Chapter 19: Elizabethan Government 1563-1603 Flashcards
Privy council, rivalries, parliament and clashes
1
Q
What was the royal court and its importance?
A
- Centre of government - travelled with the queen
- Run by the Lord Chamberlain
- Base of Privy Council
2
Q
What was the structure of the privy council under Elizabeth?
A
- Much smaller - allowed Elizabeth to be an active ruler
- 19 members at start, 11 at end
- Reduced opportunities for factionalism and increased efficiency
- Had some of Mary’s members and some she chose herself
3
Q
What were the functions of the privy council?
x8
A
- Advise on state matters
- Help formulate policies
- Manage crown finances
- Manage parliament
- Oversee regional councils and local officials
- Oversee national defence
- Enforce the religious settlement
- Act as a court of law
4
Q
On what matters did the privy council disagree?
A
- Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
- Foreign policy
- Overall worked well together
5
Q
Who were key ministers for Elizabeth?
A
- William Cecil (Burghley) - Principal Secretary
- Privy Councillors - Bacon, Russell, Knollys
- Conservatives - Norfolk, Winchester, Sussex, Shrewsbury
6
Q
How was factional rivalry seen at court?
A
- Leicester & Cecil - disagree over the queen’s potential marriage and rivals in political matters - cause factions
- Factions largely balance each other and agree on as many things as they disagreed
7
Q
How did the political / religious influence in the council change?
A
- 1570s - decrease in conservatives - perceived disloyalty - Norfolk executed and Winchester died
- Group of firm protestants emerged - including Walsingham –> joined by Mildmay, Warwick, Leicester, Knollys, Bedford - ‘inner ring’ of protestant ministers
- Still some conservatives - Croft, Hatton, Sussex
- Mostly all worked together - 1590s infighting prominent
8
Q
What were problems in government in the 1580s and 90s?
x 5
A
- Several key ministers died in quick succession e.g. Leicester 1588
- Queen wouldn’t allow Cecil to retire despite ill health - son appointed in the council 1593 and principal secretary 1596
- Clashes between Robert Cecil and Essex
- Slow to replace dead councillors and often less capable men promoted
- Great noble families no longer represented on the council
9
Q
What was the Essex rebellion?
A
- 1601
- Failed to defeat Irish rebels so banished from court
- Tried to revive influence by launching a coup against Cecil
- Proclaimed a traitor by the crown dissuading support
- Tried and executed
10
Q
How was parliament used by Elizabeth?
(numbers)
A
- 44 yr reign - 13 parliament sessions, each of about 3 months
- Grant taxation - 11 / 13 session
- Make statute laws - 438 acts passed
11
Q
How was parliament structured and how did the crown have control?
A
- House of Lords more important than Commons
- Carefully managed - Cecil active in preparing bills - helped by crown representatives in the commons - Knollys then Hatton from 1576
- Cecil managed the house of commons and generally succeeded
- Elizabeth refused royal assent to over 60 bills
12
Q
What came under the royal prerogative?
A
- Marriage
- Succession
- Religion
- Foreign policy
13
Q
How did Elizabeth and parliament clash in the 1550s and 60s?
A
- 1559 - parliament raise the issue of marriage and Elizabeth deflects
- 1563 - Meet during time the queen had smallpox - she opposed discussion of succession
- 1566 - Press her to marry (encouraged by Cecil & Leicester) - angry and banishes Leicester
14
Q
How did Elizabeth and Parliament clash in the 1570s and 80s?
A
- 1571 - Explicit instructions given to commons not to meddle with matters of state -> Strickland tried to introduce a radical religious bill - forced to leave the chamber
- 1572+6 - Commons take action against members whose speeches who went too far about MQS and religion
- 1576 - Wentworth made an appeal for freedom of speech - sent to the tower - repeated in 1587+93
- 1585 - Puckering (speaker) delivered a message from the queen banning religious debate
15
Q
How well overall did Elizabeth and parliament work together?
A
- Until 1593 relations worked
- Most MPs accepted the restrictions
16
Q
How did parliamentary relations worsen in 1593?
A
- John Whitgift (Archbishop of Canterbury) criticised for encouraging an act to punish members of protestant sects - person barred as the queen took personal offence
17
Q
How else did parliamentary relations worsen for Elizabeth after 1593?
A
- 1595 - Wentworth imprisoned for arguing for a named successor - attack on royal prerogative
- 1601 - Debate over monopolies - compromise reached and session ended with Golden speech to MPs
