Chapter 1 ; Elizabeth's Court and Parliament Flashcards
How old was Elizabeth when she became Queen?
25
When was Elizabeth born?
1533
What happened to Elizabeth’s mother?
accused of treason / adultery
- executed 1536
How did Elizabeth feel towards her father?
loved and admired him
How did Henry VIII feel towards Elizabeth?
declared her illegitimate
killed her cousins
executed mother
Who was Roger Ascham?
Cambridge scholar
- educated her in languages
Who was Kat Ashley?
lifelong friend
Governess
Who was Edward VI?
younger half brother
- made LJG his heir not his sisters
Who was Mary I?
older half sister
- saw Elizabeth as product of bigamous marriage
What was Mary’s religious angle?
proudly Catholic
- burnt 300 protestants
Who was Catherine Parr?
Henry’s sixth wife
- influenced Protestantism
Who was Thomas Seymour?
- Jane brother
- Catherine P husband
- flirting scandal - executed
What problems did Elizabeth face when she came to the throne?
gender
legitimacy
marriage
peace/prosperity
councillors
abroad
financial weakness
Why was gender a problem for Elizabeth?
patriarchal society
husband have power over - legal authority
Why was legitimacy a problem for Elizabeth?
Catholic Pope did not recognize parents’ marriage
- catholic plots/rebellions
Why was marriage a problem?
heir
unsuitable suitors
Why was peace and prosperity a problem?
following troubled time of religious conflict and poverty
- avoid rebellions
Why was choosing councillors a problem?
many had worked for Mary I
- 12 out of 19
Why was challenges from abroad a problem?
strong catholic countries
- weak, poor
Why was financial weakness a problem?
in debt from previous reigns
When Elizabeth came to the throne, how much debt was England in?
£260,000 debt
What was the Great Chain of Being?
hierarchical structure of all things
Who leads the privy council?
Secretary of State
What is the Privy Council responsible for?
day-to-day running of country
2 previous Secretary of State leaders
-William Cecil
-Francis Walsingham
What was Parliament made up of?
-House of Commons
-House of Lords
Who made up the House of Lords?
-nobles
-bishops
What is a monopoly?
exclusive right to trade in a specific product
Why did Elizabeth use monopolies?
to maintain loyalty of powerful men
What is patronage?
land, titles or power given to ensure an individuals support
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
monarch chosen by God
What is a progress?
Queen and court taking a journey to show public who she was and her court
When was William Cecil appointed as Secretary of State?
1558
Who was Francis Walsingham?
-MP
-Secretary of State
-uncovered plot that let to Mary QoS execution
Who was Robert Dudley?
-Earl of Leicester
-privy councillor
-romantic interest with Elizabeth
How did Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex become friends?
through Essex’s step father
- Earl of Leicester
What monopoly did the Earl of Essex have?
sweet wine
Who did the Earl of Essex have rivalry with?
Robert Cecil
Why did the Earl of Essex and Robert Cecil have rivalry?
jealousy
Why did the Queen and Essex fall out?
- turned his back
- drew his sword
When did Essex fall out with the Queen?
1598
When did Essex join the Privy Council?
1595
What did Essex become in January 1599?
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
How did Essex fail in Ireland?
- made truce
- knighted army leaders
(all forbidden by Queen)
How did Essex’s failure in Ireland affect him?
sweet wine monopoly not renewed
- debts
When did Essex begin to gather supporters for his rebellion?
february 1601
How many privy councillors did Essex take hostage?
4 privy councillors
How many followers marched with Essex to London house?
200 supporters
Why did Essex’s rebels abandon him?
labelled as traitor by Robert Cecil
How was Essex beheaded?
privately
What reasons did Elizabeth have for staying single?
Mary’s marriage
childbirth risky
male legal authority
How would marriage affect Elizabeth’s reign as Queen?
gain legal authority
- Englishman
- foreign prince
How did not naming a successor benefit Elizabeth?
stop public rebelling
prevent assassination
How did Parliament feel about the succession crisis?
in conflict
- wanted husband
Who were the potential successors to Elizabeth?
Stuarts
Suffolk
What had Henry VIII’s will stated?
should all 3 children die heirless
- descendants of Mary, Duchess of Suffolk
What happened to the descendants of Duchess of Suffolk?
Lady Jane Grey executed in 1533 after attempting to seize throne
Why was Mary Queen of Scots claim to the throne stronger than the descendants of the Duchess of Suffolk?
descended from Henry’s older sister
Who were the other two descendants of Mary, Duchess of Suffolk?
Lady Catherine
Lady Mary
- Protestant
Why was Mary Queen of Scots a controversial claimant to the throne?
brought up in France
devout Catholic
Who succeeded Elizabeth?
James VI Scotland
- James I England
Who was James I England?
son of Mary Queen of Scots
Who was Philip II?
Catholic, King of Spain
What were the benefits of marrying Philip II?
South American colonies
wealthy
powerful
What were the disadvantages of marrying Philip II?
married Mary - disaster
Catholic
What were the benefits to marrying Eric of Sweden?
Protestant
intelligent
cultured
What were the disadvantages of marrying Eric of Sweden?
mental instability
murdered opposing family
engaged in conflict with nobility
What were the benefits to marrying Duke of Alencon and Anjou?
influence over France
heirless brother - King
What were the disadvantages of marrying Duke of Alencon and Anjou?
Catholic
fall under French rule
Elizabeth 46
What were the benefits to marrying Charles of Austria?
Hapsburg family
What were the disadvantages of marrying Charles of Austria?
Catholic
What were the benefits to marrying Robert Dudley?
Protestant
royal court + government
What were the disadvantages of marrying Robert Dudley?
suspicious death of wife - attempted murder?
Who made up the Royal Court?
servants, advisers, friends
What was the role of the Royal Court?
give advice
impression of power
What was the role of the Secretary of State?
advised on safety and security
When did William Cecil become Secretary of State?
1573
Who was the most important member of the Privy Council?
Secretary of State
What was the role of the Privy Council?
advise and direct policy
monitor law and order
What was the role of the Justices of Peace?
enforced law
Who were Justices of Peace?
nobility + gentry
- unpaid - position of status
How did patronage help the queen
remained at heart of political system
What was wrong with patronage?
highly corrupt
competition
What was patronage?
important jobs to particular men
What were progresses?
major public relations exercises
How did progresses help the Queen?
lived at expense of subjects
provided time to fumigate royal residences
Who made up the Lord Lieutenant?
nobility
Privy Council
What was the role of the Lords Lieutenants?
raising + training militia
overseeing defences
spread laws
What was the role of Parliament?
pass laws
taxation
connect Queen to lower classes
How many times did Queen call Parliament?
13 times to discuss tax
Who made up the House of Lords?
bishops
nobles
Who made up the House of Commons?
gentry
How did MPs become overconfident?
argued royal prerogative
- religion, sucession, marriage
How did Elizabeth respond to discussion of marriage in parliament?
banned in 1566
How did Elizabeth respond to freedom of speech in parliament?
Peter Wentworth arrested 3 times
How did parliament respond to Mary Queen of Scots?
execution
- threat to national security
How did Elizabeth respond to criticism of monopolies in parliament?
speech agreeing to make change without promising much
Who criticised monopolies and when?
Robert Bell criticised monopolies in 1571
How did parliament respond to crime and poverty?
poor laws
How did parliament respond to religion?
mainly protestant
- agreed to anti-Catholic laws
