GCSE History Elizabeth 1558 - 1588

the Great Chain of Being

The idea that legitimised the hierarchy and the monarch’s power, preventing opposition

Nobles and Lords

Below the queen in the hierarchy - great, wealthy landlords (~50 families)

The gentry

below lords and nobles - lesser landowners (~10,000 families)

Royal Prerogative

Areas only the monarch could decide on: start/end of wars, patronage, call/dismiss parliament

Privy Council

• debate current issues, advise monarch on govt. policy

• made sure monarch’s final decision carried out

• oversaw local govt., law and order, England’s security

Parliament

• granted extraordinary taxation (addition tax)

• passed laws (Acts of Parliament, which were enforced in courts)

• offered advice to monarch

Ridolfi Plot

1571

Throckmorton Plot

1583

Babington Plot

1586

Treaty of Edinburgh

ended the Protestant Scottish Lords rebellion againsy Mary of Guise, who was in power while MQS was in France, by stating that MQS gave up her claim to the English throne. MQS didn’t sign it, meaning she maintained she still held a legitimate claim to the throne.

Crucifix Controversy

To appease Catholic population, Elizabeth demanded all Churches display a crucifix. This alienated Puritans, who objected to crucifixes.

Threat of Catholics

Didn’t recognise Elizabeth’s legitimacy, accepting the alternative of MQS instead. Most population was Catholic, and some Catholic power was concentrated in the North (Northern Earls Revolt, 1569)

Sir Francis Walsingham

Elizabeth’s spymaster (in charge of her spy network, so high govt. position), who was Puritan.

Act of Supremacy, 1559

Key feature of religious settlement: re-stablished the monarch as the head of the Church (in opposition to Catholic belief of the Pope being head of the Church)

Act of Uniformity, 1559

Key feature of religious settlement: specified that one Common Prayer Book was to be used (appealing to Protestants) and that clergymen could wear some special vestments (appealing to Catholics)

Treaty of Nonsuch

1585: Elizabeth committed to more direct involvement in the Netherlands, and agreed to finance an army of 7400 troops to help the Dutch rebels. This provoked Spain.

Dutch Revolt

late 1550’s: Dutch Protestants revolted against Spanish Catholic control. Lizzy intervening would anger Catholics in England, as it would be positioning England enitrely against Phillip II, but not intervening would anger Protestants and Puritans in Englands, as they are religiously aligned with England.

Excommunication

1571: As a result of Elizabeth’s response to the Northern Revolt (1569), the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth, alienating English Catholics