Edward and Mary Flashcards
What position did Paget have under Henry VIII?
What religious faction did this help?
- Paget was Henry VIII’s private secretary and this allowed Reformists to get rid of key conservative counsellors.
- This undermined Henry’s plan for a balanced regency council and left a reformist dominated one.
What two clauses did reformists add that rewarded themselves?
- Edward Seymour became Lord Protector and promoted from Earl of Hertford to Duke of Somerset.
- John Dudley became Earl of Warwick, previously Lord Lisle.
How was the transition to Somerset’s rule kept smooth?
- Henry’s death was kept quiet until Somerset had hold of Edward and could consolidate power.
- Henry died 28th January 1547, but Somerset did not become Lord Protector until the 31st January 1547.
Was Somerset’s style of rule similar to Henrys?
- It was and this allowed for more stability and peace.
- The proposed 16 member regency council would have been fuelled by disagreement and decisions would take a long time to be made. This allowed for less factional unrest.
How could Somerset’s legitimacy be questioned?
- His style of government contradicted what Henry had wanted and this for many people begged the question of Somerset’s right to rule.
- Reflected in the unrest of 1549 in the south and south-west of england.
What were the concerns surrounding Edward’s age?
- Could not lead troops into battle
- Open to manipulation from foreign powers and factions in England
- Fears that England would return to unrest and civil war as it had done in the War of the Roses.
What happened with the royal mint and in what year?
- Edward was presented on coins riding on horseback as a man. They did so to try and present the King as strong, powerful and military adept.
- Pressed in 1553.
What are some examples of previous minor kings creating instability?
- Henry III came to throne aged 9 in 1216, there was a civil war. (after turned of age)
- Richard II came to throne aged 10 in 1377, removed by Henry IV (only after he came of age)
- Edward V, aged 12 became king in 1483, however it is widely thought he was imprisoned in the tower and murdered on the orders of his Uncle Richard III.
What power was Somerset granted which gave him much power?
-The ability to issue proclamations, laws which could be passed without the need to call parliament
What were the ruling elite concerned about in 1549?
What did this lead to?
- They were members of the nobility and gentry who held positions in government so would have wanted peace and stability regarding their land.
- The unrest in 1549 meant Somerset faced many criticisms from the ruling elite, especially as the rebels were particularly critical of the ruling elite they were concerned for their position.
Did Somerset only face criticisms from opposition?
-No. He also faced criticisms from former supporters such as Paget who believed that he was not being listened to and had not been rewarded with the patronage that Somerset had initially promised him.
What was the Anti-Somerset Faction?
- This group had little in common apart from a collective disliking of Somerset.
- Included Paget who wrote many letters to Somerset, angered that Somerset was not listening to him as he had promised to do.
- Also included John Dudley (Earl of Warwick) who would later become the Earl of Northumberland and assume power from Somerset.
- Thomas Wriothesley, a conservative who was not happy with the religious changes being implemented under Somerset.
What were the events of the summer of 1549?
-There was much unrest over religious changes, e.g. the Kett’s rebellion, and this gave the Anti-Somerset Faction the motion to try and oust Somerset.
When was the proclamation against Somerset published?
What did these say?
- Issued in October 1549 and accused him of ‘malicious and evil government’ which had been the reason for unrest in the country.
- Somerset had been too ambitious and was only ‘seeking his own glory’.
- Somerset had ignored advice from counsellors and told ‘untruths’ to parliament.
What happened on the 5th October 1549?
- Somerset, with the king, retreated to Hampton Court and summoned royal subjects to defend him and the king- next day went to Windsor Castle.
- Edward fell ill due to the surroundings and claimed he was a prisoner and abandoned his uncle.
How was Somerset removed from power?
- Edward had stated that Somerset had threatened him with riots in the street if he was removed from power.
- Although Somerset denied this he could not contradict the king and was arrested on 13th October 1549.
How was Northumberland able to consolidate his power?
Who was removed from the council?
- Northumberland’s rise to power was not plain sailing. There was still a majority of religiously conservative counsellors.
- In December 1549 there were rumours of a Catholic plot to remove Northumberland as he was seen to close to Somerset. He used this to say that any man who attacked Somerset was also attacking him.
- By January 1550 leading catholics, the Earls of Arundel and Southampton had been dismissed and Northumberland became Lord President of the Council.
What were the events of Northumberland reconciling with Somerset?
- Somerset was released from prison, goods were restored and Somerset;s daughter married Northumberland’s son. Somerset was seven restored to court and the Privy Council.
- However, Somerset was accused of plotting against Northumberland to regain his position of power and the Privy Council ordered the execution of Somerset on the 22nd January 1552.
(Possible evidence used was exaggerated or fabricated in order to justify his death)
What is an example that it was Northumberland who drove the alteration of the Succession Act?
-Northumberland’s son was married to Lady Jane Grey, which was soon followed by a change in Edward’s will to name Jane as a possible successor.
How could it be argued that it was Edward who was at the forefront of changes to the succession act?
- Playing a greater role in government
- Attending Privy Council meetings
- Setting some agendas
- Edward was also a committed Protestant and would have wanted to avoid Catholic Mary coming to the throne.
Why did the French offer help to Northumberland?
different reasons
- Mary was half Spanish; may have wanted to avoid an Spanish-English alliance, as Habsburg-Valois conflict continued.
- France had also previously backed Henry, despite his dodgy claim, to destabilise England and have a king on the throne who was in debt to France.
When was the succession first altered and what was the name given to it?
-Devise for Succession’ first issued in May 1553.
What did the devise for succession outline?
- Outlined that the male heirs of the Grey family were the successors.
- As there were no male heirs the initial Devise was altered which made Lady Jane-Grey to heir.
- Members of the Council had to sign the devise to confirm support.
