Elizabeths Court and Parliment

• Background - Elizabeth:

  • Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
  • Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and removed from the line of succession.
  • 1544: Elizabeth was restored to the line of succession through the Third Succession Act.
  • Mary came to the throne but her relationship with Elizabeth was strained.
  • 1554: Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London after being implicated in Wyatt's Rebellion.
  • Mary realised Elizabeth was her legitimate heir according to Henry VIII’s will and came to the throne.
• Background - England: 


  • England was protestant at the start of Elizabeth's reign
  • Largely rural country
  • South(east) of england is more protestant - north is more catholic (+devon/cornwall)
  • Spain is a threat because they’re the most powerful and catholic.
  • Spain controls netherlands but they are protestant.
  • Ireland is controlled by England but not very well.
  • Italy is roman catholic. Very powerful and wealthy.
• The Royal Court:

  A mobile unit of 500 nobles, advisors, officials and servants that moved around with the Queen between royal palaces and on progresses. In the age of Personal Monarchy, where the Queen was the ultimate decision-maker, the Royal Court was the centre of political power. As well as being a centre of politics, it was also a centre for culture, with constant displays of wealth, art, and entertainment. 
• Patronage:

  Elizabeth used the system of patronage to control her courtiers and ensure loyalty. By granting patronages, she maintained the support of powerful nobles. Patronage often caused rivalries at court which Elizabeth liked as it ensured no one had more power than her.

  • Granted monopolies - Earl of Essex had a monopoly on sweet wine.
  • Justices of the Peace (JPs) were appointed through patronage. Responsible for maintaining law and order in their regions.

  Monopolies led to some corruption and public dissatisfaction. She was able to manage these issues without losing control.
• Royal Progresses: 


  Journeys or tours made by the Queen and her Royal Court across regions of England.

  • Reinforcing Loyalty: Elizabeth helped strengthen the connection between her and her subjects. It was a way to keep noble famiies loyal by showing her favor and personal prefrence.
  • Boosting Local Economies: Wherever Elizabeth traveled. the local economy was boosted from the influx of people.
  • 1590: Sir Julius Caesar hosted the queen for one night, which cost him £700.
  • 1575: Robert Dudley hosted a visit to Kenilworth Castle. Lasted 19 days.
• The Privy Council: 


  A central institution in Elizabethan England, acting as Queen Elizabeth's most important group of advisors.

  • Advised Elizabeth on Foreign Policy, Finance, Religion, Domestic Security.
  • They managed day-to-day affairs, including law enforcement, military matters, trade, and the economy.
  • The council handled major crises, such as threats of rebellion, war, and plots against the queen. (+Spanish Armada 1588)
  • The council had oversight of local officials, such as Justices of the Peace (JPs), who maintained law and order in the regions.
• Key Issues Discussed by the Privy Council:

  • Foreign Policy: The council advised Elizabeth on relations with foreign powers, including France and Spain.
  • Religious Policy: The council helped enforce the Religious Settlement (1559) Protestant is the official religion. Dealt with Catholic threats.
  • Security and Defence: Dealt with internal security, suppressing plots and rebellions, As well as helping with External threats (Spanish Armada)
  • Dealing with Rebellions: The council was key in quelling revolts such as the Northern Rebellion (1569), and Essex’s rebellion in 1601.
• Key Members in the Privy Council:

  • William Cecil: Elizabeth’s most trusted advisor. Shaped domestic and foreign policy. His influence lasted throughout Elizabeth's reign until his death in 1598.
  • Robert Dudley: Personal friend of Elizabeth and a key political figure in the early years of her reign. Rumors of a romantic relationship were constant.
  • Robert Devereux: His relationship with the queen deteriorated, leading to his execution after the failed Essex Rebellion (1601).
  • Francis Walsingham: Elizabeth’s spymaster, responsible for her network of spies that uncovered several plots.
• Elizabeth's Relationship with the Privy Council:

  Although Elizabeth relied on the Privy Council for advice, she was careful not to let them control her. She often kept her own counsel and made decisions independently, especially on matters of foreign policy and marriage. However, there were times when they were able to manipulate her, for example, Cecil threatened to resign his position from the privy council when she was too stubborn.
• Structure of Parliament and Roles:

  • House of Lords: Consisted of Nobles and Bishops. Most powerful and influential men in the country.
  • House of Commons: Made up of elected Members of Parliament (MPs), mostly landowners, merchants, and lawyers. Voting was restricted to wealthy men.
  • Role and Functions of Parliament: Passing Laws, aprroving taxes, advising or petitioning the Queen.
• Parliament's Limited Role: 


  • Infrequent meetings: Elizabeth only called Parliament when necessary. During her 45 year reign, Parliament only met 13 times and its sessions were short.
  • Royal Prerogative: Elizabeth retained control over key decisions, (foreign policy, religion, marriage). Parliament was not allowed to discuss these matters without her permission.
  • The Queen's Veto: Elizabeth had the power to veto any law passed by Parliament.
• Conflicts Between Elizabeth and Parliament:

