Queen, government, and religion 1558-69:England in 1558

Question 1

What was Elizabeth’s government made up of

Answer 1

The Court, Privy Council, Justices of the Peace, Parliament, Lord Lieutenants

Question 2

The Court

Answer 2

Made of noblemen acting as monarch’s advisors and friends. advised monarch and diplayed her wealth and power. Members of the court could also be members of the privy council

Question 3

The Privy Council

Answer 3

members of nobility who helped govern. Monitored parliament, Justices of the Peace and oversaw law and order and security of nation.

Question 4

Justices of the Peace

Answer 4

Large landowners, appointed by government, kept law and order locally and heard court cases

Question 5

Parliament

Answer 5

advised Elizabeth’s government, made of house of lords and house of commons. House of Lords made of noblemen and bishops.
House of commons elected though very few people could vote.
Parliament passed laws and approved taxes.

Question 6

Lord Lieutenants

Answer 6

noblemen, appointed by government, governed English counties and raised local militia (Force of ordinary people used in emergency)

Question 7

Social Hierarchy in countryside
Least->most important
%of people in countryside

Answer 7

90% lived in countryside
Homeless and Vagrants, Landless and labouring poor, Tenant farmers, Yeomen farmers, Gentry, Nobility

Question 8

Nobility

Answer 8

Major landowners; often Lords, Dukes, and Earls

Question 9

Gentry

Answer 9

owned smaller estates

Question 10

Yeomen farmers

Answer 10

owned a small amount of land

Question 11

Tenant farmers

Answer 11

Rented land from yeomen farmers and gentry

Question 12

Landless and labouring poor

Answer 12

people who did not own or rent land, had to work or labour to provide for themselves and family

Question 13

Homeless and vagrants

Answer 13

moved from place to place looking for work

Question 14

Social Hierarchy in towns
Least->most important
% in towns

Answer 14

10% lived in towns
unemployed, craftsmen, business owners, professionals, merchants.

Question 15

Merchants

Answer 15

traders who were very wealthy

Question 16

Professionals

Answer 16

lawyers, doctors, and clergymen

Question 17

Business owners

Answer 17

highly skilled craftsmen, such as silversmiths, glovers, carpenters, or tailors

Question 18

craftsmen

Answer 18

skilled employees, including apprentices

Question 19

unskilled labourers and the unemployed

Answer 19

people who had no regular work and couldn’t provide for themselves and their families

Question 20

Obedience and care in society

Answer 20

Wherever you were in society you were expected to obey those above you and care for those below you especially in times of hardship. Households similar with the husband and father the head.

Question 21

problems facing Elizabeth when she became queen

Answer 21

• Elizabeth was young (21) and lacked experience
• government needed money
• legitimacy was in doubt as pope refused to recognise mother’s marraige to Henry VIII
• catholics refused to acknowledge Elizabeth’s right to rule
• Elizabeth was protsetant, Mary her predecessor was catholic
• Elizabeth was unmarried, unusual for queen to rule in her own right as traditions suggested women should follow men’s authority. Many disapproved of a queen regnant
• To pass laws Elizabeth needed support from parliament

Question 22

Key issues facing Elizabeth 1558

Answer 22

• Expected that Elizabeth would marry however this would reduce her power as the husband would govern the country
• Elizabeth’s inexperience meant support and advice needed from privy council especially Sir William Cecil, her secretary of state
• Elizabeth could issue royal proclamations and had prerogative powers enabling her to govern without parliament, however parliament was needed to pass laws as acts of parliament

Question 23

Problems of marraige

Answer 23

• If Elizabeth married a protestant catholics would be angry
• If Elizabeth married a catholic protestants would be angry
• Could invlove England in exepensive wars, dangerous with the crown in £300,000 of debt
• If Elizabeth died without an heir the throne would be vacant possibly causing a civil war

Question 24

Elizabeth’s character and strengths

Answer 24

• Confident and charismatic enabling her to win over subjects and parliament
• Resilient after spending time in the tower, accused of treason and in threat of being hanged. could cope with pressure
• well educated- spoke latin, greek, french, and italian
• excellent grasp of politics, understood interests and ambitions of subjects enabling her to use her powers of patronage well
• Protestant with a country growing in protestantism amiing her throne and divine right stronger.

