17) Age of Elizabeth I (Renaissance, Caxton, Francis Drake, Spanish Armada, Mary Stuart the Queen of Scots)

The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The symbol of Britannia was first used in 1572 and often thereafter to mark the Elizabethan age as a renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals, international expansion, and naval triumph over the hated Spanish foe. In terms of the entire century, John Guy (1988) argues that "England was economically healthier, more expansive, and more optimistic under the Tudors" than at any time in a thousand years.

This "golden age" represented the apogee of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of poetry, music and literature. The era is most famous for theatre, as William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England's past style of theatre.

Fine arts (изящные искусства). It has often been said that the Renaissance came late to England, in contrast to Italy and the other states of continental Europe; the fine arts in England during the Tudor and Stuart eras were dominated by foreign and imported talent—from Hans Holbein the Younger under Henry VIII to Anthony van Dyck under Charles I. Yet within this general trend, a native school of painting was developing. In Elizabeth's reign, Nicholas Hilliard, the Queen's "limner(портретист) and goldsmith(золотых дел мастер, ювелир)," is the most widely recognized figure in this native development; but George Gower has begun to attract greater notice and appreciation as knowledge of him and his art and career has improved.

Science. Lacking a dominant genius or a formal structure for research (the following century had both Sir Isaac Newton and the Royal Society), the Elizabethan era nonetheless(тем не менее) saw significant scientific progress. The astronomers Thomas Digges and Thomas Harriot made important contributions; William Gilbert published his seminal(плодотворный) study of magnetism, De Magnete, in 1600. Substantial(существенные) advancements(достижения) were made in the fields of cartography and surveying(геодезия).

Much of this scientific and technological progress related to the practical skill of navigation. English achievements in exploration were noteworthy(заслуживающие внимания) in the Elizabethan era. Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated(обогнул) the globe between 1577 and 1581, and Martin Frobisher explored the Arctic. The first attempt at English settlement of the eastern seaboard of North America occurred in this era—the abortive(неудачная) colony at Roanoke Island in 1587.

1533 – was born.

1536-her mother was beheaded.

1554-for two month was imprisoned by Bloody Mary.

1558- becomes a Queen.

Elizabeth was a protestant that’s why she was more popular. At that time people thought two main things about the queen/king – her/his religion and marriage.

At this time of uncertainty people were afraid that Elizabeth was too young to become a queen. When she just became a queen the country became protestant. But the Pope of Rome excommunicated (отлучил) her from the Catholic Church and because of that many European countries became their enemies. Marriage – it was important to get married as soon as possible, but Elizabeth the I never married and never had children. Many kings proposed to her but she refused, because she didn’t want to marry foreign king –she was very clever. But she couldn’t get married in her country –there were no kings.

1572 – signed a treaty (agreement) between Ireland and France which stopped the war between them.

England became very strong country. London becomes the biggest port in Europe, but it is still very dirty.

1587 – Francis Drake “signes the King of Spain beard”( подпалил бороду испанскому королю)

1588 –Spanish Armad a Attacked in the English Channel: 60 out of 130 ships returned home.

Trade is growing too. Sir Francis Drake – the 1^st Englishman to sail around the world. He was a pirate. He was allowed by the queen to rob the ships. He brought a lot of treasures to queen. Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral (1540 – 27 January 1596) was an English sea captain, privateer(капитан капера), navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Battle with Armada. English fleet was small but strong. English fleet becomes the strongest in Europe and in the world. When Spain finally decided to invade and conquer England it was a fiasco. Superior English ships and seamanship(искусство мореплавания) foiled(отразили) the invasion and led to the destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588, marking the high point of Elizabeth's reign. Technically, the Armada failed because Spain's over-complex strategy required coordination between the invasion fleet and the Spanish army on shore. Also, the poor design of the Spanish cannons meant they were much slower in reloading(перегрузка) in a close-range battle. Spain and France still had stronger fleets, but England was catching up.

1557-1580 – Francis Drake on his trip went to different places:

- America (potatoes, fish, timber)

- West Indies (between North and South, Caribean Sea)

- Africa (slaves)

- The Muscovy Company (Trade with Russia - furs)

Elizabeth time is the time of Renaissance:

- Music, painting, literature (W. Shakespeare)

-William Caxton (the 1^st printer) he printed Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”. William Caxton (ca. 1415~1422 – ca. March 1492) was an English merchant, diplomat, writer and printer. He is thought to be the first English person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into England. He was also the first English retailer(розничный торговец) of printed books (his London contemporaries in the same trade were all Dutch, German or French).

Caxton printed four-fifths of his works in English. He translated a large number of works into English, performing much of the translation and editing work himself. Caxton is credited with printing as many as 108 books, 87 of which were different titles. Caxton also translated 26 of the titles himself. His major guiding principle in translating was an honest desire to provide the most linguistically exact replication(воспроизведение) of foreign language texts into English, but the hurried publishing schedule and his inadequate skill as a translator often led to wholesale(массовое) transference of French words into English and numerous misunderstandings.

The English language was changing rapidly in Caxton's time and the works he was given to print were in a variety of styles and dialects. Caxton was a technician rather than a writer and he often faced dilemmas concerning language standardization in the books he printed. Caxton is credited with standardising the English language (that is, homogenising regional dialects) through printing. This facilitated(способствовали) the expansion of English vocabulary, the regularisation of inflection(изменение формы слова) and syntax, and the ever-widening gap between the spoken and the written word.

- Malory “Stories of King Arthur ”(no historical facts about him)

She understood that if she dies there are no heirs. In her will she wrote that James will be the next King. At the moment she dies he is already the King of Scotland.

Mary Stuart – the Queen of Scots. When Scotlsnd became protestant Catholic Queen had to run to England. Elizabeth the I kept her imprisoned for 20 years but Mary was in the centre of all Catholic plots. In 1587 she was found guilty and beheaded. She was not a very good ruler. People were not glad that in protestant country they had catholic queen. She married for the second time because her husband died. People in Sotland started rebellion. Elizabeth the I put her in the Tower of London. Ministers and advisers forced Elizabeth the I to execute Mary Stuart, because she had plots to kill Elizabeth. Elizabeth was forced to sign the paper. When Mary Stuart went to be beheaded she wore red dress.