Elizabeth Government

Question 1

What was the structure/ the roles of Local Gov? What duties did each role have?

Answer 1

-Lord Lieutenant- each county headed by one, usually a noble
-Sherrif- each county had one, largely concerned with legal affairs
-Justices of the Peace- has real work of maintaining local order, could arrest offenders, oversaw poor laws. Not effective law enforcement agency, began to complain about workload but continued to serve due to status
Overseers- helped JP’s oversee Poor Laws, ineffective

Question 2

How important was Court in descision making?

Answer 2

-Elizabeth open to influence from members of the Court outside the Privy Council

Question 3

Benefit of being in court?

Answer 3

-people in Court had advantage of daily access to the Queen and could try shape her decision making

Question 4

What matters were discussed by the Privy Council? When?

Answer 4

-1559-1560- intervention in Scotland to remove French troops
-1562- succession
-1566- marriage
-1568- arrival of Mary Queen of Scots
-1576-1584 aiding Dutch rebels against Spanish
-1579- marriage
-1584- bond of association
Overall: conflict, marriage/succession, MQS

Question 5

How often did Privy Council meet?

Answer 5

-met twice a week or daily during times of difficulty

Question 6

How important was the privy Council to Liz’s decision making?

Answer 6

-her closest advisors
-Liz did not always attend and did not have to accept advice, but rarely completely ignored it

Question 7

What were the 3 groups that made up the Privy Council?

Answer 7

-nobility
-those with previous experience under past monarchs
-those personally chosen by Elizabeth without experience

Question 8

What religion was the Privy Council?

Answer 8

-aim was a balanced council of Protestant and Catholic

Question 9

What happened to membership of the Privy Council and what does this show? What was the reaction to this?

Answer 9

-Over time membership became narrower and most were related in some way (this was criticised)
-shows her decrease in trust

Question 10

Who was Cecil?

Answer 10

-Liz’s closest advisor

Question 11

Why was Cecil chosen?

Answer 11

-Cambridge educated
-Legally trained
-hardworking
-methodical
-former Privy Councillor and Secretary of State
-not a Marian exile
-close with her- oversaw her estates since 1548
-cautious and not fond of change
-loyal

Question 12

Arguments for Cecil having too much control?

Answer 12

-Top of Government Hierarchy
-‘Virtually untouchable’
-‘Manipulated Liz by threatening to resign if she didn’t listen to him
-When the Queen resisted his advice he used ‘hired pens’ to influence her
-Received over 100 letters a day from people seeking favour from HIM
-Was instrumental in the decision to execute Mary Queen of Scots
-His interest extended into all areas of policy
-Controlled spy network
-His son replaced him (so still had control)

Question 13

Arguments for Cecil not having too much control?

Answer 13

-Was banished by Elizabeth after the execution of Mary Queen of Scots (used as a scapegoat)
-Elizabeth did what she wants- if he stepped out of line he’d be removed
-He helps Elizabeth keep control- essential to it

Question 14

What was the structure of Parliament?

Answer 14

-House of Lords- 60 nobility, 2 archbishops, 24 bishops
-House of Commons- 400 MPs elected by property holders

Question 15

How many times was Parliament called during Liz’s reign? How does this compare to the 30 years before her reign?

Answer 15

-Over 45 years, Parliament only called 13 times
-In the 30 years before Liz’s reign, it was called 28 times

Question 16

Was Parliament an important part of Governmental process? Why/why not?

Answer 16

–In 1559, just over half MPs were present most of the time, in 1563 this dropped to between 31-64%
-This shows that it was not an important part of the Governmental process

Question 17

What were Elizabeth’s methods of controlling Parliament?

Answer 17

-not calling them (pre-emptive)
-proroguing or dissolving sessions (pre-emptive)
-using Privy Councilors
-making concessions
-veto
-using her prerogative to stop discussion (pre-emptive)

Question 18

Were Parliament successful in changing the Queen’s mind on a regular basis?

Answer 18

-No
-Elizabeth’s mind rarely changed (she was strong-minded, intelligent and cautious) so if she relented then it was out of necessity/ had no other choice

Question 19

What are 3 cases of Parliament opposing Elizabeth?

Answer 19

-Mary Queen of Scots
-Religion
-Freedom of Speech

Question 20

How did Parliament try to get what they wanted regarding Religion?

