Breadth Study 1: Crown and Parliament Flashcards
Why did the relationship between crown and parliament come under strain and when
1585- because England went to war with Spain (until 1604)
What was Elizabeth forced to do because of the War with Spain
Forced to call parliament more regularly to raise taxation
-created the development and confidence of parliament
What were the main concerns of parliament in 1590s
-The queens’ and her officials’ misuse of monopolies
-high taxation
-abuse of royal prerogative to grant monopolies
Why did Elizabeth grant monopolies
Due to the ongoing war, had less money for patronage
-Courtiers would pay for the privilege
Example of Elizabeth granting monopolies
Walter Raleigh had monopolies in tin and playing cards
-system appeared corrupt, created tension between 1597-1601
What did MPs do in 1597
-complaints over monopolies
-some MPs wanted to introduce a parliamentary bill to tackle the issue
-PETITIONED Elizabeth instead (did not want to challenge her royal prerogative directly)
How did Elizabeth diffuse the 1597 situation
Promised that all monopoly licences would be examined
What did the 1597 parliament represent
-First direct criticism of Elizabeth’s policies
-although no challenge to her prerogative
-Extent to which parliament’s confidence had grown
Why was the Common’s anger more extreme in 1601
-Elizabeth called for more taxation
-BUT had done nothing about her promise to deal with monopolies
1601 Parliament -MPs with legal training
253 MPs- had also come across monopolies in law courts and were unable to get justice
What unprecedented event happened in parliament in 1601
-A mob burst into parliament, begging MPs to do something about the abuse of monopolies
How did Elizabeth respond to the discontent of 1601
-Met with a delegation of 140 MPs and gave her ‘golden speech’
-also received the taxation she initially called for
What was Elizabeth’s golden speech
-admitted to some ‘lapses of error’
-still upheld her prerogative rights
-appeared gracious but conceded very little
-triumph of political manipulation
-BUT had to ‘manage’ parliament
example of an MP challenging Elizabeth
Peter Wentworth raised the issue of succession and was imprisoned in 1593
Sovereignty of statute law
laws passed by parliament could only be changed by future parliament
-parliament had the sole right to pass laws and these laws obeyed by everyone
How did the role of parliament change after the reformation
set a precedent that if a monarch wanted to alter the political or religious settlement it had to be done through parliament
What did the events of the 1530s create the notion of
‘king-in-parliament’- idea that the most powerful institution of the country was the king, acting in conjunction with parliament rather than without it
idea of ‘king-in-parliament’ in religion
‘king-in-parliament’ had authority over the church BUT the king alone did not
-God had granted Henry the royal supremacy BUT the people had given Henry the authority to assume the supremacy through parliament
What increased parliaments’ power
Mary and Elizabeth using parliament to legislate their religious changes
-gained the right to legislate religious changes and on the royal succession
What did monarchs do to try and regulate speech in parliament
-parliamentary managers who would inform the ruler of what was being saidq
early example of MP asking monarch to allow MPs to speak freely
1523- Thomas More made a speech requesting more free speech
example of parliamentary confidence growing (Mary)
1555- Mary faced a revolt by MPs who refused to accept a bill that would confiscate the lands of those exiled from England
-took a vote defeating the bill
Peter Wentworth speech 1576
-attacked Elizabeth’s attempts to control discussion in parliament
-imprisoned for a month
MPs of the HoC growing
1512- 302
1596- 462
What did the growth of MPs lead to
need to ‘manage’ parliamentary business more
When did the Commons bring up the issue of marriage and succession
1563 and 1566
When did Elizabeth try to restrict parliament’s right to free speech
1566 and 1576
