Not quite your period, but 'Ruled Britannia' by Harry Turtledove is an alternative-history of Britain, in which Spain conquered Elizabeth I's England, and is ruling it while an aging Elizabeth languishes in the Tower (the reason Philip II of Spain keeps her alive makes sense).
The actual plot is about, well, plotting: QE's faithful advisors are planning to start an uprising against the invaders, after years of Spanish rule. They decide that William Shakespeare's the man to write the play that will set England aflame. Shakespeare is also commissioned by the Spanish to write a commemorative play about Philip II, who is on his deathbed.
Told from Shakespeare's POV, there is much quoting of Shakespeare, as noted in the end-notes, as the two plays are mash-ups of other Shakespearean plays.
There are appearances by both Cecils, Kit Marlowe, and Lope de Vega, a historic Spanish playwright.
There is a fair bit of bloodshed near the end, but it's generally from the POV of the characters involved, not just giant set-pieces.
