Elizabeth

• Yeoman


  Men who held a small amount of land or an estate
• Gentry


  The class of people below the nobility
• Courtiers 


  Usually spent most of their time with Elizabeth in court
• Extraordinary taxation


  Occasional addition tax to pay for unexpected expenses such as a war
• Militia 


  A military force of ordinary people, rather than soldier, usually raised in an emergency.
• Divine Right


  Belief that the monarch's right to rule came from God
• Patronage 


  To provide someone with an important job or position
• Succession


  This issue of who was going to succeed the throne after the existing monarch died
• Court

  • A body of people who lived in, or near the same palace or house as the monarch
  • They were the monarch's key servants, advisors and friends
  • Mostly made up of members of the nobility
  • Attending required the monarch's permission
  • Their role was to entertain and advise the monarch
  • They were a public display of wealth and power
  • Courtiers had influence with the monarch rather than actual power
• Parliament

  • Made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons
  • Could only be called and dismissed by the monarch
  • Elections were held before each new parliament, but very few could vote
  • Their role was to grant extraordinary taxation, passed laws (Acts of Parliament) and offered advice to the monarch
• Lords Lieutenant

  • One chosen by the monarch for each county
  • Part of the nobility and often also on the Privy Council
  • Essential to maintaining the monarch's power and defences in England
  • They were in charge of raising the local milita and overseeing county defences
  • They oversaw the enforcements of policies
  • A part of the local government
• Justices of the Peace (JPs)

  • Large landowners who kept law and order in their local areas
  • They were unpaid and reported to the Privy Council
  • A popular job due to the position of status
  • Made sure all social and economic policies are carried out
  • Heard county court cases every 3 months for more serious crimes
  • Part of the local government
• The Reformation (Pre-Elizabeth)


  The introduction of a new view on Christianity. It was caused by Martin Luther who went against the Catholic church and encouraged views on religion.
• Elizabeth's Challenges

  • Legitimacy
  • Gender + Marriage
  • Character
  • Financial weakness
  • France + Scotland
• The Papacy


  Anything to do with the Pope
• Prosperous 


  Doing well/rich
• Spanish Inquisition 


  A system where violently tried to enforce and upload Catholicism
• Francis Drake

  • English merchant and explorer
  • Made lots of money for investors including Liz ( 1572 stole £40000
  • 1570-1571 in the West Indies he seized many Spanish ships and cargo
  • First Englishman to circumnavigate the globe
  • 1580: had amassed £400000
• Rural depopulation: when the population in the countryside falls when people move away in search of a better life.
• Arable farming: Growing crops on farm land
• Subsistence farming: growing just enough to feed the family but not to sell
• Vagabond (vagabondage): they were homeless people without jobs who roamed the countryside begging for money perhaps stealing or committing other crimes in order to survive
• Privy Council

  • Made up of leading courtiers and advisers, as well as nobles and very senior government officials, such as Sir William Cecil
  • Approximately 19 members on the Privy Council, chosen by the monarch
  • Met at least three times a week and the meetings were often attended and presided over by the monarch
  • Debated current issues and advised the monarch on current policy
  • Made sure the Monarch's final decisions were carried out
  • Oversaw law and order, local government and the security of England
  • Monitored JPs and Parliament
• The Problem of Legitimacy

  • When Anne Boleyn was executed, Henry VIII declared Elizabeth illegitimate, but he later reversed this decision
  • Pope didn't agree with the Church of England, so Catholics refused to acknowledge Elizabeth as the pope didn't recognise Henry VIII's divorce
  • To inherit the throne it was essential that the monarch was legitimate.
• The Problem of Financial Weakness

  • Government didn't have lots of money as England had fought costly wars before Elizabeth came to the throne
  • The crown was £300,000 in debt when Elizabeth took the throne. The Crown's income was only £286,667 meaning there was a deficit
  • Coins had to have a certain amount of silver in and to make more money the government reduced this amount of silver (debasement) which made the coins less valuable and prices roses.
  • Elizabeth needed money to be strong, but taxes were unpopular and she needed government's approval.
• The Problem of Gender and Marriage

