Elizabeth鈥檚 key ministers and advisers
Role of the Privy Council
Elizabeth鈥檚 first key task was to surround herself with trusted advisers, a group called the Privy Council .
- The Privy Council were a group of powerful Someone of high rank with a title. appointed by Elizabeth. They advised Elizabeth but did not control her.
- Elizabeth chose a small group of 19 men to minimise conflict between them, but she also had to make sure no one member got too powerful or became disloyal.
- The council initially met three times a week during her reign and as the influence of the council grew they met every day.
- They advised on domestic and foreign issues such as how to handle challenges and threats, when to go to war, relations with foreign ambassadors, and supervising the enforcement of the This was an attempt made by Elizabeth I in 1559 to end the conflict in England between Catholics and Protestants and unite the country..
Elizabeth鈥檚 main advisors
1. William Cecil - Elizabeth appointed Cecil as the The senior member of the Privy Council. in 1558. He was her most important A clergyman or a head of a government department. and guided her wisely for 40 years. In 1571 he received the title Lord Burghley.
2. Robert Dudley - Earl of Leicester and a trusted adviser until he died in 1588. He and Elizabeth were very close and there were rumours that he and Elizabeth were lovers.
3. Sir Francis Walsingham - was in charge of Elizabeth鈥檚 secret service and advised on The policy of dealing with other countries or with overseas activities.. In 1586, he uncovered the plot that led to Mary, Queen of Scots鈥 execution.