Elizabeths Court And Parliament

Question 1

When did Elizabeth reign?

Answer 1

1558-1603

Question 2

Why was she unlikely to become queen?

Answer 2

Her younger brother and older sister came before her in the succesion

Question 3

Did she like her father?

Answer 3

Only met him a few times as she was exhaled from court, loved him

Question 4

What was her education like?

Answer 4

She received a brilliant education - shared some of her brothers tutors - Cambridge scholar roger ascham

Question 5

What was her reputation like and why?

Answer 5

Her love of learning gave her a reputation of seriousness

Question 6

What languages could she speak and by what age?

Answer 6

By the age of fourteen she could speak French, Italian, Spanish and Latin fluently and could read Greek

Question 7

What were her other skills?

Answer 7

She was musical, athletic - enjoyed horseriding and dancing- skilled at needle work

Question 8

Who acted as a mother figure to her?

Answer 8

Henrys sixth wife Catherine parr - influenced her Protestant beliefs and educational values

Question 9

What restored Elizabeth to the throne?

Answer 9

The third act of succession in 1544

Question 10

What was Edward’s reign like?

Answer 10

• January 1547
• 9 years old
• aloof and arrogant
• tainted by political instability
• the power behind the throne was the Duke of Somerset - fell from power due to his arrogance and was executed for treason

Question 11

What happened between Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour?

Answer 11

A flirt between Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, who was Catherine parr’s new husband developed, which led to a grave scandal, putting her life in danger. Seymour was executed for treason in 1549, as it was suggested that they were to marry and overthrow Edward. Elizabeth was humiliated, and she learnt to keep her distance and trust nobody at court.

Question 12

Who was proclaimed queen after Edward’s death?

Answer 12

Jane grey due to Edward being persuaded to name her heir by the Duke Of Northumberland
Lady Jane grey was defeated after 9 days - Mary + liz rode into London triumphantly

Question 13

What did Mary do as ruler?

Answer 13

Crowned July 1553
a strict Roman Catholic - restored the authority of the pope in England
Mary hated Elizabeth and her mother for displacing her own mother
Mary rounded up 300 Protestants and burned them over 5 years - Bloody Mary

Question 14

What did Mary do to Elizabeth ?

Answer 14

Ordered her rest as she suspected her of working with the rebels. She imprisoned her in the Tower of London for two months, and when she was released, she put on house arrest.

Question 15

What benefitted her when she became queen?

Answer 15

All the struggles in her childhood allowed her to become the queen that she became when she was crowned on the 15th of January 1559.

Question 16

What was court life like for Elizabeth?

Answer 16

Run by the Lord Chamberlain, and was located wherever the Queen was
Consisted of the Queen’s household - 500 Nobles, advisors, officials, and servants. They were called the courtiers.
The court was the centre of power and source of the latest trends and fashions
It included the privy council, justices of peace and parliament were not part of it .

Question 17

Who held power at court?

Answer 17

Parliament - made up at the house of lords and commons. Could be called at any time and ignored. Responsible for passing laws and had influence over tax.

Privy council - led by the Secretary of State, responsible for running of the country, made up of the most powerful landowners, if the council was united, she couldn’t go against their wishes

Justices of peace - several in every country, responsible for maintaining law and order

Lord lieutenants - responsible for running an area of the country, responsible for raising a military to fight for the queen.

Question 18

What was patronage?

Answer 18

In henry VIII time, the privy chamber had been a crucial power hub with the kings, friends and personal attendance also being key politicians.

With the woman on the throne- the political nature of the privy chamber was reduced as it was staffed by females

Elizabeth dealt with this situation by using a system of patronage

This involved showing favouritism by giving particular men important jobs . She gave her male, Courteeners political jobs and was careful to give key politicians places at court these jobs brought on wealth and prestige

Although it was a highly corrupt system, it was very effective, and it caused intense competition and rivalries at court, and between people , this made people very loyal to Elizabeth.

Question 19

How was religion a difficulty to Elizabeth as a female ruler?

Answer 19

The tutor period had seen England’s official religion change a number of times, which led to instability and violence

Many Catholics didn’t trust Elizabeth and claim she had no right to be queen

Puritanism was seen as a threat because they wanted to take control of the church

Question 20

How was succession a difficulty to a female ruler?

