Elizabeth I - Government Flashcards
Appointing successful Lord Treasurers?
Inherited Lord Treasurer William Paulet who continued to implement financial reforms in the Exchequer. He reevaluated crown lands so rents could be increased and raised customs duties. He was replaced by William Cecil in 1572. By 1585 Elizabeth had been able to pay off Mary’s debts of £300,000 and build up a reserve of £300,000.
How much did selling crownlands raise?
£600,000
What were the results of participating in the joint stock trading companies?
Capture of ship Madre de Dios in 1592 brought a profit of £77,000, but it was easy for Spanish fleets to slip past the English in bad weather and Elizabeth’s commanders did not always share their booty with her. In 1596 Lord Howard and the Earl of Essex handed over the plunder from the capture of Cadiz to their men.
Was ordinary revenue allowed to stagnate?
Profits from feudal dues declined until Robert Cecil took over the Court of Wards in 1599
Elizabeth allowed her favourites to use the revenue from their offices. Winchester and Leicester alone owed nearly £70,000 to the crown, almost 5 times the annual income from feudal dues.
Was parliamentary taxation reformed?
Subsidy tax was based on an individual’s own assessment of his wealth and it was common practise for the rich to undervalue their assets. The value of each subsidy tax fell throughout the reign and the government made no attempt to improve tax collection.
How many parliaments were asked to raise the subsidy?
11/13
Who was Elizabeth’s key minister?
William Cecil. He was joined in the council by a number of close associates including Sir Nicholas Bacon, Francis Russell and Sir Francis Knollys.
Who were ministers with more conservative views?
Thomas Howard, the Lord Treasurer the Marquess of Winchester and the earl of Sussex and Shrewsbury
When did Robert Dudley join the council?
1562
When was Mary Queen of Scots executed?
1587
Who was appointed in the 1570s?
Protestants - Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Walter Mildmay, Sir Ralph Sadler, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Henry Sidney and the Earl of Warwick
Conservatives - Sir James Croft and Sir Christopher Hatton
What were the problems that weakened Elizabeth’s government from the later 1580s?
A number of ministers died in quick succession. Death of Earl of Leicester in September 1588. By 1597 the Council only had 11 members. She failed to make immediate replacements.
Elizabeth refused to allow Burghley to retire although his effectiveness diminished in the 1590s. He appointed his son, Robert Cecil, which angered the Earl of Essex
What was the declining influence of Essex?
He was largely frozen out of court by Robert Cecil. Elizabeth refused to renew his monopoly on the import of sweet wines. He had failed as a military leader in Ireland and brought shame upon himself when he burst into the queen’s bedchamber.
What was the Essex rebellion?
He planned an armed coup to bring down Cecil and his other enemies however his plans were rumbled. He was tried and executed in 1601.
What were some parliaments which granted taxation?
1571 parliament granted a subsidy
1576 granted a subsidy
1589 parliament voted a double subsidy
1593 voted a triple subsidy
1598 voted a triple subsidy
1601 granted a quadruple subsidy
