GCSE History: Elizabethan England 1

Why did people rely on a strict hierarchy in Elizabethan society, and how was their place determined?

There was no police force and no permanent army so people relied on a strong and strict hierarchy so everyone knew their place. Place in society was determined by how much land was owned.

What was the structure of the hierarchy in the countryside?

At the top was the monarch, followed by the nobility, then the gentry, then yeomen, tenant farmers, the labouring poor and lastly vagrants.

How was the countryside populated and what role did yeomen play?

90% of society lived in the countryside. Yeoman owned small lands and rented these out to tenant farmers.

How was the hierarchy determined in towns and what was its structure?

Towns were also organised into a strict hierarchy however it was not based on landownership but on wealth and the jobs you did. In towns: wealthy merchants were at the top, followed by professionals like lawyers and doctors, then skilled craftsmen and finally unskilled labourers and the unemployed.

What did the Monarch believe in, how were decisions made, and how did they reward supporters?

Believed in the divine rights of kings. Made all the final decisions about how the country would be run but was helped by the Privy Council. Offered patronage, titles and jobs to supporters.

Who was the Secretary of State?

This was Elizabeth’s most important Privy Councillor. He advised the queen on all things important to the Crown. William Cecil was Elizabeth’s most important Secretary of State.

What was the Court and who was it made up of?

People who lived in or near the palace. Made up of the nobility.

What was the role of the Court and its courtiers?

They were the monarch’s servants. Courtiers had influence as they were close to the monarch.

How was the Privy Council structured and how often did it meet?

Made up of leading courtiers and advisers as well as very senior government officials. Approx. 19 members of the Privy Council and they were all chosen by the monarch. Met three times a week, the monarch was usually in attendance.

What were the responsibilities of the Privy Council?

The Privy Council was responsible for advising the monarch of government policy, monitoring JPs and Parliament as well as overseeing law and order.

How was Parliament structured and what were its main duties?

Made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They granted additional taxes to the monarch and passed laws.

How was Parliament controlled, who could vote, and how often was it called?

They could only be called and dismissed by the monarch. Elections were held but few people could vote. Elizabeth called Parliament 10 times during her reign.

Who were the Lord Lieutenants and what did they do?

Each county had one and they were chosen by the monarch. They were in charge of raising a militia to oversee the country’s defences. They were essential to maintaining Elizabeth’s power/

Who were the Justices of the Peace (JPs) and what did they do?

JPs were large landowners who kept law and order in their local areas. JPs were unpaid but reported to the Privy Council. It was a very popular job as it came with status. They made sure economic and social policies were carried out and heard cases at the county court.

What was the main requirement to inherit the throne and why was Elizabeth’s questioned?

To inherit the throne a monarch had to be ‘legitimate’ Elizabeth’s legitimacy was called into question because she was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife.

Why did Henry VIII start the English Reformation?

When Henry wanted a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, the Pope refused to grant him it. Henry started the English Reformation where he created the Church of England and granted himself a divorce.

What did Catholics argue regarding Henry's divorce?

For this reason, Catholics argued that Elizabeth was not legitimate and so should not have become queen.

Why was a woman ruler seen as unnatural according to the Bible and society?

As a woman ruler, Elizabeth was seen as being unnatural. The Bible taught that women should be under the authority of men. Women were also considered to be weak and mentally, emotionally and physically unable to rule.

What were the expectations regarding Elizabeth's marriage?

Many people thought that Elizabeth should get married but Elizabeth refused to. She even turned down a proposal from her ex-brother-in-law Philip II.

What were Elizabeth's traits and characteristics regarding governance?

Elizabeth was highly educated and could speak multiple languages. She understood politics and governance well but she could take a long time to make decisions and had a temper that frustrated her advisers. Elizabeth was charismatic and made great speeches.

What financial problems did Elizabeth face and why was the Crown in debt?

Elizabeth’s government had little money. Wars by previous monarchs meant that the Crown had to sell off land to pay for them. Elizabeth inherited debts of £300,000. The annual income of the Crown was £286,667

What was the religious makeup of England despite the Reformation?

Elizabeth was a Protestant queen but despite the Reformation, which was started by her father Henry VIII, most people in England were Catholic.

Why did Elizabeth want to avoid religious conflict?

A lot of religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants had been spreading throughout Europe and Elizabeth wanted to avoid this within England.

How was England geographically split by religion?

England was geographically split between those who were Catholic and those who were Protestant. The areas closest to London, where Elizabeth lived, tended to be Protestant (London, East Anglia and the South East), whereas the areas furthest away from London (the North and west of England) tended to take the religion of the traditional nobles that lived there, Catholicism.

Why could Elizabeth not be sure of Catholic support?

Elizabeth could never be fully sure of the support she had from Catholics, many believed that she was illegitimate and that the true heir to the throne was the Catholic queen, Mary, Queen of Scots.

Who were Puritans and where had they been?

Puritans were radical Protestants. Many had fled to the Netherlands when Mary I was on the throne but returned to England when Elizabeth was crowned.

What structural changes and decoration changes did Puritans want for the Church?

