Mary's Government

Question 1

How and why did the Devyse fail?

Answer 1

• Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen in 1553
• Mary gathered Catholic supporters including members of the nobility
• despite Northumberland’s efforts to prevent it, the council decided to proclaim Mary Queen nine days later
• N’s plan failed because he tried to interfere with legitimate succession
• Mary acted bravely, decisively and quickly and gathered much support

Question 2

Who were the key councillors under Mary I?

Answer 2

• Bishop Stephen Gardiner (HVIII’s secretary but imprisoned under Edward)
• Lord Paget and other conservatives
• Cardinal Pole (exile under HVIII but returned as Archbishop of Canterbury)
• appointed 50 councillors leading historians to believe the large no. led to an insufficient government (supported by fact her marriage was never formally discussed in the council)
• lost confidence in Paget after opposition to her religious programme, but his death left a hole in gov. that was never satisfactorily filled

Question 3

What was parliament like under Mary?

Answer 3

• relationship of cautious co-operation
• a substantial minority opposed the reversal of religious reform
• concern for property rights (motivated by self interest) ensured that ex-monastic property would not be restored to the church
• bill in 1555 to allow the seizure of property of Protestant exiles defeated
• quarrelled over succession issues

Question 4

What issues did Mary have with marriage when she came to the throne?

Answer 4

• she wanted to guarantee Catholic succession
• the Earl of Devon was Gardiner’s choice (could prevent a foreign marriage) however he brought threat of factional rivalry and many saw him as unsuitable
• Mary’s personal preference for Philip was clear but the English public was hostile

Question 5

What were the terms of Mary and Philip’s marriage treaty?

Answer 5

• Philip would be given the title of King but could exercise none of its power
• no foreigners were permitted to hold English offices
• if Mary died Philip would have no claim to the throne

Question 6

What provides evidence that Parliament wasn’t happy about the foreign marriage?

Answer 6

• 1554: rejected a bill that would’ve included Philip along with Mary in a proposed law on treason
• 1555: prevented Philip’s coronation as King

Question 7

What were the causes of the Wyatt rebellion?

Answer 7

• some motivated by religion
• xenophobia (fear of foreigners)
• decline in the cloth industry (revolt was a means of expressing their social and economic grievances)
• however, the clear main cause was resentment of the royal marriage, despite the treaty

Question 8

How serious was the Wyatt rebellion?

Answer 8

• simultaneous risings in Devon, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire and Kent
• however, only Kent experienced a serious rising
• Sir Thomas Wyatt raised a force of 3000 men with the plan to replace Mary with Courtenay who was to marry Elizabeth
• almost captured London, however Mary remained resolute and the council kept their heads

Question 9

What were the results of the Wyatt rebellion?

Answer 9

• showed that although Protestants were a minority, their religious opinions could not be ignored
• demonstrated the extent of opposition to Spanish marriage
• 90 rebels were executed, along with Lady Jane Grey, an innocent victim of her father’s support for rebellion
• Elizabeth confined to the Tower of London
• Mary behaved bravely and resolutely