1558
Cecil appointed as Secretary of State
1562
Elizabeth ill with smallpox
Dudley on PC
1563
parliamentary trouble over Queen’s marriage
1564
Dudley Earl of Leicster
1566
more trouble over Queen’s marriage
1571
Cecil made Lord Bourghley
1572
Cecil Lord treasurer
1573
Walsingham Secretary of State
1576
Issue of Free Speech
1579
Courtship with Alencon
1581-82
renewed courtship with Alencon
Why was Cecil chosen and what was his main role?
Well trained and experienced, close to Elizabeth and very careful.
Ran Royal Secretariat, chaired PC, daily adviser, drafted her proclamations
What was his influence and relationship with the Queen like?
very close and rewarded by her, she was close to his family, he was a channel for people to seek favors from the Queen
What did Cecil d with regards the Council and Admin?
secretary of state
1572- Lord treasurer
1561- Master of Wards
dealt with letters asking favors
thought succession would stop catholic plots
1560s oversaw French withdrawal from Scotland
1586- part of commission for executing MQS
How did Cecil use propaganda and intelligence?
wrote execution of Justice in 1583, oversaw punishing RCs
‘Hired pens’ to convince the Queen
Developed intelligence service for plots
Role and members of PC
Meet regularly, trusted advisers, E had regular reports on meetings, main part of govt, consider petitions and secure security.
Newbies: Parr, Cecil, Bacon, Knollys, Cave, Earl of Bedford- loyal and dedicated
Worked for Mary: Cheney, Petre- very experienced
Nobility: ensure loyalty in respective areas
Main lads: Cecil, Dudley, Bacon and Parry
Other parts of govt (court, royal prerogative, household, parliament, law courts)
Courtiers- daily access to E, displayed power and nobles enforced law in areas, relied on Dudley, Essex and Raleigh.
Prerogative- passed laws, open and close Parliament, decide Councillors and courtiers, war, settlement and patronage
Household- Privy chamber, companions and couldn’t have influence.
Parliament- controlled by arrests, vetos and delays. Council wrote agenda. P could pass laws, raise taxes and W had to ask them for subsidies.
Law Courts- law and order locally, appointed by crown and gentry, variable influence.
Main discussions on PC
intervention of Scotland, 1559- Cecil pushes sending troops will end French presence permanently
Smallpox, 1562- fail to reach succession and are divided
Marriage, 1566- Leicester and Knollys oppose Sussex’s choice of Archduke Charles
MQS, 1568- eventually E agrees with PC for a trial. PC and E were at an impasse.
Massacre @ St Barts- Cecil convinced of RC plot so guards MQS, defends South Coast and entertains French Ambassador
1570s- unity under Walsingham because of connections and general support for Protestantism.
Duke of Alencon, 1579- day long meeting, Leicester and Walsingham encourage public to protest match. Queen pulls out of negotations.
Assasination, 1584- Bond of Association in response to murder of William Body and signed by all PC.
Dutch Rebels- Leicester proposes aid in 1576 but Cecil cautious. Elizabeth avoids issue but agrees in 1584.
How did PC change?
Dudley and Howard councillors- balanced RC and Prots.
Hatton Lord Chancellor and Hunsdon joins.
balance nobles and others- later she is closer to nobles
Later- smaller, mostly officials, more interrelated so less varied opinions
General methods to control parliament.
call and dissovlve parliament eg 1566 closes it early
call them infrequently eg only 13 times
speaker a royal nominee
PC and Cecil direct parliament
She closed it quickly after subsidies
Addresses directly eg 1563- Cecil tones down her speeches
Concessions eg 1566 temporarily talk about succession
Vetos- 1571, punishment for recursants and Bills for Church Reform
Queens control of Parliament- MQS
P- speaker sympathetic to execution and bacon outlines opinion. Inter-house debates to keep up pressure. Cecil uses Ridolfi plot to push Norfolk’s execution. 1586, speeches condemning Mary and joint petition
Q- convinced by power and determination
Queens control of Parliament- Freedom of Speech
Wentworth challenges that P can’t discuss marriage, succession, religion and foreign policy in 1576
HOC stop him and imprison him- loyal to E
Queens control of Parliament- Religion
P- prepare arguments, organised w/support from Bishops for reform
Q- suspend Strickland but later returned because of outcry
Debates over parliament
Neale- controlled by individual gentry and Puritanism
Elton- common aims but some disputes, tension united to convince Queen
Current- controlled, put Queen and stability 1st
Ways Elizabeth successfully exploited gender
Women in privy Chamber useful in collecting gossip and loyal
‘Virgin Queen’
Inspires loyalty in men eg Hatton stays single for her
Flattery eg Fairee Queene and biblical comparisons
Acension Day celebrates her and conmpete for favors
Alencon her ‘frog’ and Dudley her ‘eyes
Temper controlled whole court
evidence Elizabeth didn’t successfully exploit gender
women not part of govt
Knox’s anti female ruler literature
Jealousy- Shelton’s marriage and saw Dudley’s marriage as betrayal
Lady’s in waiting used against her- Dudley encourages them to cry over plans to marry Alencon
Reasons for not marrying
Psychological- unhappy marriages ans sexual abuse vs only 3 when mother died and abuse speculative
Suitability- can’t marry monarch but needs equal rank vs 1554 treaty showed she could marry monarch, Alencon of right status
Religion- needs Protestant vs could restrict Catholics to private mass and Phillip still willing to marry her
Public- Xenophobic + want Protestant vs right candidate might change this
Fear of faction- Dudley or English suitor would divide court vs not a problem with popular suitor
Independence- wants control vs marriage unlikely to diminish her power
why was there pressure for her to marry
Provide heir as James VI was born
Smallpox scare
Needs support of a King
Suitors- Alencon
not very religious
‘wooed’ her 1579 and 1581
gave him up ‘for her people’
public opposed, PC divided and Elizabeth scared of birth
Suitors- Dudley
unpopular courtier legacy of traitors in family Mysterious death of wife could taint E's rep Cecil opposed She tried to marry him to MQS
Suitors- Archduke Charles
Hasburgh, Catholic and backed by Phillip
she showed interest but said no
1564 he was rebacked by Cecil due to Smallpox and need to undermine Dudley
Essex negotiates but death of MQS and events in Scotland mean E feels safe enough to say no
Suitors- Charles XI
Dudley proposes the French king to oppose Charles
E couldn’t marry a monarch
As relations with Spain worsened alliance with France attractive
Failed due to religion in 1571
Suitors- Eric of Sweden
Bro John of Finland promotes him
Protestant so suitable
John’s spending in London make match popular
Eric calls back John as he thinks her is courting Queen
Impact of marriage and succession on Foreign Affairs
Henry II and Guises back MQS- threat decreased when she returns to England
MQS sends envoy to discuss succession in 1561
Leicester marriage with MQS rejected and instead she considers Don Carlos worrying Elizabeth
MQS falls and James VI unofficial successor
E’s holding Mary- her return could cause problems for Scotland
Spain- supports Mary and involved in some of the plots
Don John plan to rescue and marry Mary- Alencon is ineffective at stopping this
Threat muted until 1588
Impact of marriage and succession on Domestic Affairs
Pressure from Parliament- 1559 petition for marriage, 1563 HOL push marriage and preamble about marriage in subsidy Bill scorched by Queen, 1566 Molyneux and Sadler want decision because of illness, Katherine Grey and MQS having sons
Elizabeth opposes- thought naming successor would increase plots and she utlined to Parliament it was her prerogative
Public Pressure- opposition to French match vis Stubb’s pamphlet who looses right hand but gets sympathy from public