Elizabeth and government

• Context *

When was Queen Elizabeth monarch ?

1558 - 1603

• Context *

Who was Queen Elizabeth's father and mother ?

What did this mean ?

Henry VIII's second child
Daughter of Anne Boleyn

• Third in line to the throne so wasn't expected to become queen

• Context *

What was Queen Elizabeth's personality like ?

Why ?

• Intelligent
• Confident
• Very well educated
• Had little training in how to govern, but became a powerful and effective leader
• Very cautious, so only trusted few advisers
• Indecisive, ( she carefully considered consequences before making decisions )

• Context *

Why did some people not want Queen Elizabeth to rule ?

What caused this and why ?

• People believed that women couldn't rule effectively, so there was pressure for Elizabeth to find a husband to rule for her
• Concerns about the succession, as if Elizabeth died without an heir, there would be risk of civil war, with different groups competing for the throne

• Context *

Why was Queen Elizabeth reluctant to get married ?

What did this cause ?

• Women had to obey their husbands
• If she got married she would lose her power
• She never married and became known as the 'virgin queen'

• Context *

Why did Queen Elizabeth use propaganda ?

What did this get her ?

• Public support helped to make Elizabeth's position more stable, especially as some people doubted her
• She used propaganda to ensure she had a positive public image

• Context *

In what ways did Queen Elizabeth use portraits and coins as propaganda ?

How did this benefit her ?

• Portraits were commissioned of her showing her as pure, youthful and chaste ( a virgin ) using symbols of purity
• Suggested she was married to her people and was concerned with their welfare above all else
• All courtiers had to wear miniature portraits of her in court
• Most people got their impression of Elizabeth from coins

• Context *

In what ways did Queen Elizabeth use portraits and coins as censorship ?

How did this benefit her ?

1596

• Portraits of the Queen which caused her "Great offence" had to be burned, so any showing her as old and likely to die
• A new younger looking portrait of Elizabeth was created to replace 1575 one on coins

• Context *

How did Queen Elizabeth use plays as propaganda and to censor things ?

Who was involved ?

• Plays that emphasised her wealth and power were performed in court
• Helped to combat courtiers' fears that an unmarried woman was too weak to run England properly
• Plays mocking the Pope and Philip II of Spain were permitted ( Catholics ) but any mocking the Queen weren't

• Context *

How did Queen Elizabeth use progresses as propaganda ?

How often ?

• Went on 'royal progresses' which were journeys around England which allowed the public to see and praise her
• Public displays of affection for her helped her seem popular and loved by her subjects
• On accession day each year, villages and towns competed to make the most flattering entertainment to remember her first day on the throne

• Context *

How did Queen Elizabeth use publications as propaganda and to censor things ?

Give an examples ?

• Never more than 60 printing presses in England during her reign, after invention in 1440
• Privy council censored publications and severely punished writers and printers behind disapproved of texts
• The Faerie Queen by Edmond Spenser was a poem spread praising Elizabeth
• The Privy Council released her 1601 final speech where she said she lover her people

• Context *

How did Queen Elizabeth use prayer books as propaganda ?

• Prayer book reinforced Elizabeth as God's chosen ruler
• All preachers had to have a government license an thank God for the great Queen every year on accession day

• Context *

What was patronage ?

• God appointed the monarch
• People were expected t be loyal to the God-given ruler and Elizabeth often reminded them of this in speeches
• As she was ' God-given' she could choose whoever she wanted to help her rule the kingdom and had far greater powers of patronage than any of her subjects

• Context *

Who did Elizabeth hand lots of titles out to ?

• Usually gave positions of power wealthy nobles and took them away if they upset her
• The nobles then usually gave jobs and titles out to the gentry

• Context *

Who were the gentry ?

• Knights, lawyers and rich merchants mainly
• Took responsibility for watching over the population of in their own locality and working to keep society running smoothly

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What did Elizabeth's use of patronage help her to do ?

Why ?

• Helped her ensure loyalty
• Those receiving patronage became dependent on Elizabeth for some or all of their income and status, so were likely to be loyal to her

• Context *

What was the problem with the system of patronage ?

• Meant friendship and favour with the queen mattered more than qualifications or talent
• This is why every noble wanted a place at Elizabeth's royal court and why she made it clear the was the centre of attention

• Context *

How did Queen Elizabeth distribute the patronage ?

Why ?

• Traditionally, the elite was dominated by a few noble families
• Their power mainly came from land they inherited
• Elizabeth spread her patronage across a wide range of families eg jobs, titles and grants

• Context *

How did distributing patronage widely help Elizabeth ?

• Helped to ensure political stability, as all members of the elite felt they had a chance to be rewarded by the Queen, so were unlikely to rebel against her
• She tried to keep support from all of them, as it was dangerous to let separate groups of nobles to join forces against each other ( rival groups caused major problems for previous Tudor monarchs )

• Government *

Who was centre of government ?

Queen Elizabeth

• Government *

Where was Elizabeth's royal court ?

