The Council and the Parliament were, at the end of the day, completely subordinate to the Queen. Henry VIII's use of Parliament had made ministers believe they had the right to question anything; Elizabeth reminded them that certain issues (such as the succession) were for the prince to worry about alone. Those who forgot the pre- eminence of the Queen, such as Essex, often found themselves shorter by a head. As the Queen herself said:
"I am your anointed Queen; I will never be by violence constrained to do anything"
As Puckering told the Parliament:
"Her Majesty granteth you liberal but not licentious speech: liberty, therefore, but with due limitations"
The power of Parliament and Council lay in ensuring this rule was broken.
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