elizabethan government Flashcards
when was Eliabeth’s coronation? how many days did it last for?
-15th January 1559
-several
list four things about Elizabeth’s coronation
-it was colourful and splendid to show off her power
-pageants were performed and instruments played
-Owen Oglethorpe, the Catholic Bishop of Carslie crowed her
-she came out of Westminter Abbey to the sound of cheers and celebration from the crowd
what was the point of royal progresses? when did they happen and how long for?
-to maintain and increase popularity by touring the countryside and staying at the houses of nobles - it was about being seen by her subjects (propaganda)
-also let her keep an eye on powerful noble family
-annually in the summer months
-about 10 weeks
what where the hosts of the nobles houses where elizabeth was staying expected to do?
to feed entertain and give gifts to Elizabeth and her entourage
what was the point of portraits?
-used to project an image of royal authority
-was a form of propaganda that created an image of a monarch who was ageless (never showed her ageing) strong and powerful
-nobles displayed them in their homes to show loyalty
who was in the royal court?
all those who surrounded the queen from servants to courtiers
what was the royal household?
personal staff of elizabeth
what was the privy chamber?
the closest people to elizabeth (mainly female because elizabeth was female). access to this gave lots of power and status.
privy council: what did the Lord Chamberlain do?
Ran the royal household
privy council: what was the role of the Secretary of State?
The queens main adviser, they were expected to deal with any state matter or administrative problem that arose.
In continual contact with the queen.
All her correspondence passed through him so he controlled all written access to her.
privy council: who held the role of Secretary of State from 1558 to 1573?
William Cecil
privy council: what was the role of the vice chamberlain?
Assisted the lord chamberlain
privy council: what was the role of the Lord high admiral
Commanded the navy
privy council: what was the role of the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster
Looked after the estates and the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster
privy council: what was the role of the comptroller of the household?
The household accountant
privy council: what was the role of the Lord treasurer?
Controlled government expenditure and tax collection
What was a patronage and give four examples of it
-when a monarch gives out special favours in order to retain people’s suppourt
-titles of nobility/knighthoods, positions in court, discounted leases of royal land, stewardship of royal property
What is a faction?
In-fighting among members of her government cased by desire to control patronages
What rumours were spread about Robert Dudley?
He was childhood friends with Elizabeth so people assumed they were having an affair
What was Francis walsighams religious standing?
Devout Puritain
What was walsignhams job?
He was in charge of Elizabeth’s spy network and uncovered plots to murder elizabeth
How often did the privy council meet?
2 or 3 times a week early on in her reign but more often later on
Did Elizabeth attend privy council meetings?
Rarely
What kind of matters did they discuss (2 examples)
-who would take over if the queen died of her smallpox in 1562
-Mary queen of Scot’s in 1568
What was the role of the Lord Lieutenant? Who held this position? How many?
-in charge of local forces & supervised justices of the peace
-wealthy landowner/privy councillor
-one each county
What was the role of the Sherrif? How many were there?
-dealt with legal issues like appointing juries and collecting taxes
-one per county
What was the role of the justice of the peace? How many were there? Who were they?
-administered poor relief and maintain law and order
-30-60 per county
-wealthy country gentlemen
What was the role of the parish constables and night watchman?
Preventing poaching, watch out for vagabond and arresting law breakers
What was the role of the overseer of the poor
had to collect poor tax and administer it
Did parliament have much power? What did Elizabeth have the power to do?
-a lot less power than it does today
-call and close down parliament, choose topics for debate
How many parliament were called in Elizabeth’s reign (1559-1601)?
10
Why did Elizabeth call parliaments (on the few occasions that she did)?
-to raise money through taxes (as only they had the power to do this)
-to pass acts of parliament
-wanted advice of her MPs on important issues
What was included in the 1601 poor laws?
-almshouses (funded by private donors)
-nationwide poor rate (contribute or go to jail)
-begging banned
-begging banned - whipped and sent back to place of birth
Give a specific example of a faction
-William Cecil and Robert Dudley
-Cecil was cautious when it came to government expenditure so he didn’t want to get involved in costly wars
-Dudley favoured intervention in European wars
-Cecil = Protestant, Dudley = Puritan
What was the purpose of the Privy Council?
-A body of advisors appointed by the queen to help her rule
-they were often from the noble and gentry classes
How many people did Elizabeth appoint onto her Privy Council in the first few months of her reign? What did she do to maintain some continuity?
-19 men
-half of them had been on Marys Privy Council
Describe William Cecil’s career with Elizabeth
-been a privy councillor for Edward VI
-during Mary’s reign he was appointed by Princess Elizabeth to look after her affairs
-when Elizabeth became queen, he was her Secretary of State
-link between monarch and parliament
-1572 he became Lord treasurer
Who was in the House of Lords?
Non-elected body of about 100 lords, bishops and judges
Who was in the House of Commons?
-450 MPs elected by wealthy landowners
-2 MPs from every county and 2 from each important town
Give an example of where Elizabeth was willing to limit freedom of speech in parliament
-1587 when they discussed changes to the church of England
-she demanded them to stop discussing the issue and ordered the arrest of five MPs
What was the cost of the Marian debt?
£227,000
How did Elizabeth (with the help of William Cecil) manage to pay off the Marian debt?
-court salaries were capped
-spending on the royal household was cut
