John Stubbs' Gaping Gulf and ‘country loue’ in Tudor England

Abstract

A pamphlet titled The Discoverie of a Gaping Gulf, in which John Stubbs made the comprehensive argument over Elizabeth Iʼs marriage, was published in August 1579. In Gaping Gulf, showing a strong aversion to France, Stubbs insisted that (in terms of religion, history, international war and politico-legal custom) it is impossible for England to tie the knot with France and called for solidarity among Englishmen. In addition, he demanded ʻtrue Englishmanʼ should provide ʻfaythfull counsaileʼ about this issue. According to Stubbs, ʻcounselorsʼ must be ʻChristian commonwealthmenʼ, who dedicate themselves to church and ʻcommonwealthʼ (a community aimed at the common good). If we exploit A.D. Smithʼs argument here, Stubbsʼ ʻcountry loueʼ shows the ideological transition from ʻethnicityʼ to ʻcitizenshipʼ in Tudor England.