Elizabethan England- court and parliament

When did Elizabeth become queen?

In 1558, at the age of 25

Who was at the top of the great chain of being?

God

Who were the nobles in the great chain of being?

Highest social class below monarch, wealthiest landowners and the monarch’s leading advisors, often acted as lord lietenants

Who were the gentry?

Knights, lawyers, merchants. Ran local government (justices of the Peace). Ups collected taxes and enforced laws,

Who were at the bottom of the great chain of being?

Peasants, yeoman farmers, tenant framers, craftspeople, servants and labourers- expected to follow the laws

What was a courtier?

Anyone who attended the court

How many people made up the court?

Around 500 nobles

Where was Elizabeth’s main palace?

Whitehall, london

Where else did Elizabeth stay?

Other royal palaces such as Windsor, Greenwich, and Richmond.

How did the queen use patronage to keep courtiers loyal?

Shared titles and positions, allowed some catholics to come to courts so she didn’t lose their loyalty, gave her favourite courtiers accommodation whilst others had to find their own place to stay

What did Elizabeth use ceremonies and entertainment to do in her royal court?

Demonstrate her power

What did entertainment at court include?

Feasts and banquets, dances, plays and musical performances, jousting tournaments, hunting expeditions

What was Elizabeth’s privy council made up of?

The most powerful courtiers

What was the Secretary of State?

The queen’s main advisor and the leading privy counsellor

What was the role if the privy council?

Policy, pathway to the Queen, problem-solving, parliament, protection, propaganda, people management

What was the role of the privy council (POLICY)?

Council advised the Queen on important issues like religion, and foreign policy (eg: when preparing for meetings with foreign ambassadors and dealing with potential threats from other countries)

What was the role of the privy council (PATHWAY TO THE QUEEN)?

Secretary of State was in most regular contact with the queen. All letters to the Queen passed through the Secretary of state

What wa the role of the privy council (PROBLEM-SOLVING)?

The Secretary of State was also expected to deal with any day-to-day problems that arose

What was the role of the privy council (PARLIAMENT)?

Council helped to control what happened in parliament. They decided what could be debated and make speeches to support or explain the queen’s policies

What was the role of the privy council (PROTECTION)?

Council protected the queen, eg: using spies to uncover plots against her and helping her crush rebellions. They also organised englands defence against foreign invasion

What was the role of the privy council (PROPAGANDA)?

Council helped to create a positive image of the Queen through written publications and pictures

What was the role of the privy council (PEOPLE MANAGEMENT)?

Counsellors organised the work of JPs and were in charge of various government departments: lord treasurer- in charge of finances, lord high admiral- commanded England’s navy, lord chamberlain- ran the royal household and booked appointments

How did Elizabeth use delay to control her privy counsellors?

They often wanted her to agree quickly to their ideas but she made it clear who would make the big decisions and wouldn’t rush decisions. Reminded them who was in control.

How did Elizabeth having a small team help her to control her privy counsellors?

Mary- 50 counsellors but elizabeth- 19: easier to control

How did Elizabeth use written records to control her privy counsellors?

She used detailed notes of discussions to question counsellors or catch them out

How did Elizabeth use careful selection to control her privy council?

She took care not to offend powerful nobles who could turn against her, eg: didn’t appoint her closest friend, Robert Dudley, as a counsellor for 4 years as she thought it might make existing counsellors jealous

How did Elizabeth use a strategy of ‘divide and rule’ to control her privy counsellors?

Deliberately chose counsellors with different viewpoints, which allowed her to listen to all sides and then make the final decision herself

How did Elizabeth use rewards to control her privy counsellors?

If a counsellor did her job well she gave them jobs that allowed them to become rich, encouraged counsellors to remain loyal to their Queen

How did Elizabeth use punishments to control her privy counsellors?

If a counsellor upset Elizabeth he would quickly be dismissed, she also used displays of anger at court, often for no apparent reason, to keep counsellors on their toes. Only 2 counsellors rebelled against her (Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Essex) and both were executed.