Elizabeth and Government

What was Cecil's background?

He was from a more modest background than other Privy Councillors

How big was the population increase of London under Elizabeth?

70,000-200,000

When was Cecil made Elizabeth's Secretary of State?

1558

When was Cecil made Lord Burghley?

1571

When was Cecil made Lord Treasurer?

1572

When did William Cecil die?

1598

When was Sir Christopher Hatton appointed a Privy Councillor?

1577

Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?

A courtier of Elizabeth who commanded many of her ships

When did Amy Robsart die in suspicious circumstances?

1560

When was Dudley appointeed Master of the Horse?

1558

When was Dudley created Earl of Leicester?

1564

When did Dudley die?

1588

Which of Elizabeth's Privy Councillors a Marian exile?

Francis Walsingham

When was Walsinham promoted to Secretary of State and what special responsibility did he have?

1575 with special responsibility for foreign affairs

When was Robert Cecil born?

1565

When was Robert Cecil appointed to the Privy Council?

1591

Give two reasons for the significance of London?

It was by far the richest and most populous city in England and was the centre of government and foreign trade

How many Londoners died due to plague in 1563?

17,000

Who listened to nobles' every word?

Spies set up by Walsingham

What did the population rise to and from under Elizabeth?

From 3.2 million to 4.1 million

What proportion of people could read and write at the start of Elizabeth's reign?

1 in 10

Give two examples of things brought back from the New World

Potatoes and tomatoes

What was a way of distinguishing rank under Elizabeth?

The clothing that they wore

Give an example of what only nobles were allowed to wear

They were allowed to wear clothing trimmed with fox and otter

Which law dictated what colour and type of clothing people were allowed to own and wear?

Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws

Who were the gentry?

People who were wealthy enough that they didn't have to work with their hands for a living

Give two examples of people from the gentry

Knights and gentlemen

Who were Yeomanry?

The middle class who owned or worked land

Who were tenant farmers?

Farmers that did not own the land that they farmed upon

How many wagons did royal progresses require?

300-400

What was the purpose of progresses?

To allow Elizabeth to be seen by the public and to see the public

What would Elizabeth do on her progresses and what problems did this cause?

The Queen would visist a manor house, which would be very expensive for the gentleman

What was the Court?

The people around Ellizabeth and her royal household

Where was the source of patronage from Elizabeth?

The Court

What did Elizabeth use to keep men at a distance and maintain authority?

Her patronage

Who appointed Privy Councillors?

Elizabeth

What was the purpose of the Star Chamber and who used it?

To investigate and torture suspected people, used by the Privy Council

What did ministers frequently complain about Elizabeth?

Her cautionary methods

What did the Spanish Ambassador note about Elizabeth's authority and when?

In December 1558, he noted that Elizabeth 'gives her orders and has her way absolutely as her father did'

What were the rights of the monarch?

Calling, proroguing and dissolving Parliament, declaring war and making peace, appointing and dismissing ministers and judges and determining the monarch's marriage and successor

What is an example of someone in the Court gaining power through being noticed by Elizabeth?

Sir Christoper Hatton catching her eyes with his dancing skills and going on to become on of her favourites

When did Hatton become Lord Chancellor?

1587

Who was Sir Henry Lee?

One of Elizabeth's favourites in Court as he was the Queen's Champion

What events happened to celebrate Elizabeth's accession?

Annual Accesion Day tilts

Who made up the Court?

Members of the Privy Chamber, Privy Council and Royal Household

What was one estimate of the number of people in the Royal Court?

1250 people

Who from foreign powers would be present in court?

Foreign ambassadors

What did the Royal Court provide for her courtiers?

It provided them with the opportunity to catch the Queen's eye through entertainment and therefore come to her attention

Give three examples of the type of entertainment that was at Court

Dancing, jousting and poetry reading

What was the New Year's Day gift-giving?

When Elizabeth's servants and courtiers gave her gifts to show their respect and devotion in order to keep her favour

How did Elizabeth use her image and dress?

To convey wealth, authority and power

What did Elizabeth demand from her courtiers in relation to clothes?

Style, which led to her courtiers growing impressive wardrobes

Which part of government was the source of patronage and money?

The Royal Court

What were two governing issues with the Royal Court?

It didn't do much in the way of governing and courtier competition could create factional rivalry

What was an economic limitation of the Royal Court?

