Elizabeth & Government

Question 1

How many members were there on Elizabeth’s Privy Council?

Answer 1

12

Question 2

What was a courtier?

Answer 2

Someone who attended court. This included 2/3 of the nobility. One important courtier was Raleigh.

Question 3

What was a Lord Lieutenant?

Answer 3

Local nobility who controlled a county.

Question 4

Name an important Elizabethan Privy Councillor.

Answer 4

• William Cecil (Burghley)
• Robert Dudley (Leicester)
• Robert Cecil
• Essex

Question 5

Give three areas of conflict between Elizabeth and her Privy Council.

Answer 5

• Marriage 1567/1579
• Netherlands 1578
• Foreign policy 1593

Question 6

Where did Essex fail in 1598/9?

Answer 6

Ireland after failing to deal with Tyrone Rebellion.

Question 7

Give three ways in which Cecil played a vital role in Elizabeth’s government.

Answer 7

• Managed both Parliament and the Privy Council.
• Drafted correspondence for Elizabeth.
• Oversaw the production of propaganda.
• Ran a spy network.
• Oversaw financial policy after 1572.

Question 8

How did Elizabeth control her Privy Council?

Answer 8

• Divide and rule.
• Displayed affection to some by using nicknames.
• Use of anger - Leicester and Walsingham were exiled from court.

Question 9

Name two areas of conflict in Parliament.

Answer 9

• Mary Stuart
• Religion
• Marriage
• Monopolies

Question 10

How did the Privy Council control Parliament?

Answer 10

• Cecil and later Hatton were in charge of Parliament.
• Sometimes they used Parliament to pressure Elizabeth into making decisions.

Question 11

What was the Golden Speech of
1601?

Answer 11

• Elizabeth’s response to conflict over monopolies.
• Also made concessions over salt, vinegar and starch.

Question 12

How was Parliament divided?

Answer 12

House of Commons (462 members)
House of Lords (75-100 members)

Question 13

What powers did Elizabeth have over Parliament?

Answer 13

Elizabeth had the right to call, dismiss and prorogue Parliament.

Question 14

How many times did Elizabeth call Parliament.

Answer 14

13 times

Question 15

Name one MP that Elizabeth imprisoned.

Answer 15

Peter Wentworth

Question 16

How did Elizabeth’s gender help her?

Answer 16

• Used marriage as bait.
• Flirted with Privy Councillors, Courtiers and Ambassadors.

Question 17

How did Elizabeth’s gender hinder her ability to rule?

Answer 17

• Seen as less effective as she aged.
• Had no heir as unmarried.
• Her temper and delaying tactics were blamed on the fact that she was a woman.

Question 18

Who might have Elizabeth married if she had a choice?

Answer 18

Dudley but wife died in suspicious circumstances in 1560.

Question 19

Name two potential suitors for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.

Answer 19

• Archduke Charles 1567
• Henri Duke of Anjou 1570
• Francis Duke of Anjou 1579

Question 20

What were consequences of Elizabeth’s decision not to marry?

Answer 20

• Elizabeth maintained her independence.
• Avoided potential threats like the Wyatt Rebellion.
• No heir.
• No foreign alliance.

Question 21

When did Strickland propose changes to the Prayer Book in Parliament?

Answer 21

1571

Question 22

When did Cope’s Book and Bill fail?

Answer 22

1587

Question 23

When was Strickland sent to the Tower of London

Answer 23

• 1576 for demanding freedom of speech.
• 1593 for petitioning the monarch over the succession.
• Died in the Tower in 1596.

Question 24

Why was Elizabeth angry with John Stubbs?

Answer 24

• He published a pamphlet arguing against Elizabeth’s marriage to Francis Duke of Anjou in 1579.
• He was imprisoned and had his right hand amputated.

Question 25

Why was the Privy Council particularly worried about the succession in 1562?

Answer 25

* Elizabeth had nearly died from smallpox. * Allegedly named Dudley as her successor.

Question 26

How well did Dudley and Leicester work together?

Answer 26

* There was conflict over marriage and war in the Netherlands. * However, they tended to work well together and had Elizabeth’s best interests at heart.

Question 27

How well did Essex and Robert Cecil work together?

Answer 27

* Open conflict over a more aggressive foreign policy with Spain. * Conflict over patronage * Essex failed in Ireland in 1599. This reduced his influence over Elizabeth. * Essex Rebellion 1601 led to his execution.

Question 28

How did Elizabeth successfully deal with Parliament?

Answer 28

* Power to control Parliament (call, dismiss and prorogue). * Power of Elizabeth’s speeches to Parliament. * Imprisoned members who angered her e.g Peter Wentworth 1576.

Question 29

How was Elizabeth not successful in dealing with Parliament?

Answer 29

* Multiple bills were presented e.g Strickland 1571/ Cope’s Book and Bill 1587. * Forced to make concessions over monopolies. * Manipulated by the Privy Council through Parliament to “bounce”Elizabeth into decisions (Guy)

Question 30

Was Elizabeth successful in dealing with her Privy Council?

Answer 30

* Laws were passed (Religious Settlement) and the Spanish Armada was defeated. * Banished Cecil and Dudley. Executed Essex. * Kept her throne for 45 years. * Weaknesses as Elizabeth aged. * As leading councillors died in the 1590s she struggled to find men of the same ability. * Conflict and factions (Cecil v. Dudley and Cecil v. Essex). * Misled Elizabeth and pressurised her to execute Mary Queen of Scots.