Court and Government

Question 1

Patronage

Answer 1

System where the Crown distributed favours to those that were seen as loyal.

Question 2

How many titles did Elizabeth give during her reign?

Answer 2

18

Question 3

Elizabeth’s courts 2 main areas

Answer 3

Privy Chamber and Presence Chamber

Question 4

Sir William Cecil

Answer 4

Lord Burghley from 1573.
He was Elizabeth’s most important and trusted adviser.

Question 5

Sir Walsingham

Answer 5

Developed an extensive spy network and an instrumental in Mary, Q of Scot’s execution.

Question 6

When did William Cecil become Lord Burghley?

Answer 6

1573

Question 7

What was Cecil first position?

Answer 7

Secretary of State

Question 8

What position did Cecil obtain later?

Answer 8

Lord Treasurer.

Question 9

Why did Elizabeth favour Cecil?

Answer 9

His administrative skills

Question 10

The role of Elizabeth’s ministers

Answer 10

Trusted advisers who helped govern.

Question 11

What right did Elizabeth believe she had?

Answer 11

‘divine right’ to rule

Question 12

How did the ministers help shape Elizabeth’s image? How did they present her?

Answer 12

Propaganda- presented her as a powerful, Protestant queen.

Question 13

Factionalism

Answer 13

Fragmentation of political system into groups competing against each other for patronage+ advancement.

Question 14

How does factionalism effect government?

Answer 14

Reduces effectiveness.

Question 15

Why did the Conservative faction get smaller?

Answer 15

In 1570s after Northern rebellion and Ridolfi Plot.

Question 16

Protestant faction

Answer 16

Most important members formed an ‘inner ring’ around Elizabeth from 1570s.

Question 17

What did Cecil and Leicester conflict over in the 1560s?

Answer 17

Elizabeth’s potential marriage.

Question 18

Who balanced fractional rivalry?

Answer 18

William Cecil

Question 19

When did William Cecil’s son (Robert) replace him?

Answer 19

1598

Question 20

Justices of the Peace in Elizabeth’s reign

Answer 20

• Poor laws increased their responsibilities.
• Rising number of JPs- by 1600s 50 per county.
• Unpaid even though workload rose.

Question 21

Lord Lieutenants in Elizabeth’s reign

Answer 21

• became permanent latter half of her reign due to war with Spain from 1585
• members of nobility
• Raised local militias, oversaw JPs, managed food supplies, collected loans, and reported local events to privy Council.

Question 22

What problems weakened Elizabeth’s council from late 1580s?

Answer 22

• number of ministers died in quick succession- by 1597 Council only had 11 members.
• failed to make immediate replacements
• absence of senior noblemen on the Council.
• Elizabeth refused to allow Burghley to retire.
• Promotion of Robert Cecil angered the Earl of Essex.

Question 23

John Neale’s ‘Puritan Choir’ thesis on the religious settlement

Answer 23

Argued Elizabeth faced pressure from radical clergymen+ their allies in the House of Commons (‘Puritan Choir’).
She had to accept a more Protestant prayer book+ settlement than she wanted.

Question 24

Revisionist thesis on religious settlement

Answer 24

Argues that Elizabeth and her ministers always intended a Protestant settlement.