... to the crown. • Women were not expected to assert any independent authority, were deemed less important to male relatives whether fathers, brothers or husbands. • John Knox railed against female monarchy. • Female rule was no great novelty in the 16th century; not only had women inherited the thrones of Castile, Scotland and England before Elizabeth's accession. Women in Spain, Scotland, the Netherlands and France had ruled during the absences of their monarchs. • At the time of Elizabeth's accession, barely a murmur was heard querying the legitimacy of female rule. • Catholics at home and abroad didn't think to use Knoxian style arguments to challenge Elizabeth's right to the throne, because their claimant, Mary, Queen of Scots was a woman. • Elizabeth's succession was smooth and for all practical purposes, undisputed without military intervention from France, Spain or Scotland. • Protestants were obviously delighted by the new regime. • John Calvin (1509-64) in a letter to ...

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