S4: Who Actually Controlled Elizabethan Government? Flashcards
Council: Provide some evidence that Elizabeth was in control of her first council.
-Liz removed some of the strongest Catholics, like Lord Paget, from Mary’s council, & replaced them with loyalists, like William Cecil. By 1572, all conservative-minded members of the council had been removed.
-She also reduced the size of the council (which had grown massively during Mary), saying “a multitude doth make discord and confusion than good council.” Her first council had 19 members.
-By the 1570s, a nucles of Protestant councillors emerged, with an inner ring of 10, including Sir Henry Sidney, and Sir Walter Mildmay.
-Essentially, she was quickly able to undo the work of Mary, and returned to a protestant, small council.
Council: Provide some evidence that Liz wasn’t in control of her first council.
-Elizabeth quickly allowed Cecil to emerge as her leading council, and he soon took a primary role in all state matters, with the Spanish ambassador describing him as “the man who does everything.”
-Council did still contain some conservative, moderates, like Sir James Croft & Hatton.
-Also, by the 1580s, some of her key councillors had started to die, like Dudley in 1588.
Council: How did the makeup of who was in the council change across her reign?
-There was a shift to a more professional council during Liz’s reign. In 1558, 6 magnates owed their position to inherited territorial power, but by 1591, peers all had their title based on merit.
-William Cecil, who became Lord Burghley in 1572, was a key example of this professional shift.
-By the 1590s, there were only 9 councillors, 5 of whom were regular attendees.
-Across her reign, Elizabeth had 58 different councillors.
-Between 1568-82, of the 25 councillors, 18 were related to her, or to each other.
Council: How was Elizabeth’s council similar to her predecessors?
-10 of her councillors had served under Mary, including the Earl of Derby & of Shrewsbury.
-There were several magnates in council, some of whom were moderate Catholics.
-Having one key councillor in charge of most things was typical for the Tudor period (ie H8 & Wolsey).
-Giving patronage based on expertise, as opposed to iheritance, was not a new concept.
Council: How was Elizabeth’s council different to her predecessors?
-The strongest catholics from the Marian council were removed.
-By 1572, all conservatives had gone.
-Reduced the size of the council from the 50 that it had been under Mary.
-She shifted towards a more professional council, and by 1591, all magnates had their positions based on merit/expertise
Council: What was good about Liz’s first council?
-By retaining some previous councillors (both Marian & Edwardian) she maintained expertise, from people like the Marquis of Dorset, who had been Lord Treasurer since 1550.
-She balanced this with new councillors, who would be loyal to her, like Sir Francis Knollys.
-However, many of these new councillors had connections to Cecil (Bacon was his brother-in-law, and Sir Ambrose Cave had connections). This could suggest that her council was more loyal to Cecil than Liz.
Elizabeth: What action did Elizabeth take to control her council?
-Participated in discussions to prevent the council agreeing on formal advice. She would only ever deal with them in small groups.
-Elizabeth kept accurate notes.
-She consulted with men outside the council.
-Used anger/violence.
-Promoted division among her councillors.
-Displayed affection.
-Uses indecision.
Elizabeth: Give an example of Elizabeth operating is small groups. Was it effective?
-When debating policy over Scotland in 1559, Elizabeth consulted only her inner nucleus. They came to a decision about what action to take, and then they reported back to the council.
-The council, at first, rejected it, but Elizabeth managed to push their decision through, as it had previously been discussed.
-Also, in 1586, Leicester complained, while commanding in the Netherlands, that he didn’t have correspondence with the Privy Council.
-Walsingham replied, sayinf that she was refusing to work with the whole council, and would only work with them in groups.
Elizabeth: Give an example of Elizabeth consulting with men outside the council. Was it effective?
-Elizabeth consulted with both Paget & Dudley (who was not yet a councillor), over issues like the Netherlands.
-In 1559, the Spanish ambassador thought the Parry, Cecil, Bacon, and Dudley were in charge of running the country.
-This was very effective, as it allowed her to consult a variety of opinion, without having to promote councillors, who would cause outrage (like Paget, as a Catholic).
Elizabeth: Give an example of Elizabeth using anger/violence. Was this effective?
-She would rage that councillors would be “shorter by the head.”
-Norfolk + Essex were both executed.
-She threw a slipper at Walsingham, and slapped Essex in the face.
-This meant that councillors were cautious and respectful, as they were heavily aware that their careers were based upon Elizabeth’s favour.
Elizabeth: Give an example of Elizabeth promoting divisons among her councillors. Was this effective?
-Elizabeth ensured that contrasting councillors were posted in opposing roles. Dudley and Norfolk, for example, became a contrasting pair.
-However, by the 1580s, the conservative influence had massively subsided, which meant she could no longer use them as a counter-balance to the Protestants.
Elizabeth: Give some examples of Elizabeth using affection. Was this effective?
-When Burghley was sick, she would send him her own physician, visit him at his home, and feed him soup.
-When Leicester feared her wrath, he would retire to his sickbed, in the knowledge that she would rush to his aid.
-This was somewhat effective, as it meant that, while they feared her, they didn’t hate her.
-However, some councillors (like Leicester) clearly took advantage of this.
Elizabeth: How did she use indecision? Was this effective?
