Throughout her reign, Elizabeth I contained her ministers with masterly
political skill.
Controlling the Privy Council + Ministerial Appointments
Ealy reconstruction + loyalty management
- Between 40-50 members during Mary’s reign – Elizabeth reduced it to 19 at start
of reign
o Shows early resolve to limit factions and streamline decision-making
- She didn’t announce many positions early to ensure that Mary’s councillors
wouldn’t turn on her.
- Choice of William Cecil = political relationship lasted almost 40 years.
o = described by the Spanish ambassador as ‘the man who does everything’
Highlights Elizabeths reliance on, but control over, a loyal servant.
o Shows Elizabeths skill in creating a controllable, dependable council
through selective appointments and LT loyalty-building.
Decline in control in the 1590’s
- a number of ministers died in quick succession e.g. Leicester in 1588 +
Walshingham in 1590 + Burley = 1598
- By 1597, the council only had 11 members.
o = Elizabeth failed to make immediate replacements = instead relying on
the middle-aged sons of her former ministers who lacked their father’s
political skill (e.g. Robert Cecil)
o + absence of senior noblemen Paul Hammer = absence of great
aristocrats weakened her council’s authority + political balance.
- Suggests that although control was strong earlier, by the 1590’s her skills
declined – showing less masterful containment in later years.
Fractional Rivalries
Manipulating court factions
- Elizabeth benefited from rivalry between Leicester + Burghley and Essex + Cecil
= using their competition to secure loyalty.
- 1570’s = debate between Leicester _ Burghley = whether to send troops to
Netherlands.
- 1598: Cecil wanted peace with Spain, Essex wanted war. Elizabeth ultimately
followed Cecil’s advice
o Shows Elizabeths sill in exploiting rivalry to her advantage – she remained
the ultimate decision maker.
Loss on control – Essex Rebellion
- Essex was humiliated after failed campaign in Ireland, 1599 [he made peace
without Elizabeths consent = showing she did not have control over her ministers]
= stripped of monopoly on sweet wines and eventually rebelled in 1601.
o Although rebellion failed = exposed Elizabeths weakening grip – she had
let factionalism grow too personal.
- The rebellion illustrates a moment of breakdown – containment was lost, even if
ultimately restored.
,Succession
Refusal to name a successor
- Elizabeth’s decision = never too get married = help fractional rivalries
- 1562 = Elizabeth stricken with small pox = fears that she may die without leaving
a successor = a succession crisis within her ministers.
o Her councillors recognised that her failure to provide a successor = risk
foreign invasion.
o = 1563 - A large number of MPs urged Elizabeth to marry due to small pox.
o // Elizabeth = angry = royal prerogative
o = demonstrates political skill – she kept control over the debate, denied
ministers interference + retained ultimate authority over succession.
- 1566 = birth of James VI, Scotland
o = 1566 when they did it again = Elizabeth prevented the passage of bills
for further religious reforms which Cecil wanted.
o = Robert Dudley + William Hebet = panned from Presence Cahmber
= demonstrating her firm control – she protected her control over
succession policy by punishing overreach, reinforcing her position
as ruler.
Elizabeth showed political skill throughout much of her reign — especially in her early
control of council appointments and in exploiting factionalism. However, in her later
years, her political containment weakened, particularly due to deaths of key ministers
and the fallout with Essex. Still, her ability to reassert authority (e.g. after the Essex
Rebellion) and assert royal prerogative (e.g. over the succession) suggests her control,
though challenged, was often successfully reasserted.
,How successful was Elizabeths government
Councillors + the Privy Council
Mary’s councillors made no attempt to interfere with lawful successors as HVIII
defined.
Consistency of councillors throughout her reign
o William (political partnership last 40 years) + Robert Cecil
Secretary of the state (managed all state matters + admin)
o Walsingham = principal secretary + her Spy master.
o = were either friends or relatives to the Queen or Cecil.
Elizabeth keeps notes which she used to question councillors closely + catch them
out.
Elizabeth promoted councillors = encouraging them to compete for rewards.
