Elizabeth: Parliament and Religion Flashcards
When was Elizabeth crowned Queen of England?
1558
Give two reasons why Elizabeth was well prepared to be Queen
- She was well educated, she knew 5 languages and was taught matters of the state. She was educated by the same people who taught her brother, who was next in line to be king.
- She was smart and cunning, she managed to avoid execution multiple times.
Where was the Royal court located and what was its role?
It didn’t have a specific location, it followed Elizabeth around her royal residences, such as the main one (Whitehall Palace), St James’ palace and Hampton Court. It’s role was to advise the monarch, as well as put on lavish ceremonies to use as propaganda for visiting nobility.
Which groups of people were in the Court – give 2 examples
- Nobles
- Advisers
- Servants
What were Progresses?
The Queen and the Court would leave London in the summer and tour the country, staying in noble’s country houses who would want to impress her.
What were two positive things Elizabeth got out of Progresses
- Won the loyalty of her subjects
2. Got to stay in noble’s houses for free as they were trying to impress her.
Why were Progresses a positive thing for the Nobility who Elizabeth stayed with?
If they impressed her they could win a place at Court.
What was the Privy council and what was its role?
A group of nobles, gentry, and leading churchmen. They would oversee the day to day running of the country, such as instructing town councils, magistrates, and constables (like police). They also advised the Queen on affairs of state, such as religious and foreign policy.
Who was William Cecil (Lord Burghley)? What was his role? How influential was he?
Secretary of state, the Queen’s main advisor. He was highly influential.
Who was Robert Dudley (The Earl of Leicester) What was his role? How influential was he?
Member of court and Master of Horse, in charge of Elizabeth’s safety. Childhood friend and said to be in love with Elizabeth. High influence before 1578, when he got married so fell out with Elizabeth.
Who was Francis Walsingham? What was his job? How influential was he?
Member of Privy Council, special responsibility for foreign affairs. Spy master, controlled a network of informers who uncovered plots against Elizabeth. High influence, not as high as Cecil or Dudley.
What was the role of Parliament in Elizabeth reign?
Parliament’s approval was needed before any laws could be passed.
What was Elizabeth attitude to Parliament and how did she control Parliament?
She thought that it was her and the Privy Council’s role to run the country, and not Parliament. Elizabeth had much control over them, she could veto their laws, call or dismiss them whenever she wished (Parliament only met 13 times 1559-1601), and she used them to get taxes by bullying or charming them.
What problems did Elizabeth have in the 1590s in terms of running the country?
- The country had been damaged by war, famine, and plague.
- Her trusted advisors were dying; Dudley in 1588, Walsingham in 1590, Cecil in 1598
- She was getting old and losing her charm, more nobles and MPs were questioning her authority.
Who was the Earl of Essex?
A member of the Privy council and step-son of Robert Dudley. He was placed under house arrest and stripped of office when he failed to end a rebellion by the Earl of Tyrone in Ireland.
When was Essex’s rebellion and what happened?
1601: The Earl of Essex fortified his house and took 4 members of the Privy Council hostage. He and 300 supporters marched on London, but was defeated and executed for treason.
What problems did Elizabeth have as a female monarch? Give two examples
- The common view was that women were weak, unintelligent, and ruled by emotion. Nobles may try to take more power.
- Foreign countries may see England as weak and take advantage.
Why did the Privy council want Elizabeth to be married?
They wanted a successor to the throne.
Name three possible Suitors? Give an advantage and a disadvantage to marrying each one
1.King Phillip of Spain:
+Spain was a traditional ally of England
- He was a catholic and unpopular in England.
- Robert Dudley
+The two were close friends since childhood.
- Rumors spread that Elizabeth had his first wife murdered; the marriage would be too scandalous. - Duke of Alencon
+Younger brother of the Kind of France
- Thousands of protestants were murdered in the 1572 St Bartholomew’s Day massacre in France.
Why did Elizabeth stay unmarried?
- Most suitable suitors were Catholic
- A foreign marriage would make enemies of other countries
- Taking and English husband would make enemies at Court.
- Getting married would involve giving up power to her husband.
What were 2 of Elizabeth’s aims regarding religion?
