elizabethan- part 1, court and parliament Flashcards
chapters 1-3 (elizabeth and her court, difficulties of a female ruler, a 'golden age')
what years did Elizabeth I reign
1558-1603
who was Elizabeth’s dad
Henry VIII
who was Elizabeth’s mum
Anne Boleyn
who was Elizabeth’s sister
Mary I (Bloody Mary)
what happened to Anne Boleyn
she got beheaded (1536) for treason when Elizabeth was 2 and 1/2 years old
what did the first 2 Acts of Succession declare Elizabeth and Mary
illegitimate with no right to inherit the throne
who was Elizabeth’s brother
Edward
where did Elizabeth commonly live when growing up
Hartfield House
who was Elizabeth influenced by as her father never saw her
her tutors, and early on her sister
what did the third Act of Succession
(1544) declare
Elizabeth as an heir to the throne- but only if her half-brother and half-sister died and had no children
was Elizabeth due to be Queen
no, she was 4th in line
why was Mary I known as Bloody Mary
as she burned many protestants (nearly 300 in 5 years) as she was fiercely Catholic
who placed Elizabeth in the tower for 2 months in 1554, and why
her sister Mary, as she thought Elizabeth was plotting to overthrow her
what is the conclusion of Elizabeth’s early life
- she was unhappy, dysfunctional and brimming with danger
- she had no real family relationships, and was nearly executed for treason
how old was Elizabeth when she became queen
25
what was the royal court
centre of power and the source of all the latest trends and fashion
who was the royal court made up of
500 officials, servants and advisors (Privy Council)
who ran the Royal Court
Lord Chamberlin
where was the Royal Court located
- wherever the Queen was
- was where the courtiers fought for power
what was Parliament made up of
House of Lords and House of Commons
describe the House of Lords
- made of 90 nobles and bishops
- more powerful than the House of Commons
describe the House of Commons
- made up of 450 elected MPs
- contained gentry, lawyers and merchants
how many times did Elizabeth call Parliament
13 times during her 45 years of reign
what was the Privy Council
- the most powerful part of Parliament
- advised Elizabeth on foreign and domestic matters
- dealt with the day-to-day running of the country
who were the 4 members of the Privy Council under Elizabeth
- Sir William Cecil
- Sir Francis Walsingham
- Robert Dudley
- Christopher Hatton
job of William Cecil in the Privy Council
- most trusted advisor
- secretary of state
job of Francis Walsingham in the Privy Council
- spy master
- in charge of the secret service
job of Robert Dudley in the Privy Council
- in charge of Elizabeth’s safety
- her favourite
job of Christopher Hatton in the Privy Council
- organised her progresses
- in charge of the law courts and judges
what method did Elizabeth use when forming her Privy Council, why?
- made sure they al had separate opinions
- so they wouldn’t overpower her and if all agreed on a decision it would be hard for her to go against it
who were the 2 most powerful figures in the Privy Council
William Cecil and Francis Walsingham
what was patronage
involved showing favouritism by giving particular men important jobs
what types of patronage could Elizabeth award people
titles, land, monopolies and other powerful opportunities
why did Elizabeth give out patronage
to establish loyalty and obedience from her court
why did Elizabeth like patronage
- as it often created rivalries
- meant that it ensured she would remain centre of the whole system and people would all disagree and not try to overthrow her
describe Parliament
- made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons
- had influence over tax and was responsible for passing laws
- the Queen could choose when to call Parliament and was free to ignore their advice
describe Lord Lieutenants
- appointed by the Queen
- responsible for running a particular area of the country
- responsible for raising a militiary to fight for the queen if needed
- many also served on the Privy Council
describe Justices of the Peace
- several in every country
- responsible for maintaining order and enforcing the law
describe the Privy Council
- responsible for the day-to-day running of the country, dealing with all policy areas
- although the queen could technically appoint whoever she wished, in reality she had to appoint the most powerful landowners in the country in order to prevent rebellion
- if the council was united, it was almost impossible for Elizabeth to go against their wishes, however unity as very rare as they were all ambitious rivals
- led by the Secretary of State
