Elizabeth's Government

• What is patronage?

  The system by which the crown distributed favours to those who were seen as loyal
• What was the Royal Court?


  It provided Elizabeth with advise on decision making
• What were the two main areas of the royal court?

  Presence Chamber and Privy Chamber
• Why was the Privy Chamber less influential in Elizabeth's reign?

  Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber no longer had access to the monarch
• What was the Privy Council?

  It was responsible for advising and administering policy
• Who was a key minister early in Elizabeth's reign?

  William Cecil
• Who was Elizabeth's favourite minister?

  Robert Dudley
• When did Dudley join the Privy Council?

  1562
• How was the Privy Council changed in the 1570s?


  The influence of the traditional conservative aristocracy was reduced with the execution of Norfolk. And a nucleus of Protestant councillors were appointed e.g Walsingham
• How else is William Cecil referred to as?


  The Baron Burghley
• How successful were the changes made to the Privy Council?

  Somewhat, cohesive decisions were made but there were disputes over foreign policy and the matter of the Queen of Scots. But they served her well enough.
• When was Mary Queen of Scots executed?

  1587
• Why did Elizabeth's Government weaken from 1580s onwards?


  A no. of experienced ministers died in quick succession having only 11 by 1597, she didn't immediately replace the lost ministers, she didn't have experienced ministers
• Who replaced William Cecil when he died?

  Robert Cecil
• What was factional rivalry like in the early years of Elizabeth's reign?

  Not one person had complete control over the patronage due to the structure of government, influential families balanced each other.
• Who was there rivalry between in the early years of Elizabeth's reign?

  Cecil and Leicester on marital issues, but they cooperated over most other issues
• What title did Robert Dudley have during Elizabeth's reign?

  Earl of Leicester
• Why did Government coherence start to decline in the 1590's?


  Rivalry between Robert Cecil and Robert Devereux (Earl of Essex)
• Why did the Earl of Essex's influence decline?

  Due to: his rivalry with Robert Cecil, financial trouble as Elizabeth refused to renew his monopoly on sweet wines, his military failure in Ireland and when he burst into the Queen's bedchamber unannounced.
• What was Essex's response to his declining influence?

  To plan an armed coup to bring down Cecil and other enemies.
• How successful was Essex's rebellion?

  Not very, he overestimated his popularity and the support he'd gain from Londoners, he surrendered to Cecil and gave up his supporters to gain a private execution
• When was Essex's rebellion?

  1601
• How did Elizabeth view Parliament?

  A necessary but occasional evil
• How important was Parliament under Elizabeth?

  Not very, it was a secondary feature of the political system
• What was Parliament's role?

  To make laws (438 were passed), Grant taxation (2/13 sessions were used to ask for money) and Giving advice (Elizabeth wasn't interested especially when it involved her prerogative rights although it was a useful means of communication for councillors and those who administered their localities on their behalf)
• How was Parliament managed?

  Cecil prepared the Crown's legislative programme and used his own men to manage the House of Commons. MPs were experts on Parliamentary procedure. With Privy councillors often beginning sessions by outlining the crown's priorities and introducing bills.
• What was the relationship between Elizabeth and her Parliament?

  Sometimes it was tense, as Elizabeth was easily irritated by them when they discussed her prerogative rights such as in 1563 and 1566 when they discussed the succession and her marriage
• What evidence is there that Elizabeth didn't like her Government?

  She would intervene and prevent the passage of bills refusing the royal assent on over 60 bills (15 of which in 1585 alone)
• When did traditional methods of managing Parliament start to fail?

  1593
• Why was managing Parliament becoming harder?

  There were different ideas about how to deal with religion. Archbishop Whitgift wanted to pass an Act punishing sectaries (Protestants who rejected the Church of England and the royal supremacy) others disagreed with one man making a speech, who Elizabeth then barred from political advancement.
• What was the case of Peter Wentworth?


  In 1593 Elizabeth imprisoned him for wanting an answer to the question of who would be her successor because he attacked her royal prerogative.
• When was the Golden Speech?


  1601
• What was the Golden Speech?


  Speech given by Elizabeth I to her final parliament in 1601 in which she talked about her love for her subjects.
• Why did Elizabeth's Government break down at the end of her reign?

  Due to monopolies in 1601