Elizabeth's problems Flashcards
Give three examples of taxes in Elizabethan England
Subsidies: taxes raised by Parliament
Customs duties: taxes placed on goods imported into the country
Extraordinary taxation: taxes raised by Elizabeth at times of war
Give two reasons why Elizabeth was reluctant to rely on taxes for her income?
The more taxes she raised, the less popular she would be with the public
She did not want to rely on Parliament for the raising of subsidies
What was Elizabeth’s most regular form of income in 1558?
Rent from the crown lands
What were Profits of Justice?
Fines given out in court as punishments
How much debt was Elizabeth in when she became Queen in 1558?
£300,000
Why was the income Elizabeth received from crown lands in 1558 a problem?
Rents were fixed, so the income could not keep up with how much money the government wanted to spend
What was Elizabeth spending more than one-third of her money on in 1558?
Food for the Royal Court
What was Elizabeth’s main solution to the debt she faced in 1558? Did this work?
She sold off crown lands throughout the next 20 years
Yes - she raised £600,000
Which country was at war with England when Elizabeth became Queen in 1558?
France
What treaty did Elizabeth sign with France in January 1559? What territory did she give up in this treaty?
The Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis
She gave up Calais
Who was the eldest son of the French king married to in 1558?
Mary, Queen of Scots
Which two countries had a traditional Auld Alliance in 1558?
Scotland and France
In 1554, Mary Tudor married which foreign monarch?
Philip II of Spain
Why did Philip II keep on good terms with Elizabeth at the start of her reign, even though she refused to marry him?
He was more worried about the growing influence of France
In what year did the Pope excommunicate Henry VIII from the Catholic Church?
1538
Who did Elizabeth make her Secretary of State (main advisor) when she became Queen?
William Cecil
How many privy councillors did Elizabeth have? Was this more or less than under Mary Tudor?
19 councillors - less than the 50 Mary had
Why did Elizabeth not make Robert Dudley a privy councillor for four years?
He was her closest friend - she didn’t want to make the other privy councillors jealous
Why did Elizabeth keep ten of Mary Tudor’s privy councillors?
They had considerable experience and influence, and it would reduce the chances of rebellion
What religion were all new members of Elizabeth’s Privy Council?
Protestants
Why could Elizabeth not marry an English nobleman?
It might cause other nobles to become jealous
Why could Elizabeth not marry a foreigner?
Most princes of Europe were Catholic - Catholics in England could use a husband to attack Elizabeth
Give four examples of potential foreign husbands Elizabeth rejected
Philip II
Prince Eric of Sweden
Archduke Charles
Francis, Duke of Anjou
What religion was the Church of England under Edward VI?
Protestant
What religion was the Church of England under Mary I?
Catholic
What did Mary Tudor do to 283 Protestants who refused to change their beliefs?
Burnt them
Why was it important that Elizabeth avoided being excommunicated by the Pope?
If she were excluded from the Church, her Catholic subjects could launch a religious crusade against her, backed by foreign powers
What attitude did most people in England have to religious change?
They did not like it
How much higher were prices in the 1550s compared to the 1540s?
50%
What did Henry VIII order about England’s coins in the 1540s?
They should be melted down and replaced with less gold and silver (debasement of the coinage)
What did merchants and shopkeepers do after the debasement of the coinage?
They raised their prices
What did Elizabeth order should happen to the debased coinage?
They should be marked with symbols to show their lower values
How much higher were prices in the 1560s compared to the 1550s?
5.7%