• Elizabeth's main palace was Whitehall in London
• She rarely stayed more than 1 week at one place and so at each place would choose which nobles would have the honour of joining her in court
• Her most favoured courtiers had accommodation whilst others had to fine lodging

• Government *

What was the royal court ?

How many people and who were they ?

What did they do ?

• Centre of political life
• Large group of people who surrounded Queen at all times
• Formed of over 1000 people ( servants, Privy Council members, nobility members, ambassadors and foreign visitors )

• Government *

What types of activities were hosted at court in Whitehall to show Elizabeth's power and glamour ?

• Dances, plays and musical performances in the Great Hall
• Feasts in the banqueting house
• Open air sermons
• Jousting tournaments and hunting expeditions in St James' Park

• Government *

Was Elizabeth well educated ?

How did she use the court to show this ?

• Highly educated
• Often danced and spoke to ambassadors in their own language or Latin, and was very good at riding and hunting
• However whilst she used it to show off her power, nobles used this time to get closer to her

• Government *

How was gaining Elizabeth's favour helpful as a noble ?

• If a nobleman was clearly in favour of the queen, he could more easily build a network of his own loyal supporters among the gentry to keep his own wealth and land secure
• If he lost her favour, these people may seek patronage from other leading families

• Government *

How did people increase their political power ?

What did this cause ?

• Needed a place at the royal court so they could get close to the Queen and gain power eg in a tournament or conversation
• Courtiers had to compete for Elizabeth's attention and favour
• Increased competition led to conflict in court at the end of her reign

• Government *

What was the Privy Chamber ?

Who was part of it ?

Where ?

• Elizabeth's household was at the heart of the court
• She spent most of her time in her privy chamber eg reading
• She sometimes conducted royal business with trusted courtiers in her private chamber

• Government *

What was the relevance of ladies in waiting ?

What was their role ?

What was their relationship with Elizabeth like ?

• Small group of ladies in waiting looked after the Queen ( usually all from favoured noble families )
• Ladies in waiting had to show complete loyalty to Elizabeth
• Some got money from nobles for praising their qualities to Elizabeth, and one lady got her finger broken for marrying without permission
• Ladies in waiting were ordered by Elizabeth to inform her about court conversations and opinions

• Government *

How often did the Privy Council meet ?

• Almost everyday

• Government *

What was the privy council ?

Who was in it ?

What did they do ?

• Her most trusted advisors who met almost everyday
• Gave advice to the Queen and managed the administration of government ( including religion, economy, military, foreign policy and the Queen's security )
• Queen didn't have to follow the advice of the council, and councillors were expected to to carry out her instructions even against their own advice
• They were selected directly by her and could be dismissed at any time

• Government *

What was the point of the secretary of state ?

• The official who organised the work of the privy council
• Both came from gentry families in her reign
• She believed that highly educated gentry were better at da-to-day government than nobles

• Government *

How did Elizabeth control the privy council ?

• Appointed councillors with different viewpoints
• Dismissed councillors who offended her
• Limited the council to only 19 members, with 7-8 at most meetings
• Showing her fierce temper for no reason
• Discussed policies with courtiers who weren't councillors
• Encouraged councillors to stay loyal by flattering them
• Refused to marry Robert Dudley, a leading member

• Government *

How many times did Elizabeth call parliament during her reign ?

What issues were mainly discussed in parliament ?

Did she usually agree or disagree with MPS ?

How did she keep MPs happy ?

• Only called parliament 13 times
• Mainly discussed taxes and funding for religious or international wars
• Elizabeth's views were challenged but never seriously as MPs feared strict punishments
• She usually used delaying tactics to keep MPs happy by promising she would consider things, so they felt listened to but she didn't have to make any sacrifices

• Government *

What was the local government ?

Who was it ?

What did they do ?

• Supervised the running of each county and enforced the law there
• Most positions unpaid
• Mainly made up of nobility and gentry who volunteered as a symbol of status and power

• Government *

What were the Justices of Peace ?

What did they do ?

What

• Role in local government

Who

• 40 men in each county.

What they did

• Enforced laws and looked over county

• 2x a year judges from London visited counties to deal with serious crimes

• Elizabeth encouraged use of fines to add to her royal finances

• Government *

What were Lord Lieutenants?

What did they do ?

Give an example

What

• Officers who had overall responsibility for each county

Who

• Earl of Worcester was Lord Lieutenant for Glamorgan and Monmouthshire

• Usually most powerful nobleman chosen

What they did

• Expected to inform Privy Council of any local problems

• Had to ensure his county could provide well trained soldiers to Queen in an emergency

• Government *

What were all the members of the Privy Council like ?

Had they been educated ?

What religions ?

• All protestant or puritan
• All very well educated from the elite class

• Government *

Who was Sir Christopher Hatton ?

What were key events in his life and when did they happen ?

Key events

1557

• Made Privy Councillor

1587

• Promoted to Lord Chancellor despite lack of legal training

Summary

• Rewarded by Elizabeth with monopoly of the wine trade and knighted

• She gave him high positions mainly due to their friendship instead of qualifications

• Government *

Who was Sir Walter Raleigh ?

