Elizabeth and Parliament

Question 1

What are the main functions of a parliament?

Answer 1

Law making Granting taxation Opportunity for member of the Privy Council to gauge political opinion

Question 2

What was discussed in Parliament in 1559?

Answer 2

Church settlement

Question 3

What was discussed in Parliament in 1563 and 1566?

Answer 3

Marriage and succession

Question 4

What was discussed in Parliament in 1571?

Answer 4

Strengthening treason laws against Catholics after the Popes excommunication

Question 5

What was the attendance of parliament during the tudor dynasty ? How many MPs?

Answer 5

Attendance was poor 462 MP’s that were easy control

Question 6

What types of people were members of the House of Lords?

Answer 6

Bishops and nobles Traditionally powerful voting laws

Question 7

What types of people were members of the House of Commons?

Answer 7

Middle class, lawyers and merchants. Chosen by patrons from the House of Lords. Well disposed and expected to do as the lords said.

Question 8

How did the councillors use parliament and how was it corrupt?

Answer 8

Councillors use parliament to pressure Elizabeth to agree Privy Council drafted laws to help pass them

Question 9

What did Elizabeth call parliament for?

Answer 9

Tax and important laws

Question 10

How did Elizabeth control her parliament?

Answer 10

Carefully drafted speeches and prepared to use powers to arrest and veto

Question 11

What was the significance of the parliament in January- May in 1559?

Answer 11

Catholic bishops resisted E’s religious settlement E in response made a smaller number of heredity and house of lords- controlled by Cecil, Knollys and Bacon Arrested Bishop of Winchester and Lincoln for public disputes

Question 12

In which parliaments did they start to discuss E’s royal prerogative?

Answer 12

January-April 1563 September 1566- January 1567 - Cecil thought she wouldn’t turn him down . She just shut down discussions.

Question 13

What happened in Parliament April- May 1571?

Answer 13

Puritans were trying to push during a difficult and stressful time (context= northern rebellion and excommunication)

Question 14

What was the significance of the parliament in May- June 1572?

Answer 14

Royal prerogative talk and discussions over MQS’ execution. The royal prerogative wasn’t a concern as she could always control it. She also successfully passed poor laws

Question 15

What was the significance of the parliament in February- March 1576?

Answer 15

Peter Wentworth (Puritan) talked about freedom of speech. He was sent to the tower and banned. Nothing more than a nuisance

Question 16

What was the significance of the parliament in November 1584- March 1585?

Answer 16

Royal prerogative was discussed and Puritan fuss. But this was insignificant as helpful laws were passed and anti- Catholic Bond of Association was passed

Question 17

What was the significance of the parliament in February- April 1593?

Answer 17

Peter Wentworth again. Elizabeth struggled to get laws passed against separatist as MP’s opposed. Seditious Secretaries passed against recusants and separatists (eventually). Did get the law through

Question 18

What happened in October- March 1587 parliament?

Answer 18

Presbyterian ‘Bill and Book’ which questioned Elizabeth as head of Church. But this was just a nuisance

Question 19

What happened in February- March 1589 parliament?

Answer 19

Defeated Spain so Elizabeth received double of her tax out of praised

Question 20

What was the significance of the parliament in October- December 1601 for Elizabeths control?

Answer 20

Once she listened she regained control. The only threat to the control was out of her stubbornness Golden speech

Question 21

What was the significance of the parliament in October 1597- February 1598?

Answer 21

Prague over monopolies being given as patronage as it was crippling. There was a lot of yelling but no solution

Question 22

What was the context and focus for Parliament in October- December 1601?

Answer 22

Bad harvest and war with Spain (context) Monopolies dominated Parliament- both MP’s and Privy Councillors were explosive E in her speech promised to examine and end the worst monopolies

Question 23

Why were the MPs so aggrieved in parliament October- December 1601?

Answer 23

They had trading background and knew that monopolies were a serious threat as some used it as a method of control. Elizabeth just aimed for short to grant quickly- brining up contingency and local issues

Question 24

When did Elizabeth give her ‘Golden Speech’?

Answer 24

1601, due to the tensions risen over monopolies

Question 25

What tactics did Elizabeth use to control parliament?

Answer 25

Charm, admonish, bully and threat. She disagreed with Freedom of Speech which scared many. Wanted to assure authority and limit resistance so she only called parliament 13 times in 45 years Speeches in small groups

Question 26

What tactics did Elizabeth use to reduce/ diffuses resistance in parliament?

Answer 26

Isolated extremists through promise of moderate reform Direct intervention on royal prerogative Imprisoned awkward members. Power was used to control the atmosphere- dissolve if necessary and employed intimidators