Court and Government Flashcards
Patronage
System where the Crown distributed favours to those that were seen as loyal.
How many titles did Elizabeth give during her reign?
18
Elizabeth’s courts 2 main areas
Privy Chamber and Presence Chamber
Sir William Cecil
Lord Burghley from 1573.
He was Elizabeth’s most important and trusted adviser.
Sir Walsingham
Developed an extensive spy network and an instrumental in Mary, Q of Scot’s execution.
When did William Cecil become Lord Burghley?
1573
What was Cecil first position?
Secretary of State
What position did Cecil obtain later?
Lord Treasurer.
Why did Elizabeth favour Cecil?
His administrative skills
The role of Elizabeth’s ministers
Trusted advisers who helped govern.
What right did Elizabeth believe she had?
‘divine right’ to rule
How did the ministers help shape Elizabeth’s image? How did they present her?
Propaganda- presented her as a powerful, Protestant queen.
Factionalism
Fragmentation of political system into groups competing against each other for patronage+ advancement.
How does factionalism effect government?
Reduces effectiveness.
Why did the Conservative faction get smaller?
In 1570s after Northern rebellion and Ridolfi Plot.
Protestant faction
Most important members formed an ‘inner ring’ around Elizabeth from 1570s.
What did Cecil and Leicester conflict over in the 1560s?
Elizabeth’s potential marriage.
Who balanced fractional rivalry?
William Cecil
When did William Cecil’s son (Robert) replace him?
1598
Justices of the Peace in Elizabeth’s reign
- Poor laws increased their responsibilities.
- Rising number of JPs- by 1600s 50 per county.
- Unpaid even though workload rose.
Lord Lieutenants in Elizabeth’s reign
- became permanent latter half of her reign due to war with Spain from 1585
- members of nobility
- Raised local militias, oversaw JPs, managed food supplies, collected loans, and reported local events to privy Council.
What problems weakened Elizabeth’s council from late 1580s?
- number of ministers died in quick succession- by 1597 Council only had 11 members.
- failed to make immediate replacements
- absence of senior noblemen on the Council.
- Elizabeth refused to allow Burghley to retire.
- Promotion of Robert Cecil angered the Earl of Essex.
John Neale’s ‘Puritan Choir’ thesis on the religious settlement
Argued Elizabeth faced pressure from radical clergymen+ their allies in the House of Commons (‘Puritan Choir’).
She had to accept a more Protestant prayer book+ settlement than she wanted.
Revisionist thesis on religious settlement
Argues that Elizabeth and her ministers always intended a Protestant settlement.
