Elizabeth’s Privy Council
The privy council was a group of English powerful noble men that were appointed by
Elizabeth, they acted as her main advisors, key members of the government and helped her
govern England. Elizabeth only chose 19 privy councillors so that she could minimise the
conflict between them. Elizabeth wanted to appoint members of the gentry, who were just
below the nobility. She seemed to prefer to appoint and then patronise the educated,
professional and ambitious politicians who wanted to please her. She was also happy to
have rival factions working together, this meant she would always have support depending
on whichever way the argument landed. The privy council also contained a number of men
from Mary’s previous privy council to ensure continuity. William Cecil (Lord Burghley) was a
very important member of the privy council as he was Elizabeth’s chief minister. William
Cecil was a member of the gentry and former politician. He was the secretary of state, which
was the most powerful minister and all correspondence had to be passed through him. Cecil
was loyal, but he knew how to manage the Queen. He was a stabiliser.
In addition, Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) was one of Elizabeth’s favourite members of
the council as intimate and flirtatious with her. He was the ‘Master of the Horse’ and was in
charge of Elizabeth’s safety. Dudley was a committed puritan which allowed Elizabeth to
ensure continuity. He often disagreed with Cecil about religion and foreign affairs. This
meant that Elizabeth would always have support depending on the argument. He was a very
ambitious and radical character, who liked to stir things up. Finally, Sir Francis Walsingham
was Elizabeth’s spy master. He was a member of the gentry and a former MP. He was a keen
Puritan and the secretary of State for foreign affairs. In addition, he was in charge of
Elizabeth’s secret service and controlling spies and informers and he often disagreed with
Cecil, which meant Elizabeth had support whatever the argument was about.
The privy council was a group of English powerful noble men that were appointed by
Elizabeth, they acted as her main advisors, key members of the government and helped her
govern England. Elizabeth only chose 19 privy councillors so that she could minimise the
conflict between them. Elizabeth wanted to appoint members of the gentry, who were just
below the nobility. She seemed to prefer to appoint and then patronise the educated,
professional and ambitious politicians who wanted to please her. She was also happy to
have rival factions working together, this meant she would always have support depending
on whichever way the argument landed. The privy council also contained a number of men
from Mary’s previous privy council to ensure continuity. William Cecil (Lord Burghley) was a
very important member of the privy council as he was Elizabeth’s chief minister. William
Cecil was a member of the gentry and former politician. He was the secretary of state, which
was the most powerful minister and all correspondence had to be passed through him. Cecil
was loyal, but he knew how to manage the Queen. He was a stabiliser.
In addition, Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) was one of Elizabeth’s favourite members of
the council as intimate and flirtatious with her. He was the ‘Master of the Horse’ and was in
charge of Elizabeth’s safety. Dudley was a committed puritan which allowed Elizabeth to
ensure continuity. He often disagreed with Cecil about religion and foreign affairs. This
meant that Elizabeth would always have support depending on the argument. He was a very
ambitious and radical character, who liked to stir things up. Finally, Sir Francis Walsingham
was Elizabeth’s spy master. He was a member of the gentry and a former MP. He was a keen
Puritan and the secretary of State for foreign affairs. In addition, he was in charge of
Elizabeth’s secret service and controlling spies and informers and he often disagreed with
Cecil, which meant Elizabeth had support whatever the argument was about.
