C1 - Elizabeth 1 and her Court Flashcards
What was Elizabeth’s childhood like?
She was well looked after and educated in various subjects and languages. She was being prepared for life as a member of the royal court and as a princess would probably end up being married off to an important foreign figure as a part of an alliance. When Henry died in 1547, Edward became king and Elizabeth was sent to live with her father’s sixth wife Katherine Parr and her new husband, Thomas Seymour, the king’s uncle. Edward died in 1553 and Mary became queen, but religious differences (Catholic vs Protestant) meant that Elizabeth was a threat to her throne - she was even locked in a tower once after being linked to a rebellion.
Who was Elizabeth 1?
Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife. They did not stay married for long as Anne Boleyn was accused of committing adultery with several men in court and was executed for this reason in 1536. She became queen after Edward VI (Jane Seymour’s son) and Mary (Catherine of Aragon’s daughter) had died.
What were courtiers?
People that spent most of their time in attendance to the Queen. She had about 500 courtiers who lived with her and competed for power and influence. Courtiers included advisors and servants.
What was patronage?
Land, titles or power given to ensure an individual’s support. To prevent a courtier becoming too powerful, she sometimes used a ‘divide and rule’ tactic (made sure that there were powerful jobs available for competing courtiers).
What was masque?
A lavish entertainment performed by the courtiers. There were often banquets, masques, plays and tournaments to entertain the queen and courtiers.
What was the Privy Council?
They took responsibility for the day-to-day running of the country. It’s members were Elizabeth’s main advisors. Technically Elizabeth could choose who was on the council but in reality she had to appoint the most powerful land owners to avoid rebellion. The council could be called upon to deal with almost any issue, including foreign affairs, religion and the queen’s security. The Council was led by the Secretary of State.
What was Parliament?
Parliament was made up of the House of Lords (lords, bishops and other members of the nobility) and the House of Commons (‘common’ people, although still wealthy and educated). It was much less powerful than the modern UK Parliament but it did have influence over tax and was responsible for passing laws. The queen decided when to call parliament and how much of their advice to listen to.
What were the Lord Lieutenants?
They were appointed by the queen to take administrative responsibility for a particular area of the country. This involved settling disputes and collecting taxes. They also has to raise a militia to fight for the queen if necessary. Many has other roles in court, such as being privy councillors. The position of Lord Lieutenant could lead to great power and influence.
What were Justices of the Peace (JPs)?
Each county had several Justices of the Peace to ensure that order was kept. They were always selected from the local gentry and their main role was to ensure that the laws passed by parliament were properly enforced. A single JP had the power to send somebody to prison but more than one JP was required to sentence someone to death. On taking office, JPs swore to treat everyone equally, whether they were rich or poor.
Who was William Cecil?
Served as Secretary of State twice and as a member of Parliament. Was Elizabeth’s most trusted advisor. He encouraged the queen to take control of catholic Ireland and fight other catholics. He played a key role in developing the poor laws and the new religious policies.
Who was Francis Walsingham?
Served as Secretary of State. Was one of the queen’s closest advisors. Was known as the queen’s ‘spymaster’ and had ‘eyes and ears’ everywhere. Helped establish England as a powerful force at sea. Took the lead with England’s biggest rivals, Spain, France and the Netherlands. Played a role in the trial and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