  • Marriage and Succession: MP's repeatedly urged Elizabeth to marry and secure and heir. Elizabeth refused to be pressured and declared she was 'Married to England'.
  • Religious Issues: Some Puritan MP's wanted to reform the Church of England further and remove what they saw as Catholic influences. Elizabeth resisted these efforts.
  • Monopolies: Elizabeth gave her famous 'Golden Speech' in 1601 where she agreed to review monopolies.
  • Freedom of Speech: In 1576, Peter Wentworth was imprisoned for defying Elizabeths restrictions of speech.
• Key Achievements of Elizabeth's Parliament:

  • Religious Settlement: One of the first acts of Parliament was rhe Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity which established Elizabeth's religious settlement. Created Protestant Church of England.
  • Handling Threats to Elizabeth's Reign: Passed laws to increase penalties for those who were seen as threats to the Protestant state. (Catholic recissants)
  • Support for War: Parliament approved subsides for Elizabeth's wars. (funding to defend England from The Spanish Armada in 1588 and supporting campaigns in Ireland.).
• Marriage:

  Elizabeth received numerous marriage proposals during the first decade of her reign. However, she skillfully managed her suitors to maintain diplomatic flexibility and strengthen her position.
• Suitors:

  Robert Dudley: He was already married and later widowed under suspicious circumstances. Furthermore, there was a political risk of marrying an English nobleman rather than a foreign royal.

  Phillip II of Spain: Philip, the widower of Elizabeth’s sister Mary I, proposed marriage to Elizabeth shortly after she became queen. Elizabeth politely declined, as she had no desire to align herself with Spain or continue the Catholic policies of Mary’s reign.
• Why did Elizabeth not marry?:

  • Marriage would mean sharing her power. She wanted to keep control of government. Can create dangerous factions within court.
  • England was divided between Catholics and Protestants. Marrying a Catholic prince would anger her Protestant subjects, while marrying a Protestant could provoke hostility from Catholic powers like Spain and France.
  • Elizabeth had witnessed the disastrous consequences of her father Henry VIII six marriages and her sister Mary I's unpopular marriage to Philip II of Spain. She may have been wary of repeating these mistakes.
• Problems by not marrying:

  • Elizabeth's Refusal to marry and produce an heir left England without a clear successor.
  • Without a direct heir, rival factions could have claimed the throne (Mary Queen of Scots was seen as a threat)
  • Protestant and Catholic factions eached hoped to influence who would succeed Elizabeth.
  • Elizabeth was under constant pressure from her Parliament and councilors.
  • Limited Englands ability to secure alliances with powerdul European nations.
• Potential Successors:

  • Mary, Queen of Scots: Elizabeth's cousin who had a strong claim to the English throne. Mary was a rallying point for Catholic plots against Elizabeth. Mary was executed in 1587, removing her as a contender.
  • James VI of Scotland: Son of Mary, Queen of Scots. Was Protestand and had a claim to the throne through(great grandmother) Margaret Tudor. Eventually succeeded to the throne in 1603.
  • Grey Sisters: Catherine and Mary Grey (sisters of Lady Jane Grey). Refused to name as successors as they both secretly married noblemen without her permission.
• Elizabeth's Refusal to Name a Successor:

  Throughout her reign, Elizabeth refused to publicly name a successor.

  • Prevented factions from forming around potential heirs. Naming a successot might have encouraged courtiers to shift their loyalty away from her.
  • Naming a successor could make her more vilnerable to assassination attempts.
  • A named successor might lead to disputes or civil war of other claimants contested the choice.

  Elizabeth's refusal to name a successor caused a lot of tension between her and her Council/parliament. (Especially after she almost died from smallpox in 1562)
• Essex Rebellion (Causes):

  • Essex had a lot of political rivals at court. Essex accussed Elizabeth's doctor (appointed by Cecil) as a traitor, leading him to be tortured and excecuted.
  • His task was to suppress Irish rebellion. Made the unauthorised decision made truce. He returned to England without permission in 1599, rushing into Elizabeth's bedchamber to explain his actions. This was considered a serious breach of royal protocol.
  • Essex was stripped of his official titles and Elizabeth refused to renew his monopoly.
  • He aligned himself with James I and considered overthrowing Elizabeth.
• Essex Rebellion (Events):

  on 8th February 1601, Essex and 300 supporters gathered at Essex House. Planned to march through London and gather support from the city's citizens and march to the Queen demanding the removal of his enemies from power. However, Elizabeth's government had been forewarned of the plot and Robert Cecil acted quickly to prevent Essex's plans. The Lord Mayor of London issued a proclamation declaring Essex a traitor.

  Essex and his followers marched through London and were met with resistance. Forced to retreat to Essex house and surrendered later that day.
• Essex Rebellion (Consequences):


  Essex was arrested and charged with treason. He was found guilty and was executed by beheading on the 25th of February 1601. Demonstrated that Elizabeth's government faced significant tension. The Queen was in her late 60s and increasingly reliant on trusted advisors to maintain stability. Rebellion did not lead to widespread unrest.