elizabeth: government Flashcards
What was the structure/ the roles of Local Gov? What duties did each role have?
-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
How important was Court in descision making?
-Elizabeth open to influence from members of the Court outside the Privy Council
Benefit of being in court?
-people in Court had advantage of daily access to the Queen and could try shape her decision making
What matters were discussed by the Privy Council? When?
-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
How often did Privy Council meet?
-met twice a week or daily during times of difficulty
How important was the privy Council to Liz’s decision making?
-her closest advisors
-Liz did not always attend and did not have to accept advice, but rarely completely ignored it
What were the 3 groups that made up the Privy Council?
-nobility
-those with previous experience under past monarchs
-those personally chosen by Elizabeth without experience
What religion was the Privy Council?
-aim was a balanced council of Protestant and Catholic
What happened to membership of the Privy Council and what does this show? What was the reaction to this?
-Over time membership became narrower and most were related in some way (this was criticised)
-shows her decrease in trust
Who was Cecil?
-Liz’s closest advisor
Why was Cecil chosen?
-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
Arguments for Cecil having too much control?
-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)
Arguments for Cecil not having too much control?
-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
What was the structure of Parliament?
-House of Lords- 60 nobility, 2 archbishops, 24 bishops
-House of Commons- 400 MPs elected by property holders
How many times was Parliament called during Liz’s reign? How does this compare to the 30 years before her reign?
-Over 45 years, Parliament only called 13 times
-In the 30 years before Liz’s reign, it was called 28 times
Was Parliament an important part of Governmental process? Why/why not?
–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
What were Elizabeth’s methods of controlling Parliament?
-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)
Were Parliament successful in changing the Queen’s mind on a regular basis?
-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
What are 3 cases of Parliament opposing Elizabeth?
-Mary Queen of Scots
-Religion
-Freedom of Speech
How did Parliament try to get what they wanted regarding Religion?
-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)
How did Parliament try to get what they wanted regarding Mary Queen of Scots?
-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
How did Parliament try to get what they wanted regarding freedom of speech?
-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
Who were Elizabeth’s suitors?
-Robert Dudley
-Phillip II
-Archduke Charles
-Henry, Duke of Anjou
-Francis, Duke of Alencon
What were the pros and cons of Robert Dudley as a suitor?
-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
