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3. The Role of Parliament in the Reign of Elizabeth, 1558-88

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About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we consider the question ‘To what extent did the role of parliament change in the years 1558-88, during the reign of Elizabeth I?’, focusing in particular on: (i) the two traditional functions of Parliament in the 16th century, i.e. granting the monarch taxation and seeking redress of local grievances; (ii) the emergence of a new function in this period, i.e. offering advice to the monarch; (iii) the range of issues on which the Parliament offered Elizabeth advice, e.g. marriage, the succession, religious reform; (iv) the reasons for this change, e.g. the fact Elizabeth was a woman, the seriousness with which some MPs took their religious duties, the writings of Christopher St Germain, etc.; and (v) the extent to which Elizabeth was impacted by Parliament’s increased tendency to offer advice.

Course

In this course, Dr Natalie Mears (Durham University) explores political culture and religion in Tudor England through six key questions: (1) How significant was the gender of the monarch during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth?; (2) How far do you agree that the main turning point in the fortunes of Protestantism in England in the years 1529–88 was the Elizabethan compromise?; (3) To what extent did the role of parliament change in the years 1558-88, during the reign of Elizabeth I?; (4) Was the influence of Henry VIII’s ministers the main reason the English Church was reformed in the years 1529-40?; (5) Wolsey and Cromwell were Henry VIII’s chief ministers in the years 1514-40. To what extent did royal power grow in the years 1514-40?; and (6) To what extent did the structure of government change in the years 1509-88?

Lecturer

Dr Natalie Mears is Associate Professor in Early Modern British History at Durham University. She is primarily a historian of Tudor and early Stuart politics and religion, including the posthumous reputation of Elizabeth I. She also has an interest in the representation of the Tudors and Stuarts in modern media, especially opera. Her publications include Queenship and Political Discourse in the Elizabethan Realms (2005) and (as co-editor with Alec Ryrie) Worship and the Parish Church in Early Modern Britain (2012).