Answer 20

-MP’s conducted an organised attempt at reform with the support of the bishops and some Privy Councillors
-Elizabeth refused to allow revision of Church Settlement, so it was unsuccessful
-Cope and Strickland removed from Parliament for proposing change (this caused so much opposition that Liz never did this again)

Question 21

How did Parliament try to get what they wanted regarding Mary Queen of Scots?

Answer 21

-In 1572, they wanted the execution of Mary and Norfolk following the Ridolfi Plot
-used a variety of methods to pressure Liz, Cecil convinced her to execute Norfolk
-One of the few instanced Parliament prevailed over Liz
-In 1586 they met after Babington to discuss issue of Mary’s trial and sentence
-The two houses joined and gave a petition to ask for her execution- Liz had no choice but to agree

Question 22

How did Parliament try to get what they wanted regarding freedom of speech?

Answer 22

-unhappy with the use of prerogative and wanted to discuss wider range of issues
-Paul Wentworth raised matter in 1566, Peter Wentworth continued in 1561,1576, and 1587. Hoc didn’t support and saw them as a nuisance
-Liz felt that marriage, succession and foreign policy were her prerogative and religion was an issue for discussion with bishops
-In 1576 Peter launched a major challenge to the Queen and her control of debates but HoC was loyal to Liz- they stopped his speech and put him in the Tower

Question 23

Who were Elizabeth’s suitors?

Answer 23

-Robert Dudley
-Phillip II
-Archduke Charles
-Henry, Duke of Anjou
-Francis, Duke of Alencon

Question 24

What were the pros and cons of Robert Dudley as a suitor?

Answer 24

-would have ruined her reputation
-a favourite of hers, gave him preferential treatment
-Protestant
-Cecil completely against the idea
-very unpopular at court
-Dudley family had a poor reputation- his father was executed by Mary for treason
-Suspected of killing his wife

Question 25

What were the pros and cons of Prince Eric of Sweden as a suitor?

Answer 25

-not right status
-Protestant
-would have been a weak alliance
-popular with public as he spent lavishly in London

Question 26

What were the pros and cons of Duke of Alencon as a suitor?

Answer 26

-Liz was old and worried about dying in childbirth
-would have married him and was displeased when Privy Council did not back the marriage
-Courted for 10 years
-Catholic (not big deal)
-alliance with France
-serious public opposition and Privy Council divided but overall did not back him

Question 27

What were the pros and cons of Phillip II of Spain as a suitor?

Answer 27

-had no intention of marrying him and declined offer
-had unhappy marriage with Mary
-Devout Catholic
-Spain was one of the biggest powers- a powerful ally that would have provided protection
-Foreign King and remarriage would have been very unpopular with public

Question 27

What were the pros and cons of Henry Duke of Anjou as a suitor?

Answer 27

-Catholic
-an attractive alliance with France as situation with Spain getting worse

Question 28

What were the pros and cons of Archduke Charles as a suitor?

Answer 28

-didn’t need to marry him
-very much considered it but Mary Queen of Scots was overthrown so Liz felt more secure
-Catholic (not a big deal)
-Phillip II supported it
-Privy Council supported it

Question 29

Why was Elizabeth pressured to marry?

Answer 29

-to have an heir- increase political stability and MQS less of a threat
-build alliances
-ideas of women- people wanted a King

Question 30

In what ways did Elizabeth deal with faction?

Answer 30

-Dudley Vs Norfolk damaged her reputation- Liz ended these issues by clearly establishing that she wouldn’t marry Dudley
-became reluctant to make decisions- this infuriated all factions
-all courtiers wanted to gain Elizabeth’s favour therefore showed her complete devotion
-Cecil and Dudley settled differences
-Elizabeth gace Essex too many chances which grew his ego
-Essex overlooked for key positions in favour of Cecil- led to him launching a rebellion
-Clear favouritism especially for Dudley and Essex

Question 31

In what ways did Elizabeth deal with gender?

Answer 31

-used it to bind men to her
-requested Sir Hatton to remain single as a test of loyalty- lasted 15 years and made him Lord Chancellor
-expected exaggerated praise of her beauty even in old age- used to enhance reputation
-used ladies in waiting to get information (this is how she found out Norfolk Plot)
-ladies in waiting could be used to influence her- Dudley used them to put her off from marrying Duke of Alencon
-source of a lot of gossip (esp abt virginity)
-jealous and felt betrayed by Dudley’s marriage so sent him to the Tower- received criticism and effected running of government
-her temper was uncertain which was attributed to her gender