elizabeth and her government Flashcards
elizabeth’s problems at her accession
people question her ability as she’s a woman, she’s young and inexperienced, englands at war with france and she has no allies, people question her legitimacy, her government has inherited massive debts, people are living in poverty, she is unmarried with no children, protestant queen in a catholic country
the royal court
The Royal Court was a mobile operation, not confined
to a particular building. Run by the Lord Chamberlain,
the Court was simply located wherever the Queen was. It
consisted of the Queen’s household, made up of about 500
nobles, advisors, officials and servants who all lived with
her and competed for power and influence. They were called
COURTIERS.
progresses
Most summers, Elizabeth would travel with her Court on
tours called PROGRESSES, visiting the homes of the nobility.
Her journeys covered the South East, Midlands and East
Anglia. Historian Christopher Haigh has called them ‘major
public relations exercises’, which allowed Elizabeth to be seen
by her subjects regularly, to build up a relationship with her
people and to flatter the nobles she chose to stay with.
It would have been quite a sight to behold, as the Court
crawled from house to house with up to 400 wagons piled
high with clothes, linen, documents and furnishings,
including the Queen’s own bed, which she always travelled
with. Wherever she went, she was given a magnificent
welcome. To her subjects, she would appear as a goddess,
parading in her finery. Progresses also served more practical
purposes. They allowed the thrifty Elizabeth to live in luxury
at the expense of her subjects, as the nobility all desperately
tried to impress through their extravagance and generosity
in providing the Queen and her courtiers with sumptuous
accommodation, food and entertainment. The journeys also
removed the Court from the sweltering capital at times when
plague was rife and the absence of the household meant
that the filthy Royal palaces could be fumigated before the
Oueen’s return.
the privy council
The Privy Council co-ordinated financial departments, law courts such as the
Star Chamber, and regional bodies such as the Council of the North. It issued
instructions to local officials such as Lord Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace.
Members were generally from the nobility, GENTRY and the Church, but Elizabeth
could choose and dismiss members of her Privy Council as she chose. Elizabeth
delegated well and the workload of her Privy Council increased dramatically
during her reign. The Privy Council met at Court almost daily, but Elizabeth did
not always attend meetings. She came to trust her Privy Council, rarely interfering
on a day-to-day basis. However, she kept accurate notes to monitor their work.
key role of privy council
The key role of the Privy Council was to advise and direct policy but the Queen
was not obliged to take their advice. In fact, Elizabeth often demonstrated her
right to ignore their advice, making a strong statement about her own political
independence. Ultimately it was Elizabeth who made policy decisions. Nevertheless,
the Council had considerable pOWers. It could issue proclamations in the Queen’s
name, which had the force of law. It could command the arrest and imprisonment
of individuals, although they rarely exercised such powers. The Council also proved
skilful at guiding parliamentary business on behalf of the Queen.
sir william cecil, lord burghley
Born 1520. A member of the
Lincolnshire gentry.
Moderate Protestant who had
studied law at Cambridge.
Enormously intelligent and
very hard working.
Past experience as a
Member of Parliament and
a member of Edward VI’s
Council.
Made Secretary of State in
November 1558.
A stabiliser. Like Elizabeth,
he wanted to avoid war
and unite the nation through
moderate policies. He was naturally
conservative, and like the Queen disliked
being rushed into rash decisions.
Elizabeth admired the fact that Cecil spoke his mind if he disagreed
with her or other councillors.
Elizabeth relied heavily on Cecil, counting on his loyalty and trusting
him completely.
Given the title Lord Burghley in 1571 and made Lord Treasurer the
following year.
Regularly attended the House of Commons and, later, the House of
Lords. A very skilful parliamentary manager.
