court and parliament

• Royal court 500 residents- court would move with Elizabeth

• Take court on progresses to journey around country- build trust and loyalty ‘exercises in public relations’

• Saved Elizabeth lots of money

• System patronage- show favour by distributing key jobs to certain men- wealth and status

• Privy council- advise and guide her- nobility, gentry and the church

• Marys 40 members- Elizabeth only 20- kept some, new ones, none strong catholics

• William Cecil- corresponded frequently, loyal and practical, manipulative, unafraid to threaten the queen to get his way

  • Secretary of State, lord treasurer, lord Burghley

• Robert Dudley- master of the horse

• Francis Walsingham- spymaster

• Christopher Hatton- lord chancellor and captain of Queen’s bodyguards

• High level of rivalry, unafraid to punish or expel to promote loyalty

• 13 parliament sessions called- new laws or taxes, Elizabeth could control actions when spoke out of line

The royal court had 500 residents and traveled with Elizabeth, helping build trust and saving money through public relations. A system of patronage allowed Elizabeth to distribute key jobs, demonstrating wealth and status. The Privy Council, made up of nobility, gentry, and the church, advised her, with only 20 members compared to Mary's 40; she kept some old members but included no strong Catholics. Key figures included: William Cecil, a loyal and manipulative Secretary of State; Robert Dudley, master of the horse; Francis Walsingham, spymaster; and Christopher Hatton, lord chancellor. Rivalry was high, with Elizabeth unafraid to punish or expel members to promote loyalty. She called 13 parliamentary sessions to control actions and implement new laws or taxes.