england in 1558

• The court was made up of noblemen who acted as advisers and friends to the monarch. They would help her display her wealth and power.
• The privy council were members of the nobility who helped govern the country. They monitored parliament, JP's and oversaw law and order, and the security of the country.
• Justices of the Peace (JP's) were large landowners, and apointed by the government. They would keep law and order locally, and would hear court cases.
• Parliament, made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, would advise Elizabeths's government. The House of Lords consisted of nobles and bishops, while the House of Commons was elected, though very few people could vote. Parliament would pass laws and approve taxes.
• Lord Lieutenants were noblemen appointed by the government to govern English counties and raise the local militia.
• Elizabeth became queen in 1558.
• Extraordinary taxation - extra taxes required to pay for unexpected expenses, especially war
• Militia - a force of ordinary people raised in an emergency
• Problems Elizabeth faced when becoming queen:

  • young, and lacked experience
  • government was in debt
  • legitimacy was doubted
  • catholics refused to acknowledge her right to rule
  • elizabeth was protestant, her predecessor mary was catholic
  • she was unmarried, many disagreed with a queen who actually ruled
  • elizabeth needed parliaments support to pass laws
• Elizabeth's mother was Anne Boleyn.
• Elizabeth was confident and charismatic, which enabled her to win over her subjects and the support of parliament.
• Elizabeth was well educated, and had an excellent grasp on politics.
• Divine right - the idea that God alone appointed the monarch, meaning that to challenge them would be challenging God
• The Crown was £300,000 in debt in 1558.
• How monarchs could raise money:

  • rent and income from their own land
  • taxes from trade
  • loans
  • profits of justice (fines, land of convicted criminals)
• The French Threat:

  • france was wealthier than england, and had a bigger population
  • mary queen of scots was married to the heir of the french throne
  • mary had a strong claim to the english throne
• Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis:

  • england had lost calais to france
  • this was englands last remaining territory on the continent, and there was pressure on elizabeth to regain it
  • however war with france would be expensive and dangerous
• France ended its war with Spain:

  • french military resources were no longer stretched by the war with spain, making war with england more likely
  • there was a possibility that france and spain, two catholic countries, would unite against protestant england
  • spain also had troops in the netherlands
• War was expensive:

  • the crown was in debt and could not afford a war with france, scotland or spain
• The Auld Alliance:

  • france's alliance with scotland threatened england, as scotland had very close proximity to england
• How Elizabeth dealt with challenges abroad:

  • avoided war with france by signing the peace of troyes (1564) which officially recognised the french claim to calais
  • placing mary queen of scots in custody in england