Did Elizabeth face significant opposition from parliament?

Opposition certainly existed within parliament, as it did within every sector of government. However a number of factors prevented this opposition from becoming ‘significant’. Her royal supremacy aided her in suppressing this opposition through the veto of bills, her councillors influenced parliament more so in her favour rather than to pressure the Queen and the lack of commitment of MPs severely limited the extent to which the opposite could be effective.
Neale argued that much of the opposition within Elizabeth’s government came from a “puritan choir”, a group of around 40 staunchly protestant men who constantly pressured Elizabeth the Queen in the direction which suited there puritan objectives. For example, in 1571 bills were passed putting harsher penalties on Catholics and a bill was introduced the same year by Walter Strickland to remove all elements of the popish dunghill” from the English church. However Elizabeth was simply able to veto the bill on catholic punishments and her councillors took the necessary measures required to remove Strickland from the House of Commons. Similarly in November 1584, Elizabeth was able to avoid bills that furthered anti-catholic legislation by refusing to give royal assent. Her ability to exploit her power of royal assent meant that opposition could rarely be channelled through passing legislation as at the end of the day, her approval had to be given. Furthermore, the “puritan choir” although ardent in pushing their own objectives, did not show real opposition in resisting the bills which Elizabeth brought to parliament. When she requested subsidies and taxes from parliament she usually mentioned the these funds were being used to protect the protestant nation and this tended to be enough to gain the support of the puritan in court. In the rare cases in which opposition arises out of the puritan sector, Elizabeth was quick and efficient in her reaction. In the September of 1566 the Queen requested a subsidy from parliament in order to fund a military expedition to support the French Huguenots. Wentworth used this opportunity to introduce his ‘Bill and Book’ while demanding further changes to the religious settlement; demands regarding the religious settlement were supported by the more puritan bishops and by Cecil. Elizabeth replies by dismissing Wentworth’s demands and his consistent opposition sees him arrested in 1593....