Elizabeth I - Elizabethan Government

Question 1

Elizabeth became Queen following the death of her half-sister, Mary I

Answer 1

November 1558

Question 2

January 1559

Answer 2

Elizabeth’s coronation was a lavish affair which cost around £16,000 and lasted for around 3 days

Question 3

The Marian Debt

Answer 3

£227,000 in debt Elizabeth inherited from Mary I

Question 4

The Council of Wales and the Marches

Answer 4

The body responsible for exercising royal power in Wales. It was headed by the Lord President and their headquarters were in Ludlow

Question 5

The Court of Great Sessions

Answer 5

Twelve of the thirteen Welsh shires (excluding Monmouthshire) were divided into four court circuits. Circuit judges would tour each county, holding sessions twice a year. They would deal with serious crimes such as murders and riots

Question 6

Patronage

Answer 6

Special favours such as land or positions at court which were given to people in order to retain their support

Question 7

Freedom of Speech

Answer 7

Elizabeth decided which topics could be debated in Parliament. MPs, in theory, could decide which topics to discuss; but, in reality, Elizabeth stopped them from discussing issues such as her marriage, succession, foreign policy and religion

Question 8

Taxation

Answer 8

Any additional money needed by Elizabeth was usually raised by asking Parliament to increase taxes. There was an increase in taxes at a local level to help pay off the ‘Marian debt’ during Elizabeth’s reign

Question 9

Royal Court

Answer 9

The centre of political power during Elizabeth’s reign. Members of the Royal Court
were advisors, government officials, ladies-in-waiting and servants. Their main court
residence was Whitehall Palace, in London

Question 10

Privy Council

Answer 10

Advisors and ministers appointed by Elizabeth to help her rule. Elizabeth appointed 19 Privy Councillors after her coronation in 1559

Question 11

Factions

Answer 11

Through patronage, Elizabeth naturally generated rivalry between her courtiers. This
led to rival factions developing at court. Elizabeth was generally very successful at playing these factions against each other to maintain their loyalty

Question 12

Monopolies

Answer 12

Monopolies gave individual nobles and merchants the sole right to manufacture or
sell particular goods. They could then control the supply of that particular product
and raise prices to increase their profits. Elizabeth also made money from granting
monopoly licenses

Question 13

Royal Progresses

Answer 13

Elizabeth toured the countryside for 6-8 weeks in summer, staying at the houses of wealthy nobles (which cost them a fortune). People would try to catch a glimpse of the Queen when she was in the area

Question 14

Parliament

Answer 14

There was no Prime Minister or political parties. MPs were all wealthy, landowning
men. Parliament’s two main functions were introducing new laws and raising taxes.
Parliament was only called thirteen times in 45 years by Elizabeth

Question 15

Lord Lieutenant

Answer 15

Another wealthy landowner who would inform Elizabeth about law and order in their area. In Wales, the President of
the Council of Wales and the Marches also served as Lord Lieutenant

Question 16

Deputy Lieutenant

Answer 16

One was appointed in each
Welsh shire to assist the
Lord Lieutenant. They were
responsible for defending the area and supervised the work of JPs

Question 17

Justices of the Peace

Answer 17

Wealthy landowning gentry
who voluntarily took on the task of organising law and order in their area. There were 30 to 60 JPs per county

Question 18

Sheriff

Answer 18

They were concerned with
legal affairs such as swearing in juries, delivering prisoners
to court and helping with the collection of taxes

Question 19

Parish constable/ night watchman

Answer 19

Local men were appointed by the JP to do this unpaid role for one year at a time. They were given a range of duties and supervised by the JPs. Night watchmen patrolled towns at night looking out for criminals

Question 20

Overseer of the poor

Answer 20

Organised the collection of the poor rate (a local tax) before distributing the money to the people in the area most in need of assistance

Question 21

Sir William Cecil (Lord Burghley)

Answer 21

Secretary of state and closest advisor to Elizabeth for the vast majority of her reign. A moderate Protestant and Privy Councillor who helped Elizabeth control Parliament

Question 22

Robert Dudley (Earl
of Leicester)

Answer 22

A trusted advisor and a Privy Councillor, member of the Royal Court and later commander of
the military. He was a Puritan who often fell out with Cecil. Was rumoured to be Elizabeth’s lover

Question 23

Sir Francis Walsingham

Answer 23

The man in charge of Elizabeth’s secret service network of spies who advised on foreign affairs.
He uncovered the plot that led to Mary, Queen of Scots’ execution

Question 24

Sir Christopher Hatton

Answer 24

Vice Chamberlain of the Queen’s household, he was responsible for organising Elizabeth’s progresses