Died 1598, replaced as Elizabeth’s chief minister by his son, Robert.
sir francis walsingham
Born 1532. From Norfolk gentry Attended Cambridge University and studied law. Fervent Puritan. Had fled into exile in Mary Tudor's reign and studied at Padua University in Italy. Fiercely loyal to Elizabeth. Entered Parliament as an MP in 1558. His ability at languages and foreign contacts made him useful to Elizabeth and he started working with the government in 1568. Served as AMBASSADOR in Paris in the early 1570s. Appointed to the Privy Council in 1573, became Secretary of State with special responsibility for foreign affairs. Knighted in 1577. Could be blunt. Frequently clashed with Cecil. An ally of Dudley. A superb organiser. Was in charge of the Elizabethan 'secret service". He was a highly efficient 'spy master', controlling a network of informers at home and abroad, and uncovering numerous plots against Elizabeth. Died 1590.
robert dudley, earl of leicester
Born 1533. Younger son of the disgraced Duke of Northumberland who had been executed at the beginning of Bloody Mary's reign. Like Elizabeth, he spent some of Mary's reign locked in the Tower of London. A childhood friend and favorite of Elizabeth, he was good looking and there were many rumours of a romance between Dudley and Elizabeth. A member of the Court, he was made Master of the Horse, making him personally responsible for Elizabeth's safetv. Highly ambitious, he became a PRIVY COUNCILLOR in 1562, proving to be a conscientious worker. A radical and a Puritan, he frequently argued with Cecil about the succession, religion and foreign policy. Given the title Earl of Leicester in 1564. Died 1588.
sir christopher hatton
Born 1540. From the Northamptonshire gentry. Studied law at Oxford University. Elizabeth was impressed by his dancing at Court and promoted him. He became a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and the Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard. Loyal, kind, clever and hardworking. Helped organise Elizabeth's famous progresses. A moderate Protestant, he hated Puritans and sympathised with Catholics. Elected to parliament several times. Helped Elizabeth control the MPs and secure their support. Became Lord Chancellor in 1587, in charge of judges and law courts Died 1591.
the role of parliament
long. Parliament was called if the monarch needed new
laws to be passed or wanted to introduce new taxes.
Elizabeth regarded Parliament as an inconvenient necessity.
Continuing in the tradition of her father, her very first
Parliament in 1559 created a new Protestant church by
restoring the royal supremacy over the Church of England.
This undid Mary’s short-lived attempt at a Catholic
restoration. Since Elizabeth’s father Henry VIII had secured
the break from Rome in the 1530s through laws passed
by Parliament, Parliament’s importance had increased
significantly. The idea had developed that the English
monarch shared their power with Parliament in a kind of
political partnership. However, it was not Parliament’s role to
govern, but simply to turn the policies of Elizabeth and her
ministers into laws.
Elizabeth’s financial problems meant that she had to rely
heavily on parliamentary subsidies (taxes), which were asked
for in all but two of the thirteen sessions of the reign. On
almost all occasions, Elizabeth received what she asked for.
main business enacted by parliament
1559- Restoration of the royal supremacy over a Protestant Church
of England.
1563-Approval of taxes to fund wars against France and Scotland.
1566-Taxes agreed to pay for an army sent to France.
1571-Taxes agreed to help defeat a rebellion in the North. Laws
against the Pope and TRAITORS.
1572-MPs met to discuss the Queen’s safety after discovery of a
Catholic plot.
1576-MPs agreed to taxes even though the country was at peace.
1581-Taxes approved to pay for an army sent to Ireland. Anti-
Catholic laws also passed.
1584-85-Laws against Catholic priests passed. More taxes granted.
1586-87-MPs granted taxes for war against Spain.
1589-MPs approved taxes to pay the costs of defeating the
Spanish Armada the year before.
1593-Taxes granted for war against Spain and more anti-Catholic
laws passed.
1597-98-More taxes granted and laws passed regarding the poor.
