Mary 1553-58 Flashcards
(41 cards)
How did Mary gain support for her claim to the throne?
Widespread support for her in Norfolk and Suffolk which allowed her to establish firm base in Framlingham to form a Council and claim the throne as rightful heir, naval squadron sent by Northumberland/Jane Grey deserted to Mary, the Council sensed changing legal wind and hastened to make peace with Mary
How dedicated was Mary to her religious views?
Withstood all attempts made by Edward to persuade her to change her religious views and her councillors later found it impossible to shift her on issues of religion or conscience but in all other matters she was willing to maintain administrative continuity with the previous 2 reigns by avoiding actions which would stir up intense opposition
Describe Parliament under Mary in 10 points
Five Parliament’s held during her reign showed working compromise on return of the catholic religion and her marriage to Philip and war with France (Parliament agreed to repeal Edward VI’s religious legislation and ratify the marriage treaty and sanction the alliance with Philip II despite initial reservations), keynote of the reign as far as parliament concerned was its frustration at not being able to provide any restraints on the administration and not being taken into the process of administrative change as it had under Henry VIII, whatever concessions/agreements Mary got from Parliament were the result of deliberately packing it with Catholic supporters but overall the Marián Parliaments disagreed strongly with her policies, resistance came from both lords and commons and both Catholics and Protestants, legislation undoing Edwardian and henrician reformations went through parliament step by step with minimal resistance because most Marián legislation was less extreme than previously stated and MPs were more concerned with local interests than national issues (supported legislation if there were loopholes for them to go unscathed so supported religious legislation provided that nothing was done to reclaim land of monasteries, adamantly rejected the return of monastic lands which Mary wanted), Mary’s plan to confiscate property of exiles was defeated which was evidence of parliament gaining substantial concessions from the crown and she gave in to ensure smooth transition back to Catholicism, Mary planned number of bills to be presented in each parliamentary session beforehand to keep sessions short (5 week’s half of Edward’s parliaments), in 3rd parliament of reign neither house proceeded with bill to reconcile England papal fold and rejected a bill to revive medieval statutes against heresy , 1555 both rejected government bill to confiscate estates of exiles, far fewer bills than previous decades
Describe the Privy Council under Mary in 10points
Under Edward membership of the Privy Council and the Court overlapped but under Mary a clear distinction existed between the two (court is catholic but council is mix of Protestant and Catholic), still doesn’t deal with official policy which is still in hands of crown but advises on administration, welcomed back Catholic ministers who were removed from the council during the Reformation so Council increased to 50 members but a lot of continuity from Edward’s reign with Protestant membership, Mary never attended Privy Council and she trusted household members more eg Master of Wards, vast amount of members chosen for skills not loyalism which created factionalism that traditional historians blame on Mary’s lack of leadership, 1554 inner circle of 19 members developed known as ‘select council’ which briefed Philip on matters of business when he was out of the country, council efficiency enhanced by establishment of 12 committees in 1554 each with specific roles such as administration of navy, select council included Rochester and Pages and Gardiner and Arundel, strong rivalry between the Chancellor Gardiner and Paget keeper of the Privy Seal (divisions pronounced over Spanish marriage, Gardiner preferred Courtenay and Paget Philip of Spain)m only 10-20 councillors at each meeting
Describe financial problems under Mary in 8 points
Spirally inflation, increasing rents, declining manufactures, poor harvests especially 1555 and 1556, massive influenza epidemics worst in 1558, all caused reduction in demand for industrial and luxury goods, Mary’s attempt to restore Catholic ritual and vestments creates a financial problem in trying to locate dispersal of funds from dissolution of monasteries and chantries, this prevented Mary making radical religious reform which would provoke the sort of opposition to endanger her position
Describe the Wyatt rebellion in 7 points
Direct response to Spanish marriage which followed minor schemes to replace Mary with Elizabeth who would be persuaded to marry Courtenay, Force of 3000 men with force close to capital, Duke of Norfolk conducted incompetent campaign against rebels during which many of his Whitecoats diverted to Wyatt but Mary was saved by overthrow from a section of the nobility and their retainers so the rebellion failed, most serious part was in Kent but most Kentish nobility remained neutral and no magnates elsewhere supported rebellion except Suffolk, most rebels comprised knights/gentlemen/lesser landowners/soldiers with minor influence, no widespread local uprisings like those after pilgrimage of grace, Mary didn’t appeal for foreign help and she refrained from leaving London otherwise she would have been more vulnerable, her speech at Guildhall stirred preparation of city’s defences
What did Mary add to her will during her terminal illness?
