Relationship with Parliament

• What was Elizabethan Parliament like?

  • The Elizabethan Parliament was very different to the Parliament of today 
  • It was much less powerful or representative 
  •  There was no Prime Minister and no political parties 
  • Members of Parliament (MPs) were all men, and they were all voted in by wealthy landowners
• How did Elizabeth tightly control Parliament?

  • Parliament could only meet if Elizabeth called it, and she set the agenda.
  • Parliament could only talk about what Elizabeth allowed it to discuss.
  • Elizabeth mainly used Parliament to grant her taxes - this was her main income.
  • Elizabeth could close (prorogue) Parliament at any time.
  • Parliament only met 13 times in her 45 year reign for an average of three weeks per year.
  • Elizabeth made sure her Privy Councillors sat in Parliament to help control proceedings
• During Elizabeth’s reign however, MPs became more assertive and influential
• MPs were in conflict with Elizabeth over the following issues:

  • Marriage issue 
  • Religion issue 
  • Freedom of speech issue 
  • Monopolies issue
• Some MPs felt Elizabeth should name a suitor to marry and produce an heir in order to secure the line of succession . Elizabeth’s response was that this was her private business and she would marry when and if it was convenient
• "At present it is not convenient; nor never shall be without some peril unto you and certain danger unto me."

  Elizabeth I asks Parliament to stop pressing her on the issue of her marriage , 1566
• Elizabeth was a Protestant and re-instated the Church of England when she came to power, but wanting to avoid religious conflict she offered a ‘middle-way’ which did allow some Catholic worship and traditions
•  Some Puritan MPs disagreed with the 'middle way' compromise and challenged Elizabeth by threatening to not grant her taxes
• Elizabeth said religion was a ‘matter of state’, not for Parliament, and forbade them to discuss religion
• Protestants - Christians who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation . They believe in the teachings of the Bible but reject the authority of the Pope
• Catholics - Members of the Roman Catholic Church , which was the Church in Western Europe before the Reformation. The Pope was head of the Church
• Puritans - Strict Protestants who wanted to get rid of ritual in church services and lead a plain and simple life
• In 1576 MP , Peter Wentworth, complained that MPs were not free to discuss whatever they liked. Elizabeth sent him to the Tower of London for a month for speaking out
• Monopolies gave individual nobles and merchants the right to manufacture or sell particular goods
• Elizabeth intended for monopolies to promote business and boost the economy, but because one person now controlled the supply of a particular product it meant that prices rose
• Elizabeth made money from granting the monopoly licences
• Monopoly licences - A royal licence which gave individuals the sole right to manufacture or sell a product
• Towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign some MPs felt monopolies were unfair and were being abused. They protested against them in 1597-1598 and 1601 and would not grant taxes until they had been withdrawn
• Towards the end of her reign , Elizabeth did compromise and withdrew some monopolies. She also made a long speech flattering Parliament, which became known as her ‘Golden Speech’ which again showed her to be a clever and shrewd ruler