Elizabeth's Government

• 25 year old Elizabeth succeeded the throne from Mary I (her Catholic older sister)


  1558
• Up until her death in 1603 she maintained a strong popularity and reputation as a Monarch
• Elizabeth led her role ensuring she gained trust from her friends on important matters
• Elizabeth's coronation


  1. Procession through London

  2. Orations and pageants

  3. Parade resulted in great appreciation from the crowds

  4. Boosting her popularity as a new monarch

  5. Gaining the favour of the public

  6. Establishing her power and high status
• Elizabeth was crowned in Westminster Abbey


  January 1559
• The coronation event was marked with pageants, celebrations and a grand banquet at the Westminster hall
• Those who attended the coronation event were the Royal Court and the nobility
• A royal journey travelled across the River Thames
• The Royal Court


  The centre of all Elizabeth's political power throughout her reign
• The Royal Court consisted of

  • The Queen's inner circle: ladies in waiting, government officials and chief advisors
  • The Royal Court would travel with Elizabeth on her royal progresses
• Chief courtiers


  • William Cecil
  • Sir Christopher Hatton
  • Sir Walter Raleigh
  • Sir Francis Walsingham
  • Robert Dudley
• Through patronage


  Elizabeth maintained the power and loyalty of her ministers and officials
• Privy council


  The country's most important council- helped her govern the country
• Privy council membership


  • Advisors
  • Ministers from the noble to the gentry classes
  • Archbishops
• Privy council met regularly to deal with specific issues
• Sir William Cecil as First Secretary of State was always in charge of the Privy council
• The Privy council included members of different factions so the Queen had a wide range of different opinions to know what important people thought about significant matters
• The Queen rarely attended Privy council meetings
• Local Government in Wales

  Responsible for exercising royal power and maintaining law and order
• Prominent Lord Presidents of Wales during Elizabeth's reign

  • Sir Henry Sidney
  • Henry Herbert
• The President was assisted by

  • A Deputy Lieutenant
  • A council of 20 members nominated by the crown
• The council members were part of the royal household, some were bishops of Welsh areas and some justices from the Court of Great Sessions
• The authority of the Local Government in Wales spread over 13 counties, responsible for local government, administration and justice
• The Local Government in Wales ensured instructions of the Queen were delivered in localities and that law and order was imposed and justice administered
• The role of parliament


  Only called when the Queen requested it and ceased when it closed down
• In total, Elizabeth only called Parliament 13 times in 45 years
• Reasons for calling parliament

  • Discuss Elizabeth's religious settlement
  • Grant taxes
  • Discuss a rebellion in Scotland
  • Discuss whether to support a Protestant rebellion in France
  • Decide what to do with Mary Queen of Scots
  • Pass laws to deal with Catholic plots against English
  • Pass laws against Catholics
  • Discuss the war against Spain
  • Discuss the war in Ireland
  • Consider succession to the throne
• House of Commons


  • 450 members of parliament (MPs) who were elected by wealthy landowners
  • There were two MPs from each county and two from each important town
• House of Lords


  A non-elected body of 100 lords, bishops and judges
• Parliament would raise taxes to cover the costs of the Queen's expenditures or if the country went to war
• Parliament would pass acts to support policies or seek advice from the Queen's MP's and Lords on important issues
• Tudors were expected to pay taxes (rents and custom duties)


  To cover the cost of running the country
• Elizabeth's reign saw many economic issues - high inflation and foreign warfare caused the poor to struggle
• The Sheriff was responsible for collecting taxes locally which the money was utilised to find poor relief
• Money was needed for roads and bridges
• Freedom of speech


  Discuss significant issues
• Elizabeth was willing to limit such freedom of speeches to only certain topics that were deemed appropriate could be debated
• 5 MPs were arrested due to discussion of religion
• The Elizabethan Age saw the emergence of the gentry class as the dominant force in social and political life in Wales
• The landowning gentry promoted their family fortunes and built up their estates through carefully planned marriages, the purchase of lands and important roles such as JPs