There was division in the Privy Council
o 1562 = Elizabth + council disagree over her wish to meet Mary.
o 1586 = division over Mary’s death warrant = Elizabeth reluctantly signs.
Not fully in control.
o 1590s = Cecil v Essex.
She failed to keep control over Essex – 1599 + Ireland = he made peace without
Elizabeths blessing + went against her.
Parliament
Elizabeth had total control over parliament = total control (HOWEVER = ALSO
SHOWS THAT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH PARLIAMENT WAS BAD)
o right to veto – she vetoed Puritan reforms and against MQOS.
o 1566 parliament wanted to discuss the issue of succession. Elizabeth was
angry and dissolved parliament shortly after.
o Only 13 sessions in 44 years.
o Over her reign, she refused the royal assent to over 60 bills.
Golden Speech in 1601 = her last parliament – after the relationship between the
queen + parliament broke down (issue of monopolies).
On nearly every occasion, Elizabeth received the amount of money she asked for.
By 1593, many of the traditional methods of parliamentary management began to
have less success.
Queens temper worsened with age – 1593 parliament Peter Wentworth.
Relationship completely breaks down in 1601 due to the issues of monopolies.
o = The Crowns officers lost control over the House of Commons.
o = Worsened by Robert Cecil who lacked skill as a parliamentary manager
+ few resources.
o = ended with the compromise of 1601 Golden Speech.
Rebellion
- Northern Rebellion
o 450 executed = shows that the rebels were defeated + acts as a deterrent
// also is a bit extreme – perhaps she feels her throne/ authority is
threatened.
, o Gov so strong they were able to defeat some of the most influential
families (Percy + Neville)
o Limited the influence of M.Q.S as ended the marriage with her + Norfolk.
o // shows they hadn’t delt with religious settlement effectively = a
CATHOLIC rebellion.
- Essex Rebellion
o Fractional rivalry in gov = dominated affairs (Essex + Cecil)
o Queen openly challenged = Essex had to be stopped to draw weapon +
queen hits him = shows that her authority is threatened again.
o Gov. handled it effectively – easily defeated.
o Shows Eliz gov. had total control over councillors – taking away Essex
monopoly = left with nothing.
political skill.
Controlling the Privy Council + Ministerial Appointments
Ealy reconstruction + loyalty management
- Between 40-50 members during Mary’s reign – Elizabeth reduced it to 19 at start
of reign
o Shows early resolve to limit factions and streamline decision-making
- She didn’t announce many positions early to ensure that Mary’s councillors
wouldn’t turn on her.
- Choice of William Cecil = political relationship lasted almost 40 years.
o = described by the Spanish ambassador as ‘the man who does everything’
Highlights Elizabeths reliance on, but control over, a loyal servant.
o Shows Elizabeths skill in creating a controllable, dependable council
through selective appointments and LT loyalty-building.
Decline in control in the 1590’s
- a number of ministers died in quick succession e.g. Leicester in 1588 +
Walshingham in 1590 + Burley = 1598
- By 1597, the council only had 11 members.
o = Elizabeth failed to make immediate replacements = instead relying on
the middle-aged sons of her former ministers who lacked their father’s
political skill (e.g. Robert Cecil)
o + absence of senior noblemen Paul Hammer = absence of great
aristocrats weakened her council’s authority + political balance.
- Suggests that although control was strong earlier, by the 1590’s her skills
declined – showing less masterful containment in later years.
Fractional Rivalries
Manipulating court factions
- Elizabeth benefited from rivalry between Leicester + Burghley and Essex + Cecil
= using their competition to secure loyalty.
- 1570’s = debate between Leicester _ Burghley = whether to send troops to
Netherlands.
- 1598: Cecil wanted peace with Spain, Essex wanted war. Elizabeth ultimately
followed Cecil’s advice
o Shows Elizabeths sill in exploiting rivalry to her advantage – she remained
the ultimate decision maker.
Loss on control – Essex Rebellion
- Essex was humiliated after failed campaign in Ireland, 1599 [he made peace
without Elizabeths consent = showing she did not have control over her ministers]
= stripped of monopoly on sweet wines and eventually rebelled in 1601.
o Although rebellion failed = exposed Elizabeths weakening grip – she had
let factionalism grow too personal.
