Elizabeth Government

Question 1

Patronage in the royal court

Answer 1

System where the crown distributed favours to those that were seen as loyal

Question 2

Functions of the privy council

Answer 2

-manage crown finances with lord treasurer and chancellor of the exchequer
-enforce religious settlement of 1559
-administrator the realm by instructing a range of officials: lord’s lieutenant, sheriffs, juscties of the peace
-oversee operation of regional councils eg. North/Wales

Question 3

William Cecil

Answer 3

-principle secretary
-served Elizabeth for over 40 years
-clashed with Leicester

Question 4

Conservative views within the privy council

Answer 4

-traditional aristocracy eg. Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk
-Lord Treasurer, The Marquis of Winchester
-earls of Sussex and Shrewsbury

Question 5

Dudley

Answer 5

-joined council in 1562
-close relationship with Elizabeth
-radical Protestant
-clashed with Cecil

Question 6

Conservatives within the council

Answer 6

-Lord Treasurer- Marquis of Winchester
-Traditional aristocracy eg. Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk
-Earls of Sussex and Shrewsbury

Question 7

How did influence of conservatism decline?

Answer 7

Due to the downfall and execution of the Duke of Norfolk following the Northern Rebellion

Question 8

Changes to the privy council in the 1570s

Answer 8

Appointment of firmly Protestant councillors eg. Sir Francis Walsingham + Earl of Warwick
Elizabeth balanced Protestant and catholic views with promotion of Hatton, Hatton and Sussex main conservative members remaining

Question 9

What were the main issues that Elizabeth and her council disagreed over?

Answer 9

-foreign affairs
-Mary Queen of Scots

Question 10

What problems weakened the council in the late 1580s?

Answer 10

-a number of ministers died including Earl of Leicester in September 1588
-no immediate replacements were made, often Elizabeth relied on the middle aged sons of former councillors who lacked their father’s skills.
-ProMotion of Robert Cecil due to William Cecil’s ill health resulted in rivalry with Essex

Question 11

By 1597 how many members remained?

Answer 11

11

Question 12

How did Elizabeth prevent factional rivalry getting out of hand?

Answer 12

No single minister had complete patronage
Influential families at court eg. Boleyn’s and Parr’s were balanced

Question 13

When did the coherence of government begin to decline?

Answer 13

1590s due to clashes between Robert Cecil and Earl of Essex
Resulted in the Essex ‘rebellion’ 1601

Question 14

Why did Essex influence decline?

Answer 14

Frozen out of court by Robert Cecil
He was in deep financial trouble (Elizabeth refused to renew his monopoly)
Failed as a military leader in Ireland

Question 15

Essex’s response to declining influence

Answer 15

1601
Planned an arm coup to bring down Cecil and his other enemies
However Cecil was well prepared and Essex was forced to surrender
Tried and executed