Elizabethan England - Elizabeth’s court and parliament

Question 1

Who were the Tudor?

Answer 1

The 5 monarchs from Henry VII (1485 - 1509) to Elizabeth I (1588 - 1603)

Question 2

Who were Elizabeth’s parents?

Answer 2

Henry 8th and Anne Boleyn

Question 3

How old was Elizabeth when her mother got beheaded?

Answer 3

Two years old.

Question 4

Who were Elizabeth’s siblings?

Answer 4

Mary Tudor ( 1553 - 1558 - catholic), Edward VI (1547 -1553 - Protestant).

Question 5

What years did Elizabeth reign?

Answer 5

1588 - 1603

Question 6

How old was she when she became queen?

Answer 6

25

Question 7

When did Edward VI die?

Answer 7

1553

Question 8

How long did Mary 1 reign before dying of what?

Answer 8

She reigned 5 years before dying of cancer.

Question 9

What happened to Elizabeth when Henry died?

Answer 9

Went to live with Katherine parr.

Question 10

What did Mary do with Elizabeth during her reign?

Answer 10

She saw her as a threat and in 1554 even locked her in Tower of London after accused of being involved in a rebellion.

Question 11

How did Mary’s reign prepare Elizabeth to be queen?

Answer 11

She saw the mistakes her sister made and was often surrounded by powerful figures.

Question 12

What was parliament and what were their jobs?

Answer 12

Parliament was made up of House of Lords and commons. Was much less influential that modern parliament but did have influence over tax and laws. However, queen decided when to call parliament and if she wanted to listen to them (could ignore them)

Question 13

What was the privy council and what was their role?

Answer 13

Responsible for day to day running of country. And members were queens main advisors - she picked them but had to pick most powerful landowners to stop rebellions. They could be called upon for anything and if they all agreed on something it was hard for Elizabeth to refuse it. Lead by Secretary of State.

Question 14

What did Elizabeth do to stop the privy council having too much power?

Answer 14

She deliberately picked people that were very different so it was rare for them to unite on issues and caused slow decision making.

Question 15

Who were the lord leitenants and what did they do?

Answer 15

Lord Lieutenants were important officials chosen by the monarch to:
- Organise the local militia (military).
- Keep law and order in their area.
- Represent the king or queen in their county.
They helped the monarch control the country at a local level. Some were in privy council as well and this role could lead to great power.

Question 16

Who were the justices of the peace and what did they do?

Answer 16

Justices of the Peace were local officials who:
- Maintained law and order by dealing with minor crimes.
- Settled disputes between people in their area.
- Oversaw local administration, like fixing roads and setting tax rates.
They were unpaid and chosen from the local gentry to help govern at the local level.

Question 17

What was the royal court?

Answer 17

Not same at privy council - But some people were in both. The Royal Court was the centre of the monarch’s power and included: Nobles, advisors, and closest servants.
Roles =
Decision-making: It helped the monarch make important political decisions.
Ceremony and display: Showcased the wealth and authority of the monarch (fashion)
Patronage: Gave out titles, jobs, and rewards to loyal supporters.
It was both a political and social hub, symbolising royal authority.

Question 18

What was patronage?

Answer 18

When the queen gave out land, titles or power to ensure support from people. This was Important as:
- banishment from court was disgraceful so patronage was highly desired
- kept her in the centre as forced others to fight for her affection.

Question 19

Who was William Cecil and why was he important?

Answer 19

William Cecil was Queen Elizabeth I’s most trusted advisor and served as Secretary of State twice. He was important because he:

• Helped run the government efficiently – for example, overseeing the introduction of the Poor Laws to address poverty.
• Protected Elizabeth’s throne – managed relations with Scotland and Ireland to reduce threats.
• Shaped foreign and religious policies – including efforts to counter Spain and support Protestantism.

Question 20

Who was Francis Walsingham and why was he important?

Answer 20

Francis Walsingham was Queen Elizabeth I’s spymaster and a very devout Protestant. He was important because he:

Uncovered Catholic plots – for example, exposing the Babington Plot that aimed to assassinate Elizabeth.
Protected Elizabeth’s life – through a network of spies across Europe.
Strengthened England’s security – gathering intelligence to prepare for the Spanish Armada.

Question 21

What were the main issue’s Elizabeth faced when she came to power?

Answer 21

1) religion - her biggest problem and conflict between catholics and Protestants threatened unity. This also caused many to hate her.
2) foreign policy - catholic powers like France and Spain were hostile and a threat.
3) finance - needed money for other things and country in lots of debt so would have to increase taxes.
4) legitimacy - many doubted her claim to throne and ability to rule as a female.

Question 22

What was succession a problem when Elizabeth came to power?

Answer 22

Was the last living child of Henry the eighth and she had no children of her own. So it was unclear who would succeed her if she died before producing an air. In the past, situations like this led to violent struggles for power. In 1562, she nearly died of smallpox this drew attention to the uncertainty of England future. As a result, senior figures were she married as soon as possible.

