Section 2 Flashcards by Katie Wynn

Royal Court

The Royal Court was a group of nobles and privy councillors who surrounded the Queen

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Courtiers

Travelled with Elizabeth as she toured
Owed all their power to Elizabeth and knew she could remove their patronage at anytime, ensuring loyalty

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Entertainment at Court

Projected extravagance and wealth- jousting tournaments, dances and plays

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Control of whole country

Nobility given land
Considering more than one religion
Build castles
Reliable people around her
Local mp’s

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Persuading people she was strong: Plays

Easy to sensor- Punished writers and printers severely who opposed the Queen
Privy council spread favourable views on the Queen
Brought acting to court

Prayers

Printing presses published prayers
Law required everyone to attend Church on Sunday
Prayer books spread messages about the Queen’s authority and power
Reinforced people’s minds
Duty of loyalty and gratitude

Portraits

Very few of Elizabeth’s people ever saw a painting of her
A new pattern of Elizabeth’s face was made in 1596 to replace one issued in 1575- made her appear much younger than she was
Elizabeth was 63 at the time: and blackened teeth and false hair
Courtiers and to wear miniature portraits of her
Portraits were expensive and nobles had to pay for them themselves

Earl of Essex 1584-1590

First appeared in Elizabeths court in 1584 and became her favourite
Spent time in the royal household-1587
1589-upset Elizabeth by defying her wishes and joining Sir Francis Drake on his attack of Lisbon
1590- upset Elizabeth again by getting married

Earl of Essex 1596-98

Led a successful attack snd returned to public acclaim June 1598- turned his back on the Queen when she began to favour Robert Cecil Returned to court after William Cecil died as he was needed by Elizabeth

Earl of Essex 1600+

Forced himself into Elizabeths's bedchambers, accepting behaviour at first but later banning him, leaving him bankrupt Had tried to win over King James VI of Scotland 1601- Gathered large groups of supporters and unemployed soldier, arranged a play of Richard II to threaten Elizabeth He rode through streets of London expecting people to join but they didn't

Local government

Queen and Privy Council ran the government of England< but they needed a system of local government to control the different areas of the country.

Elizabeth's weakness in the 1590s

The death of William Cecil lead to factional rivalry in the Privy council and the Earl of Essex struggled to respect Elizabeth's authority due to the fact she was a woman

How many JP's in each county?

Poor Law 1601

Government forced to take action Made provision for the impotent and unemployed poor as well as punishing vagabonds JP's appointed 4 overseers of the poor Begging was banned and vagrants were whipped Looked after in almshouses

Long term impact of 1601 Poor Law

Did not solve problems of poverty Ensured large numbers of people would live opposed to dying Criticad for harsh treatment of vagrants

Deserving poor

Those who wanted to work but were unable to (disability, children, the elderly)

Undeserving poor

Those who had the ability to work but didn't (Criminals, lazy people)

Treatment of deserving poor

Received poor relief- benefits material for work apprenticeships for young people

Treatment of undeserving poor

Threatened with deterrents such as whipping and hard labour

Management of Poor Law

Managed by Justices of the Peace Paid for by tax called the poor rate

Why did poverty increase?

30% of urban population were living in poverty Could earn very little money Usually had 1 room

Population increase:poverty

Population rose from 2.4 million to 4.1 million during Elizabeth's reign Higher demand for produce Inflation

Inflation:poverty

Price of wheat increased by 250% Labouring poor could no longer afford bread which was a staple part of their diet

Sheep Farming

Breading sheep was very profitable-farmers stopped growing wheat and instead began rearing sheep Poor could not feed their families

Bad harvests:poverty

Harvest failed in 1595,1596,1597 not enough wheat to produce bread Demand increased which led to inflation

Elizabethan Responses to poverty

JP's were responsible for dealing wit poverty within there parish Impotent poor were unable to work due to their age Able-bodied poor were physically able put often unemployed Vagabonds were seen as lazy

Nobles

Elizabeth had to rely on the nobility to rule the country on her behalf- possibility of them turning against her

Plays

Spread favourable views of the Queen The Faerie Queen became popular as it praised a Queen like her Easy to sensor

Puritan opposition

Believed everyone was equal in the eyes of God Further reform the prayer book Wanted all Catholic faith wiped in the English Church

'Elizabeth was challenged by Puritans in parliament' AGREE

Challenged more than previous monarchs Peter Wentworth was her biggest opponent

'Elizabeth was challenged by Puritans in parliament' DISAGREE

Elizabeth was never really challenged Never had to back down on major issues Day-to-day business of parliament continued normally

Who was William Cecil?

Controlled Privy Council Manipulated Elizabeth into executing Mary Queen Of Scots

Who was John Stubbs?

A puritan MP Challenged Elizabeth's proposed marriage to the Duke of Anjou Had his hand chopped off in 1579

Who was Peter Wentworth?

Imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1593 after demanding a Protestant heir