A codicil stating that the crown should pass to her heir ‘by the laws of England’, she was persuaded by a deputation from Parliament to specify to Elizabeth
What is the traditional view of Mary’s reign?
She had no political ability, secular achievements were almost non existent, Mary and her supporters in the privy council rode rough-shod over the liberties of Parliament in her effort to impose religious orthodoxy, privy council was subordinated to Mary’s religious policies and was comprised of members who were likely to support her and deprived of the most effective talent of the day, Mary’s administration made no significant financial change
Describe the advances in legal statutes under Mary in 3 points
Some measures were limited to underpinning religious changes of regime eg punishment of heresy 1553 and seditious rumour about consort 1555 but others went much further eg 1553 codification of treason, also measures covering more carefully defined rules for granting of bail and arrest and commital and evidence, improvements in taking evidence and granting bail
Describe changes in administration of finances under Mary in 8 points
Largely the work of William Paulet Marquis of Winchester who followed the recommendations of Edward VI’s commission of 1552 to reform revenue courts, 1554 exechequer expanded to sort of functions it carried out in fifteenth century (absorbed Court of First Fruits and Tenths and Court of Augmentations) which increased its efficiency, Lord Treasurer now in charge of finances which continued under Elizabeth I and James I, attempts to reestablish crown lands so annual revenues increased to £40,000 which was result of the deliberate effort of the Privy Council which arranged a survey of these in 1555 and 1557, customs duties increased £29,000 to £83,000 after new book of rates set out amount of taxes which should be paid on imports and exports, attempt made to reform the coinage based on plans drawn up by committee within privy council but still a great deal of base coinage still in circulation, her financial reforms have been viewed as pragmatic responses to immediate need in particular to financial crisis produced by the imprudent rule of a Duke of Somerset (Mary government inherited problems which had to be dealt with urgently), Mary did not live long enough to see effectiveness of her new system but historians say it provided groundwork for Elizabeth
Describe Mary’s reforms of the navy
Under Edward VI navy reduced to three effective first class ships in 1555 but Mary increased it to 21, overall control of navy’s finances given to Lord Treasurer and £14,000 allocated annually for navy, much evidence that the real enthusiast behind these reforms was Philip due to the vulnerability of possessions to French attack and the need to safeguard his own sea routes to Netherlands hence importance of English naval presence in the channel
How did Mary’s reign see the expansion of English influence in Ireland? 4 points
Her government extended Somerset’s plantation policy into the development of a colony in Ireland, following a survey of the lands these were let out to English settlers who were obliged to maintain communications such as roads, entire policy placed under sir Thomas Ratcliffe who was appointed Lord deputy of Ireland in 1556, however there was a lack of social reform and provocation of a long term indigenous opposition to English rule
Describe the Household under Mary in 5 points
Function changed slightly due to female rule (access to Queens Privy Chamber restricted to female Ladies in Waiting so this area declined as main area of government but Household positions still important), in Mary’s courts her leading officials were Catholic loyalists so this was area she surrounded herself with her most loyal supporters (household was sanctuary for loyalism, earl of Oxford recovered hereditary position as Lord great chamberlain, earl of arundel appointed lord steward), only female ladies in waiting allowed access to privy chamber
On what 3 conditions did Parliament negotiate the Spanish marriage treaty?
Mary cannot leave England, England cannot interfère in Spanish wars, mary wanted Philip to be crowned but he was only king in name so couldn’t claim throne if Mary died
Describe Mary’s new book of rates
Set out amount of taxes which should be paid on imports and exports, before then it hasn’t been updated in decades
Why did Mary want to marry Philip?
She had to marry to produce a Catholic heir, paget argued England could use habsburg alliance as protection against Henry II of France who coveted Calais and built up Scottish alliance, political stability more easy to maintain with promise of imperial troops to suppress disorder whenever necessary, commercial ties with Netherlands economically beneficial, Mary had warm feelings towards the emperor who protected her during the reigns of her father and brother, marriage beneficial for him as it furthered Habsburg interests against France and helped Philip assert claim to rule Netherlands after Charles death
How did the council react to Mary’s intentions to marry Philip?
