Elizabethan England

Elizabeth I

Queen of England from 1558 until her death in 1603, known for her intelligence, political acumen, and promoting the arts.

Patronage

The support or influence of a patron, in Elizabeth's case, used to reward loyalty and maintain political control.

William Cecil

Chief advisor and Lord High Treasurer under Elizabeth I, known for his foresight and administrative skills.

Francis Walsingham

Elizabeth's Principal Secretary and spymaster who developed a network of spies to uncover plots against the Queen.

Robert Dudley

Earl of Leicester and childhood friend of Elizabeth, noted for his influence in military matters.

Royal prerogative

The inherent rights of the monarch to make decisions on state matters without parliamentary approval.

Succession problem

The national anxiety caused by Elizabeth's refusal to name an heir, leading to fears of civil war upon her death.

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex

A former favorite of Elizabeth who led a failed rebellion in 1601 due to loss of patronage.

Golden Age

A term used to describe the Elizabethan era characterized by cultural flourishing and relative peace.

Gentry

The landowning class below the nobility that grew in wealth and influence during Elizabeth's reign.

Elizabethan theatre

A period marked by an extraordinary flourishing of drama and public playhouses, exemplified by playwrights like Shakespeare.

Poor Laws

Legislation passed in 1597 and 1601 to establish a system for the relief of the poor.

Enclosure

The practice of fencing off common land which deprived the rural poor of resources.

Privateering

The practice of privately owned ships carrying out armed attacks, notably by English sailors on Spanish shipping.

Circumnavigation

The act of sailing all the way around the world, exemplified by Francis Drake's voyage (1577-1580).

Elizabethan Religious Settlement

The compromise made by Elizabeth I to establish the Church of England as a Protestant church while retaining some Catholic elements.

Regnans in Excelsis

A papal bull issued by Pope Pius V, excommunicating Elizabeth I and declaring her rule illegitimate.

Puritans

Radical Protestants seeking to reform the Church of England by removing remaining Catholic practices.

Mary, Queen of Scots

A Catholic rival to Elizabeth I, whose claim to the throne posed a significant threat throughout Elizabeth's reign.

Spanish Armada

The fleet sent by Philip II of Spain in 1588 to invade England, ultimately defeated by the English navy.

The Northern Rebellion (1569)

A major Catholic uprising aiming to dethrone Elizabeth and restore Catholicism in England.

Deserving poor

Individuals unable to work due to circumstances, deserving of assistance according to Elizabethan attitudes.

Undeserving poor

Able-bodied individuals thought to be unwilling to work, often viewed with disdain and subjected to punishment.

Papal bull

An official