Elizabeth's Government (1563 - 1603)

Question 1

Royal Court

Answer 1

• Important to decision-making process
• Sought advice on an individual basis
• For theatre and patronage
• Took place wherever E was
• Operation came under jurisdiction of Lord Chamberlain, who was always a nobility member e.g. Hunsdon
• Ceremonial aspects became more important as reign progressed

Question 2

Presence Chamber (Part of Royal Court)

Answer 2

• relatively open area
• anyone with the right status or connections had access

Question 3

Privy Chamber (Part of Royal Court)

Answer 3

• more private and more important
• less influential than it had been during the previous reigns of Tudor Kings because Gentlemen of the Chamber did not have the same rights of access
• admission to the Chamber was carefully guarded

Question 4

Privy Council

Answer 4

• the main formal body in which the queen’s ministers came together
• responsible for policy advice and administration
• met regularly with about ten members
• importance should not be overestimated, as E often consulted ministers on an individual basis
• reshaped in the 1570’s
• due to a mix of both conservative and Protestant councillors, there were disputes over foreign policy and a breakdown in their relation
• on the whole, the ministers served the Queen well

Question 5

William Cecil

Answer 5

• E’s key minster
• dominated the Council
• joined in Council by close associates such as Bacon, Russell, and Knollys
• conservative members from traditional aristocracy included the Duke of Norfolk, and earls of Sussex and Shrewsbury

Question 6

Robert Dudley

Answer 6

• E’s favourite
• joined Council in 1562

Question 7

Protestant councillors

Answer 7

• multiple appointed in 1570’s, such as Walsingham, Mildmay, Sadler, Smith, Sidney, and the Earl of Warwick
• this advancement was balanced by the promotion of more conservative figures e.g. Croft and Hatton
• resulted in an inner ring of eight councillors (Walsingham, Leicester, Mildmay, Knollys, Earl of Bedford, Cecil, Sussex and Hatton)

Question 8

Weaknesses of the Council (late 1580’s)

Answer 8

• number of ministers died in quick succession. By 1597 the Council only had 11 members
• E made matters worse by failing to make immediate replacements, and when she did, she relied on son’s of previous councillors who lacked any skills
• absence of senior noblemen in Council
• E refused to let Cecil retire, although his effectiveness diminished in 1590’s. He appointed his son, Robert Cecil, to the Council
• promotion of Robert Cecil angered Earl of Essex

Question 9

Factional Rivalry

Answer 9

• Not even Cecil had complete control over patronage
• Family connections overcame religious differences
• Earl of Leicester and Robert Cecil disagreed over E’s potential marriage, but managed to work together
• However, this coherence began to decline in the 1590’s, when Robert Cecil and Earl of Essex made governance difficult. Came to a head in 1601 in the Essex Rebellion

Question 10

Essex Rebellion (pg. 188)

Answer 10

• Due to his declining influence, he planned an armed coup which would bring down Cecil and his other enemies
• Cecil was well prepared and Essex was forced to surrender
• He was quickly tried and executed in 1601