Eliz Gov & parl

What were the 8 Key methods Eliz used to control her Council & Parl?

1 - Isolating extremists through promises of moderate reform

2 - Making strong speeches to representatives from HoC

3 - Direct use of the Royal Prerogative

4 - Influencing the choice of Speaker

5 - Imprisoning awkward MP’s

6 - Summoning, proroguing & dissolving sessions of Parl

7 - Managing Parl’s time

8 - Having her councillors present in Parl & influencing the choice of MP’s

How many sessions of Parl were there in Eliz’s 46 yr reign?

13 Sessions

How many laws were passed overall by Eliz’s Parls?

438

What percentage of time did Parl take up overall w/in Eliz’s reign?

6%

What was the royal prerogative?

the supreme, discretionary authority of the Crown to rule without Parliament’s consent on matters of "absolute" power. This included declaring war, controlling the church, setting foreign policy, and dictating matters of succession. Elizabeth used this authority to tightly restrict Parliament's agenda and control its meetings.

Key aspects of the Elizabethan royal prerogative included:

• Absolute vs. Ordinary Power: Elizabeth distinguished between her "absolute" authority (matters of state, foreign policy, coin value) which could not be disputed, and her "ordinary" authority, which was guided by common law.

• Parliamentary Control: She exclusively determined when Parliament would be called, what they could discuss, and when they were dissolved. She used the prerogative to forbid Parliament from discussing sensitive topics like her marriage or the succession.

How did the number of peers in the HoL remain roughly constant throughout Eliz’s reign?

Had 57 peers upon Eliz’s accession & 55 by her death

How many Bishops sat in the HoL? & Why were they an example of Eliz’s control over Parl?

23 Bishops - bc/ Bishops were royal appointees, they tended to vote as the Q wished.

What percentage of the Members of the 1586 Parl hadn’t sat in 1584? What did this show?

60%. Showed that the HoC saw a considerable turnover in its members.

How were continuity & sophistication fostered in HoC? Gice statistics.

Increasing educational standards of MPs. Of 420 MPs in 1563, 139 (33%) had attended university &/or the Inns of Court (law school). By the 1584 Parl, the figure was 219/460 (44%) & in 1593 this incd to 252 (55%)

What belief became widespread about finance under Eliz?

That the crown should finance ordinary expenses from permanent revenue sources (chiefly, customs & rents from royal lands). However, direct taxation by parliamentary subsidies was seen as an emergency measure.

What dubiously legal means did Eliz turn to to inc revenue?

Leaving bishoprics vacant so she could pocket episcopal income (when a bishopric was vacant, the revenues from the land and estates belonging to that office went directly to the Crown, rather than to a new bishop) & licensing privateers to rob the Spaniards in exchange for a cut of the profits.

What was the Monopolies Debate of 1601?

An intense, heated confrontation in the House of Commons protesting Queen Elizabeth I’s extensive use of Royal Prerogative to grant monopoly patents to favorites and merchants

What was the role of the JP under Eliz?

Workload of JP increased under Eliz’s reign due to social & econ legislation of the reign. Some JP’s did jobs well however many saw their position as a social honour & did little work. Some JP’s were reluctant to do the Crown’s work if they felt it went against local interests - Eliz & Cecil aware of problem, so would employ a special commission to do the job if it was a particularly sensitive matter which needed enforcing, e.g. used committed Prots to enforce recusancy laws. Some JPs prosecuted.

What type of Patronage did Eliz give out? (Royal Rewards)

Offices - Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Stewarts of Royal Parks & for suitably qualified men, positions in the Church & Judiciary.

Titles - Peers or Lords (Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, Baron) Archbishops/Bishops, Knights.

Benefits - Gifts of crown land at low rent, pensions & grants, monopolies.