ELIZABETH I GOVERNMENT/PARLIAMENT

Question 1

WHAT was the Presence Chamber?

Answer 1

The more open area of the court, where anyone with the right status and connections could go with little problem

Question 2

HOW did Elizabeth I change the Court?

Answer 2

• The Privy Chamber lost influence as the previous Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber no longer had the same rights of access to the monarch as before (because she was a woman)
• As a result, the Presence Chamber became more influential and the Privy Chamber was less involved in government

Question 3

WHAT were the nine key functions of the Privy Council?

Answer 3

1) Court of Law (e.g. Star Chamber)
2) Manage Parliament
3) Manage Crown finances
4) Discuss and advise on policies
5) Oversee and receive appeals from regional councils
6) Instruct local administration (e.g. JPs)
7) Enforce law and order
8) Supervise national defence (military)
9) Enforce religious settlement

Question 4

WHO was William Cecil?

Answer 4

Elizabeth I’s key administrator at the beginning of her reign who came to dominate the Council.

Question 5

WHO was Robert Dudley?

Answer 5

The Earl of Leicester, and Elizabeth’s favourite.

Question 6

WHAT were the changes to Elizabeth’s Council in the 1570s?

Answer 6

• Reduction in conservative influence (downfall and execution of Norfolk, and death of Lord Treasurer Winchester)
• Promotion of some conservative figures (Sir James Croft and Sir Christopher Hatton)

Question 7

WHO were Elizabeth’s ‘inner ring’ of councillors (there are 8)?

Answer 7

• Burghley/Cecil (Protestant)
• Walsingham, Leicester, Mildmay, Knollys and Bedford (militant Protestants)
• Hatton and Sussex (conservatives)

Question 8

WHAT is a general summary of how successful Elizabeth’s management of government was throughout her reign?

Answer 8

Some have argued that her management was hugely successful for 30 years, but declined for the last 15 or so years of her reign, likely due to factional rivalries in her council.

Question 9

WHAT period of Elizabeth’s reign is considered to be successful in government?

Answer 9

1558 until the late 1580s

Question 10

WHAT were some strengths of Elizabeth’s Council 1558-1580s?

Answer 10

• Disagreements (particularly between Cecil and Leicester) were able to be contained to specific issues
• Family ties were stronger than religious differences
• Balanced in religious views
• Balanced the power over patronage
• Cohesive decisions, despite changes in personnel

Question 11

WHAT was a weakness of Elizabeth’s government 1558-1580s?

Answer 11

There were difficulties over foreign policy, leading to a break down between Elizabeth and her Privy Council after the execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587.

Question 12

WHAT was a key issue in Elizabeth’s government from late 1580s to 1590s?

Answer 12

• A number of key ministers died in quick succession (e.g. Leicester, 1588).
• Elizabeth was slow to find replacements, and usually relied on the less skilful sons of former councillors
• Lack of senior members of the nobility

Question 13

WHO replaced Burghley (Cecil) and the Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth’s council (1580s/90s)?

Answer 13

Burghley was replaced by his son, Robert Cecil, and the Earl of Leicester was replaced by his step-son, the Earl of Essex (also favourite of the queen).

Question 14

WHAT were the issues with the Earl of Essex in Elizabeth’s government?

Answer 14

• Large conflict between him and Robert Cecil
• He was hotheaded, temperamental, incompetent and lacking in judgement
• He failed in military action in Ireland
• He was in deep financial trouble
• Tried to start an armed coup as a response to his decline in influence

Question 15

WHEN was the Earl of Essex executed?

Answer 15

1601

Question 16

HOW strong was Elizabeth’s government by the end of her reign?

Answer 16

Weak: her and Cecil had become unpopular by this time, and her authority was diminishing.

Question 17

Overall, HOW important was Parliament under Elizabeth I compared to the reigns around hers?

Answer 17

It was less important than it would become in the 1600s (civil war era), and possibly less important than it was under HVIII. It was more of a secondary feature of the Elizabethan political system.

Question 18

HOW MANY acts were passed during Elizabeth’s reign?

Answer 18

438

Question 19

WHAT types of legislation were most important under Elizabeth I?

Answer 19

Those relating to religion and those regarding social policy

Question 20

HOW MANY of Elizabeth’s parliamentary sessions involved requests to grant revenue?

Answer 20

11 out of 13 (or, all but 2)

Question 21

HOW effective was the granting of revenue by Parliament under Elizabeth?

Answer 21

• Many of the sessions involved requesting the granting of revenue
• However, the unreformed direct taxation system decreased the yield of extraordinary revenue.

Question 22

To WHAT extent was the act of Parliament giving advice effective during Elizabeth’s reign?

Answer 22

Ineffective:
- Elizabeth was uninterested in hearing MPs’ advice, particularly when it concerned royal prerogative
Effective:
- It allowed senior Privy Council members to gauge more local political opinion.

Question 23

WHAT are four ways Parliament was managed by the Crown under Elizabeth I?

Answer 23

1) Cecil and his ‘floor planners’ framed, shaped and promoted bills
2) The Crown’s priorities were outlined at the start of each session
3) Refusal of royal assent
4) Barring/imprisonment of politicians who disagreed with Elizabeth (e.g. Wentworth)

Question 24

HOW effectively was Parliament managed by the Crown under Elizabeth?

Answer 24

Disagreements persisted, specifically concerning the queen’s marriage, or religion. In her final parliament, there was a complete loss of control.

Question 25

WHAT and WHEN was the ‘Golden Speech’?

Answer 25

A speech Elizabeth I made to Parliament in 1601 (her final session), where she spoke of love for her MPs despite their disagreements.

Question 26

WHAT are two differing opinions on the use of patronage under Elizabeth I?

Answer 26

• Some argue that the Crown created 62 new borough seats in this period in order to make sure it had many supporters in the House of Commons
• Others argue that these new seats were given out by aristocrats, to local gentry, who wanted the prestige of being an MP

Question 27

WHAT did John Neale say about Parliament under Elizabeth?

Answer 27

The traditional view: Neale traced back the problems of the 1600s (civil war) to Elizabeth’s reign. He argued that the oppositional elements in her reign (e.g. the Puritan Choir) started the rift between Crown and Parliament.

Question 28

WHAT is some evidence of negative relations between Elizabeth and Parliament?

Answer 28

• Elizabeth was easily angered about the question of royal prerogative
• Disagreements over Mary Queen of Scots, succession and monopolies
• Those who disagreed with Elizabeth were removed from Parliament (e.g. Strickland and Wentworth)
• The ‘Puritan Choir’

Question 29

WHAT is some evidence of positive relations between Elizabeth and Parliament?

Answer 29

• There was lots of taxation granted during her reign
• Sessions were mostly productive (particularly with tax and social policies)
• Only 13 short parliaments (signifying lack of conflict)
• Most bills vetoed by Elizabeth were due to the agreed need to redraft
• The ‘Puritan Choir’ was less powerful and united than previously believed
• Local matters were effectively resolved

Question 30

WHO was William Strickland?

Answer 30

An MP during Elizabeth’s reign who proposed religious changes. This upset the queen and the Council removed him from attendance at the Commons as a result.

Question 31

WHO was Peter Wentworth?

Answer 31

Ann MP during Elizabeth’s reign who infringed on the royal prerogative. He was imprisoned by the House of Commons itself as a result.