- William Cecil and Francis Walsingham were 2 significant and powerful figures who each served as Secretary of State, both had a huge influence on Elizabeth
who had power in Elizabethan England
- Parliament
- Lord Lieutenants
- Justices of the Peace
- Privy Council
why was marriage important for a monarch
- was seen as an important duty
- was a way of cementing alliances
- was necessary (in Elizabeth’s case) to produce and heir that could succeed her on the throne and carry on the Tudor dynasty
what were the arguments in favour of marriage
- create alliances with a foreign country or guarantee the loyalty of a powerful British family
- produce an heir to secure and continue the Tudor line, and stop Mary Queen of Scots from becoming monarch next
what were the arguments against marriage
- loss of authority (either to a foreign ruler or Englishman), by not marrying Elizabeth and England kept their independence
- giving birth was very risky for the mother
- her experience of marriage had been bad (father had married 6x and ordered her mother to be executed, and her sister’s marriage to Phillip had been unhappy and didn’t produce an heir)
- she was able to use the possibility of marriage to her advantage when dealing with foreign leaders and important figures in England
who were the main potential suitors for Elizabeth
- Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon
- King Phillip II of Spain
- Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
who was Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon
- the French King’s brother and heir to his throne
- by the time marriage was proposed, Elizabeth was 46 and probably beyond having children- a childless marriage could result in England falling under French control
- was Catholic, and many important figures in Elizabeth’s court were against the marriage
who was King Phillip II of Spain
- one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world
- had been married to Elizabeth’s sister Mary I but he had rarely visited England and not produced an heir
- was Catholic
who was Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
- a childhood friend and favourite of the queen throughout her reign- many assumed they were in love
- a key figure in the royal court and member of the Privy Council
- when his wife died, he became free to marry Elizabeth, but the scandal surrounding her death (and rumours of his involvement) meant this was almost impossible
why did Elizabeth never marry
- as she said that she “married the Kingdom of England”
- remaining single allowed her to focus totally on ruling her country and keeping it secure and independent
what were the 6 main issues that Elizabeth had with Parliament
- marriage and succession
- religion
- freedom of speech
- crime and poverty
- Mary Queen of Scots
- monopolies
what were the problems Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- succession
- religion
- foreign policy
- taxation
- Mary Queen of Scots
- Ireland
explain why succession was a problem Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- Elizabeth was the last living child of Henry VIII and she had no children of her own so it was unclear who would succeed her if she died without producing an heir
- in the past situations like this had led to violent struggles for power
- in 1562 she nearly died of smallpox, this drew attention to the uncertainty of England’s future- as a result, senior figures were keen that she marry as soon as possible
explain why religion a problem Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- the Tudor period had seen England’s official religion change a number of times and this created instability and violence
- many Catholics did not trust Elizabeth and some claimed she had no right to be queen (they did not recognise Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth’s mother)
- Puritanism (extreme form of Protestantism) was also a threat- there were a number who hoped to take control of Elizabeth’s church and make it more extreme- could have damaged the whole religious settlement
explain why foreign policy was a problem Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- Catholic countries like Spain and France wanted influence over England and had the support of the Pope in this aim- threat of invasion
- one key area of tension was the Netherlands, where the Protestant population was in conflict with its Spanish rulers- Elizabeth had to decide whether or not to become involved
explain why taxation was a problem Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- the country was short of money and Elizabeth needed to raise taxes
- poverty was widespread and raising taxes would be very unpopular
