elizabethan government; 1563-1603 Flashcards
Where did Elizabeth’s court exist?
Wherever she happened to be at that particular time, whether it was one of her palaces or on her royal progresses.
What 2 main areas of Elizabeth’s court was there?
The Presence Chamber and the Privy Chamber.
What was the Presence Chamber?
A relatively open area accessible to anyone with the right status or connections.
Why had the Privy Chamber lost it’s influence considerably than it had been during the reigns of the Tudor Kings?
As the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber no longer had rights of access to the monarch like they previously had done.
What title had jurisdiction over the court? Who did Elizabeth always appoint in this position?
The Lord Chamberlain, who would always be a member of the nobility.
3 of her Lords Chamberlain had been close relatives to her.
What was the main formal body where Elizabeth’s principal ministers met?
The Privy Council, meeting regularly with around 10 members.
What was Elizabeth conscious of and not prepared to restrict when coming to the throne?
Her royal prerogative, with the intent to rule as well as reign.
Who was established as Elizabeth’s key minister at the start of her reign and came to dominate the Council?
William Cecil.
What reshaping was taken to the Privy Council in the 1570s?
Influence of traditional conservative aristocracy was reduced with the downfall/execution of Norfolk and death of Lord Treasurer Winchester.
Who were in the group of Protestant councillors appointed in the 1570s? [6]
- Francis Walsingham
- Walter Mildmay
- Ralph Sadler
- Thomas Smith
- Henry Sidney
- Robert Dudley’s brother, the Earl of Warwick
How was the position of the new Protestant councillors in the 1570s balanced?
With the promotion of conservative figures such as James Croft and Christopher Hatton.
What did a breakdown between Elizabeth and her Privy Council bring about in 1587?
The execution of Mary Queen of Scots.
Which minister died in the later 1580s that Elizabeth took very personally?
Earl of Leicester (Robert Dudley) in September 1588.
How did Elizabeth make matters worse after many of her ministers died in the late 1580s?
She failed to make immediate replacements and when she did she relied on middle-aged sons of former councillors who lacked their father’s skills.
How did the absence of senior noblemen in the Council weaken Elizabeth’s council in the later 1580s?
The absence of great aristocrats suggested that her council no longer included the country’s most important families.
Who did Elizabeth refuse to allow to retire?
William Cecil, despite his effectiveness diminishing during the 1590s.
Who did William Cecil appoint to the Privy Council after he fell ill?
His son, Robert Cecil who came under huge administrative pressure.
Who was angered by the appointment of Robert Cecil?
The Earl of Essex (stepson of the Earl of Leicester). He made an enemy of Robert Cecil.
How did the structure of Elizabethan government help to prevent factional rivalry getting out of hand? [2]
- No single minister had complete control over patronage
- Various influential families at court within the Council balanced one another
What did Robert Dudley and William Cecil tend to argue over?
They disagreed over the queen’s potential marriage but tended to cooperate on other issues and worked together most of the time, as they needed one another.
Why did the logical consistent working of Elizabethan government begin to decline in the 1590s?
There were fierce clashes between Robert Cecil and the Earl of Essex, making government difficult.
What was the Earl of Essex’s response to his declining influence?
To plan an armed coup which would bring down Cecil and his other enemies.
How did the Earl of Essex’s plans to rebel fail?
Cecil was well prepared and he was forced to surrended.
When was the Earl of Essex executed?
He was quickly trialed and executed in 1601.