  • If Elizabeth married, she would be 'sidelined' as her husband would become King, leaving her mostly powerless.
  • Christianity taught that women should be under the authority of men. Furthermore, monarchs were still expected to lead their armies into battle.
  • Henry had wanted a male heir because it was believed a woman could not rule with the same authority as a man.
  • Women were not considered to be physically, mentally, or emotionally capable of governing.
  • The only person Elizabeth could marry was a foreign prince, meaning England's needs would come second
• The Problem of Character

  • Elizabeth was confident and charismatic, able to make great speeches and win over subjects, although she had a temper people feared.
  • Elizabeth was intelligent and well educated. She spoke Latin, Greek, French and Italian. She understood the dangerous world of politics. She did however take a long time to make up her mind.
• The Problem of France & Scotland

  • The Auld Alliance: France was wealthier and had a larger population than England. It was also an ally of England's traditional enemy- Scotland. Mary was married to Francis, heir to the throne.
  • Mary, Queen of Scots, declared herself the legitimate heir to the English throne. Scotland's border with England was remote and hard to defend.
  • England has held Calais, a French port since 1347, but England lost this to France in 1559 through the Treaty of Cambresis. This humiliated the English and became a priority for Elizabeth.
• Elizabeth's Religious Settlement

  • Act of Supremacy (Made Elizabeth Supreme Governor of the Church of England)
  • Act of Uniformity (Ensured the appearance and services were Protestant)
  • Royal Injunction (Set of instructions to the clergy on a wide range of issues)
• Act of Supremacy

  • Made Elizabeth supreme governor of the Church of England
  • All clergy and royal officials had to sign an oath of allegiance to her as the head of the Church.
  • An Ecclesiastical High Commission was established with the job to maintaining discipline within the Church and enforcing the queen' religious settlement.
  • Members of the clergy whose loyalty was in doubt could be punished
• Impact of the Act of Supremacy on the Church and Clergy

  • Had to take the oath of supremacy to keep their posts
  • 8,000 priests and less important clergy did so
  • Only 1 bishop took the oath so she had to appoint 27 new.
• Impact of the Act of Supremacy on the People

  • Majority of ordinary people accepted it and attended the services
  • New prayer book
  • Elizabeth made it clear she didn't want the settlement enforced too strongly
• Act of Uniformity

  • Introduced a set form of church service in the Book of Common Prayer to be used in all churches
  • The wording of the Prayer book was deliberately unclear to please both Catholics and Protestants- believe what they wanted to
  • Everyone attended church on Sundays and other religious days or would be finned a shilling for every absence (could total a week pay for most people)
• The Royal Injunction

  • Issued by Sir William Celil on behalf of the Queen
  • Included instructions on how people should worship God and the structure of the services
  • Helped further the Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity
  • All clergy had to teach the Royal Injunction
  • No one was allowed to preach without a licence from the government.
  • Clergy had a wear special vestments
  • If you refused to attend church they were reported to the Privy Council.
  • Each church received a copy of the Bible in English
• Impact of the Royal Injunction on the Church and Clergy

  • Structure of services controlled
  • Had to have a licence from the government
  • Clergy had to wear special vestments
• Impact of the Act of Uniformity on the Church and Clergy

  • Had to use certain wording of the Prayer book when conducting services- if you were refused you were punished
  • Priests had to wear special clothing
• Impact of the Act of Uniformity on the People

  • Settlements not enforced too quickly
  • Smooth change mostly except a great deal of destruction of Church ornaments in London
  • Fined if didn't attend- could total a weeks pay, so couldn't eat
• Impact of the Royal Injunctions on the People

  • Reported to Privy Council if not attending Church
  • Finned as punishment
• The Puritan Challenge

  • Crucifix Controversy
  • Vestment Controversy
• The Crucifix Controversy

  • Crucifixes represented idols to Puritans, but Elizabeth liked them and wanted Churches to keep their familiar look and feel
  • Elizabeth didn't want to anger Catholics by changing too much too fast
  • Every Church should display a crucifix
  • Puritan bishops threatened to resign, so the Queen backed down
  • Elizabeth was unable to enforce her will as she couldn't their concern- not enough clergy men to replace the bishops who were dismissed.
  • Elizabeth insisted on keeping a crucifix in the Royal Chapel