5.3 Elizabeth - Ministers and Government Flashcards
1
Q
Elizabeth’s privy council: who was Robert Dudley?
A
- rumoured to have been the lover of Elizabeth
- made master of the horse in 1558 (top army position)
- in 1562 he gets a seat on the privy council
- in 1564 he becomes the Earl of Leicester
- he often advocated for war and clashed with Cecil
2
Q
who was the Duke of Norfolk?
A
- owned over 400 states, was very powerful
- controlled a lot of patronage and was able to offer seats in the house of commons
- was responsible for appointing half of Norfolk’s JPs
- he effectively ruled the north
3
Q
Elizabeth’s privy council: who was William Cecil?
A
- in 1553 he becomes an MP and her chief minister
- he was the secretary of state from 1558
- had control over patronage from 1561
- he was ennobled in 1571 to Lord Burghley
- controlled the treasury from 1572
- often clashed with Roberty Dudley
4
Q
Elizabeth’s privy council: who was Christopher Hatton?
A
- also and MP so another link between the Houses of Parliament and the Privy Council
- in 1587 he becomes Lord Chancellor
5
Q
Elizabeth’s privy council: who was Sir Walter Raleigh?
A
- great naval excellence
- at court from 1581
- in 1585 he was knighted, made captain of the Queen’s bodyguard and granted vast estates
6
Q
Elizabeth’s privy council: who was Sir Francis Walsingham?
A
- another MP, one of the greatest intellects of the time
- in 1573 he was promoted to secretary of state with special responsibility for foreign affairs
- was known as the spy master, he undermined MQS plots and rebellions and developed a whole spy network
- a very committed protestant
7
Q
when did Elizabeth’s initial ministers die/leave the privy council?
A
- Robert Dudley: dies 1588
- William Cecil: dies 1598 but isn’t active in service in the last 10 years
- Christopher Hatton: dies 1591
- Sir Walter Raleigh: sent to the tower in 1595 after getting one of Elizabeth’s maids of honour pregnant
- Sir Francis Walsingham: dies in 1590
8
Q
what were the main clashes between Elizabeth and her privy council?
A
- who should she marry
- more reform/less reform
- whether to help protestants abroad or not
- foreign policy in general
- what to do with MQS
9
Q
when was the council divided over marriage?
A
- 1567: possibility of marriage to Habsburg Catholic Archduke Charles of Austria, Dudley tries to prevent it, Cecil encourages it
- 1579-81: proposed marriage to French Duke of Alencon, Dudley is again against the marriage
10
Q
when was the council divided over MQS?
A
- 1569-70: discuss dangers of MQS as the rebellion of the northern earls took place that year
- 1586: the pushing of a death warrant for MQS
- Cecil was hugely in favour of it
- Elizabeth was very nervous about it
- in 1587 she reluctantly signs the death warrant
- the warrant is enacted without her permission by Secretary William Davison and he is sent to the tower
11
Q
when was the council divided over helping foreign protestants abroad?
A
- specifically Scotland, France and the Netherlands
- 1578: focused on the fight in the Netherlands to get rid of Spanish rule
- the council was split, Dudley and Walsingham advocated for supporting Protestants but Cecil argued against it
- intervention occurs seven years later
12
Q
who replaced Elizabeth’s ministers after they died/left and what were the issues?
A
- from 1588 all her leading ministers began to die
- Dudley’s stepson, Earl of Essex, Robert Devereaux
- William Cecil’s son, Robert Cecil
- they lacked skill and training in a time when foreign threat was great and strong ministers were needed
- William Cecil was in control of patronage and when the power was handed to Robert, he failed to evenly distribute it causing faction fighting
13
Q
what was the general condition of Ireland under Elizabeth? (Essex rebellion background)
A
- under Elizabeth the Irish had become more rebellious following HVIII’s policy of plantation, causing a number of rebellions
- religious tensions also arose from the Protestant England the Catholic Ireland
14
Q
what happened at the battle of yellowford? (background to Essex rebellion)
A
- in 1595 there was a rebellion by the Earl of Tyrone who developed Spanish links
- in 1598 a full invasion from England was sent over
- it was a disaster, Tyrone had around 6000 men and England about half this
- the English were defeated at the battle of Yellowford
- Elizabeth then sent the Earl of Essex to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant to try control the seemingly independent country following their victory
- Essex disobeyed orders, he was supposed to confront Tyrone but set up a truce and was therefore called back to England
15
Q
what were the causes of the Essex Rebellion?
A
- Essex was unhappy that he had been withdrawn from Ireland
- he was annoyed Cecil controlled patronage and wasn’t sharing it with him
- he couldn’t get his supporters seats on the privy council
- his monopolies had been withdrawn by Elizabeth
- he was virtually bankrupt at this point
