Elizabeth's Court and Parliament Flashcards
Who leads the Privy Council?
Secretary of State
What is the Privy Council responsible for?
day-to-day running of country
2 previous Secretary of State leaders
-William Cecil
-Francis Walsingham
What was Parliament made up of?
-House of Commons
-House of Lords
Who made up the House of Lords?
-nobles
-bishops
How did parliament manage crime and poverty?
-punishing poor didn’t work
-poor law 1601
What religion were parliament predominantly?
Protestant
What is a monopoly?
exclusive right to trade in a specific product
What monopoly was the Earl of Essex gifted?
Sweet wine
Why did Elizabeth use monopolies?
to maintain loyalty of powerful men
What was the Act of Supremacy?
1534 - turned England from a Catholic nation to a Protestant nation
Who ran the Royal Court?
Lord Chamberlain
Who made up the Privy council?
powerful and rich landowners
If the Privy council agreed on an issue…
it was hard for Elizabeth to refuse it
How long was William Cecil a key advisor of the Privy council?
40 years
Privy council issued instructions to…
the Lord’s Lieutenant and Justices of Peace
What were the Lord Lieutenants appointed for?
running particular area of country (local)
What were the Justices of Peace responsible for?
maintaining order and enforcing law - supported Lord Lieutenants
What were the responsibilities of Lord Lieutenants?
-collecting taxes
-ensuring political stability
How did Elizabeth control parliament?
-right to reject measures proposed by Mps via royal veto
-imprisoned troublesome Mps
-members of Privy council controlled Mps
-Queen sits in Parliament
-Patronage
What is Patronage?
land, titles or power given to ensure an individuals support
Parliament’s power over Elizabeth
-Elizabeth needed approval from Parliament for taxes
-some MPs did criticize government policies
When was William Cecil appointed as Secretary of State?
1558
William Cecil received title…
Lord Burghley in 1571
Who was Robert Dudley?
-Earl of Leicester
-privy councillor
-romantic interest with Elizabeth
Who was Francis Walsingham?
-MP
-Secretary of State
-uncovered plot that let to Mary QoS execution
What were Elizabeth’s problems as queen?
- religion
- succession
- Mary Queen of Scots
- Foreign Policy
- Ireland
- Taxation
Elizabeth’s problems: Religion
-change from Catholics to Protestant
-rise of extremist Protestants (Puritans)
Elizabeth’s problems: Succession
-no heir (instability)
-Catholics made plots to kill Elizabeth
Elizabeth’s problems: Mary Queen of Scots
-next in line to throne
-exiled from Scotland (great threat)
-Catholic
Elizabeth’s problems: Foreign Policy
-France + Spain both Catholic, with support of Pope
-Netherlands (Protestant) conflict with Spain
Elizabeth’s problems: Ireland
-England rules whole of Ireland
-Irish rebellion against her rule
Elizabeth’s problems: Taxation
-great poverty
-taxes would be very unfavourable and dangerous for monarchy
Who were Elizabeth’s 3 potential suitors?
-King Phillip II of Spain
-Robert Dudley
-Francis Duke of Alencon
Arguments against/ issues of marriage for Elizabeth
-loss of authority, men has a greater status in society
-religion (prevent religious conflict)
-birth was risky for health
Arguments for marriage for Elizabeth
-alliance with a Foreign country (e.g. Spain, King Phillip II)
-guarantee loyalty of powerful English family (e.g. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester)
-produce an heir
What year was the Essex Rebellion?
1601
Background of Earl of Essex
-privy councillor
-monopoly of sweet wine
-rivalry with Robert Cecil
-attacked Spanish port of Cadiz in 1596
Why was Essex placed under house arrest?
attempted to draw his sword at the Queen in a Privy Council meeting
Why did Essex fall from the Queen’s favours?
failure to deal with Irish rebellion
What happened as a result of Essex’s failure to stop the Irish rebellion?
lost his wealth and influence AND sweet wine monopoly
How did Essex rebel?
took 4 privy councillors hostage and 200 supporters on a march to his London House
Waht were the consequences of the Essex rebellion?
Essex trialled for treason and sentenced to death
How was Essex executed?
in private
What did the Essex rebellion prove about the Queen?
Elizabeth held great authority and wouldn’t tolerate any challenges to her power
Francis Duke of Alencon: religion and position of power
-Catholic (many of Privy council were against it)
-heir to the French throne
King Phillip II of Spain: religion and relationship with England
-Catholic
-married Mary I, but didn’t produce an heir and rarely visited England
Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester): power and relationship with Elizabeth
-key figure in royal court and Privy council
-childhood friend of Elizabeth