Puritans wanted radical change to the Church, including getting rid of bishops and running their own congregations. They wanted to get rid of all decoration from the Church, including vestments, but Elizabeth liked these.

What did Puritans believe about the monarch's role in the Church?

Puritans also did not see a role for the monarch as the head of the Church but this would undermine Elizabeth’s power.

Why was France a significant threat and what was the Auld Alliance?

France was England’s traditional enemy. France was wealthier and had a larger population than England. The Auld Alliance meant that France and Scotland (England’s other enemy) had an alliance.

Who was Mary, Queen of Scots, and how was she connected to France?

Mary, Queen of Scots was Elizabeth’s cousin, so had a claim to the English throne. Mary was also half French and married the French prince; she became Queen of Scotland and France in 1559.

What was the situation on the Scottish border?

The Scottish border was remote and hard to defend so it often had fighting and raids.

What were the terms of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis regarding Calais?

Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis signed by Mary I – England had to return Calais to France, which was an important military base and trading port that England had control of. This was embarrassing for England and so when Elizabeth came to power, regaining control of Calais became an important goal.

Why was Elizabeth worried about Spain and France after the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis?

Spain and France were the most powerful countries in Europe and had been at war but after the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis, they were no longer at war. Elizabeth was worried as both countries were Catholic whilst England was Protestant.

What 'middle way' did Elizabeth want for religion?

Elizabeth wanted a ‘middle way’ when it came to the religion of England. To avoid the religious conflict, Elizabeth introduced a form of Protestantism that she believed her Catholic subjects could accept. So she wanted the Church to feel Catholic whilst still being Protestant.

Why did Elizabeth reject Puritanism and what was her approach to Catholics?

Elizabeth did not want Catholics to feel forced to choose between loyalty to their faith and their queen. Elizabeth rejected Puritanism because she did not want to alienate the Catholics and she also did not believe in it herself. Elizabeth hoped that by not persecuting Catholics she could end the religious turmoil of previous Tudor monarchs and eventually the Catholic faith would die out naturally.

What did the Act of Supremacy state?

Made Elizabeth the Head of the Church and all clergy and royal officials had to sign an oath of allegiance to her. Under this act, an Ecclesiastical High Commission was set up, whose job it was to ensure that the Clergy were following the rules.

What did the Act of Uniformity do to churches and prayer?

Made all churches and church services ‘uniform’. It established how all churches should look and be run across the whole of England. A Book of Common Prayer was established which all churches had to read from, anyone who refused could be punished.

What were the rules and fines for attending church under the Act of Uniformity?

Ordered that everyone had to attend Church on Sunday and other holy days, such as Good Friday or they would be fined 1 shilling as recusants. This was the equivalent of a week’s wages for most people.

What were the Royal Injunctions and what did they say about the Royal Supremacy?

These were a set of instructions issued by William Cecil to ensure that the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity were being carried out. All clergy had to teach the Royal Supremacy (the monarch was the head of the Church, not the Pope).

What did the Royal Injunctions say about church attendance and Bibles?

Anyone who refused to attend church was to be reported to the Privy Council. Each Parish was to have an English Bible

What did the Royal Injunctions say about pilgrimages, vestments, and church decoration?

Pilgrimages were banned as they were seen as Catholic idolatry. Clergy were to wear vestments. Churches could be decorated with stained glass and images. This was to allow churches to be more accepted by Catholics and because Elizabeth liked them.

What was the initial impact of the Religious Settlement on clergy and bishops?

8,000 priests and less important clergy in 10,000 parishes took the oath of allegiance. Only one bishop took the oath and the rest were forced to give up their posts. Elizabeth appointed 27 new bishops who were chosen to strengthen Protestantism in the country.

How did the public and both religions react to the changes?

The majority of the people accepted the changes and continued to attend church services. The wording of the English Prayer Book was vague enough that both Protestants and Catholics could interpret it to fit their own beliefs.

Who enforced the Religious Settlement and how?

The Church became responsible for enforcing the Religious Settlement. Visitations were carried out by bishops to ensure that everyone took the oath of supremacy and that churches were being run according to the Royal Injunctions and Act of Uniformity.

What were priests required to present during visitations?

Priests were required to present their licences.

What were the results of the visitations?

The first visitations took place in 1559 and resulted in 400 clergy being dismissed. Some visitations, like those in London, led to great destruction as bishops tore down statues, Visitations took place every three to four years.

Why did Puritan clergy begin rebelling?

Puritans hoped that the religious settlement was the first step in creating a stricter version of Protestantism, when it became clear that Elizabeth was not going to do this, Puritan clergy began rebelling.

How did Puritan clergymen disobey the Act of Uniformity?

Some Puritan clergymen began disobeying the Act of Uniformity, they removed hymns and organ music. They also stopped people bowing to receive the communion, which they believed was a Catholic practice.

Why did Puritans want to remove the Crucifix and what did Elizabeth order?

Puritans believed the Crucifix was an example of idolatry and wanted them removed completely. Elizabeth wanted to keep the crucifix and ordered that all churches should display a crucifix.

