Elizabeth patronage, factions and favourites
• Politics and government depended upon court
patronage, patrons and clients
Patronage
• Honours – titles, offices, pensions, trade
privileges, low rents, leases, etc
• Granted by the crown to loyal servants,
courtiers, nobles, gentry and governing class
Why?
• It supplemented low pay to ministers etc
(a salary package)
• No standing army or paid civil service – had to
rely on prospect of being rewarded to get
government policy implemented in rural areas
(similar to giving knighthoods today to
prominent businessmen and political donors)
Patrons and clients • Greater men (patrons) attracted lesser men
(clients)
• Clients looked to greater men to help further
their career especially royal patronage
• The ‘higher’ the patron the more important
they were
• Each patron and clientele had to compete
with others
• Patrons and clientele often sought to
influence royal policy
• Often royal patrons and their clientele
transformed into factions
How did Elizabeth respond?
• Ruled by factions
• She made, upheld and weakened them
• She maintained political stability by carefully
manipulating them
• She distributed favours as widely as possible
Elizabeth’s success
She did not allow anyone to manipulate her
favour.
On one occasion Leicester tried to complain to
her about her ‘well beloved’ servant, Bowyer,
who had refused to allow one of his clients into
her privy chamber to see her.
Here is her reply:
She replied with her wonted oath, “God’s death
my lord, I have wished you well, but my favour is
not so locked up for you that others shall not
share it. I have many servants unto whom I have
and will at my pleasure give my favours…if you
think to rule here, I will take a course to see you
forthcoming (thrown out). I will have here but one
mistress and no master…look that no ill come to
him…”
However,
• She could be cautious and mean. The number
of nobles and knights declined during her
reign
• She gave out many monopolies (starch, tin, fish, oil,
cloth, vinegar, salt, currants, wine etc) which pushed up
prices and put people out of work
• By 1601 there was much discontent and MPs
complained – Elizabeth responded and
allowed challenges in the law courts
1590’s
• Earl of Essex was the new favourite
• He was over prominent in Elizabeth’s favour
• His faction struggled with the Cecils and
caused a wide split at court which threatened
political stability
Essex
• He overstepped the mark and drew his sword
in the Queen’s presence and insulted her
• She promoted Cecil’s clients
• Essex led a disastrous Irish campaign in 1599
• He committed treason and he was executed
• This left the Robert Cecil faction in control
• This caused an unbalance that Elizabeth had
always sought to avoid
Difficulties
• Elizabeth’s old advisers were gone
• Younger members of the new factions were
more willing to be corrupt to gain favours
• Paying for a war meant there was less money
for patronages
From:
Queen Elizabeth l 1558-1603,
Michael A.R. Graves