Elizabeth I - Local and Regional Government

• government relied on men in the community since the government lacked the equivalent of a modern professional civil sevice (or the money to buy one)
• growing tendency of 16th century government to intefere in the local communities (to instruct parish priests on how to conduct services or arrange poor releif) was important
• increasing scope of government activity inevitably involved placing more work on unpaid government classes, who took on the work because of the prestige / influence the role carried in the community

Justices of the Peace:

• key figures in local government - they were appointed from the gentry / wealthy families and merchant elites in the towns
• responsibilities included maintaining the rule of law by settling disputes, punishing offenders and administering a range of policies…