Why did Elizabeth back down on the Crucifix issue?

Many Puritan clergymen threatened to quit in protest and Elizabeth had to back down as support from bishops was important in maintaining her power and there were not enough Protestant clergymen who were skilled enough to replace them.

Why did Puritans object to priests wearing vestments?

Puritans did not want priests to wear vestments, they believed that priests were not of special status unlike Catholics who believed that priests had the power to perform miracles.

What was the outcome of the vestments controversy?

Elizabeth ordered that all clergy should wear vestments but many were ignoring her however most clergymen did wear the special robes.

What did the Papacy instruct English Catholics to do?

The Papacy (the Catholic Church) was trying to strengthen Catholicism across Europe as part of the Counter-Reformation but it did not offer much leadership to English Catholics. The Papacy did instruct English Catholics not to attend Church of England services.

How did Catholics respond and why did Elizabeth initially not enforce fines?

Many Catholics followed these instructions and, at first, Elizabeth chose not to enforce the fines and punishments. This was because she did not want to create Catholic martyrs who would be able to strengthen anti-monarchist feeling. However most English Catholics did attend Protestant church services but held onto their Catholic beliefs and practised at home in secret. 1/3 of the Catholic nobility were recusants as they could afford the fines.

How did the Church give guidance and control what was preached?

Gave guidance to communities. Controlled what was preached, priests had to have licences and Elizabeth ensured that the Church preached both religious and political messages. Therefore, the Church was important for her own propaganda.

What did church courts deal with?

Ran church courts. Church courts mainly dealt with church matters but also dealt with ‘moral crimes’ such as sexual offences and slander. Church courts also dealt with inheritance and wills.

What were the Church's overarching roles in government?

Enforced the religious settlement. Legitimised the monarch’s power.

Who were Mary's parents and how did she become Queen of Scotland?

Born in 1542, the daughter of James V of Scotland and his French wife, the devout Catholic Mary of Guise. Her father died when she was just a few days old and she was crowned Queen of Scotland, with her mother acting as regent.

Where was Mary brought up and who was her first husband?

In 1548, at the age of six, she was sent to be brought up and educated in Catholic France. When she was fifteen years old, she was married to Prince Francis, the eldest son of the French King Henry II. In 1559 her husband became King Francis II but died the following year.

What had happened to Scotland when Mary returned in 1561?

In 1561 Mary returned to Scotland but it had become predominantly Protestant by this time.

What happened between the Scottish lords and Mary of Guise?

The Scottish lords rebelled against Mary of Guise and France prepared an army to help.

What was the Treaty of Berwick and why was Elizabeth hesitant to support it?

Elizabeth had been forced to sign the Treaty of Berwick with the Scots in 1560, promising to send an army north to help defeat the French but Elizabeth was hesitant to do this because she believed in the divine rights and did not want to be seen sending an army to hep depose a heavenly appointed monarch.

What did the Treaty of Edinburgh say?

The rebellion ended when the Treaty of Edinburgh was signed saying that Mary would give up her claim to the English throne, the Mary did not approve this.

Who was Mary's second husband and child?

In 1565 Mary married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and in June of the following year gave birth to a son, the future King James VI of Scotland.

What happened to Lord Darnley and what was the outcome for Bothwell?

Mary then became friendly with James Hepburn, the Earl of Bothwell. Darnley was later murdered, probably by Bothwell himself. Bothwell was accused of murdering Darnley and was put on trial. He was found 'not guilty' of the charge of murder.

What triggered the rebellion against Mary and what happened to her?

Three months after Darnley's death Mary married Bothwell. This was a step too far for some of Mary's Protestant lords, who now rebelled against her. She was imprisoned at Loch Leven castle and in July 1567 was forced to abdicate in favour of her young son who had been brought up a Protestant.

How did Mary end up in England and why was it immediate trouble?

In May 1568 Mary managed to escape from her captivity at Loch Leven and fled across the border to England. As soon as Mary Stuart arrived in England, there was immediate trouble. Mary was, to many Catholics, a Queen-in-waiting.

What was Mary's claim to the English throne?

She was directly related to the first Tudor King, Henry VII and was Elizabeth’s cousin. If Elizabeth died without an heir, Mary could legitimately claim the throne of England.

Why was Elizabeth conflicted about what to do with Mary?

Even though Mary and Elizabeth had never met, when she arrived in England, Elizabeth could not send her back. Elizabeth believed in the ‘divine right of kings’ which meant that she believed that God had given monarchs the right to rule over the people. Elizabeth was angered that the Scottish lords had forced a fellow queen out of her throne.

What was Elizabeth's final decision regarding Mary and why?

Elizabeth could not willingly send Mary back where she could stand trial by non-royals and then potentially be executed. But Elizabeth also knew how dangerous Mary’s presence in England was, especially because many Catholics did not recognise Elizabeth as legitimate. So, the decision was to welcome Mary as a special ‘guest’ but place her under house arrest. For the next 20 years, Mary’s movements would be restricted, and she would be constantly moved from one castle to another, under close watch of Elizabeth and Walsingham’s spies.