explain why Mary Queen of Scots was a problem Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- with no direct heir, the next in line to the throne was Mary (her Catholic cousin)
- many Catholics saw her as an alternative Queen of England and this made a serious threat to Elizabeth
explain why Ireland was a problem Elizabeth faced when she came to the throne
- like her predecessors, Elizabeth considered herself to be Queen of Ireland
- in 1559 she faced a major revolt in Ireland- the first of several during her reign
describe the issue ‘marriage and succession’ with Parliament and Elizabeth
- many in Parliament saw it as their duty to find Elizabeth a suitable husband
- by 1566 they were discussing this openly, and Elizabeth banned them from talking about it again
- she felt it was a decision for her alone
describe the issue of ‘religion’ with Parliament and Elizabeth
- the majority of those in both houses of Parliament were Protestant and supported Elizabeth’s religious settlement
- when she wished to introduce laws that made life hard for Catholics, she found support in Parliament
- however, a number of powerful Puritans tried unsuccessfully to introduce new laws to change the Church of England
describe the issue of ‘freedom of speech’ with Parliament and Elizabeth
- MP Peter Wentworth was arrested 3x for arguing that MPs should be allowed to speak on any matter they chose- Elizabeth did not agree
- some MPs supported his view, but others did not- one of his arrests was organised by other MPs wishing to demonstrate their loyalty to Elizabeth
describe the issue of ‘crime and poverty’ with Parliament and Elizabeth
- poverty was a significant issue, particularly when it led to crime
- many MPs recognised that simply punishing the poor did not work and attempted to introduce new poor laws
- they were unsuccessful until 1601 when the Poor Law was passed
describe the issue of ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ with Parliament and Elizabeth
- the majority of those in Parliament saw Mary, a Catholic, as a clear threat to national security and a significant number called for her execution
- this pressure, and that of the Privy Council, may have swayed Elizabeth into executing her
describe the issue of ‘monopolies’ with Parliament and Elizabeth
- giving monopolies was an important way for Elizabeth to maintain the loyalty of powerful men in England
- e.g. the sweet wine monopoly to the Earl of Essex
- 1571 MP Robert Bell criticised them as unfair, others joined him in calling for changes in their use
- Elizabeth agreed to make a few changes, but MPs pushed for more
- 1601 she made a speech to Parliament giving the impression she was agreeing to make major changes without actually promising much at all
how did Elizabeth manage Parliament?
- she made it clear that she was in charge through her words and actions, issuing regular statements about her authority and arresting MPs who went too far in criticising her
- she had the ability to dismiss Parliament when she wished and could also appoint new members to the House of Lords
- it was the duty of her privy councillors and nobles to manage Parliament and ensure that they were clear on her wishes
what were the difficulties between Elizabeth and Parliament
- issues over marriage
- issues over free speech
- issues over monopolies
- religious difference
what are some examples of when the relationship was good between Parliament and Elizabeth
- agreements over monopolies and poor laws
- also some on religious points and foreign affairs
what were most rebellions linked or caused by
religion
when was the Essex rebellion
1601
background of Robert Essex:
- had been a loyal subject to Elizabeth throughout most of her reign and was one of her favourites
- became a privy councillor in 1595 and was awarded a monopoly for sweet wine
-developed a rivalry with Robert Cecil (son of William Cecil) who was an important and influential figure at court
-pleased the Queen in 1596 when he successfully attacked the Spanish port of Cadiz
causes of the Essex rebellion:
- soon after his victory against the Spanish, he got in an argument with the Queen during a Privy Council meeting- at one point he turned his back on her and she hit him on the side of the head, he nearly drew his sword on her but was stopped just in time- was then placed under house arrest
- Queen later sent him to Ireland to deal with a rebellion there- he failed to defeat them and agreed to a truce which was directly against the queen’s orders
- on his return, he ruches straight into the Queen’s chambers and caught her without a wig!
