5.1.0 Somerset's policy in brief and stability of monarchy Flashcards
(49 cards)
What were the problems with minority kingship?
- Can’t lead troops into war.
- Weaker states might exploit England
- Civil war
- Unable to control factions
- Unable to project image of strong ruler
How did Henry VIII want the regency to be ruled?
He wanted a Regency Council of 16 members split evenly among Catholics and Protestants.
Why was Somerset capable to take power over the Regency Council?
- He was the uncle.
- He had a reputation (soldier in Scot wars of 1540s)
- Somerset took possession of Edward before Henry’s death was announced.
What is Somerset’s family link to Henry VIII?
He was the brother of Jane Seymour, the mother of Edward VI. (He was Henry’s brother-in-law_
Why was Somerset a leading political figure by Henry’s death?
Lord Admiral 1542-43
Fought Scotland 1544-46
Evidence for Somerset’s lavish spending.
Built Somerset house for £10,000. Huge amount for the time.
How much money did Henry VIII spend on war with France and Scotland?
£1.5 million
What was the religious landscape like when Henry died?
Confused and tense. Much overlap between religion and politics. Policies incoherent in their severity. (Heresy treasonable)
What was the economic landscape like when Henry died?
He debased the coinage, which led to inflation. Poverty in rural areas was an issue, disguised by a series of good harvests.
What was and what year was the Treaty of Greenwich?
1543 Treaty of Greenwich was the contract to marry Edward to Princess Mary of Scotland.
When was the Battle of Pinkie?
September 1547
What role did Somerset have in the battle of Pinkie?
He led the troops into battle and won.
When did the French land in Scotland after the Battle of Pinkie?
June 1548
This was a Somerset failure.
When was Mary Queen of Scots betrothed to the Dauphin?
July 1548 (she was sent to France in August)
Why was Mary’s betrothal to the Dauphin a monumental failure for Somerset?
It defeated the purpose of the Scottish war, which had been going on for years.
Now Mary was in France, the French army was on the Scottish border and the regency (Mary Guise, Mary’s mother) was pro-French.
How much did Somerset spend on the Scottish war?
£580,000
How did Somerset lose Boulogne?
- Due to be given back 1554, but very expensive to garrison.
- Henry II leveraged the rebellions of 1549 to declar war and seige Boulogne in August 1549.
How did Somerset elevate himself above the council?
- Kept Norfolk in Tower, **imporisoned **Wriothesley and Gardiner.
- ** Repealed 1539 Act of Proclamations **–> could now issue proclamations without coucil consent.
Why did landlords raise rents?
To cope with inflation, which was at 77% in the 1540s.
What was the Hales Enclosure Commission’s purpose?
To investigate and prosecute greedy landowners.
Why did Somerset not rebase the coinage?
He wanted to keep going the war with Scotland.
Hales wanted to rebase. Smith didn’t. Somerset followed Smith’s idea. Rebasement did happen later on under Elizabeth and was successful.
In simple terms, why was enclosure policy so negative for Somerset’s rep?
- Policy was highly unpopular among landowners: they did everything to stop it.
- Policy was popular among the lower classes, but ultimately failed, which angered them.
Somerset disappointed both the workers and the gentry
How much was spent on military under Edward?
£1.4M (mostly spent by Somerset)
How much did debasement raise between 1544 and 1551?
£1.3M
