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Elizabeth and Parliament Including Puritan Opposition - Coggle Diagram
Elizabeth and Parliament Including Puritan Opposition
Parliament in Elizabethan Times
Parliament had much less power than it does today - not democratic
The Queen mostly ruled by royal proclamation (royal orders)
If Elizabeth wanted to change the law or raise taxes she called Parliament
The queen could open and close Parliament whenever she wished to
MPs were not elected but were instead selected by local lords
Parliament sat for only 35 months of Elizabeth's 45 year reign and met 13 times
Between 1580 and 1603, Elizabeth called Parliament more often than previously because she needed laws and financial support to deal with religious threats and war with Spain
Elizabeth and her ministers decided what Parliament could discuss
Privy Councillors organised parliamentary business - some served as MPs
The queen appointed the speaker who decided on what could be discussed
Topics such as religion, marriage, foreign affairs and the succession could not be discussed
Increased Opposition from Parliament
Elizabeth faced more opposition from Puritan MPs
Some MPs grew in confidence and started to discuss topics that had been off limits
Privy Councillors like Cecil and Walsingham focused on foreign policy or the succession which they wanted Elizabeth to focus on
Puritans wanted freedom of speech for MPs. Puritans wanted Elizabeth to marry a Protestant prince and to make arrangements for a Protestant successor. Puritans also wanted Elizabeth to allow church groups to choose their own leaders - this was called Presbyterianism
Puritan opposition - John Stubbs and Peter Wentworth
In November 1579, a Puritan called John Stubbs wrote a pamphlet criticising Elizabeth for considering marrying a French Catholic, the duke of Anjou. Stubbs was arrested and his hand was cut off
Stubbs was imprisoned and on his release in 1581 he carried on writing and in 1589 he became an MP and criticised Elizabeth in Parliament
However, his criticisms were never treasonous - he never talked of replacing Elizabeth with another monarch, unlike the Catholics
In 1584 and 1586, Puritan MPs demanded the Church of England get rid of bishops - Elizabeth banned the debate. When three MPs discussed it outside Parliament, she had the imprisoned for a month
Two Suffolk Puritans were hanged in 1583 for spreading similar views
In 1593, Puritan MP Peter Wentworth urged Elizabeth to name a Protestant successor - Elizabeth imprisoned him in the Towe of London where he remained until his death in 1597
Examples of Complaints
1589
MPs complained about purveyances (the queen's right to buy supplies at cheap prices)
Elizabeth said this did not concern MPs, but that she would look into their complaints
1597
A monopoly was the exclusive right to make or sell a product. Elizabeth had the right to grant a monopoly to a favourite courtier. For example, she granted Walter Raleigh a monopoly in tin. MPs complained about monopolies in the 1597 Parliament
The queen agreed to look into the issue but did not take action
1601
Elizabeth had done little about monopolies and MPs complained again, much more forcefully. There was more opposition from MPs on this issue than at any other time in Elizabeth's reign
Elizabeth knew she had to compromise and made a 'Golden Speech' to Parliament flattering MPs and reinforcing how much she loved her people. She cancelled some monopolies and promised to look into others
Elizabeth's Golden Speech
Elizabeth's Golden Speech showed that she could use flattery and charm to control Parliament. The speech was printed by the Privy Council and issued for anyone to read
An extract from an MP's account of Elizabeth's 'Golden Speech' to Parliament, 1601
"I do assure you there is no prince that loves his subjects better...No Queen will ever sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, or care for my subjects or who will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good and safety than myself. For it is my desire neither to live nor reign longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never had nor shall have, any that will be more careful and loving."