Elizabeth I: Challenges and Court Dynamics

Inherit

To gain possessions after someone dies

Militia

A non-professional army raised for a rebellion/war

Treason

Attempt to kill a King/Queen. Punishable by death

Privy councillor

A King/Queens private councillor. Usually a great noble landowner.

Royal court

Nobles, advisers & others who surrounded the Queen

Nobility

Earls, dukes, lords & ladies.

Gentry

High social class, below nobility, could be a JP.

Patronage

Land/title's/power given to ensure an individual's support.

Secretary of State

The leader of the Privy Council - a very powerful position.

Parliament

House of Lords (nobility) & Commons (MPs, still wealthy). Much less powerful than today's Parliament.

William Cecil

MP who served twice and Elizabeth's Secretary of State. One of her most trusted advisors.

Privy Council

Led by the Secretary of State. Main advisors. Dealt with military, foreign, religion, security.

Francis Walsingham

Elizabeth's 'Spy Master' said to have eyes and ears everywhere.

Elizabeth's Problems

Taxation, Ireland, Foreign Policy.

Taxation

The government needed money through taxes, but poverty was rising.

Ireland

Elizabeth considered herself Queen of Ireland. The Irish disagreed and rebelled in 1559.

Foreign Policy

Spain, the Pope & most of Europe were Catholic and unimpressed with a Protestant Queen.

Religious upheaval

Henry VIII (C)→Edward VI (P) →Mary (C) →Elizabeth (P).

Small pox

In 1562 Elizabeth almost died from small pox.

Heir

Parliament wanted Elizabeth to marry and produce a new heir.

Rebellion

Exclusion from the PC could lead to rebellion.

Spy Master

Said to have eyes and ears everywhere.

William Cecil & Francis Walsingham

Key members of the Spy Master.

JPs

Justices of the Peace, responsible for law and order; 1 JP could send to prison, 2 for execution.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Seen as a clear threat to national security; her execution was discussed by Parliament.

Lord Lieutenants

Responsible for raising a militia and often also on the Privy Council.

Marriage & Succession

MPs saw it as their duty to find Elizabeth a husband.

Poor Laws

Passed in 1597 & 1601 to address poverty and its link to crime.

Monopolies

Elizabeth gave monopolies to people to secure their loyalty.

Freedom of Speech

MP Peter Wentworth was arrested 3 times for arguing that MPs should be allowed to speak on any matter.

Robert Dudley

Elizabeth's friend and favourite; his wife's death in 1560 led to marriage rumors.

Francis, Duke of Alençon

Considered as a suitor; he was French and Catholic.

King Philip II of Spain

Powerful and wealthy; controlled South America.

Elizabeth's Marriage

Debate on who she should marry; age and religion were significant factors.

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Pressure from Parliament may have persuaded Elizabeth to execute her.

Parliament's Role

Parliament supported Elizabeth in bringing harsh laws against Catholics.

Puritans

Some MPs opposed the laws Elizabeth introduced to limit their activities.

Poverty and Crime

Parliament recognized that punishing the poor did not effectively address crime.

Elizabeth's Age

By the time marriage was considered, Elizabeth was 46 years old.

Influence in France

Marriage could lead to increased influence in France.