Entertainment and expensive gooods built up expense and debt

What did Elizabeth limit the Privy Council to at the start of her reign?

19 members

What did Elizabeth largely create her Privy Council around?

Northumberland's old council

Which of Elizabeth's councillors were councillors under Northumberland or had links?

Cecil was a councillor under him and Dudley was his son

Who was the only clergyman Elizabeth appointed to the Privy Council?

John Whitgift

What proportion of the PC was made up of great nobles?

Very few

What did councillors have to be in order to exercise real influence?

Committed Protestants

Whch part of government was Elizabeth involved in the most?

Privy Council

How did the role of senior members in the council change over time?

At the start of her reign, Elizabeth felt the need to be seen advised by senior members of the Council but as she grew in confidence she used them less often

What is an example of a Councillor being appointed for specialist knowledge?

The Marquis of Winchester being appointed Lord Treasurer

What were the two main functions of the Privy Council?

To advise Elizabeth and to act as a centre from which almost all instructions to the provinces came from

When did Elizabeth frequently attend Privy Council meetings?

In the first months of her reign and when contentious matters were to be discussed, such as MQOS and the French War in 1562

How did Elizabeth normally meet Councillors?

Separately in twos or threes

How often were state papers signed by the Privy Councillors and sent to local powers?

Every week, if not every day

Give three responsibilities of the Council

Enforcing religious uniformity, detecting plots against Elizabeth and raising taxes and controlling expenditure

Ho many meetings of the PC were recorded between 1570-75?

412

How would the Council enforce laws?

By imprisonning people or submitting men or women to torture in order to extract information

What is an example of the Privy Council taking action in war?

In Ireland, they despatched the largest army of the reign and raised the largest subsidy of the reign to pay for it

What was the most common dispute in the PC regarding foreign policy and who was it between?

Between Cecil and Dudley as Dudley wanted to support Protestant interests abroad but Cecil wanted to keep interests of England first

Give two examples of things that the Council created laws against

Vagrancy and riot

How often did the Council meet towards the end of Elizabeth's reign?

Six times a week

Give an example of the Privy Council being able to convince Elizaebth against her instinct

Cecil convinced her to intervene in Scotland in the early years of her reign

What is an example of the Queen sticking to her instinct in the word of her prerogative against the PC

When the Council urged her to marry, she ignored them

What range of issues did the Privy Council deal with?

They dealt with minor administrative matters but also the issues of the greatest national importance

What was an issue with the Privy Council when it came to their control over local government?

The execution of their orders relied on the compliance of Lords Lieutenants, JPs and bishops, etc. and the response to instructions was far from automatic

Were there any paid civil servants oustide of London?

No

What was a financial limitation of the Privy Council?

They couldn't realy control wages and prices

What was an issue that limited the Privy Council's capabilities?

Elizabeth was not always able to be persuaded on key issues and when she did follow advice, she rarely did it quickly

What three elements did Parliament consist of?

The Crown, The House of Lords and The House of Commons

Who was in the House of Lords and how many of each people were there?

27 bishops and archbishops and around 55 hereditary peers

How many peers were always at least in present at the start of a Parliamentary session?

40

Who usually presided over the House of Lords?

Lord Keeper

What did membership rise to and from in the House of Commons under Elizabeth?

Rose from 64 members to 462 members

Who represented each county in the House of Commons?

2 knights

Who represented each chartered borough in the Commons?

2 elected burgesses

How many chartered boroughs were there in 1558?

153

How many more charters did Elizabeth give to Boroughs during her reign?

32

Who made up the majority of MPs at the start of elizabeth's reign?

Burgesses and merchants

By the 1584-5 Parliament, how many gentry members were there out of what total?

383 gentry members out of 460 members

Why was it easy for gentry to get elected to the Commons?

Because there were so few voters, they relied heavily on the local landowner's support, which was often the gentry

What did the gentry taking up more seats in Parliament mean?

A better educated Commons

What was the change in the number of MPs who had gone to Oxbridge during EI's reign?

63 in 1563 to 161 in 1593

What were the two MP's priveliges?

The right not to be arrested for civil suits whilst Parilament was sitting and freedom of speech

How did Elizabeth view freedom of speech?

As freedom of speech on matters away from her royal prerogative

What was needed for legislation to be passed by Parliament?

Participation and assent of each of the three elements

What were the Queen's powers in relation to Parliament?

Summon, prorogue and dissole Parliament