Question 25

How Elizabeth reinvented the role of Queen

Answer 25

She was able to use her strengths ot become a different type of monarch. liked to demonstrate she was no ordinary woman. argued she didn't need to marry and could govern England on her own

Question 26

Elizabethan Propoganda

Answer 26

Throughout her reign Elizabeth portrayed herself as strong, legitimate, popular, and a 'virgin Queen', married only to England. Reflected in paintings depicting her as confident but feminine rightfully crowned.

Question 27

Charismatic leader

Answer 27

someone who posseses great personal appeal used to win people over

Question 28

legitimate ruler

Answer 28

Legally and morally entitled to rule

Question 29

Divine right

Answer 29

Idea that God alone appoints the monarch, meaning ot challenge them is to challenge God. Successful monarchs claimed divine providence (approval) of their actions, reinforcing legitimacy. unsuccessful monarchs faced charges of Godly disparoval finding their legitimacy undermined

Question 30

Protestants

Answer 30

Christians who no longer accept the authority of the pope nor the roman catholic church. During reformation (1517) protestants such as Martin Luther, seceded the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in religious wars in france and Germany

Question 31

Patronage

Answer 31

Monarch could use granting of lands, jobs, and titles to reward supporters. People could use it to become wealthy

Question 32

Financial weaknesses in 1558

Answer 32

* The crown £300000 in debt with an annual income of £286667 * Over £100000 owed to foreign lenders (Antwerp Exchange) with a high 14% interest rate * Mary Tudor sold off Crown lands to pay for wars with France so less made from rents * Elizabeth needed money to remain secure and reward supporters * Since 1540s Crown debased coinage reducing the silver and gold content to make more money fighting against France. Resulted in Inflation.

Question 33

Ways Monarchs could raise money

Answer 33

* Rents and incomes from Crown lands * Taxes from trade (customs duties) * Special additional taxes, subsidies, needed approval from parliament * Profits of Justice (fines, property, or lands) * Loans (sometimes 'Forced' meaning cumpulsory and never repaid)

Question 34

What could Elizabeth do to solve her financial problems in 1558?

Answer 34

* Raise taxes to boost the crown income: Could convene parliament and ask for subsidies but additional taxes could cause unrest. * Improve quality of money by increasing gold and silver content: 1560 Thomas Gresham financial advisor suggested this to William Cecil but crown slow to respond. 'New' coinage would be difficult to exchange for old coins.

Question 35

What Elizabeth did to solve her financial problems in 1558

Answer 35

* Didn't raise taxes but hoarded her income cutting household expenses in half * Like her predecessors she sold crown lands raising £120000 * By 1574, Queen could claim crown was out of debt for the first time since 1558

Question 36

Effects of Elizabeth's financial policies

Answer 36

Despite Elizabeth's careful management of finance, limited reform. Parliamentary grants raised locally with landowners acting as Lord Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace pocketing some proceeds before sending it to the crown. Meant ordianry people faced heavier financial burden while wealthy benefitted.

Question 37

Challenges abroad 1558: The French Threat

Answer 37

France wealthier than England and larger population. Elizabeth's cousin Mary Queen of Scots married to heir of French throne. Mary had strong claim to English throne and English catholics might rally to her if France invaded.

Question 38

Challenges abroard 1558: The Auld Alliance

Answer 38

France's alliance with Scotland threatened England. Mary of Guise ruled Scotland on behalf of daughter Mary QoS, kept French troops there who could attack England. Relationship between France and Scotalnd strengthened by marraige of Francis to Mary QoS 1558. Francis became King Francis II of France 1559

Question 39

Challenges abroard 1558: War was exepnsive

Answer 39

The crown was in debt and couldn't afford a war with France, Scotland, or Spain, as this would deepen debts.

Question 40

Challenges abroard 1558: France no longer at war with Spain

Answer 40

French military no longer stretched by war with Spain, making war with England more likely. Possibility France and Spain being catholic would unite against protestant Engalnd. Spain had troops in Netherlands very close to England

Question 41

Challenges abroard 1558: Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis

Answer 41

Due to this Engalnd lost Calais to France. England's last territory on the continent, pressure on Elizabeth to amintain it but a war with France would be too expensive and dangerous

Question 42

How Elizabeth dealt with challenges from abroard

Answer 42

* Elizabeth avoided upsetting powerful countries * Sought to avoid war with France signing Peace of Troyes (1564) recognising Calais as French * Elizabeth dealt with Scottish threat by placing Mary QoS (fled Scotland 1568) in custody of England * By imprisoning Mary and making peace with France, Elizabeth only had one significant threat by 1569: Spain