The nature of Puritan opposition in Parliament and Privy Council
At the time, it may have appeared that Catholics posed the greatest threat. However in the long run, the Puritans were the more dangerous.
One of the first serious challenges came in 1571 when a Puritan MP, Walter Strickland introduced a A bill is a proposal before Parliament. If it becomes law it is called an Act. into the Commons to change the Prayer Book along Puritan lines. Elizabeth closed Parliament and banned the Commons from bringing in bills to do with religion.
Freedom of speech
Many Puritan MPs challenged Elizabeth over the issue of freedom of speech, aiming to discuss Elizabeth鈥檚 religious policy. For example, the Puritan MP, Peter Wentworth was imprisoned on several occasions for raising the issues of freedom of speech, religion and the succession, eventually dying in the Tower of London in 1597.
In 1586, Anthony Cope had been imprisoned with Wentworth for several months for again introducing a bill to change the Religious Settlement. These setbacks in Parliament forced Puritans to look for other ways to gain influence.
The Privy Council
Elizabeth also faced a challenge from the Puritans in the Privy Council. Some of her most powerful advisors were Puritans, the most prominent being Sir Francis Walsingham and her long-standing favourite Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. They were relatively Not particularly strong in belief. Puritans who hoped to encourage Elizabeth to introduce more change.
