Life in 16th Century Britain

• Rule
• Reign
• Have absoloute authority in war (and peace)
• Keep the peace
• Take advice from the Privy Council (members of which were chosen by the Monarch)
• Define and Implement the law
• Tax and keep the treasury
• Bear responsibility for the souls of their people.

The Monarch could excercise their prerogative (powers that allowed them to excercise personal laws - Religion, law changes, succession, etc.)

There was an issue as to whether the Monarch was superior to common law

• The Monarch
• Religion
• Social Class
• Leisure time
• Nationalism
• Education (this was the renaissance era)
• Business
• France/Spain (defending the realm)

London was the only important settlement in England at this time (Population = 40,000):

• It was where the Monarch was based
• It ended the century as the largest city in Europe

God
                          Unearthly/Divine

Monarch
                           Earthly

Aristocracy

Gentry

Yeomen farmers/Burgesses

Labourers

Rocks/Plants                     Organic

Elizabethan society was very hierarchical, but change was starting to happendue to increased entrepreneurship

- Management of the people (keep everyone happy)

- Taxation (Carried out by civil service; employed by Government)

 - Religion: Erastian Church

- Defense of the Realm:    Trade     <------- These are cheaper and more peaceful. Govt. 1st option
                                      Marriage
                                      Treaties

                                       Mercinaries
                                        Army

The Goverment at this time does not see social welfare as it's responsibility UNLESS there is potential for it to become cause for rebellion.

Consisted of Lords and Commons

Lords:
Temporal Lords: Land owners (Earls, Dukes etc)
Spiritual Lords: Bishops

Parliament was NOT permanent: The Monarch could call/dismiss it whenever they pleased.
It became powerful between 1529-1536 (the Reformation period)
 - Parliamne passes several acts at this time, including:

1534 ACT OF SUPREMACY (The law that made Henry VIII head of the Church in England)

Parliament & Elizabeth have an understanding to maintain the status quo.

Sometimes the Privy council & Parliament would 'Gang up' on the Queen (in order to manipulate her into doing what they wanted) Particularly in the case of executing Mary Queen of Scots.
 - This was achieved by the Privy Council 'sponsoring' (basically bribing) MP's.