The Elizabethan Age (1558-1603) Definitions

Question 1

Privy Council

Answer 1

A group of advisors chosen by Elizabeth to advise her and help her run the government.

Question 2

Royal Court

Answer 2

Elizabeth’s closest advisers (many of whom were also in the Privy Council) including family members, noblemen, noble ladies (also known as ladies in waiting) i.e close friends, confidants and attendants. Royal Court was the centre of all political power.

Question 3

Household

Answer 3

Personal staff of Elizabeth (including most members of the Royal Court and servants).

Question 4

Courtiers

Answer 4

The people who attended the Royal Court.

Question 5

Patronage

Answer 5

The power to appoint people to an important job or position in return for their loyalty.

Question 6

Divine Right

Answer 6

The belief that the monarch has the right to rule because they are chosen by God.

Question 7

Poverty

Answer 7

Extremely poor, unable to get food and/ or shelter.

Question 8

Rogues

Answer 8

A person who survived through a life of crime.

Question 9

Recusant

Answer 9

Refused to attend Church, usually an extreme Catholic.

Question 10

Seminary

Answer 10

A college that trains students to be priests, ministers or rabbis.

Question 11

Seminary Priests

Answer 11

Trained Catholic Priests.

Question 12

Jesuit

Answer 12

A member of the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus of Roman Catholic Priests. They performed missionary work.

Question 13

Missionaries

Answer 13

Religious missions, promoting faith in foreign countries.

Question 14

Hang, draw and quarter

Answer 14

Punishment for treason, very harsh.

Question 15

Treason

Answer 15

To plot against the monarch. The most severe of crimes.

Question 16

Armada

Answer 16

Spanish navy attacking and invading England.

Question 17

Spanish or Catholic Inquisition

Answer 17

The persecution of Protestants in Spain by Phillip II.

Question 18

Impotent poor

Answer 18

The deserving poor. Genuinely unable to work due to age, hardship etc. It was recognised that they were in need of poor relief.

Question 19

Able bodied poor

Answer 19

Undeserving poor. Those considered capable of work but who were either unable or unwilling to find employment. Belief that they should be encouraged/ forced to work to prevent them from begging.

Question 20

Vagrants

Answer 20

Beggars. A person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging.

Question 21

Alms houses

Answer 21

A house founded by charity, offering accommodation for poor people.

Question 22

Vagabonds

Answer 22

Wandering. A person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.