Elizabeth’s Court and Parliament Flashcards
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When was Queen Elizabeth the First born?
1533
When did Queen Elizabeth die?
1603
What was a difficulty the queen had to face when she came to the throne?
- Religious difficulties between catholics and Protestants as the previous ruler has left the country in a State of fear and chaos,
- Sexism, as a woman Elizabeth was at first not regarded as fit to rule the country due to sexism at the time,
- Mary Queen of Scot’s was still a threat to the throne,
- Disagreements with the pope making her unpopular with catholic country’s like Spain.
What was parliament at the time made up of?
Parliament was split up into two areas: House of Lords (lords, bishops and high nobility) and House of Commons (“common people” who were still wealthy and educated)
What was the Privy Council?
Those who took the day to day responsibilities and were the queens main advisors. Elizabeth herself chose who she wanted in the council
What did the parliament have control over?
Taxes and passing laws
What did the privy council deal with?
The privy council could deal with almost any issue from military, foreign affairs , religion or queen’s security.
Who were the Lord Lieutenants?
They were those appointed by the queen to take care of a particular area of the country , settling disputes and collecting taxes but could also have connections to privy councillors
Who were the Justices of the Peace
Similar to the police force these days where they ensure laws are enforced. These were often those from the local gentry.
What was the royal court?
A group of up to 1000 people including: government officials, ladies in waiting, advisors and servants, the centre of political power with people as high as nobles down to servants. It was the centre of fashions and trends.
What is it called when the queen rewards loyalty with giving titles, power and land
Patronage
What is patronage?
When the queen gives land, titles and power to those loyal to her
What was considered disgraceful in the court as an antithesis to patronage
Banishment from court
Who was William Cecil?
A privy councillor who helped create the poor laws and was Elizabeth’s most trusted advisor.
Who was Francis walsingham?
The queens “Spymaster” who helped the queen establish power at sea, stop multiple revolutions/ overthrows and helped kill Mary Queen of Scots
Why wouldn’t Elizabeth marry?
She claimed she was married to the country, however it may have also been trauma from her father and his history with his wives (executions)
Why was marriage important at the time?
It was about making political deals between families and nations and it could determine the future of the country and who would rule (within a royal context)
Who wanted to marry the queen?
-Robert Dudley (family friend raised with Elizabeth but likely not to marry her after alledgedly killing his wife)
-Prince Phillip II (kind of Spain which was very catholic and was of if the most powerful men in the world with a very rich country)
-Francis Duke of Anjon (a French king to be and catholic)
What was the Norfolk rebellion?
-Duke of Norfolk wanted Mary Queen of Scots in power and this being after the papal bull and many northerners being catholic they decided to rebel and so they held an illegal catholic mass and tried to march to kill the queen
-4600 men
- occurred in 1569
- Defeated by Earl of Sussex army
Ridolfi plot?
-1571
-Italian Banker wanted MQS in power
-Dealed with Netherlands to try invade and overthrow the queen
- Walsingham caught them before with his spies and nothing came of it
Who was the earl of Essex?
A lover of the queen and extremely loyal,
He had been put under house arrest and kicked from court several times and led to his incredible fall from grace and loss of most of his power
Essex rebellion?
-Earl of Essex was unhappy with his “mistreatment “ and tried to kill the queen with a group of followers (200)
-he tried to keep hostages but they were released by followers who abandoned the cause
- he was labelled a traitor and put on trial in 1601 where he was later executed
Essex rebellion?
-Earl of Essex was unhappy with his “mistreatment “ and tried to kill the queen with a group of followers (200)
-he tried to keep hostages but they were released by followers who abandoned the cause
- he was labelled a traitor and put on trial in 1601 where he was later executed
Who was the centre of government in Elizabeth England
Privy council
