Elizabeth’s Court and Parliament
1.Elizabeth and her court
Queen Elizabeth I reigned 1558-1603
Not expected to rule – 3rd in line after Edward and Mary
Anne Boleyn executed for treason – after miscarriage slept with her brother
Educated and brought up within the royal household
Power in Elizabethan England:
25 when she became Queen so needed to establish authority
Elizabeth could award titles, land and money-making opportunities in exchange for support
Court Life:
Court made up of officials, servants and advisors that surrounded Elizabeth including Privy
Counsellors
Centre of power, trends and fashion
Who had power?
Lord Lieutenants – appointed by the Queen + responsible for running a part of the country,
also helped raise militia and many were also on the Privy Council
Parliament – House of Lords and House of Commons – influence tax and laws but the Queen
could choose when to call parliament
Privy Council – Day-to-day running of the country. Queen could choose but had to choose
most powerful landowners. If the council was united (which rarely happened) the Queen
had to listen. Led by the Secretary of State (Walsingham and Cecil)
Justices of the Peace – Several in every county and responsible for maintaining order and
enforcing laws
2.The Difficulties of a Female Ruler
The problems Elizabeth faced:
Succession – Produce a hair to prevent civil war and to stop MQS taking over. Senior figures
wanted her to get married as soon as possible
Foreign Policy – Catholic countries wanted influence in England. Key issue was the
Netherlands where the Protestant population conflicted with the Spanish rulers
MQS – Next in line was Mary Queen of Scots who was a Catholic
Religion – Recent changes in religion had led to instability. Elizabeth seen as ‘bastard’ by
Catholics. Threat of Puritanism
Taxation – England short of money but widespread poverty
Ireland – Elizabeth considered Queen of Ireland but Ireland was a Catholic country
Marriage and Succession:
AGAINST – Foreign ruler + foreign heir. Giving birth was risky. Issue of authority within the
marriage. Remain an independent ruler.
FOR – Create an alliance with a foreign country. Produce an heir to the throne who is not
MQS.
, Potential Suitors:
Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon – French King’s brother. Elizabeth was 46 so children
not likely. He was Catholic so many people against the marriage.
King Phillip II of Spain – Very wealthy and powerful. Married to Mary but did not produce an
heir. He was also Catholic.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester – One of the Queen’s closest friends- many assumed the
two were lovers. Key figure in court and a member of the Privy Council. Wife died but
scandal surrounding her death meant that marriage between him and the Queen was almost
impossible.
The strength of Elizabeth’s authority and Essex’s Rebellion - 1601:
Essex was a favourite of the Queen’s. He became Privy Counsellor and was awarded a sweet
wine monopoly. He also pleased the Queen by successfully attacking the Spanish
Essex developed a rivalry with Robert Cecil
Involved in an argument with the Queen during a Privy council meeting and turned his back
on her. Elizabeth hit him and he was placed under house arrest
Queen sent him to Ireland to deal with rebellion, but he agreed a truce with them against
the Queen’s orders
When he returned from Ireland, he burst into the Queen’s bedroom and caught her without
a wig
No longer Queen’s favourite and had monopoly taken off him. Lost much of his wealth and
influence – began to gain followers and plot a rebellion
February 1601 – Essex took 4 Privy Councillors hostage + marched them to his London house
Robert Cecil labelled him a traitor and Essex’s supporters panicked, left and released the
hostages
Essex executed privately on 25th February after admitting that his sister Penelope was also
guilty
Elizabeth showing she would not tolerate traitors.
The Northern Rebellion - 1569:
Elizabeth would not allow her cousin the Duke of Norfolk to marry her other cousin MQS
Earl of Westmorland and Earl of Northumberland took control on Durham Cathedral and
held an illegal Catholic mass
Marched south with 4600 men but disbanded when Earl of Sussex raised an opposing army
Northumberland executed
Westmorland escaped to France
Norfolk imprisoned – cousin + close to Elizabeth. Unsavoury to kill him
The Ridolfi Plot – 1571
Led by Roberto Ridolfi an Italian banker + Norfolk
Similar to Northern Rebellion but with help from the Catholic Netherlands
Discovered by Walsingham before anything happened
3. A ‘Golden Age’
Elizabethan Chain of Being:
God, Angels and Demons
1.Elizabeth and her court
Queen Elizabeth I reigned 1558-1603
Not expected to rule – 3rd in line after Edward and Mary
Anne Boleyn executed for treason – after miscarriage slept with her brother
Educated and brought up within the royal household
Power in Elizabethan England:
25 when she became Queen so needed to establish authority
Elizabeth could award titles, land and money-making opportunities in exchange for support
Court Life:
Court made up of officials, servants and advisors that surrounded Elizabeth including Privy
Counsellors
Centre of power, trends and fashion
Who had power?
