Elizabeth’s enemies: plots, rivals and the Spanish Armada

Welcome to the History Extra Podcast. In our latest Sunday series, we've been exploring the life and reign of Elizabeth I, and in today's third episode, historian Nicola Tallis tells Rachel Dinning about the threats the Queen faced. Both from within. And without. Hello and welcome back to our four-part History Extra podcast series on the life of Elizabeth the First.

I'm Rachel Dinning and today I'm joined by Dr. Nicola Tallis. A leading expert in sixteenth century history and author of many books on Elizabeth. Nicola has spent years researching and writing about Elizabeth's reign, and today she's helping us explore some of the more perilous challenges of the Queen's life, from rivals plotting against her, conspiracies in her own court. And the looming danger of Spain's armada. So, Nicola, to start the podcast today, I want to talk about one of the defining challenges of Elizabeth middle years, which was actually her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. So to start, how did Mary Queen of Scots become a problem for Elizabeth?

Well, Mary was a problem for Elizabet from the very start because she was a Catholic cousin who had a strong claim to the English throne in her own right. So that already got Elizabeth's back up, most definitely. And she was also a Catholic figurehead for those who were opposed to Elizabeth's rule or for those who loathed Protestantism. And she also had very strong foreign connections. Chiefly in France, where she was briefly Que consort.

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