- The rebellion illustrates a moment of breakdown – containment was lost, even if
ultimately restored.
,Succession
Refusal to name a successor
- Elizabeth’s decision = never too get married = help fractional rivalries
- 1562 = Elizabeth stricken with small pox = fears that she may die without leaving
a successor = a succession crisis within her ministers.
o Her councillors recognised that her failure to provide a successor = risk
foreign invasion.
o = 1563 - A large number of MPs urged Elizabeth to marry due to small pox.
o // Elizabeth = angry = royal prerogative
o = demonstrates political skill – she kept control over the debate, denied
ministers interference + retained ultimate authority over succession.
- 1566 = birth of James VI, Scotland
o = 1566 when they did it again = Elizabeth prevented the passage of bills
for further religious reforms which Cecil wanted.
o = Robert Dudley + William Hebet = panned from Presence Cahmber
= demonstrating her firm control – she protected her control over
succession policy by punishing overreach, reinforcing her position
as ruler.
Elizabeth showed political skill throughout much of her reign — especially in her early
control of council appointments and in exploiting factionalism. However, in her later
years, her political containment weakened, particularly due to deaths of key ministers
and the fallout with Essex. Still, her ability to reassert authority (e.g. after the Essex
Rebellion) and assert royal prerogative (e.g. over the succession) suggests her control,
though challenged, was often successfully reasserted.
,How successful was Elizabeths government
Councillors + the Privy Council
Mary’s councillors made no attempt to interfere with lawful successors as HVIII
defined.
Consistency of councillors throughout her reign
o William (political partnership last 40 years) + Robert Cecil
Secretary of the state (managed all state matters + admin)
o Walsingham = principal secretary + her Spy master.
o = were either friends or relatives to the Queen or Cecil.
Elizabeth keeps notes which she used to question councillors closely + catch them
out.
Elizabeth promoted councillors = encouraging them to compete for rewards.
There was division in the Privy Council
o 1562 = Elizabth + council disagree over her wish to meet Mary.
o 1586 = division over Mary’s death warrant = Elizabeth reluctantly signs.
Not fully in control.
o 1590s = Cecil v Essex.
She failed to keep control over Essex – 1599 + Ireland = he made peace without
Elizabeths blessing + went against her.
Parliament
Elizabeth had total control over parliament = total control (HOWEVER = ALSO
SHOWS THAT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH PARLIAMENT WAS BAD)
o right to veto – she vetoed Puritan reforms and against MQOS.
o 1566 parliament wanted to discuss the issue of succession. Elizabeth was
angry and dissolved parliament shortly after.
o Only 13 sessions in 44 years.
o Over her reign, she refused the royal assent to over 60 bills.
Golden Speech in 1601 = her last parliament – after the relationship between the
queen + parliament broke down (issue of monopolies).
On nearly every occasion, Elizabeth received the amount of money she asked for.
By 1593, many of the traditional methods of parliamentary management began to
have less success.
Queens temper worsened with age – 1593 parliament Peter Wentworth.
Relationship completely breaks down in 1601 due to the issues of monopolies.
o = The Crowns officers lost control over the House of Commons.
o = Worsened by Robert Cecil who lacked skill as a parliamentary manager
+ few resources.
o = ended with the compromise of 1601 Golden Speech.
Rebellion
- Northern Rebellion
o 450 executed = shows that the rebels were defeated + acts as a deterrent
// also is a bit extreme – perhaps she feels her throne/ authority is
threatened.
, o Gov so strong they were able to defeat some of the most influential
families (Percy + Neville)
o Limited the influence of M.Q.S as ended the marriage with her + Norfolk.
o // shows they hadn’t delt with religious settlement effectively = a
CATHOLIC rebellion.
- Essex Rebellion
o Fractional rivalry in gov = dominated affairs (Essex + Cecil)
o Queen openly challenged = Essex had to be stopped to draw weapon +
queen hits him = shows that her authority is threatened again.
o Gov. handled it effectively – easily defeated.
o Shows Eliz gov. had total control over councillors – taking away Essex
monopoly = left with nothing.