1601-Taxes granted to pay for war against Spain and to pay for
the army in Ireland.
changes in parliament
Despite Elizabeth’s attitude to Parliament during her reign, MPs became more
self confident in arguing against the Queen. This may have been because they were
better-educated than in the past, with over half of them having had a university
education. Members of Parliament were supposed to have special privileges,
allowing them freedom of speech and freedom from arrest. Some heated debates
did take place. MPs made complaints about issues that were not on the government
agenda, such as Elizabeth’s marital status, trading MONOPOLIES and religious
grievances. Puritans, in particular, repeatedly used the House of Commons to
organise and voice their opposition to the Queen’s policies. Some have suggested
that in this way, Elizabeth lost control during her reign.
how did elizabeth use her powers to limit the influence of parliament
As with her Council, she used the force of her own personality, attending
Parliament in person when necessary and using speeches to both charm and bully
its members. Additionally, she had the right to appoint the Speaker, who was
able to control which topics were discussed and steer the direction of the debate.
Furthermore, the Queen had the right to block measures proposed by MPs through
using the royal veto. Elizabeth imposed limits on MPs’ right to speak freely and did
not shy away from imprisoning awkward MPs, such as Peter Wentworth who was
imprisoned in 1576 for arguing for freedom of speech. Of course, Elizabeth was
also able to dissolve any troublesome Parliament whenever she wished.
years of decline
By the 1590s, Elizabeth’s government was in crisis. The country had been seriously
damaged by war, plague, increased poverty and repeated harvest failures. The
patronage system that had worked so well started to break down, as a series of
personal tragedies befell the Queen. One by one, her trusted councillors and
contemporaries died: Dudley in 1588, Walsingham in 1590 and Hatton in 1591.
So bereft was she when Dudley died, that she locked herself away in her room for
days and Cecil had to order for the door to be broken down. Finally, in the greatest
blow of all, Cecil himself died in August 1598. Elizabeth had come to rely heavily
on these men. With their deaths she became increasingly angry, depressed and bad
tempered, losing popularity and facing sharp criticism. People started to sense that
she had reigned too long and that she stood in the way of much needed reform.
Elizabeth had always had confidence in the personal devotion of her councillors
and the most obvious and serious sign of Elizabeth losing her grip came in 1601,
when the ageing Queen faced a rebellion organised by one of her favourites.
essex’s rebellion 1601
Essex was a dashing young courtier
who had caught Elizabeth’s eye. However, he was unpredictable, and his actions
often angered the Queen. He had annoyed the Queen by secretly marrying without
her permission and when she later refused to promote one of his supporters,
he actually lost his temper and insulted the Queen by shouting ‘her conditions
are as crooked as her carcass!’ and turning his back on her in anger. Elizabeth
then punched Essex, who almost drew his sword but instead stormed out of the
meeting. After this, he was banished from Court.
Later, Essex was given yet another chance to redeem himself, when Elizabeth
asked him to defeat a rebellion in Ireland being led by the Earl of Tyrone in 1598.
Again, Essex miscalculated, making peace with Tyrone against Elizabeth’s orders.
While Essex was away fighting, the Queen promoted Cecil. Sparked by jealousy,
on his return to Court, Essex burst into the Queen’s bedchamber before she was
wigged and gowned. For Elizabeth, this level of disrespect was the final straw. He
was ordered before the Privy Council, and had to stand for five hours while he was
interrogated. Later, charges were made which he had to listen to on his knees. He
was again banned from Court and placed under house arrest. Losing all his jobs
and his monopoly on sweet wines, his career was totally ruined.
Incensed by his fall, in early 1601 Essex gathered around 300 supporters, made up
of a few unsuccessful courtiers and disgruntled unemployed soldiers. Rumours of treason and rebellion
began to spread and Essex refused Elizabeth’s demands for him to appear in front
of the Privy Council. When four Privy Councillors went to his house to question
him, he locked them up as hostages, and proceeded to march with his men to the
centre of London in an effort to capture the Queen. He underestimated Elizabeth and her government, and overestimated his own
strength. The government responded decisively. Londoners were unimpressed
and most of his supporters quickly deserted him when they were offered a
pardon. Essex found his route blocked so he returned home, where his house
was surrounded by Elizabeth’s forces, giving him no choice but to surrender.
The rebellion had lasted a mere twelve hours. Accused of being a traitor, Essex was
executed at the Tower of London on 25 February 1601
