Factions under Elizabeth

Question 1

When was Robert Cecil appointed secretary of state?

Answer 1

1596- through nepotism

Question 2

When was Robert Cecil appointed the Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster?

Answer 2

1597

Question 3

What was a faction?

Answer 3

Competition for patronage (divide and rule)

Question 4

Who was Robert Dudley? What have his ranks been?

Answer 4

Master of Horse Fought against France and had a romance with E in 1557 Scandal in 1560 Became Earl of Leicester in 1567 Became Lieutenant for army in Netherlands in 1585

Question 5

Who was William Cecil? What have his ranks been?

Answer 5

Secretary of State in 1558 Master of Wards in 1561 Lord Burghley in 1571 Lord Treasurer in 1572

Question 6

Who was Walsingham? What have his ranks been?

Answer 6

Fervent protestant under mary Ambassador of Paris in 1570 Secretary of State and foreign affairs 1573

Question 7

How did Robert Cecil rise to power? What ranks did he go through?

Answer 7

Nepotism. Initially carried on Walsinghams duties after his death until 1590 Privy Councillor in 1591 Secretary of State in 1596 Master of Court of Wards in 1599

Question 8

Who was Robert Devereux? What ranks did he go through?

Answer 8

Earl of Essex- became Elizabeths favourite Courtier Master on Horse and privy councillor 1587 Defeated Spanish navy in Cadiz in 1597 Master of the Ordinances and Earl Marshall 1598 Command army of Ireland 1599

Question 9

What was Earl of Essex’s monopoly in 1587?

Answer 9

Monopoly of sweet wine

Question 10

When was the Essex uprising?

Answer 10

1601

Question 11

What factional disputed did Dudley and William Cecil have?

Answer 11

Cecil despaired of the thought of Dudley marrying Elizabeth Dudley had an aggressive foreign policy whilst Cecil’s was more peaceful Dudley easily took offence which worsened factions- competed against Cecil over patronage

Question 12

What are the two interpretations of Elizabeths response to the factional disputes between Dudley and Cecil?

Answer 12

Some argue she was the victim of factions- often unable to make a decision Other say she actually controlled the faction- making sure their aim was to gain her favour

Question 13

What shows that the faction between Leicester and Cecil was not are severe as some describe it as?

Answer 13

They both supported Puritanism, showing that they were ideologically similar (in religion, most matters of state and military appreciating each other’s power).

Question 14

What succession issues occurred in the 1560s between Norfolk and Sussex vs Leicester?

Answer 14

Austrian Archduke Charles was the first serious potential marriage contender. Norfolk and Sussex supported him as they were conservative, Anglo-Catholics, therefore promotes him due to the wanting of a moderate influence in court (against Puritans). Leicester is very against this, and Cecil and Elizabeth mediate. This precipitated the 1569 crisis.

Question 15

How could Leicester’s participation in the Northern Rebellion suggest factional motivation?

Answer 15

Semi-Catholic nobles (led by Arundel) wanted to dispose of Cecil due to the risks of war, allowing interception of Spanish Bullion Ships to the Netherlands. They, therefore, wanted to arrange a Protestant marriage to MQS with Norfolk as Elizabeth is indecisive of what to do with MQS.

Question 16

What examples does John Guy give as reasons why the Privy Council under the faction of Leicester and Cecil was homogeneous?

Answer 16

Agreement in the 1560s about the need to settle the succession issues (after smallpox scare)

The 1570s and 1580s show agreement of aims for foreign policy

Question 17

Why did Cecil need Leicester?

Answer 17

Cecil in 1571 lacked the noble ranking and networks in the localities, therefore needed Dudley.

Question 18

Why did Leicester need Cecil?

Answer 18

Cecil had the queen’s trust and a centre of power next to the queen.

Question 19

Why was there a polarization of opinion between Leicester and Burghley in the 1570s?

Answer 19

Advice over the interventions in the Netherlands in 1572. Burghley advised caution and avoidance of military cre-extension, whilst Leicester wanted intervention.

Question 20

What was the reality of divisions in the Privy Council?

Answer 20

They were not permanently split into different factions- just different ideologies. They’re all agreed that something had to be done- just a disagreement on how. There was no real rival faction until 1590s.

Question 22

How was the Privy Council ideologically homogenous?

Answer 22

No differing religion, no rival families (like Somerset and Northumberland under Edward), no ‘big chief’ that is trying to be toppled. Most of the politicising was surrounding Elizabeth and the Privy Council.

Question 23

Did Elizabeth really promote rivalries?

Answer 23

She does not promote faction rivalry- there is no ‘prize; that they want to achieve. This changes in the 1590s as there is a rival chief role- potentially due to age, flattery by Essex (giving more power) and that she has lost part of her touch- need for a chief.

Question 24

What is the key date for factionalism?

Answer 24

1596. Disputes from Essex and Cecil started since 1594.

Question 25

When did R. Cecil and Essex actually work together?

Answer 25

Discussions over the Azores

Question 26

How did rivalries start between R.Cecil and Essex?

Answer 26

When they started employing men- especially as Essex was unsuccessful at employment- employing inappropriate men.

Question 27

Whats an example of Essex employing inappropriate men?

Answer 27

Francis Bacon in 1594- who was too young and had angered the queen in 1593.

Question 28

Why did Elizabeth have to promote Essex to the Master of Ordinance?

Answer 28

In October 1597, Lord Admiral Carles Howard of Effingham was made Earl Marshall of Nottingham (above the Earl of Essex). Essex felt put out as he felt as though he wasn’t credited for Cadiz

Question 29

What happens to Cecil when Essex is sent off to Ireland?

Answer 29

Cecil becomes Master of Wards

Question 30

How did Essex interpret the Master of Ordinance promotion?

Answer 30

A blueprint for dominating the Queen and council

Question 31

What did Essex think of the factional rivalry?

Answer 31

He felt it was an attack on his honour and the ‘natural law’ which old established military aristocracy were to triumph over lesser men and parvenus (like Sir Walter Raliegh and the Cecils).