Government and Politics Tudors and Stuarts 1558-1667 Government and Politics The Privy Council

The Privy Council This council developed when the King’s Council of medieval times became too large and unweildy

The Privy Council Elizabeth’s Privy Council had between 9-20 members attending at different times Elizabeth rarely attended The Privy Council had the monarch’s trust and confidence Members of the Privy Council included: Peers Knights Judges Gentlemen Bishops

The Privy Council During Elizabeth’s early years the Privy Council met in either morning or afternoon sessions three times a week During the 1590’s they met all day, every day of the week because the volume of work had grown considerably

The Privy Council The Privy Council had three functions: Advice Administration Adjudication (sitting in judgement)

The Privy Council-Advice Elizabeth often asked her Privy Councillors for advice on many topics including: her marriage prospects, Mary Queen of Scots, foreign policy, the war with Spain However, minutes were not kept and the advice was not always unanimous or taken by Elizabeth

The Privy Council-Administration The Council was predominantly concerned with the internal politics of England: Law and order The military Foreign policy Religion Commerce and trade Grievances

The Privy Council-Adjudication The Council often acted as a court of law although it wasn’t one The Council was often divided by factions in spite of Elizabeth’s reluctance to encourage such groupings 1560-80s Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) and William Cecil (Lord Burleigh) 1590s Sir Robert Cecil and the Earl of Essex

The Privy Council-Bureaucracy The Privy Council used about 40 messengers Most of the administration was carried out by: Chancery Privy Seal Office Signet Office Exchequer

The Privy Council-Chancery Chancery drafted official documents, land grants and appointments

The Privy Council-Privy Seal Office The Privy Seal Office issued the large volumes of orders and various correspondences

The Privy Council-Signet The Signet dealt with the monarch’s private correspondence

The Privy Council-Exchequer This department handled the finances The Lower Exchequer dealt with money in and out The Upper Exchequer audited the accounts

Bibliography History volume 2, Britain 1558-1667, by Robin Silcock, Longman Paul, Auckland, 1990 www.schoolhistory.co.nz

REVISION: When you have completed the PowerPoints and related worksheets get students to mind-map the ‘Government and Politics’ topics covered: The Crown The Privy Council Courts of Law Local Government Parliament’ If you are unfamiliar with the basic concepts of mind-mapping then check the ‘Mind mapping with Tony Buzan’ video found on the www.schoolhistory.co.nz site and show