- after his failures, he fell from being one of the queens favourites and lost his monopoly for sweet wine- meant he also lost lots of his wealth and influence
- therefore with nothing left to lose he began to gather supporters to plot a rebellion against the queen
describe the events of the Essex rebellion:
- February 1601- Essex took 4 privy councillors hostage and marched them to his London house along with 200 supporters
- Robert Cecil labelled him a traitor- many supporters left, while others panicked and released the hostages without permission
- he got arrested along with his remaining followers
what were the consequences of the Essex rebellion
- Essex was put on trial for treason and sentenced to death
- during his interrogation, he agreed to name other rebels including his sister Penelope
- he was privately executed on 25th February 1601
- some of his supporters were also put to death, but most were just fined
- it failed
- Elizabeth made it clear she would not tolerate challenges to her authority, even late in her reign
what were the main challenges Elizabeth faced during her reign (summary)
- she was female in a time when women did not hold powerful positions in society
- she had a number of initial problems to firstly deal with such as religion, foreign policy, taxation, Ireland, Mary queen of Scots and succession
- she never married despite many suitors (some saw this as a clever decision)
- many tensions arose and she had many disagreements with Parliament
- Essex’s rebellion was the final challenge to her authority and was easily defeated
what were the accomplishments of the ‘Golden Age’
- theatre
- art
- fashion
- architecture
- literature
- music
- education
- science and technology
- peace, power and pride
- exploration
what class grew and rose during Elizabeth’s reign
the gentry
did the population grow or shrink during Elizabeth’s reign
grow
why did the gentry class grow
- suspicion of the ‘old’ nobility
- dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII
- increasing wealth
why did the suspicion of the old nobility help the gentry class to grow
- the Tudors deliberately marginalised the nobles who were seen as a threat by granting fewer titles and excluding them from government
-this left a vacuum which the gentry class filled and became very powerful politically- dominated the House of Commons
how did the dissolution of the monasteries help the gentry class to grow
the monasteries used to own about 1/4 of the land in England, there dissolution led to more land being available to buy
how did increasing wealth help the gentry class to grow
- growth in trade and exploration, together with population growth, rising prices and enclosures all helped the gentry class families grow their fortunes (e.g cloth trade from Antwerp)
- they therefore were able to use their money to establish estates, build grand houses and educate themselves such as Elizabeth Shrewsbury
wealth of the gentry also helped drive the development of new clothing fashions, what did people use fashion to show?
status
what year were the new sumptuary laws passed
1574
what where the new sumptuary laws
laws that strictly controlled the clothes that people were allowed to wear based on their social standing
list some male fashion items
- doublet
- silk stockings
- trunk-hose
- jerkin
- ruff
- cloak
- hat
- beard
- sword
- shoes (leather with cork soles)
list some female fashion items
- farthingale
- ruff
- undergown
- gown
- over-gown
- dyed hair with false hair on top
- heavy white make-up
- blackened teeth
- shoes
what is a ‘doublet’
- male fashion item
- long-sleeved silk or satin shirt with ruffles at the end
what is a ‘jerkin’
- male fashion item
- a colourful velvet jacket decorated with embroidery, fastened up the front with buttons
what is a ‘ruff’ (males and females)
- males: narrow strip of starched linen ironed into pleats and worn around the neck as a collar
- females: lace collar around a wire frame, worn around the neck
what is a ‘farthingale’
- female fashion item
- petticoat with wooden hoops sewn into it
when Elizabeth first came to power, how many theatres were there
0
why was there 0 theatres when Elizabeth came to power
as the government saw actors as a threat to law and order and acting wasn’t considered a respectable fashion
what did the 2 theatre laws state in 1572, and why?
- 1st- actors were to be punished as vagabonds- as puritans strongly disapproved of the theatre due to religious grounds
- 2nd- all bands of actors had to licensed- due to government suspicion
after the theatre companies became organised, what years did each theatre open
1576- London theatre
1587- Rose theatre
1596- Swan theatre
1599- Globe theatre
by the end of Elizabeth’s reign how many theatres and companies were there
- 7 major theatres
- 40 companies
as a result of the authority’s opposition, where were all theatres based, why?
