4. Elizabethan Government Flashcards
What were the two main sections of Government?
Central Government- Privy Council, the Exchequer
Local Government- Enforced central decisions, linked together by the Justices of the Peace
What was the Royal court?
Centre of Government and source of all political power.
Elizabeth sought advice on an individual basis.
Elizabeth could reward these advisors for their service.
What were the two main areas of the Royal court?
The Presence Chamber
The Privy Chamber
What was the Privy Chamber?
Was private and very important
It was less influential than it had been during the previous reigns as the Gentlemen of Privy Chamber could not access the monarch as easily.
Who was William Cecil?
He was made Elizabeth’s Secretary of State in 1558.
He came to dominate the Privy Council.
How regularly did the Privy council meet?
They met three times a week at the start of the reign.
They met daily by the 1590s.
What was the role of the Privy Council?
To discuss matters of State arising from discussions with the queen, To manage Crown finances, To enforce a range of laws surrounding law and order.
When was the Privy Council reshaped?
In the 1570s
How was the Privy council reshaped?
The influence of the traditional conservative aristocracy was reduced and delegated to a small group of militant protestants.
Firmly protestant councilors were appointed.
This was balanced with the appointment of two conservative figures.
What Protestant figures were appointed to the Privy Council?
Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Thomas Smith, The Earl of Warwick
What Conservative figures were appointed to the Privy Council?
Sir James Croft, Sir Christopher Hatton
What problems were there in the Privy Council?
Several ministers died, and by 1597, the council only had 11 members.
Elizabeth failed to make immediate replacements and the replacements she did make lacked the skills of their predecessors.
What happened to William Cecil?
Elizabeth refused to allow him to retire despite his effectiveness diminishing in the 1590s.
He died in 1598, resulting in an immense administrative burden falling on his son, Robert Cecil.
He did not have the same administrative skills.
