What was Elizabeth’s relationship with her parliaments?

1. Write down your initial thoughts about what happened to the role and influence of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign

2. What was Elizabeth’s relationship with her parliaments? This lesson we will be successful when: • We can explain the Orthodox and Revisionist views on what happened to the role and influence of parliament in Elizabeth’s reign. • We have decided whether or not the relationship between crown and parliament in Elizabeth’s reign was one of conflict which sewed the seeds of the English Civil War.

3. The Role of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign Orthodox View (Sir John Neale) • The House of Commons made significant progress in the reign of Elizabeth. • An effective opposition arose in the Commons, inspired mainly by Puritanism. This opposition was strengthened by the development of privileges and procedures of the Commons. • It was upon this achievement that the Stuart reigns were to see the power of the Commons build up against that of the Crown

4. The Role of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign Revisionist View (Sir Geoffrey Elton) • The House of Commons did not even attempt to act as an opposition to Elizabeth. • Parliament did not rise at the monarch’s expense. • There is some evidence that Parliament entered a period of decline.

5. The Role of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign 1. Read pages 183-184 of Imperato. Complete the activity on page 185.

6. The Role of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign Bell work: • Write down a brief explanation of the Orthodox and Revisionist views of the role and influence of parliament during Elizabeth’s reign. • Which Historians are most associated with each view?

7. The Role of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign 2. Complete the sources activity from pages299-300 of Lotherington. • For Question3, use Imperato, p184-5 to help you. • For Question 4, the quote applies to Source B, p300. Again use p184-5 of Imperato to help you. • For question 5, use the notes you made last lesson to help you.

8. The Role of Parliament in Elizabeth’s reign • Read the ‘Conclusion’ section of your handout and highlight the key points. • To what extent had the power of parliament risen at the expense of royal authority in the reign of Elizabeth? • Did the relationship between Crown and Parliament deteriorate in Elizabeth’s reign, thus sewing the seeds of the English Civil War?

9. Royal control of parliament WAS just as strong: Royal control of parliament WAS NOT just as strong: How far would you agree that, by the end of the Tudor period, royal control of Parliament was just as strong as it had been in the beginning?(use pages 21-22 of the yellow booklet to help you) Next, add quotes from the sources to the relevant column of your chart

10. How far would you agree that, by the end of the Tudor period, royal control of Parliament was just as strong as it had been in the beginning? Source 1 (letter written from the privy council giving the Queen’s intentions about the election of MPs to represent boroughs in Parliament, 22 August 1597) Her majesty, meaning to have this her intended parliament to be served with men of understanding and knowledge …. Hath commanded us of her privy council to [warn] you how her majesty’s good meaning maybe observed and fulfilled…In the choice of burgesses for borough towns…we doubt ( except better regard he had herein than commonly hath been) there will be many unmet [inappropriate] men and unacquainted with the state of the boroughs named [nominated] thereto…Therefore we require you…to inform [boroughs] of this her majesty’s good meaning for the choice of persons [fit] for the service of said boroughs

11. How far would you agree that, by the end of the Tudor period, royal control of Parliament was just as strong as it had been in the beginning? Source 2 (From Michael A Graves, The Tudor Parliaments, 1485-1603, 1985) Nor did Parliament have regular and frequent meetings. It was a royal institution, whose function was not to obstruct the king or limit his power, but to facilitate government with laws and taxes. Therefore the dates of summons, the duration of sessions, propagations and dissolutions all depended on the will and needs of the monarch. Between 1485 and 1529 parliamentary meetings averaged one every three and a half ears and few lasted more than seven weeks. In contrast during…1529-59 there were almost annual sittings: 27 sessions in 21 of the 30 years. Under Elizabeth, however, Parliament settled back into the Pre-reformation rhythm, averaging a meeting every three and a half years.

12. Exam Preparation Turning point questions (see pages 25-26 of the yellow revision booklet) What you will need to know: • The impact of Henry VII’s financial and administrative changes • The role and impact of the Reformation parliament, 1529-36 • The significance and impact of the administrative and governmental work of Thomas Cromwell, 1532-40 • The degree to which the monarchy was challenged, 1547-58 and the impact of this • The impact of religious divisions after 1570 • The impact of war after 1585 For each of the above topics you will need to know the influence these events had on monarch and/or parliament

13. Exam Preparation Synthesis Essay Questions (see pages 27-28 of the yellow revision booklet) You will need to know how the following contributed to change over time, both in the long term and short term: • Relations with the nobility • The role of key servants • Religious divisions • The impact of war