For three months heard rumours but not properly informed until 27th October 1553 and two political groupings formed (one led by Paget in favour, one by gardiner who wanted her to marry Courtenay Earl of Devon), fears Mary would in future listen to Spanish not English advisors and defer all decisions to her husband and Englishmen would be excluded from patronage and England be drawn into war against France
What would Philip gain if Mary died after producing a son with him?
Philip would inherit England and Netherlands and Spain and France-Comté and would have influence over the upbringing of his child, terms announced to subjects by royal proclamation 15th Jan 1554 and opposition in the council was channeled into devising safeguards to protect the realm against a foreign king although there was some anti Habsburg propaganda even after the marriage
Describe how Mary ended up going to war with France in 9 points
To avoid the obligation to fight for her husbands cause she sent Paget and Gardiner to La Marque near Calais in May 1555 to arrange a general peace, this failed but France and Spain settled differences at Vaucelles Feb 1556 when 5 year truce was signed without England, conflict between Pope and Imperialists in Italy led to military action there in Sept 1556 and duke of Guise sent French army to help Pope, Jan 1557 French breached truce in Flanders so Philip called for English aid which would break the marriage treaty terms, in this month England sent 6000 troops to Netherlands, raid on Scarborough Castle end of April by Thomas Stafford and exiles from France that changed Council’s mind and the fact Henry had already sponsored-lots against the Queen, war declared 7th June so troops put on stand by in Calais Pale and 7000 soldiers were sent to aid 70,000 Spanish and imperial troops fighting French, Philip defeated Henry with minimal support from English at battle of St Quentin
How did the people of England react to the declaration of war with France? 4 points
Ex conspirators willingly took commands in the army and navy in 1557 in order to return to favour, difficulties experienced in raising troops due to inefficient muster system and famine 1555-7 rather than reflection of popular hostility to war, some men refused to pay 1557 forced loan but £109,000 collected, parliamentary subsidy 1558 raised £168,000
Describe the fighting between England and France
On the Continent small English force under Pembroke took part in successful siege of St Quentin August 1557, on Scottish Borders Shrewsbury contained minor incursions and Scots failed to respond to Henry II call for invasion of England, by October 1557 campaign seemed to be over as Pope accepted Spanish terms and Philip’s army was preparing for Winter
What happened with Calais? 8 points
After campaign seemed to be over Henry launched enterprise against Calais so recalled the duke of Guise from Italy and jan 1558 Guise’s army attacked and captured calais within 8 days, deputy of Calais lord Wentworth charged with (acquitted of in 1559) treason, castle had been in need of repair and garrison run down after August to save money (contained barely half number required for minimum security against attack), Council didn’t believe it was seriously threatened so failed to send a relief army until 1st January to Wentworth and Philip only sent 200 arquebusiers 6th Jan, Philip’s suggestion to recapture calais never attempted and peace negotiations began May 1558, by Oct seemed clear a settlement would be reached which left Calais in French hands, Mary died before treaty negotiated and peace negotiations adjourned until her successor was crowned, Philip allowed Elizabeth to inherit the throne
Why did the council not cooperate with Philip when he urged a military effort to recover the Pale?
Financial cost, difficulty raising troops, fear of attack from Scotland. Grievances against Philip included his refusal to sever relations with Scotland when a Scottish invasion had seemed imminent and he refused to assist Merchant Adventurers in periodic quarrels with Hanseatic League. However English government did raise an army of 7000 after recapture of pale and fleet of 140 ships to attack Brest but only captured Le Conquet
Describe Mary’s religious legislation in 3 points
Autumn 1553 Parliament refused to pass the Repeal of the Act of Supremacy but passed the Act of repeal which restored the church to its 1547 state (clerical celibacy, transubstantiation, revived mass and ritual worship) but didn’t approve the Repeal of the Act of Supremacy until Nov 1554 when the issue of Monastic lands had been solved, only one religious act because after this the Pole was in charge of the English Catholic Church again, April 1554 heresy laws introduced (also after pole solved monastic lands issue)
