Section 2 Flashcards
Royal Court
The Royal Court was a group of nobles and privy councillors who surrounded the Queen
Courtiers
Travelled with Elizabeth as she toured
Owed all their power to Elizabeth and knew she could remove their patronage at anytime, ensuring loyalty
Entertainment at Court
Projected extravagance and wealth- jousting tournaments, dances and plays
Patronage
Elizabeth had a system of patronage to control Royal Court.
Granted positions of power- such as on the court or the privy council- to wealthy nobles or her favourites
Power was based on relationship with Queen
Privy Council
Most trusted courtiers were her privy councillors
Met daily to offer Elizabeth advice
Led by Elizabeth’s chief advisor, the Secretary of State
Controlled privy council by employing privy councillors with various viewpoints
William Cecil- Secretary of State for majority of Elizabeth’s reign
Control over privy council
William Cecil manipulated Elizabeth into executing Mary Queen of Scots-1587
By 1590s, William Cecil was too old to have control over the privy council, leading to factional rivalry between his son- Robert Cecil, and other councillors like the Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux was a rising star of Elizabeth’s court. Became Elizabeth’s favourite at 18 due to his military success. Part of privy council
Egotistical behaviour
Problems with the Earl of Essex
1598- Reached for his sword after an argument with Elizabeth
1599- Failed military expedition in Ireland
1600-Abandoned his soldiers in Ireland and forced his way into Elizabeth’s bedchambers
1601-Plotted an armed rebellion to remove Elizabeth and to make James of Scotland the King
Struggled to respect Elizabeth due to her gender
Local Government
The Queen and her privy council ran the government in England, needed a system of local governments in order to control different areas of the country
Lord Lieutenant
Appointed by the Queen- Form of patronage
Most powerful noble in the country
Kept Queen and privy council informed on what was happening in areas
Organised local armies to deal with rebellions
Justices of the Peace (JPs)
Around 40 JPs in each county
Appointed by the Queen
Responsible for: raising taxes and fines, enforcing the poor law, judging court cases
Unpaid leading to corruption and bribery
Difficulties of having control in the 16th century
Distance: all travel via horses- Queen can’t be everywhere
Poverty: people would look to the Queen to solve problems that were not in her control
Religious division- Protestants and Catholics
Nobles: Relayed on nobles to rule on her behalf- possibility of them turning against her
Rebellion: people may rebel if something goes wrong
Control of whole country
Nobility given land
Considering more than one religion
Build castles
Reliable people around her
Local mp’s
Royal Court pt.2
60 main residences of the Queen
Filled with courtiers - could be thousands
Compete with one another to gain patronage
Nobles could turn on Elizabeth if they had not been given enough patronage
Parliament
Only met when the monarch allowed them to
No authority to meet on their own.
In Elizabeth’s 45 year reign parliament only spent 35 months debating and meeting-13 times
Usually used to pass taxation bills
Threat to Elizabeth’s authority: parliament
Elizabeth needed parliaments consent to raise taxes which gave MPs power to push for changes they wanted to see
Puritans in parliament
Made speeches to push Elizabeth into:
marrying a Protestant to ensure there would be a Protestant heir
remove Archbishops and bishops and allow elected committees to run the Church
stop priests wearing vestments
give mp’s freedom of speech
Control of Parliament
William Cecil controlled debate in parliament- member of privy council
limited freedom of speech for mp’s- banned discussion of religion or her marriage
Imprisoned Peter Wentworth in the Tower of London after demanding a Protestant heir
John Stubbs had his hand chopped off for criticising Elizabeth’s proposed marriage to the Catholic Duke of Anjou
Propaganda
Elizabeth used propaganda to project an image of herself as being powerful an well liked
Portraits emphasised her power and did not show any signs of weakness
Elizabeth went on regular progresses so she could be seen by ordinary people
Progresses
A royal tour which took place every summer
Toured the country with loyal nobles who provided entertainment
Elizabeth would show off wealth and splendour while taking with ordinary people
Progresses never extended beyond Protestant areas
Elizabeth never visited the North or West
Made a point of being seen by as many people as possible
Leave a lasting impression of majesty and affection