Crisis in government under Elizabeth:Parliament 1589-1601 Flashcards
What were the roles of the parliament 1589-1603?
PARLIAMENT: - Raise taxes, advise monarch, pass legislations, method of communication to queen from communities towns etc as members represented their local areas.
Why did tension build ?
Elizabeth wanted to protect her prerogative rights(sole powers) but parliament were concerned with her misuse of purveyance(discount on buying goods) and monopolies. Her purveyance was £37k a year, she was reluctant to surrender these rights.
SHE could grant monopolies which would bring her a healthy income but her system looked corrupt due to greedy ppl taking profits by raising prices. e.g. price of salt was 11 times more expensive (complaints about this caused crisis)
Explain 1589 parliament (tension)
was it a threat ?
Councillors asked for tax for defence, council wouldnt allow tax until grievences regarding purveyance addressed. they also proposed parliamentary bill which limits abuse of purveyance but elizabeth refused and pursuaded them to grant tax
NO THREAT
Explain 1593 parliament?
Was it a threat?
council led by Cecil argued w/ commons about taxation, MPS told by ceil that the subsidies (money grants) werent enough and Mps were angered and Francis Bacon spoke out saying they should choose as they represent ppl
— In the end they were pursuaded so NO THREAT
Explain 1597 parliament?
Was it a threat?
More serious threat: they complained about monopolies and had petition for Elizabeth they were angry but eventually she defused the situation by saying all monopolies would be examined.
Larger threat but not substantial, she bends in the end and allows what they want.
Explain significance of 1601 parliament,
was it a threat?
Last parliament of Elizabeth’s reign. Commons attacked and complained about monopolies granted by the Queen. Very angry as Elizabeth had ignored previous complaints.
A group of commonwealth men(‘men of the ppl’) stormed parliament to complain about monopolies.
Elizabeth response: cancelled 12 monopolies, gave aspeech admitting errors which was gravious and gave little away but still defende prerogative. This led to the opposition quelling and they granted her tax
Conclude extent of threat provided by parliaments to the crisis in government
- Some say it was forerunner for the 17th century english civil wars but at the time, there was little crisis. There were only 4 sessions each lasting a few months. each time they met Elizabeth did infact get the taxation she wanted she also defended her prerogative until she died.
Why was the parliament of 1597 important?
Short points
- Showed first direct challenge to Elizabeths policies. Showing change and growing confidence.
