Elizabethan England / 1558-1603

Elizabethan Government

Elizabeth ruled through a small central court and a wider network of local officials.

What To Remember

The court was where Elizabeth lived with nobles who advised her and displayed royal power.
The Privy Council met regularly to advise her, while Parliament only met when she called it.
Lords Lieutenant and JPs linked the queen to local government across England.

Central government

The Privy Council had 19 members and met about three times a week with the queen.

Parliament was much less powerful than it is today and was summoned only when Elizabeth needed money, advice, or laws.

This meant government was small and personal, with the queen at the centre of every major decision.

Local control

Lords Lieutenant were chosen to keep order in each county and train the local militia.

Justices of the Peace were important local gentlemen who kept order, heard minor cases, and made sure laws were carried out.

Elizabeth depended on loyal local elites, not a large professional bureaucracy, to make rule work on the ground.

How did Elizabeth keep control of both national and local government?