Answer 20

She was the last living child of Henry VIII and had no children of her own

In 1562, she nearly died of smallpox , this drew attention to the uncertainty of Elizabeth’s future

As a result, senior figures wanted her to marry as soon as possible

Question 21

How the foreign policy was an issue to Elizabeth as a female ruler?

Answer 21

Catholic countries like Spain and France wanted influence over England, and had the support of the Pope

Another area of tension was the Netherlands, where protestants were in conflict with its Spanish leaders, and Elizabeth and England had to decide whether or not to get involved

Question 22

What was the issue with Ireland to Elizabeth as a female ruler?

Answer 22

Like her predecessors , Elizabeth considered herself to be a queen of Ireland

In 1559, she faced a major revolt in Ireland, the first of several during her reign

Question 23

What is the issue with Mary Queen of Scots on Elizabeth as a female ruler?

Answer 23

With no direct heir, the next in line to the throne was Elizabeth’s Catholic, cousin, Mary

Many Catholics saw her as an alternative queen of England, and this made her serious threat to Elizabeth

Question 24

How was taxation a difficulty for Elizabeth, as a female ruler?

Answer 24

the country was short of money, and Elizabeth needed to raise taxes

Poverty was widespread, and raising taxes would be very unpopular, making her more unpopular

Question 25

What were the arguments in favour of Elizabeth, being married?

Answer 25

Create an alliance with a foreign country or guarantee the loyalty of a powerful English family

Produce an heir to continue the tutor line and Mary Queen of Scots from becoming queen when Elizabeth died

Question 26

What were the arguments against marriage?

Answer 26

Loss of authority to a foreign ruler or Englishman

Giving birth was risky

Her experience of marriage had been bad as her father had married multiple times, and her mother was executed

Able to use the possibility of marriage to hard advantage with important figures

Question 27

Parliament under Elizabeth: marriage and succession

Answer 27

Men saw it as their duty to find Elizabeth a suitable husband, and by 1566, began to discuss the issue openly

She banned them from talking about it and threatened them that if they ever did it again, they would be punished

Question 28

Parliament under Elizabeth: religion

Answer 28

The majority in parliament were protestant and supported Elizabeth’s religious settlement

When Elizabeth wished to introduce the laws that made life hard for Catholics, she found supporting Parliament

An issue was Puritanism in parliament, they tried to enforce laws

Question 29

Parliament under Elizabeth: crime and poverty

Answer 29

Many MPs recognise that punishing the poor didn’t work and attempted to introduce new poor laws

Question 30

Parliament under Elizabeth: monopolies

Answer 30

Away from Elizabeth to maintain loyalty of powerful men in England, by rewarding them with titles and land

In 1571 an MP named Robert Bell said that they were unfair and other MPs joined him in calling for changes in their use

Elizabeth agreed to make some changes, but they pushed for more

Question 31

Parliament under Elizabeth: Mary, Queen of Scots

Answer 31

Seen as a great threat to National security and a large number of them called for her execution, which may have swayed Elizabeth into executing her

Question 32

Parliament under Elizabeth: freedom of speech

Answer 32

An MP named Peter Wentworth was arrested three times during Elizabeth’s reign for arguing that MPs should be allowed to speak on any matter which they pleased. Elizabeth did not agree.

Question 33

What was the background of the Essex rebellion in 1601?

Answer 33

Was a loyal subject to Elizabeth- was one of her favourites

He became a privy counsellor in 1595 and was rewarded the monopoly of wine in England

During his time at court, he developed a rivalry with Robert Cecil - an influential figure at court

Elizabeth was pleased when Essex successfully attacked the Spanish port of Cadiz

Question 34

What were the causes of the rebellion?

Answer 34

Essex became involved in an argument with the queen during a privy council meeting, he turned his back on her, and nearly drew his sword, he was then placed under the house arrest.

The Queen sent him to Ireland to deal with a rebellion - he failed and agreed a truce with them going against the Queens order

Essex returned and barged into her private chambers, and saw her without a wig

Essex began to gather, supporters and plot rebellion against the Queen

Question 35

What happened in the rebellion?

Answer 35

February 1601 : Essex took four privy, counsellors hostage, and march them to his London house, along with 200 supporters

Robert Cecil labelled him a traitor

Essex and his remaining followers were arrested

Question 36

What were the consequences of the rebellion?

Answer 36

Essex was put on trial for treason, and was sentenced to death

He was executed in private on the 25th of February 1601 - some of his supporters were also put to death or fined

Elizabeth made it clear that she wouldn’t tolerate to her authority