-When negotiating marriage with Alencon in 1572, Elizabeth initially said no, but, four days later, said she would reconsider if she saw him in person.
-In this case, it is very effective, as she is able to leverage the marriage, to boost her campaign against Spain, without actually having the marriage take place.
-However, the council soon became aware of this, and leveraged it. When Elizabeth agreed to MQS’ death warrant, they quickly signed it off to ensure she couldn’t change her mind.
Elizabeth: How did Elizabeth use her accurate notes?
-Elizabeth ensured that accurate notes were kept from her meetings, to ensure that councillors could be held to their word.
-Essentially, she would catch them out, to prevent them from lying/manipulating information.
Faction: What were the main points of contention within the council?
-Elizabeth’s marriage.
-Religion.
-Involvement in foreign affairs.
-Mary, Queen of Scots.
Faction: What disagreement was there in 1562? In 1567? 1569-70? Who wins out?
-1562: Elizabeth wishes to meet MQS in person. The whole council opposes her, and the pair do not meet. Council overpowers Liz.
-1567: Council splits over proposed marriage between Liz & Charles Archduke of Austria. Dudely opposes it, while Cecil, Sussex, & Norfolk promote it. The division caused Elizabeth to hesitate, and eventually reject Charles, meaning Dudz won.
-1569-70: After MQS’ arrival in England, Council become divided about strategy to deal with her. Cecil & Bacon want an alliance with foreign Protestants, while Dudz & Arundel want an alliance w/ MQS/France. Elizabeth wins out, by hesitating & not using any decisive course of action.
Faction: What disagreement was there in 1578? 1579-81? 1586? Who wins out?
-1578: Council is divided over whether to give aid to Protestant rebels. Leicester & Walsingham are for it, while Cecil argues against. Two clear groups emerge. Liz hesitates, and wins out. She does give aid to the rebels, but 7 years later, when it became absolutely necessary.
-1579-81: Negotitations over marriage with Alencon cause another split. Leicester & Walsingham oppose it, while Cecil & Sussex are in favour. While the pair exchange betrothal rings, they do not marry, so Dudz wins.
-1586: Everyone pushes Elizabeth to execute MQS. After Walsingham engineers the Stafford Plot, she agrees. The council win out!
Faction: What disagreements were there over the 1590s?
-After the deaths of key councillors, new favourites, Devereux & Robert Cecil, emerge. Rivalry is just as prevalent among these two, and the council is cleanly split into two factions.
-In 1593, Essex championed aggressive foreign policy, secretly negotiating with James VI in an attempt to revive the idea of a Protestant coalition against catholicism. This was contested (and largely defeated) by Robert Cecil & Raleigh, who favoured maritime.
-In 1598, when Devereux & Cecil were arguing over who would be sent to Ireland (Dev. thought he was being sent so Cecil could increase his own power), he turned his back on Liz, & she slapped him in the face.
Faction: Give some examples of advisory successes, and of administrative.
-Adv: Protestant church is established, Liz doesn’t marry a foreigner, MQS is executed, Spain is defeated.
-Adm: Protestant settlement is enforced, meeting foreign ambassadors, drafting correspondence, and overseeing JPs/elections.
Faction: How successful was Elizabeth’s dealing with factions across her reign?
-Generally, she deals with them poorly.
-She does a good job at delaying taking action (1569 & 1578), but, in most cases, eventually has to decide (ie MQS, while she does delay it, the council eventually wins out).
-In the issue of marriage, though, she does quite effectively shut down the pressure put on her by government.
Councillors: Name some strategies used by councillors to get their way.
-Manipulate the flow of information to Elizabeth.
-Use English Ambassadors to manipulate her.
-Manipulate what correspondents wrote to her.
-Continuing to press her, after refusal.
Councillors: Give an example of who manipulated the flow of information to Elizabeth, & when. Was it effective?
-Used by Cecil, when he was secretary. In June 1568, Francis Knollys, who was keeping MQS at Bolton castle, had written 13 letters regarding the issue of Mary.
-1 had gone to the council, 2 had gone to Liz, and 10 had gone to Cecil. This suggests that he was the one receiving information, not Liz.
-Walsingham would also only speak to the queen & give her information when he was certain that she was in a good mood, as the French ambassador observed in 1597.
-This was very effective!
Councillors: Give an example of who used English Ambassadors abroad, & when. Was it effective?
-Used by Cecil.
-In 1562, over intervention in France. Cecil worked w/ Christopher Mundt, the ambassador in Germany. He persuaded Mundt to consult German princes, and told him what to say to convince Liz.
-In 1563, he also used the Duke of Wurttemburg to persuade her to marry.
-This was only sometimes effective, as the marriage ploys are unsuccessful, but persausion over France works.
Councillors: Give an example of who manipulated what correspondents wrote to Elizabeth (& more generally lied), & when. Was it effective?
-Walsingham!
-In 1581, Huntingdon’s Report on the loyalty of Northern England was manipulated to be more pessimistic, in order to heighten the threat of Catholics. In 1586, he then downplays the threat of the Spanish Armada.
-Finally, in 1587, he engineers the fake Stafford Plot, trying to get her to sign MQS’ death warrant.
-The false reports are very successful, and work to force Elizabeth’s hand.