Question 23

Why was religion a problem when Elizabeth came to power?

Answer 23

• instability and violence had been created from frequent changes in religion.
• Many Catholics did not trust Elizabeth and doubted her claim to the throne (as they didn’t recognise Henry’s marriage to her mother)
• puritanism was also seen as a threat. There were a number of Puritans who had hoped to take control control of Elizabeth church and make it more extreme.

Question 24

What was foreign policy a problem when Elizabeth came to power?

Answer 24

• Catholic countries like Spain and France wanted influence over England and had the support of the Pope in this aim. The threat of invasion was very real.
• One key area of tension was the Netherlands, where the protestant population was in conflict with Spanish rulers.

Question 25

What was Ireland a problem when Elizabeth came to power?

Answer 25

Like her predecessors, Elizabeth considered herself to be queen of Ireland. In 1559, she faced major revolt in Ireland – the first of several during her reign.

Question 26

Why was taxation a problem when Elizabeth came to power?

Answer 26

The country was short of money and Elizabeth needed to raise taxes. However, poverty is widespread and raising taxes would be very unpopular.

Question 27

Why was Mary Queen of Scots a problem when Elizabeth came to power?

Answer 27

With no direct heir, next in led to the throne was Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary. Many Catholics saw her as an alternative queen of England and this made her a serious threat to Elizabeth.

Question 28

Who was Robert Dudley and why was he important?

Answer 28

Robert Dudley was a close friend and favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. He was important because:

• Trusted Advisor: He was part of Elizabeth’s Privy Council and influenced her decisions.
• Military Leader: He led the English forces during the Dutch Revolt and helped defend against the Spanish Armada.
• Speculation of Marriage: There were rumours of romance between Dudley and Elizabeth, however speculation he killed his last wife stopped them.
  Dudley remained one of Elizabeth’s most loyal supporters throughout her reign.

Question 29

What were the pros of Elizabeth marrying?

Answer 29

• could be strategical and form an alliance between another country.
• get an heir so she can carry on the Tudor reign.
• marriage and children would prevent Mary Queen of Scots ruling in future.

Question 30

What are the cons of marriage for Elizabeth?

Answer 30

• marrying a foreign prince or king could lead to England and falling under their control.
• Marrying an Englishman could create problems over who had authority.
• Remaining unmarried Elizabeth could keep her independence
• Giving birth was a risk at the time
• Her sister’s marriage was often seen as a disaster

Question 31

Who were the main suitors for marriage for Elizabeth?

Answer 31

Robert Dudley, Francis, Duke of Anjou, king Philip of Spain.

Question 32

What did Elizabeth do after parliament kept talking about her potential marriage?

Answer 32

She banned it being talked about as she saw it as a decision for her to make alone. Peter Wentworth (politician) believed parliament should be able to talk about anything. However rest of parliament saw how queen might react and had him immediately arrested.

Question 33

What was the Essex rebellion and when did it happen?

Answer 33

The Essex Rebellion was an uprising led by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, in 1601 against Queen Elizabeth I’s government. Essex attempted to seize power after falling out of favor at court. The rebellion failed, and Essex was executed.

Question 34

What were the causes of the Essex rebellion?

Answer 34

• Loss of Power: Essex fell out of favor with Elizabeth after disobeying her orders during his military campaign in Ireland 1599.
• Court Rivalries: He was in conflict with Robert Cecil, who gained influence over the queen.
• Financial Problems: Essex was in debt after losing his royal privileges, like the monopoly on sweet wine.
• Ambition: Essex wanted to overthrow Cecil’s faction and control the court himself.

Question 35

What happened during the Essex rebellion in 1601?

Answer 35

• February 8, 1601: Essex gathered about 300 supporters in London, including some discontented nobles.
• Attempt to Rally Support: He marched through London, hoping to incite a general uprising.
• Government Response: The Privy Council declared him a traitor, and the rebellion was quickly suppressed.
• Arrest and Trial: Essex was captured and tried for treason.

Question 36

Who was Robert Devreux?

Answer 36

• he inherited his title ‘Earl of Essex’ from his father who was a respected member of court who had even helped stop the northern rebellion.
• Elizabeth took an immediate interest in the young earl and in 1595 was made privy councillor.
• Essex is power grew further when the queen gave him the monopoly of sweet and wine in England.

Question 37

What were the consequences of the Essex rebellion?

Answer 37

• Essex’s Execution: Essex was executed for treason on February 25, 1601.
• Strengthened Elizabeth’s Control: The rebellion showed the strength of Elizabeth’s government in dealing with threats.
• Decline of the Nobility’s Influence: The failure highlighted the declining power of the nobility compared to the rising influence of bureaucrats like Robert Cecil.
• Warnings to Future Rebels: It discouraged further attempts to challenge Elizabeth’s authority.