Elizabeth’s Relationship with Parliament

This section explores Elizabeth I’s, relationship with Parliament. The Elizabethan Parliament was quite different from the modern Parliament we know today. It was far less powerful and not representative of the broader population. There was no Prime Minister, no political parties, and all Members of Parliament (MPs) were men, elected solely by wealthy landowners.

The Elizabethan Parliament

Elizabeth tightly controlled Parliament throughout her reign, ensuring that its powers were limited and that it operated according to her will.

Elizabeth’s Control Over Parliament

• Parliament could only meet when Elizabeth called it, and she had complete authority over setting the agenda.
• The issues Parliament could discuss were strictly limited to those that Elizabeth allowed. Most of the time, Parliament's main purpose was to grant her the taxes she required, which were vital for funding her government and military efforts.
• Elizabeth had the power to close (prorogue) Parliament at any time, halting any proceedings she did not approve of.
• Over her 45-year reign, Parliament met just 13 times, with an average of three weeks of sittings per year.
• Elizabeth ensured that many of her trusted Privy Councillors, who were close advisors, were also MPs. This allowed her to exert control over parliamentary debates and proceedings, ensuring loyalty and support for her policies.

MPs Strive for More Influence

Despite Elizabeth’s firm control, MPs became increasingly assertive during her reign. Their attempts to challenge her authority were centred on several key issues:

The Marriage Question 

Many MPs believed that Elizabeth should choose a suitor and marry to secure the succession and avoid any uncertainty over the throne. They argued that naming an heir would ensure stability for the kingdom. However, Elizabeth refused to allow Parliament to dictate her personal choices, stating that her marriage was a private matter, and she would marry only when it suited her.

She famously remarked in 1566:

“At present it is not convenient; nor never shall be without some peril unto you and certain danger unto me.”

Religious Conflict 

Elizabeth was a committed Protestant and had re-established the Church of England upon her accession to the throne. However, to prevent further religious conflict, she pursued a middle way, allowing some Catholic practices alongside Protestant ones. This compromise was not universally accepted, particularly by Puritan MPs, who believed the settlement was too lenient towards Catholicism. These MPs threatened not to grant Elizabeth taxes unless she enforced stricter Protestant policies. In response, Elizabeth insisted that religious matters were issues of state, not for Parliament to meddle with, and forbade any religious discussions in Parliament.

Freedom of Speech 

The issue of free speech in Parliament was another point of contention. In 1576, Puritan MP Peter Wentworth publicly complained that MPs were not free to discuss any issue they wished. Elizabeth reacted harshly to his challenge, sending him to the Tower of London for a month as punishment for his outspoken criticism.

Monopolies 

Monopolies were licences granted by Elizabeth to individual nobles or merchants, giving them exclusive rights to manufacture or sell specific goods. The idea behind these monopolies was to stimulate economic growth and encourage business. However, the system often led to high prices for goods, as monopolists could set prices without competition. Additionally, Elizabeth personally profited from granting these monopolies.

Towards the end of her reign, some MPs began to view monopolies as unfair and damaging to the economy. In 1597-98 and again in 1601, they protested against monopolies, refusing to grant Elizabeth the taxes she requested until she took action. Elizabeth was forced to make some concessions, withdrawing certain monopolies. In 1601, she delivered a famous speech known as the Golden Speech, where she flattered Parliament and showed her political astuteness. This speech was another example of her skill as a ruler, as she managed to regain some support and loyalty from Parliament while securing her own interests.

Through these events, Elizabeth demonstrated both her authority and her political savvy, managing to maintain control over a Parliament that increasingly sought to assert its power.