Conflict with Parliament

Elizabeth I and her Parliament

Parliament's power increased over the 16th century. A historical debate has developed over whether conflict between Crown and parliament increased during Elizabeth’s reign.

Neale’s ‘Puritan Choir’ Thesis

A historian called Neale developed a thesis on the role of Parliament:
- Parliament’s increasing importance, especially in religious matters, increasingly encouraged factionalism and opposition to royal authority in the Commons.
- A group of Puritans (the ‘Puritan Choir’) demanded more Protestant reforms for the Church of England.
- The Puritan Choir is evidence of a more organised Commons that was prepared to contest Elizabeth’s policies.

Evidence to support Neale's thesis

The Commons angered Elizabeth I by discussing the succession in 1566 and religious reform in 1593.
There were conflicts between the Commons and Queen over monopolies in 1601. The Queen granted the Common's demands.
Between 1563 and 1566, at least 40 MPs (working together) pressed for more strongly Protestant religious reform.
The Commons asserted their rights:
- To have free speech in 1576 and 1593.
- To settle an election dispute in a Norfolk constituency in 1586.

Revisionist thesis

Historians such as Elton interpreted the Parliament differently to Neale. This different view is called revisionism.
There was more cooperation than conflict. Any opposition was infrequent, not organised, and never a serious challenge to Elizabeth I.
Any disagreements were usually working out policies, not actual conflicts.
There were only 13 parliaments, on average 10 weeks each, in a 45-year reign. The rest of the time Elizabeth ruled through the Privy Council and its machinery.

Evidence to support the revisionist thesis

Most of the time, the Commons gave Elizabeth what she wanted.
Elizabeth forbade both the Commons and the Privy Council from discussing her marriage and succession.
Parliament was effectively under the control of the Privy Council and nobility. At least a third of MPs were nominated by a noble patron, not elected.
The Commons conceded to the Lord Chancellor over the 1586 Norfolk election.
There was no general, concerted support for freedom of speech.

Parliament's Sitting in 1601

The main issue which MPs wanted to address in 1601 was the abuse of monopolies. This session was Elizabeth’s final parliament.

Reasons for summoning Parliament

Elizabeth summoned parliament to replenish the Crown’s coffers. These had been exhausted by England’s campaigns in Ireland and Spain.

Monopoly rights

Over the course of her reign, Elizabeth granted several monopoly rights. These were highly lucrative.
Elizabeth granted these rights to merchants or nobles who, in exchange, gave favours to the crown.
Many MPs believed this was unfair as it raised the price of goods. They had raised the issue in 1571 and 1597. However, Elizabeth had not addressed the issue.
Parliament criticised the Crown and argued it was an abuse of her royal privilege.

Elizabeth’s response

Elizabeth intervened in the issue to appease Parliament.
She invited 141 MPs to her palace. There, she delivered a flattering speech (now referred to as the ‘Golden Speech’).
Historians argue this demonstrates Elizabeth’s shrewdness.
Mervyn (2001): "She [Elizabeth] preserved her prerogative and subsidies by conceding to Parliament's demands."
Elizabeth agreed to abolish some of the monopoly patents.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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