What were key events in his life and when did they happen ?

Key events

1585-88

• Knighted and investments made for private expeditions to Spain

1583

• Named Virginia state in Elizabeth's honour

1595

• Sent to tower for getting the Queen's maid of honour pregnant

Summary

• He was well liked and appealing but wasn't loyal so lost relationship with Elizabeth

• Government *

Who was Robert Dudley ?

What were key events in his life and when did they happen ?

Key events

1558

• Appointed Master of the Horse by Elizabeth

• Early romantic rumours spread

1560s

• Amy Robsart ( his wife ) found suspiciously dead spreading rumours Elizabeth and him would get married

• Given a seat on the Privy Council

• Made Earl of Leicester

1585

• Appointed Lieutenant General of Army in the Netherlands

Summary

• Gained from his role with Elizabeth and stayed loyal, but clashed frequently with Lord Burghley

• Government *

Who was Robert Devereux ?

What were key events in his life and when did they happen ?

Key events

1587

• Fully established as Elizabeth's favourite courtier

• Had monopoly of sweet wines

1593

• Became a Privy councillor

1597

• Defeated Spanish army in Cadiz

1599

• Appointed to command army in Ireland but disobeyed orders and made truce with Tyrone instead of attacking Munster

• Broke into Elizabeth's bed chamber and was placed under house arrest and dismissed from all offices

1601

• Led an uprising to capture Elizabeth and force her to restore his offices but was caught by Robert Cecil and was executed on 20th February

Summary

• Allowed Queen to flourish in wars but turned against her, and was in a rivalry with Robert Cecil

• Also known as Earl of Essex

• Government *

When did Sir Francis Walsingham serve as secretary of state ?

1572-90

• Government *

What were Walsingham's religious beliefs ?

• Strong Puritan and believed English Catholics were a threat to England's stability
• Wanted to support Protestant rebels in the Netherlands and Scotland so they would be allies against Catholic Spain

• Government *

What was the relationship between Walsingham and Elizabeth like ?

• Believed he was a secretary of the state not personal servant of the queen, and didn't flatter her
• She admired his direct advice, however she got enraged if he spoke too directly eg once threw a slipper at his head in the early 1580s, as he was pressurising her into repressing English Catholics and sending troops to aid rebels in the Netherlands

• Government *

When did Walsingham die ?

1590

• Government *

When was Sir William Cecil secretary of state ?

1558-72 and 1590-98

• Government *

What were William Cecil's religious views like ?

• Moderate Protestant who favoured Puritans more than Elizabeth and was more ready to repress English catholics
• Wanted to avoid religious wars abroad due to expense

• Government *

What was the relationship between Cecil and Elizabeth like ?

• Used parliament and courtiers to change the mind of Elizabeth and gave her honest advice eg on executing Mary of Scots in 1587
• Elizabeth trusted him more than any other advisor and agreed with trying to avoid foreign wars
• Still consulted him as Lord Treasurer 1573-90
• However did refuse to see him for months in 1587 when she thought he effectively tricked her into executing Mary

• Government *

When did William Cecil die ?

1598

• Government *

Who was Robert Cecil ?

What were key events in his life and when did they happen ?

Key events

• Son of William Cecil

1591

• Appointed to Privy Council

1596-99

• Appointed Secretary of State after organising Cadiz expedition

• Could receive duties on imported luxuries and Master of Court of Wards

1605

• Supervised arrangements for succession of James VI of Scotland after Elizabeth's death

Summary

• Loyal and trustworthy, and enjoyed benefits he got from Elizabeth

• Rebellion *

When did Elizabeth's court start to change ?

Why ?

• In the 1590s the court split into rival groups
• Several key ministers died
• William Cecil died in 1598 and his son Robert succeeded him
• In 1593, after the Earl of Essex joined the Privy Council, two groups, one supporting the Earl of Essex and the other supporting Robert Cecil, formed splitting the council
• Two groups constantly fought over royal patronage and influence and disagreed with strategy in war with Spain
• Elizabeth lost authority over her courts and it was ore difficult to make decisions as the Cecils became too powerful

• Rebellion *

Why did the Earl of Essex launch a rebellion ?

• Due to the loss of his political power and income after he made the truce, and was put under house arrest, without his sweet wine monopoly

• Rebellion *

When did the Earl of Essex launch his rebellion ?

What was the aim of his rebellion ?

8th February 1601

• Launched a rebellion in London with hundreds of followers
• Aimed to seize the Queen and force her to replace her closest advisors, especially Cecil, with himself and his followers

• Rebellion *

What was the outcome of Essex's rebellion ?

What happened to Essex as a result ?

When ?

• Rebellion failed within a few hours
• Received no support from ordinary Londoners and most of his followers abandoned him
  25th February 1601
• Essex was arrested, tried for treason and executed

• Rebellion *

What does Essex's rebellion show about Elizabeth ?

What changed at the end of her reign ?

• Lack of popular support for Essex's rebellion shows it wasn't a serious threat and she was still a popular and respected Queen
• Rebellion suggest her authority over her court became weaker by the 1590s ( end of her reign