ABSTRACT
The monarchy shone brightest when it reflected the glow of the attendant peerage, and the dignity of the Queen was enhanced by the dignity of her nobles. The second reason was more prosaic and more important: the peers had power, power the Queen feared and power she had to harness. The Duke of Norfolk was unique: no other magnate had his particular combination of great wealth, vast and compact estates, a liberty, a loyal tenantry, electoral influence and military strength. In the reign of Elizabeth the leading role of the magnate in county government was sometimes institutionalised in the lord lieutenancy, which gave command of the local militia and titular headship of local administration. The electoral patronage of the nobility also shows their local power and the Crown's reliance upon it. Nobles often controlled elections and Crown management of the Commons required good relations with patrons. Queen Elizabeth restricted the number of nobles and she kept them under surveillance.
