Factional Rivalry in government

William Cecil’s/Lord Burghley’s status

• Had a close working relationship with Elizabeth that gave him unrivalled political prominence at Court

• Made him a target for rival factions

• But Cecil’s rivals weren’t determined to cause his death compared to under Henry VIII and Edward VI

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

• Elizabeth’s childhood friend

• Member of Privy Council from 1562 and given title Earl of Leicester from 1564 to entice Mary to marry him

• Radical Puritan, frequently argued with Cecil

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex

• Step-son of Robert Dudley

• Aged 9 became a ward of Cecil who was responsible for his education and training

• A military hero, enjoying success against the French at Le Harve in 1591 and against the Spanish in a naval raid on Cadiz in 1596

Factional rivalry in 1570s - cause of the faction

• Decision to aid the Dutch rebels in their war against Spanish overlords

• Split between ‘hawks’ and ‘doves’

Factional rivalry in 1570s - who took what side?

• Hawks = Dudley, Hatton and Walsingham

• They did not want foreign policy limited by financial concerns

• Doves = Cecil, Sussex, Bacon

• They did not want war with Spain and knew that England could not match Spain financially

Factional rivalry in 1570s - how was the issue resolved?

• Initially Elizabeth supported the doves

• But changed in 1580s when events persuaded her to intervene

Factional rivalry in 1590s - what was the cause?

• Personal rivalry between Earl of Essex and Robert Cecil

• Ultimately led to a failed rebellion by Essex in 1601

Factional Rivalry 1590s - how was the issue resolved?

• Essex’s plot was uncovered and forced him to move quickly with little support

• His house was besieged and he was arrested and executed

Was factional rivalry destructive or constructive?

• Elizabeth contributed to factional rivalry by appointing councillors with opposing views

• Meant she was given a wide variety of advice she could accept or reject

• Increasing urgency of foreign and religious issues meant difficult decisions which aroused strong feelings had to be made

• Council largely carried out its duties efficiently despite factionalism

• Only in the 1590s that Elizabeth seemed to lose control over her Privy Council