19-Elizabethan Government, 1563-1603

Royal Court

• Allowed Elizabeth to seek advice on an individual basis.

• The Court was part theatre and part place for patronage.

• Two main areas: Presence Chamber and Privy Chamber.

• The operation of the court came under the jurisdiction of the Lord Chamberlain (who was always appointed from the nobility).

• Ceremonial aspects of courtly life became more important as Elizabeth’s reign progressed.

• Elizabeth is said to have turned her politicians into courtiers (e.g., Cecil) and her courtiers into politicians (e.g., the Earl of Leicester, Sir Christopher Hatton).

Presence Chamber

• A relatively open area to which anyone with the right status or connections could access.

Privy Chamber

• More private and important, though considerably less influential than before.

• The Gentleman of the Privy Chamber no longer had access rights to the monarch.

• Admission was privately guarded.

The Role of Ministers

• The Privy Council was the main formal body where the Queen’s principal ministers gathered to offer policy advice and oversee administration.

• It met regularly, with about 10 members attending each meeting.

• Elizabeth did not rely solely on the council; she consulted ministers individually.

• At the beginning of her reign, William Cecil dominated the Council and became Elizabeth’s key minister.

  • Cecil had anticipated his rise to power before Mary's death.

  • Other early associates included Sir Nicholas Bacon, Francis Russell, Earl of Bedford, and Sir Francis Knollys.

• Some more conservative ministers included Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, Lord Treasurer Marquis of Winchester, and Earls of Sussex and Shrewsbury.

• Elizabeth’s favoured minister Robert Dudley joined the Council in 1562.

• By the 1570s, the influence of traditional conservative aristocracy began to reduce with the downfall of Norfolk and the death of Winchester.

• In the 1570s, firmly Protestant councillors such as Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Walter Mildmay, Sir Ralph Sadler, and Sir Thomas Smith were appointed. This shift was balanced by the promotion of conservative figures like Sir James Croft and Sir Christopher Hatton.

• Inner ring of 8 councillors by the 1580s: Walsingham, Leicester, Mildmay, Knollys, Earl of Bedford, Cecil, Sussex, and Hatton.

Key Functions of the Privy Council

• Discuss matters of state and offer policy advice to the Queen.

• Manage Crown finances alongside the Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

• Oversee the operation of regional councils and handle appeals from local authorities.

• Instruct lords lieutenant, sheriffs, JPs, subsidy commissioners, and borough councils.

• Increasingly, councillors got involved in local administration, building influence within counties and having considerable sway over JPs appointments.

• Enforce laws and regulations, supervise national defense, and manage the trained bands in counties.

• Ensure compliance with the religious settlement of 1559 by instructing JPs to investigate local adherence.

• Serve as a court of law in the Star Chamber and address local maladministration.

Factional Rivalry

• Elizabeth’s government was influenced by factional rivalries.

• The structure of her government helped prevent any one faction from dominating.

• No single minister had complete control over patronage. Instead, various influential families at court and within the Council kept a balance.

• Early in the reign, families like the Boleyns and Parrs held prominent positions.

• Family connections helped overcome religious differences, allowing figures like Leicester and Cecil to cooperate, despite their disagreements over the Queen’s marriage.

• Factionalism became more intense in the 1590s, particularly with the clash between Cecil and the Earl of Essex. This culminated in the Essex Rebellion of 1601.

Parliament

• Parliament played a secondary role in Elizabethan politics, more important for legislative and revenue-raising purposes, but less so than in the 17th century or under Henry VIII.

• Elizabeth considered Parliament necessary but an occasional evil, particularly for law-making, taxation, and advising the monarch.

• January-May 1559: Religious Settlement pushed through by Protestant councillors (Cecil, Knollys, Bacon) despite conservative opposition in the House of Lords. The legal status of the Church and forms of worship were established for Elizabeth’s reign.

Key Parliaments under Elizabeth I

• 1563-1566 (1st & 2nd sessions):

  • Elizabeth wanted money and had pressure from the Privy Council to address marriage and succession.

  • In 1566, Elizabeth blocked further religious reforms favored by Cecil and many bishops.

• April-May 1571:

  • Elizabeth sought money to suppress the 1569 Rebellion and tighten laws against Catholics. Parliament granted subsidy, and a bill for reforming the Book of Common Prayer was blocked by Elizabeth.

• May-June 1572 (1st session):

  • No request for money; Parliament considered security following the Ridolfi Plot.

• February-March 1576 (2nd session):

  • Parliament granted a subsidy. Peter Wentworth, an MP, was imprisoned for infringement of the royal prerogative.

• January-March 1581 (3rd session):

  • Parliament granted a subsidy and once again tightened anti-Catholic laws.

• November 1584-March 1585:

  • Parliament was called during tense international relations after the assassination of William of Orange.

  • The Act for the Surety of the Queen’s Person was passed.

• October 1586-March 1587:

  • Parliament was called after the Babington Plot to debate the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.

  • Elizabeth sought parliamentary advice regarding Mary’s execution.

• February-March 1589:

  • Parliament was called to raise funds for the war against Spain. Parliament voted a double subsidy in the aftermath of the Armada.

• February-April 1593:

  • Parliament focused on legislation against those refusing to attend Church. It voted a triple subsidy. Peter Wentworth was imprisoned again for raising the issue of succession.

• October 1597-February 1598:

  • Elizabeth faced a financial crisis. Parliament granted a triple subsidy and passed a poor law.

• October 1601-December 1601:

  • Elizabeth remained financially short. Parliament granted a quadruple subsidy. Elizabeth delivered her famous Golden Speech and dealt with monopolies.

Law-Making

• 438 Acts were passed during Elizabeth’s reign, with the most important related to:

  • Religion (Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity in 1559 and penal laws against Catholics).

  • Social Policy (Acts of 1598 and 1601).

Granting Taxation

• The most important function of Parliament for Elizabeth was to grant extraordinary revenue to the Crown.

• 13 Parliaments: 11 were held for more money.

• Elizabeth struggled with reforming direct taxation, leading to a decline in subsidy revenue over time.

Giving Advice

• Elizabeth grew irritated with MPs who ventured into areas she considered part of her royal prerogative.

• Parliament served as a useful means of communication between the Crown and the political nation.

Managing Parliament

• Cecil managed the Crown’s legislative agenda and had support from other councillors like Knollys and Hatton.

• He used men of business (often lawyers) to help manage the Commons and promote important measures.

When Elizabeth lost patience with Parliament

• 1563 and 1566: MPs raised issues of marriage and succession; Elizabeth intervened to prevent bills she disapproved of.

• 1593: Elizabeth faced opposition from Parliament regarding religion and secretary appointments.

• Monopolies became a controversial issue, and Elizabeth demonstrated her political skill with the Golden Speech in 1601.