- outside of city walls- Bankside District on Southwark
- due to these places having a bad reputation and much criminal activity along with many taverns
why was the theatre so popular in Elizabethan society
as all classes could attend as fees were low (1 penny) and it upheld the social standing
what was the design of theatres influenced by
inn yards and market-places
what are the different parts of the theatre
- covered galleries- upper, middle, lower
- flag to signal a play was starting
- tiring house
- pit
- stage
- upper stage
- hut
how was the social standing upheld in theatres
- higher up someone sat, the higher class and status they had
- 1 penny -lower classes were in the pit called groundlings- exposed to all weather and smelly conditions
- 2/3 pennies- people in the 3-tiered galleries- covered and could sit up to 2000 spectators
- richest- sit in the Lords rooms or even watch it from the stage itself
who was the most famous playwriter in Elizabethan times
William Shakespeare
what were the main themes of all the plays
- violence, romance and patriotism
- most plays flattered Elizabeth
- were all censored to avoid any controversy
- plays also obeyed the theme of the Great Chain of Being- favoured Elizabeth and her government
why did Elizabeth and her government like the theatre
as they could use it as propaganda for Elizabeth
why did the government want to use the theatre for propaganda
- London became overcrowded and busy (population of 200,000)- provided entertainment and a distraction for the poor making a rebellion less likely
- also if the play content was strict- it could influence the public to favour Elizabeth and her government
what was the tiring house in the theatre
was where the actors put on their attire
describe the pit in the theatre
- was where ordinary people stood to watch
- often heckled the actors
- was completely open to the weather
- cost 1 penny (penny stinkers)
- where the lower class were-called groundlings
describe the stage in the theatre
- often decorated with scenery
- almost always a trapdoor for special effects like smoke
- back wall was called the Frons Scenae and had a door for actors to enter and exit
what was the roof also called in theatre
- the heavens
- ropes and rigging were also used for scene changes and dramatic entrances
describe the Lords rooms in the theatre
- most expensive seats
- sometimes used by actors and musicians during performances (called a Juliet balcony)
who’s profession was acting in Elizabethan times
- it was an entirely male profession
- female roles were played by boys
who were works performed by in theatre
- theatre troupes like the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (who Shakespeare was part of)
- companies were named after the people who provided their funding (patron)
- being a patron was a good way to impress the queen as she was fond of the theatre
why was theatre so popular in Elizabethan times
- it was affordable
- it was new and exciting
- it was a social event
- it was entertaining- plays were humorous, tragic or historical
- it was contemporary and relevant to the time- many plays carried political messages
what was the opposition to the theatre in Elizabethan times
- puritans saw theatregoing as a distraction from prayer
- some saw it as sinful
- there were concerns that large gatherings might spread disease
- theatres were dangerous places where there was drunkenness, crime and other immoral behaviour
describe art in the golden age
- portraits including detailed miniature ones became very popular and contained symbolism
- decorative silverware and textiles became important signs of wealth and culture in the homes of the rich
describe peace power and pride in the golden age
- before the Tudors, there was conflict over the throne, the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I brought political stability but religious turmoil- Elizabeth brought stability and security to the country
- england’s growing wealth and military success made many of Elizabeth’s subjects very proud
describe science and technology in the golden age
- significant breakthroughs in navigation, astronomy and a growing understanding of magnetism
- improved printing presses allowed new ideas to be spread very quickly
describe education in the golden age
- seen as increasingly important
- wealthy boys and some girls received an education, but the poor did not
describe literature in the golden age
- many great plays were written during Elizabeth’s reign and are still performed today
- poetry was very popular, many nobles wrote poetry and some like Shakespeare wrote sonnets
describe theatre in the golden age
- theatre became popular with all levels of society
- the first permanent theatres were built
describe exploration in the golden age
- europeans discovered new lands and new peoples
- england became a major power in the world
why do some historians argue that it was not a golden age
- blood sports like dog fighting and bear baiting remained popular
- torture and brutal execution were still used by the government
- a small minority lived in luxury while the majority remained poor
- life expectancy was low and medical treatment was ineffective
- despite scientific breakthroughs in some areas, other practices were questionable (e.g. alchemy turning cheap metal into gold and astrology using planets to predict the future were popular
who was the idea of a golden age encouraged by
- Elizabeth and her government
- used plays, festivals and pamphlets to promote this idea- known as Gloriana
- was a way of securing her popularity and throne
