Elizabethan England

• Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 at the age of 25
• Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536 for adultery and treason
• Elizabeth was viewed as illegitimate as Henry was never proved as the father
• The Catholic Church never agreed to Henrys divorce from Catherine of Aragon
• Mary Queen of Scots was Elizabeth's main political rival at the time of her succession as she was engaged to the french king whom was catholic
• Elizabeth is protestant
• France and Spain are catholic
• Threats of invasion from France and Scotland where worsening
• England captured Calais in 1558 which was french land 


  Siege of Calais
• When Queen Mary 1 came to throne in 1554 she put Elizabeth under house arrest
• Elizabeth inherited debts of around £300000
• Elizabeth increased England's debt by a further 100,000 pounds due to the threats of conflict
• English society was extremely hierarchal
• The Act of Supremacy was in 1559


  stated that Elizabeth was the supreme governor
• Act of Uniformity was in 1559 


  The act retained some catholic traditions
• The Act of Supremacy stated that Protestantism was England's faith
• Royal Injunctions in 1559

  provision for the implementation of the Act of Uniformity at the level of the individual parish church
• The Book of Common Prayer contained prayers and services which were used during church ceremonies
• the court was made up of people who lived in or near to where the monarch was staying
• the courts purpose was to entertain and advise Elizabeth
• The court also served as a public display of wealth and power
• Sir William Cecil was Elizabeth's chief advisor
• Sir Francis Walsingham was in-charge of Elizabeth's secret spy service and advised her on foreign affairs
• Robert Dudley was the Earl of Leicester and was Elizabeth's supposed lover , he was also one of her advisers in the Privy council
• The Privy Council debated current issues, advised the monarch and monitored parliament
• The Parliament only met if summoned by the monarch


  Elizabeth only called on them 10 times during her reign
• The role of the Parliament was to pass new laws and pass taxes in time of war
• Their were 19 members in the Privy Council
• The Parliament where made up of the house of lords and the house of commons
• Elizabeth's protestant faith was encouraged by Catherine Parr
• Elizabeth was fluent in 3 languages and was well taught in public speaking