelled to England, it was a rebellion led by Thomas Wyatt against Mary. He had the intention to kill Mary and then crown Elizabeth. By this time Elizabeth was ordered to go to London fearing that she would be implicated in the rebellion, but despite the order, she did not go. There were rumours of Elizabeth supporting the revolt. Mary wanted to believe Elizabeth was guilty because, according to Abigail Archer, for Mary, Elizabeth represented a continuing threat.…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How serious a threat was Mary Queen of Scots to Elizabeth’s rule?
    • 1576 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How serious a threat was Mary Queen of Scots to Elizabeth’s rule?

    All substantial threats to Elizabeth’s position as Queen were symptoms of the tension between Catholicism and Protestantism. The threats posed by Mary Queen of Scots, as well as those of the Spanish Armada of 1588 and the war with Spain (which dominated the last twenty years of Elizabeth’s reign), were consequences of a Catholic desire to gain supremacy in England. However, the extent to which the Catholic threat was centred on Mary Queen of Scots is debateable. Whilst she was undoubtedly a figurehead for Catholic opposition to Elizabeth’s rule and was the monarchical figure around whom several treasonous plots were designed, there is much evidence for the view that Mary became a focal point for a Catholic threat that would have existed even if she had been absent. The extent to which the structure given to the Catholic cause by Mary’s presence strengthened the Catholic threat is also debateable. There were others who could have become the rallying point for Catholic opposition (as Philip II of Spain did after Mary’s death), although none had as good a claim to the throne as Mary. A great threat was presented by Catholic opposition to Elizabeth’s rule, but Mary’s influence over this, and therefore the threat that she posed as an individual, may be called into question.…

    • 1576 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Using These Four Passages and Our on Knowledge, Assess the View That the Roman Catholics Were a Serious Threat to Elizabeth I and the Church She Had Established.
    • 2682 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Using These Four Passages and Our on Knowledge, Assess the View That the Roman Catholics Were a Serious Threat to Elizabeth I and the Church She Had Established.

    Elizabeth had inherited the throne of England in 1558 from a Catholic queen Mary who had attempted to re-convert England back to Catholicism and to allow the country to take part in the Catholic reformation of Europe. The accession of Elizabeth was met with anxiety and tension as to discover what she was to do in response to religion and how the Catholic powers of Europe as well as the Catholics within England at the time would treat any changes. The immediate rise to power was met with little hostility as Elizabeth had made very cautious changes to start with as she thought it wise not to provoke hostility from abroad considering the position of England at the time as a small, weak protestant nation. The start of Elizabeth’s reign was fairly peaceful however tensions rose and a Catholic threat seemed more imminent as her reign drew to the end.…

    • 2682 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Philip II Of Spain Research Paper
    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Philip II Of Spain Research Paper

    He also fought many wars as a leader of the counter-reformation. One was when he attempted to invade England with his Great Spanish Armada and overthrow the Protestant Queen, Elizabeth I. Philip was formerly married to Elizabeth's half sister, Mary Tudor while she was Queen of England. However, she was unpopular to the people because she was also Catholic and killed many Protestants which is how she received the name Bloody Mary (2). After and attempt to wed Elizabeth was failed, Philip conspired with Mary Queen of Scots who was also catholic to overthrow Elizabeth and restore a Catholic Monarchy back to England. However, Elizabeth found out about the plans and captured Mary, and had her executed (1). The execution of Mary is what finally made the decision for Philip to send the Armada to Spain. So in 1588, Philip sent the great…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Did Bloody Mary Deserve
    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Did Bloody Mary Deserve

    Mary I was the queen of England and Wales from 1553 to 1558. She was born in 1516 and died in 1558 aged 42. Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and the catholic Catherine of Aragon. Soon after she became queen, on the death of her half-brother, Edward VI, she married Philip II of Spain. She hoped he would help her make England Catholic again, as she was determined to stamp out Protestantism belief. During her short reign over 300 Protestants were burnt at the stake because the queen considered them heretics (for not accepting Catholic teaching). Mary was a sick woman, and she died after a reign of only five years. She was succeeded to the throne by Elizabeth I.…