- To heal the divisions between Protestants and Catholics to avoid Civil War
- To maximise her personal power by taking as much control over the church as possible
What was the Act of Supremacy, 1559?
It re-established the break from Rome and an independent Church of England and all members of the clergy had to swear an oath of loyalty to her.
However, as a compromise with Archbishops and Bishops being kept which it was hoped would please Catholics.
What was the Act of Uniformity, 1559?
Catholic Mass was abandoned and the Bible was written in English (to please protestants
Ornaments such as crosses and candles could be placed on the communion table and Priests had to war traditional- style Vestments (to please Catholics)
How were these two acts viewed at the time
Moderate Protestants and Catholics were happy with them but Puritan and extreme Catholics thought they were too generous to the “enemy”
What was a Puritan?
An English Protestant who wanted to further simplify the church of England and remove anything related to Catholicism.
Give 3 examples of when Puritans challenged Elizabeth and how Elizabeth dealt with them
1570 - Thomas Cartwright delivered a series of lectures and called for Bishops to be abolished. He was sacked from his position at Cambridge University.
300 ministers, most of whom had Puritan views, were suspended for refusing to agree to the Acts introducing in the first 5 years of Elizabeth reign.
1593 - Seditious Sectaries Act made Puritanism an offence
Why was Mary Queen of Scots a rival for the throne and a threat to Elizabeth?
Because Elizabeth was childless and Mary had a claim to the throne. She was a Pro – French and a Catholic
What did Elizabeth do with Mary when she arrived in England?
Mary was kept under house arrest
When was the Northern rebellion?
1569
What happened in the first stages of the Northern Rebellion
The duke of Norfolk, the Queens cousin wanted to marry Mary and put pressure on Elizabeth, as Mary’s claim to the throne would be strengthened strong. Dudley and Throckmorton were brought in to the plot but Dudley confessed to Elizabeth. Norfolk was arrested
What success did the Northern rebels have?
Two Catholic nobles Northumberland and Westmorland started an uprising of 5000 rebels in the north and Mass was illegally held in Durham cathedral. In December they waited for Spanish assistance.
Why did the rebellion fail
Lack of foreign support
Lack of an uprising by the general population
Key Northern towns were held by the government e.g. York.
The rebels lost a short battle and Westmorland and Northumberland fled to Scotland
What was the impact of the Northern uprising
Elizabeth confiscated the land of the Earls who rebelled making her stronger
The reorganising of the Northern Council strengthened her position
Norfolk was released after 9 months in the tower of London
In what year did the Pope introduce a Bull excommunicating Elizabeth?
1570
Why was the bull of excommunication significant?
Because English Catholics did not have to be loyal to Elizabeth
When was the Treason Act
1571
What did the Treason Act state
Anyone denying Elizabeth’s supremacy and bringing in the Pope Bull of excommunication will be executed.
Who were the Jesuits
A group of Catholics committed to serving the Pope
What was the aim of Jesuit presence in England
To gain obnflunce over rich and powerful families and turn them against Elizabeth
When did the Jesuit missionaries start coming to England
1580
Who was Edmund Champion
An English Jesuit Priest and the most famous Catholic missionary
What happened to Champion when he was captured in1581
He was tortured and executed
What was recusancy
Refusal to attend Church of England services
When was the fine for recusancy raised to £20
1581
In what year were large gatherings of Catholics banned
1593
What % of Catholics were recusants by the end of Elizabeth reign?
2%
When was the Catholic threat at it greatest
1580s
By when had the Catholic threat disappeared?
Late 1590s
In what year was the Radolfi plot
1571
In what year was the Throckmorton
1583
When was the Babington plot?
1586
Who was Babington
A Catholic recusant and organiser of the plot to kill Elizabeth and place Mary on the Throne
Why did Mary become involved in the Babington plot
Because she had been locked up for 20 years
How did the plot unfold?
Walsingham was aware of the plot an allowed it to develop to the point where Mary agreed to the assassination of Elizabeth
What happened to Mary after the Babington plot
She was found guilty of treason and without Elizabeth knowing, she was beheaded.
What was the impact of her beheading?
Limited –
English Catholics did not rise up against Elizabeth
Although Philip of Spain did launch the Armada is was not a direct consequence of Marys execution
