Elizabeth I - Government Flashcards
Privy Council (Household)
Administered matters of state. She increased the number of Privy council members to 50.
Roles consisted of:
Lord Chamberlain - Ran household & supervised appointments, aided by Vice Chamberlain.
Secretary of State - The most significant role. Robert Cecil administered matters of state.
Lord Treasurer - administered revenue & expenditure
Comptroller of Household - household accountant.
Lord High Admiral - In charge of the Navy
Keeper of the Great Seal - legalised documents.
The Court
The court was the day to day government ran from major palaces Elizabeth resided at eg. Greenwich and Whitehall palace. Its influential role was to entertain the monarch - consisted of 1500 people, from Lord Chamberlain down to servants.
William Cecil’s achievements - Secretary of State
Established relations with foreign ambassadors between 1558-1572, when he was principal advisor and executive for foreign affairs
eg. the Scottish protestants in 1960
Successful economic policy - cut gov. expenditure, raised ordinary revenues, and sold crown lands.
Ensured England met the costs of war from 1580’s onwards with small debt, dealing with bad health.
Managed the House of Commons and House of Lords, through organisation and attention to detail.
Developed an intelligence agency with Francis Walsingham - spy network used to infiltrate Mary Queen of Scotts.
How was the Privy Council divided
1567, Council disagree over Elizabeth’s decision to marry Charles of Austria - Sussex & Cecil favoured it, but Leicester wanted to prevent the marriage.
1569-70 Council divided of Mary, Queen of Scotts visit to the UK. Councillors divided over support for Scottish Protestants, and support for Mary & France.
1578, the main divide was whether to give military aid to the Protestant rebels in Netherlands against Spain.
Leicester who supported it, had to wait 7 years for Elizabeths approval of military intervention.
1590s, Earl of Essex had huge ambitions, leading a 1601 uprising where he was executed, leaving the Cecil faction supreme.
Central Government
This was the heart of the government, directed by Elizabeth and based in London. It was made up of the Court, Privy Council and the Exchequer.
Here, ambitious men strived for a place in the Court, hoping to receive patronage - it was possible to be in all 3 eg. Robert Dudley (Master of the Horse).
4 courts - Regional government
Elizabeth used 4 courts to trial people in regions:
– Assizes - held twice a year and dealt with the most serious cases
–Quarter sessions - held every 3 months by county JPs dealing with criminal and civil cases.
–Local courts - dealt with everyday disputes between tenants eg. land ownership & agricultural price conflict.
–Ecclesiastical courts - dealt with matrimony, wills and disputes between neighbours.
How effective was central governments control of the local government ? - regional government
Elizabeth bought loyalty using different tactics:
*Her ability to sack & appoint JP’s ensured loyalty.
*She used powers of patronage to ensure obedience from the local government.
* Regular communication between central gov. & JPs.
*Propaganda - printing press enforced roles of ministers
Was open to corruption, as officials were appointed on the whim of nobles and JPs unpaid, but most men relished their status their positions brought them, and there was little civil unrest under Elizabeth.
Parliament under Elizabeth
Parliament only met 13 times during Elizabeth’s reign. 11 of 13 parliaments were used to grant taxes and ask for money. only 1 was used for political matters.
House of Commons: 460 MPs, Privy councillors & clerk and listening to a privy council nominated speaker.
House of Lords: 26 Bishops & 55-70 nobles sat in order of importance and clerk listening to speaker.
-turned bills into acts, but required Liz approval.
Elizabeth delivered carefully crafted speeches to remind MPs they are her subject & she is their queen.
held powers of arrest & veto, also ensuring loyalty.
Attendance at sessions was never good, only 10% of MPs spoke in debates, and only 47% voted.
How effective was parliament under Elizabeth?
Elizabeth manipulated parliament to get her way. Imprisoned & replaced several Catholic bishops to pass her bill restoring royal supremacy.
1576, Elizabeth requested money, despite no war.
Told MPs discussion was allowed, but not over FP, religion or marriage - limited freedom of speech, and MPs couldn’t hold Liz accountable for issues - grievances were rarely listened to.
Although, Liz respond to MPs local issues when she called to end monopolies and investigate the situation after Liz called parliament to raise money for Spain.
