Topic 1 - Queen, Government and Religion (1558-69)

• Elizabeth ruled by Divine Right
• Divine Right = God had appointed the Monarch their role.
• Elizabeth's secretary of state - Sir William Cecil
• Different parts of Elizabethan Government:

  • Court
  • Privy Council
  • Parliament
  • Lords Lieutenant
  • Justice of the Peace
• Court

  Features:

  People who lived or in the palace and were members of nobility

  Role:

  Their purpose was to entertain and advise the Monarch, courtiers had influence rather than power
• Privy Council

  Features:

  Made up of leading courtiers and advisers, there were 19 members chosen by the Monarch, they met 3 times a week

  Role:

  Their purpose was to debate and advise the Monarch on government policy, made sure that the monarch's decision was carried out, oversaw law and order
• Parliament

  Features:

  Made up of the house of lords and house of commons, elections were held before each new parliament but very few people could vote

  Role:

  To grant extraordinary taxation, passed laws, offered advice to the Monarch
• Lord Lieutenant

  Features:

  Each country had one chosen by the Monarch, members of nobility, they were essential to maintaining the Monarch's power

  Role:

  In charge of training and raising the local militia, oversaw the enforcement of policies
• Justice of the Peace:

  Features:

  Large land owners who kept law and order in their local areas, unpaid and reported to the Privy Council

  Role:

  To make sure all social and economic policies were carried out, part of the local government
• Problems that Elizabeth faced at the start of her reign:

  • Legitimacy
  • Gender and Marriage
  • Character and Strengths
  • Financial weakness
  • French threat
• Elizabeth raised money by:

  • rents and income from land
  • taxes from trade
  • special additional taxes
  • profits of justice
  • loans
• Auld Alliance - France and Scotland
• Legitimacy -

  Was in doubt because Henry divorced CoA and married Anne Boleyn

  The Pope refused the divorce of Henry, therefore Catholics refused to recognise Elizabeth

  Anne Boleyn was executed for treason

  Henry declared Elizabeth illegitimate and excluded her from the succession

  
  

  Problem -

  Didn't have catholic support and could face plots against her

  Another contender could try to take the throne

  She has to prove her legitimacy to win support
• Gender and Marriage -

  Elizabeth was female - seen to have a lower social standing/weak and inferior to rule alone

  She is suspicious of suitors after her sister's unpopular marriage

  She decided not to marry

  
  

  Problems -

  Pressure to prove self as a strong female monarch, she relied on her Privy Council advisors

  Her position could be threatened by a husband

  Not naming a suitor created enemies from competitors, could lead to plots

  This was a long-term problem until she passed child bearing age
• Character and strength -

  Elizabeth was very intelligent and well educated

  She spoke 4 language

  She was a good speaker

  She spent a long time making decisions

  
  

  Problems -

  She was indecisive over serious matters and her Privy Council found this frustrating
• Financial weakness -

  there were financial issues as England was £300,000 in debt which was a huge sum as annual income was £286,667

  Problems -

  elizabeth had to be wealthy as defending her throne was expensive

  taxes were unpopular and then parliament could make demands on Elizabeth
• France

  • Wealthier country
  • Larger nation close to England
  • Strong chance of winning an invasion
• France

  • Long standing enemy of England
  • Close ally to Scotland
• France

  • Catholic nation
  • Would have papal support
  • English Catholics could rise up to support the invasion
• France united with Scotland for a joint invasion


  England would be surrounded - north and south
• Invasion by France

  Threaten Elizabeth's life as well as her throne
• Both countries (France and Scotland) are neighbours of England


  England would not have a lot of time to prepare, it was an immediate threat
• Why does the Church matter so much?

  The Church was a central part of village life in Elizabethan England

  It controlled what was preached - Priests needed a licence to preach from the government. Elizabeth could make sure clergy preached her religious and political messages

  Gave guidance to communities - during times of hardship, people would turn to the Church for advise

  Legitimised the Monarch's power

  Ran Church courts - focused on 'moral' matters such as marriage, slander and sexual offences. Other issues are dealt with in ordinary civil courts

  Enforced Elizabeth's Religious Settlement
• Elizabeth's Religious Settlement -

  • "Governor" not head
  • Common Prayer book
  • Priests wear special clothing
  • Pilgrimes banned
• Three parts of Elizabeth's Religious Settlement:

  • The Act of Supremacy
  • The Act of Uniformity
  • Royal Injunctions
• The Act of Supremacy -

  Made Elizabeth supreme governor of the Church of England

  All clergy and royal officials had to swear an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth as head of the Church
• The Act of Uniformity -

  Established the appearance of all churches and the form of services that they held

  Established a book of common prayer to be used in all churches. Anyone who refused to use it was punished. The wording was deliberately to please both Catholics and Protestants

  Everyone must attend church or they would be fined

  Priests were to wear special clothing
• Royal Injunctions -

  A set of instructions issued by Sir William Cecil on behalf of the Queen to the clergy, to reinforce the acts of Supremacy and uniformity

  Included instructions on how people should worship God and the structure of the services. There clergy has to teach that the Queen was the Head of the Church and Priests had to wear special vestments
• How people reacted to religious settlement?

  Majority accepted the settlement

  Mostly, change of religion was smooth

  People attended the CoE services, even though many held onto Catholic Beliefs
• Puritan beliefs:

  Crucifixes represented idols however Elizabeth liked them, an important part of her religious settlement as she didn't want to upset her Catholic Subjects.

  Elizabeth demanded that each Church displayed a Crucifix. Puritan bishops threatened to resign so Elizabeth backed down.
• Puritans though that Priests shouldn't have special clothing, whilst Catholic people believed that Priests were special
• Mary's arrival in England:

  • Elizabeth sent help to protestant rebels
  • Treaty of Edinburgh (1560)
  • Marriage Scandal
  • Rebellions again
• Elizabeth sent help to Protestant rebels -

  • She secretly sent money and troops, this was encouraged by advisers
• Treaty of Edinburgh (1560) -

  • Said that Mary Queen of Scots would give up her claim to the throne, never approved maintained claim
• Marriage Scandal -

  • Darnley was murdered, probably by Bothwell, Mary suspected of being involved as she married Bothwell after
• Rebellions again -

  • Forced Mary to abdicate in favour of James, then imprisoned in a castle, escaped and asked Elizabeth for help
• How did Elizabeth deal with Mary?

  Mary was held in comfort under guard, until Elizabeth decided what to do with her. She wrote to Elizabeth and asked to meet, to persuade her of her innocence in Darnley's murder, but Elizabeth refused.
• Elizabeth's dilemma -

  Mary found guilty

  • Elizabeth is seen supporting deposing an anointed monarch, also her cousin
  • Handed over to Scottish Lords

  
  

  Mary found innocent

  • Mary is free to raise an army, pose big threat to Elizabeth's throne
• Elizabeth made all the country's important decisions
• Elizabeth:

  Declared war

  Making peace

  Calling parliament

  ruling in legal cases

  granting titles, land, jobs and money