    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Did Spain Conquer Such A Great Empire
    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Did Spain Conquer Such A Great Empire

    This was for the hope for England to reunite with Catholic Europe. Phillip fully supported the plot. Not long after, Mary was discovered and was beheaded on February 18, 1587. Phillip soon heard of the news and went after to conquer England. Conquering England promised the additional benefit of cutting off financial support to Dutch rebels since Spain was in a bitter war with the Dutch at the time. Phillip's strategy was to prepare a vast fleet to sail from Lisbon to Flanders. They would fight off Elizabeth's navy if needed, rendezvous with the duke of Parma, and escort barges carrying Parma's troops across the English Channel. On May 9, 1588 Phillip's fleet of 130 set sail from the Lisbon harbor. The fleet was part of the great Spanish Armada. The Armada met an English fleet in the Channel. The English ships were smaller but faster, allowing more maneuverability in the water. Many of the ships had greater firing power than the Armada ships. The combination of storms, spoiled food and rank water, lacking ammunition, and the scattering of the Spanish ships from the English fire ships gave England victory. The Armada was defeated even before they reached the Netherlands. On the way back, many other ships went down near Ireland and about 65 of the ships were able to make it back…

    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Why Is Mary Stuart So Powerful
    • 1793 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Why Is Mary Stuart So Powerful

    She also continued to refuse to give up her claim to the English throne as her Catholic supporters insisted she was the true queen and if Elizabeth died childless, Mary was next in line. “William Cecil, Elizabeth’s Secretary of State, regarded Mary’s refusal to recognize Elizabeth as England’s rightful ruler as an act of treason and was convinced that Mary was forming a Catholic conspiracy to depose her as Queen. Over the next two decades, Cecil continued to see Mary as a threat to Elizabeth, and he did everything he could to curtail her power. In the end, Cecil would play a part in Mary’s death (Lotz & Phillips 52).”…

    • 1793 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Compare the ways that authors present the speakers in their poems
    • 768 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Compare the ways that authors present the speakers in their poems

    Both of the writers have made their speakers very proud of things in their life, the duke in My Last Duchess is very proud of his 900 year old name he has given her and all his power and riches. But he is also very viscous in the poem and seems to not care about women as he treats them like objects in the time of patriarchal society “My Last Duchess” and “is my object”.…

    • 768 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    England's Relationship with Spain during Queen Mary's Reign
    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages

    England's Relationship with Spain during Queen Mary's Reign

    When Mary decided upon making Spain a close ally in 1554 through the marriage of herself and Philip II of Spain, she took special precaution to not give the superpower too much authority over England. Despite that Lord Chancellor Gardiner and the House of Commons petitioned Mary to consider marrying an Englishman, after they feared that England would be relegated to a dependency of Spain, this fear in many cases came true. Philip viewed the marriage as entirely political and his second visit to England was clearly only due to wanting involvement in England, Spanish interests in England were helpfully reinforced through the marriage and Mary’s foreign policy, subsequently making England a Spanish pawn. However arguments to indicate that England was not dominated by Spain are also clearly noticeable, as Mary received her own advantages out of the marriage with Philip and assured Spain of the little authority Philip would receive through the terms of agreement.…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Mary Tudor
    • 1767 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Mary Tudor

    Like most medieval noblewomen, Mary was a pawn of her father in royal marriage, and he considered her: “a new and useful card to play in the universal game of European matrimonial alliances.”5 When she was only two years old, she was engaged to the King Francis I of France’s son, also named Francis, but three years later, this marriage was annulled. In 1522, she was arranged to marry her twenty-two-year-old cousin, Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, but few years later,…

    • 1767 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics