These summary notes cover the Elizabethan era, exploring the major events, cultural developments, and societal changes during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. From the flourishing of the arts and exploration to the challenges of religious conflict and social hierarchy, these notes provide a clear overv...
UNIT 1 - GOVERNMENT:
She used courts to show her wealth and power, including dances, plays, musicals, feasts
and expedition huntings.
Using her power: Elizabeth used patronage where she gave people wealth, land or jobs to
them in return for loyalty and support. Courtiers would hope to gain Elizabeth’s approval
known as a favour. Privy Chamber: ladies in waiting attended the Queen here. Had to show
loyalty and report on any gossip in court. Privy Council contained a small group of advisers
closest to Elizabeth. She controlled them and made sure they did not got lots of power by
giving rewards for loyalty, flattery, dismissing them. Secretary Of State: Sir Francis
Walsingham and Sir William Cecil. Walsingham used courtiers to try and influence
Elizabeth. Cecil also used others to influence her but she trusted Cecil more than anyone.
Giving patronage to nobles: nobles had great influence on their lands.queen relied on them
but Nobles needed the queen more for wealth, position, job and influence. Elizabeth
offered patronage widely, for example she allowed some Catholic nobles to attend court so
she did not lose their loyalty.
The rebellion of the Earl of Essex: first appeared in court in 1584 when 18 and became the
queens favourite quickly. Upset the queen when he joined francis drakes attack on lisbon
and married without her permission. Tried to gain the queens favour by trying to end a
rebellion in ireland but failed and elizabeth banned removed all his privileges. He started
gaining large groups of supporters but was arrested and executed for treason.
Parliament: Only met when Elizabeth called it. Only met 13 times in her 45 year reign.
Elizabeth has to call parliament if she wanted to change law, raise taxes or make new
punishments. Controlled her parliament by picking suitable mps. Privy council organised
what was discussed. Banned everyone form talking about religion, her marriage and her
successor. Many mps were angry at the monopolies she granted. It allowed courtiers to be
the only person to make a product. Elizabeth accepted concerns and made ‘the golden
speech’ which flattered mps and boasted about how much she loved her people. She
silenced any mps that criticised her religious policies by banning them, imprisoning them or
sometimes even worse. For example, John Stubbes wrote a pamphlet criticising the queen
and got his hand chopped off. He later became an mp and criticised the decisions made by
her but never committed treason.
Her people: lord lieutenants were carefully chosen and had responsibility for a county. JPs
were unpaid officials who helped day to day business. Around 40 in each county. Lord
lieutenants advised privy councillors on problems. JPs ran tax collecting, courts and
punishments. Most JPs were loyal and hardworking.
How she kept control: She used propaganda to create a positive image of herself and used
censorship to silence haters. Royal Progresses let Elizabeth be seen by more of her subjects
and pageants were held in honour of the Queen. All Publications and Plays were checked to
make sure they did not go against the queen. She controlled portraits of herself to make her
look more young and powerful. Portraits of her looking old were burnt. Praying and
Preachings were used as every subject had to attend Church.
, UNIT 2 - THE CATHOLIC THREAT:
The Act of Uniformity: All worship should be the same.
The Act of Supremacy: Elizabeth was the Supreme Governor of the Church.
The Act of Persuasions: Raised the fines for not attending to £20.
The Act against Priests: Allowed death penalty to anyone who helped a Catholic Priest.
Recusancy Act: Allowed government to take ⅔ land owned by recusant who didn’t pay
fines.
The Act Restraining Recusants: Catholics had to stay within 5 mile of their home at all times.
1580: Pope sends Catholics from abroad to England. Seminary Priests conducted mass and
Jesuit Priests persuaded to become Catholic. They hid in priest holes in large Catholic
families. Walsingham built a network of spies to learn plans and movement of them.
1581: Influential priest Edmund Campion wrote a pamphlet promoting Catholicism.
Another important priest Robert Persons mange to flee England undetected.
1585: Act against Priest caused ‘the bloody question’. Priest were asked who they would
support if someone invaded who supported the pope. If Elizabeth they lost credibility as a
priest and if the invader they got executed.
1586: Margaret Clitherow was tortured and killed as she refused to admit she helped
priests.
Interpretations as to why the Catholic rebuild failed: 1. Priests didn’t focus where most
recusants were, the north. 2. Priest focussed on only gentry. 3. Seminary and Jesuit Priests
wasted time trying to figure out what to do. 4. The spy network worked really well.
Mary Queen of Scots: She was Elizabeth’s Catholic cousin. Fled to England in 1568 and she
was imprisoned by Elizabeth. Keeping Mary in England caused problems of elizabeth: she
had no heir so Mary was next in line which gave Catholics hope. She was the figurehead for
rebellion. In 1570, the Pope excommunicated her and in 1580, the Pope said it was not a
sin to murder Elizabeth.
Throckmorton Plot 1583: No proof Mary was involved. Was discovered by Walsingham’s
spies and it involved the French Duke who planned on invading England. Throckmorton
was executed. Bond of Association was made and meant mary would be executed if
someone committed treason, even if she didn’t know about it.
Babington Plot 1586: Proof of Mary’s involvement. Babington communicated with Mary
through coded letters about plotting to kill Elizabeth. Letter found by the spies and
Babington under torture admitted Mary agreed the plan.
Mary’s Trial and Execution: Mary said God chose her and they had no right to trial her.
Babington gave evidence against her under torture. Elizabeth delayed signing death
warrant as she did not believe in killing another Queen. Mary found guilty and executed in
1587.
Spanish Armada: Catholics shot and killed Prince William of Orange. England signed treaty
with the dutch and fought against Spain in the Netherlands. Spanish had to collect soldiers
form Spain to attack England. Francis Drake surprise attacked Spain which delayed them
significantly. Bad planning, inexperienced leadership and bad weather for the Spanish was
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