Lord Lieutenants – appointed by the Queen + responsible for running a part of the country,
also helped raise militia and many were also on the Privy Council
Parliament – House of Lords and House of Commons – influence tax and laws but the Queen
could choose when to call parliament
Privy Council – Day-to-day running of the country. Queen could choose but had to choose
most powerful landowners. If the council was united (which rarely happened) the Queen
had to listen. Led by the Secretary of State (Walsingham and Cecil)
Justices of the Peace – Several in every county and responsible for maintaining order and
enforcing laws
2.The Difficulties of a Female Ruler
The problems Elizabeth faced:
Succession – Produce a hair to prevent civil war and to stop MQS taking over. Senior figures
wanted her to get married as soon as possible
Foreign Policy – Catholic countries wanted influence in England. Key issue was the
Netherlands where the Protestant population conflicted with the Spanish rulers
MQS – Next in line was Mary Queen of Scots who was a Catholic
Religion – Recent changes in religion had led to instability. Elizabeth seen as ‘bastard’ by
Catholics. Threat of Puritanism
Taxation – England short of money but widespread poverty
Ireland – Elizabeth considered Queen of Ireland but Ireland was a Catholic country
Marriage and Succession:
AGAINST – Foreign ruler + foreign heir. Giving birth was risky. Issue of authority within the
marriage. Remain an independent ruler.
FOR – Create an alliance with a foreign country. Produce an heir to the throne who is not
MQS.
, Potential Suitors:
Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon – French King’s brother. Elizabeth was 46 so children
not likely. He was Catholic so many people against the marriage.
King Phillip II of Spain – Very wealthy and powerful. Married to Mary but did not produce an
heir. He was also Catholic.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester – One of the Queen’s closest friends- many assumed the
two were lovers. Key figure in court and a member of the Privy Council. Wife died but
scandal surrounding her death meant that marriage between him and the Queen was almost
impossible.
The strength of Elizabeth’s authority and Essex’s Rebellion - 1601:
Essex was a favourite of the Queen’s. He became Privy Counsellor and was awarded a sweet
wine monopoly. He also pleased the Queen by successfully attacking the Spanish
Essex developed a rivalry with Robert Cecil
Involved in an argument with the Queen during a Privy council meeting and turned his back
on her. Elizabeth hit him and he was placed under house arrest
Queen sent him to Ireland to deal with rebellion, but he agreed a truce with them against
the Queen’s orders
When he returned from Ireland, he burst into the Queen’s bedroom and caught her without
a wig
No longer Queen’s favourite and had monopoly taken off him. Lost much of his wealth and
influence – began to gain followers and plot a rebellion
February 1601 – Essex took 4 Privy Councillors hostage + marched them to his London house
Robert Cecil labelled him a traitor and Essex’s supporters panicked, left and released the
hostages
Essex executed privately on 25th February after admitting that his sister Penelope was also
guilty
Elizabeth showing she would not tolerate traitors.
The Northern Rebellion - 1569:
Elizabeth would not allow her cousin the Duke of Norfolk to marry her other cousin MQS
Earl of Westmorland and Earl of Northumberland took control on Durham Cathedral and
held an illegal Catholic mass
Marched south with 4600 men but disbanded when Earl of Sussex raised an opposing army
Northumberland executed
Westmorland escaped to France
Norfolk imprisoned – cousin + close to Elizabeth. Unsavoury to kill him
The Ridolfi Plot – 1571
Led by Roberto Ridolfi an Italian banker + Norfolk
Similar to Northern Rebellion but with help from the Catholic Netherlands
Discovered by Walsingham before anything happened
3. A ‘Golden Age’
Elizabethan Chain of Being:
God, Angels and Demons
