Government under Elizabeth I Flashcards
Role of the Monarch, powers and limitations
Role: govern the country and provide justice
Powers: Divine right, royal prerogative, call/dissolve parliament, foreign policy, religious authority, Pardon or condemn, patronage
Limitations: subject to the law, extra-ordinary revenue
Role of the Privy council, powers and limitations
role: to advise the monarch, involved in day to day governing
Powers: highest court in government, oversaw taxation and expenditure, shaped foreign policy and crisis management
Limits: was purely advise, no real power to implement big reforms. Lots of factional debate led to decreased efficiency
Role of the Parliament, powers and limitations
Role: conformation process, confirm law based on knowledge
Powers: pass laws and grant extra-ordinary revenue. Manage social and economic change
Limitations: lack of control, based upon royal whim, have no say in royal prerogative
Role of the Regional Councils, powers and limitations
Role: local administration of law and order, maintain royal authority in places far from the capital, composed of local gentry
Power: controlled tax and revenue on a local level, defence of the realm (varied in accordance to area of control- council of the north needed to defend against Scotland)
Limitations: had to report to the central government, influence varies in the reign of different monarchs (eg Henry VIII relied on these while Mary did not)
Role of the Justices of the Peace, powers and limitations
Role: to maintain the law, a key figure in local governments who was appointed by nobles. Responsible to enforce new government policies
Powers: grant extra-ordinary revenue in local areas. Punish offenders and settle disputes
Limitations: easily led to abuse of power
The Privy council under Elizabeth
met twice a week
Liz’s reign was a period with good governance (mainly)
disagreements within court but no outright struggles for power (like N’land and Somerset)
However there was Essex rebellion
Liz met with key figures (Burghley/Walsingham) alone so their leadership was secured
‘a narrow buy coherent and effective regime’- Christopher Haigh
The royal court under Elizabeth
was a vast and complicated system broken down into 4 sections, the Monarch is directly linked to the top parts of each section
define progress
When Elizabeth would go on trips around England- showed her wealth and influence, her stays could make people bankrupt
define patronage
the system in which the crown distributes favours to those who were loyal
define the Presence chamber
a chamber open to anyone who was rich or had a good status
change within the Privy Chamber between Monarchs
was much more private and important (HOWEVER arguably less influential because it had less access to the Monarch)- idk if this is true
What was the most important part of central government
the privy council! Liz’s council and ministers were based at court and she retained some of her sisters councillors for continuity
functions of the privy council
make decisions as the court of law
manage parliament (ish)
discuss matters of state
advice
oversee the regional councils operation
instruct officials (eg JPs and sheriffs)
Enforce laws
oversee national defence arrangements (eg giving Lord Lieutenants military responsibilities)
oversee and enforce the religious settlement
Robert Dudley
marriage candidate for both Elizabeth and MQS
A favourite of Elizabeth
Son of the Duke of N’land
Earl of Leicester
In 1585, he was sent my Elizabeth to the Netherlands with 6,000 troops to support a revolt against the Spanish, there he proved to be an incompetent leader who could not work well with the Dutch, he was recalled 2 years later
Norfolk and Suffolk were not fans
Governor General of the Netherlands
a title that Dudley accepted on behalf of Elizabeth when in the Netherlands, this angered Elizabeth as she believed it undermined Phillip as the sovereign ruler
William Cecil
dominated the council- he was involved with many key decisions such as the religious settlement, execution of MQS and 1572 treaty of Blois
militant protestant
had a political background, worked for both Henry VIII, Edward VI and was offered employment under Mary
1st Baron of Burghley
Upon and shortly before his death, Cecil coached his son, Robert Cecil, to take over his role (became Elizabeth’s secretary in 1596)
He was not fans of anyone who could rival his power, particularly Dudley. Also really didn’t like MQS
Coup against Cecil
1568
Dudley and Norfolk attempt to remove Cecil, however this fails due to the Queens loyalty to Burghley
Christopher Hatton
Privy councillor
favourite of Elizabeth- she was known to call him ‘her sheep’
involved in the prevention of the plots against Elizabeth and death of MQS
a rival to Dudley and also didn’t like Cecil (threat to power)
Anti puritan and anti Spanish
Lord Chancellor
Francis Walsingham
Principle secretary
Well trusted by Elizabeth
his father was influential under Henry VIII (nepotism)
reformer who fled England when Mary became queen
led the support for the Huguenots
Biggest achievement was his sophisticated spy ring, of which he was “spy master”- used double agents and codes ect
This culminated in the execution of MQS
very anti Spain + MQS
Robert Devereux
2nd Earl of Essex
gained popularity due to his fighting in Spanish Netherlands
A favourite of Liz but they would argue a lot (she slapped him once)
Did not like Cecil
discovered a supposed plot against the queen in 1593/4
tensions between Cecils and Devereux over the Spanish
Following his failed leadership in Ireland, he was stripped of office in 1600
attempted to revolt in 1601 which resulted in his execution
Devereux in Spain then Ireland
Upon the renewal of aggression in 1596, Essex won fortunes due to his military involvement- his ego grew and he became increasingly harder to rule
Appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1599. An unsuccessful campaign against the rebels resulted in an unasked for truce, soon after Devereux disserted his post, returned to England to speak to the queen who promptly put him under house arrest
Walter Mildmay
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Worked for both Edward and Mary- proved to be a skilled financier
strong protestant but continued to work under Mary
founded Emmanuel Collage Cambridge
Francis Knollys
Henchman for Henry VIII, meaning he knew all of his children
was a strong protestant and worked for Edward
Left for Germany after Mary’s accession
Acted as link between Parliament and court
Prominent in religious issues and advised policy in Ireland
Nicholas Bacon
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Liz
Worked under Mary
relatively conservative protestant
worked with Cecil and opposed MQS
Thomas Radcliff
Earl of Sussex
part of the Howard family
served in the army
Main role prior to Liz was to facilitate foreign marriages (Phillip and Mary, Edward and French princess)
skilled in foreign policy
Involved in Ireland and became Lord Lieutenant in 1558, he failed to instate order and resigned in 1566
Involved the suppression of the Revolt of the Northern Earls
1572- Lord Chamberlain under Liz
Death of ministers
weakening of Liz’s council after 1580
death of several ministers in quick succession, by 1597 there were only 11 members of the council
Liz then failed to make immediate replacements and often relied on the sons of the ministers (most of whom were not as skilled and middle aged)
Absence of senior noblemen in the council
weakening of Liz’s council after 1580
the absence of great aristocrats suggested that her council did not include some of England’s most important families
Cecils in council
weakening of Liz’s council after 1580
Liz did not allow Burghley to retire even though his effectiveness began to diminish during the 1590s
The promotion of Robert Cecil also angered Essex
court factions
2 factions in court, older and younger (Cecil vs Dudley)
these were less pronounced prior to 1590 but it was as the new generation of courtiers joined that the factions began to show
what mainly prevented these factions from being to powerful in Liz’s early reign was the fact that no advisor had control over patronage (as they did in Edwards reign)
balance of families in court
both the Paar and Boleyn families held significant positions, family connections always overcame religious differences. So where some courtiers would disagree on one thing they would work together on another
Dudley’s faction
younger
often suitors to the Queen
flamboyant
protestants
Cecil’s factions
older
preferred more moderate and pragmatic policies
balance between catholic and protestant (however, this has recently been disputed as historians like John Guy have argued that Cecil was a more radical religious figure and his disagreements with Leicester were occasional and specific policy focused)
The Essex rebellion
Who: Essex and his supporters
When: Feb 1601 (end of Elizabeth’s reign)
Where: London
What: rebellion, marched through the streets
Why: Essex had lost almost all influence, events in Ireland, sick of Elizabeth and Robert Cecil since Liz promotes Cecil over Devereux (as he is becoming too ambitious) , a clear divide was created in council.
How well did Elizabeth manage court factions
In comparison to her counterparts, very well. It was her decision and opinion in the end the triumphed throughout most of her reign (eg the refusal to have MQS executed)
factionalism within Elizabeth’s court was controllable because al courtiers had to remain in her favour to remain in power- all had the common goal of pleasing the Queen
When did the factions disagree the most and where did they have the largest impact
disagree- foreign policy, particularly over Spain
impact- when Devereux is ousted from court, Cecil held ultimate control
to what extent did factions impact Elizabeth’s reign
Limited however, they began to have more control towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign
Why did Elizabeth call parliament
mostly for monetary, religious or foreign policy issues
Law making (438 acts passed in her reign)
Liz called parliament 13 times in her reign, 12 of which were about raising taxes
What kind of decisions were parliament making
the tightening of anti catholic laws
establishment of religious settlement
Urged Queen to marry/discuss foreign policies and executions
raised taxes/subsides
How much impact is Parliament having on Elizabethan government
no much, parliament would discuss and pass laws but not without royal assent
most of these would be put forwards by the Privy council already and Elizabeth always had the last say
evidence of a positive relationship with Parliament
most of Liz’s close advisors worked in Parliament, Cecil/Hatton/Bacon
complimentary of parliament in her Golden Speech
but she does as warn that they should do their duty
Evidence of a negative relationship
Elizabeth had a temper and did not like interference- she thought they encroached on her royal prerogative
relations broke down at the end of her reign
Overall, how effective was Elizabeth’s governing???
In the early part of Elizabeth’s reign it is arguable that it was governed very successfully, she managed to maintain control of her court despite of factionalism
Likewise, her royal prerogative was never in question as she made/had final say on all key decisions
however, as her reign progressed she became less effective at governing- seen through her lack of control over Deveruex
Moreover, she often took a long time to make important decisions such as the execution of Mary queen of Scots (MQS)
Her long decision time could be a good thing though
