Mid Tudor Crisis Flashcards
(87 cards)
Problems faced by Edward VI on his accession?
- Uncle Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford had took control of govt.
- Crown finance ruined by expensive wars with France and Scot.
- The crown had jeopardised its own long term security by selling monastic land at a discount to raise money quickly.
- The country was divided on religious grounds.
- Coinage had been debased to pay for the war, causing inflation and decrease in real incomes.
Describe the regency council and what happened to it?
H8 will established regency council. Neither Gardiner or Norfolk included.
Within days regency council delegated power to Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford who awarded himself the title Duke of Somerset and became Lord Protector from 1547-49.
What did Somerset do after becoming lord protector?
Rapidly promoted his own supporters initially relying on:
1. Archbishop Cranmer
2. Sir William Paget who had been one of H8 private secretaries
3. John Dudley (son of H7 executed minister) made Earl of Warwick in 1547. Later became Duke of Northumberland in 1551 after overthrowing Somerset in 1549.
Somerset governed largely through members of hus own household. Controlled Privy Chamber by appointing his brother-in-law Michael Stanhope as Groom of the Stool and Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, effectively making him the King’s keeper.
What did Cranmer do to prevent disorder due to uncertain public response to Somerset’s protectorate?
Cranmer published a sermon ‘on obedience’ to be read in parishes which emphasised that disobedience to the King was a mortal sin which could lead to damnation.
Describe resentment to Somerset’s regime and factional rivalry.
Increasing resentment in Privy Council led to arrest of Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton and Chancellor. No guarantee of public support for the protectorate led to widespread fear of breakdown of law and order.
Factional rivalry: Somerset’s brother, Thomas Seymour tried to turn E6 against Somerset and to plot with Wriothesley against Somerset. Somerset brought treason charges against Seymour, assisted by Wriothesley who denounced Seymour In exchange for his readmission into the Privy Council.
Policy failings under Somerset?
- Approach to foreign policy especially Scotland
2.Badly mishandled 1549 rebellions
- Arrogance and dictatorial manner created enemies especially Southampton and Warwick.
Describe the downfall of Somerset
Aug 1549: Warwick and Southampton along with other conservatives lord St john and Earl of Arundel decided Somerset’s control should end.
Oct 1549: Somerset arrested on order of the regency council and surrendered after Cranmer promised no treason charges be put against him.
Dudley and Cranmer got E6 to appoint new religious reformers to the regency council and Privy Chamber. Southampton tried to take power by charging Dudley with treason but this backfired and conservatives Southampton and Arundel put under house arrest.
1550 Dudley consolidated his power by becoming lord president of the Privy Council.
Freed Somerset and allowed him in Privy Council. Somerset’s daughter married Dudley’s son.
1551 Somerset’s double dealing to regain power led to his arrest. He was executed in Jan 1552.
What did Northumberland want to avoid?
The excessive power that and brought Somerset down. Northumberland became Lord President of the Council instead of Lord Protector.
How did the nature of Northumberland’s regime change over time?
Many Northumberland’s key supporters were conservative and some hoped for a regency led by Mary. But Warwick turned against them fearing they might eject him.
Religious character of regime determined by :
1. Removal of conservatives Southampton and Arundel
2. Cranmer’s support
3. E6’s increasingly assertive protestantism.
Why was Northumberland’s govt effective for a time and which men played a role in this?
Effective govt through Privy Council made easier by removing Southampton
Paget drew up set of guidelines for more effective operation of the Privy Council.
William Cecil originally one of Somerset’s men transformed himself into Northumberland’s key administrator.
In what ways could Somerset’s counter coup be seen as a turning point in Northumberland’s govt?
After Somerset’s failed counter coup he was executed and Northumberland’s approach to govt became less conciliar.
Started to act more dictatorial e.g. presumed enemies such as Paget removed from the council and put in tower.
Power increasingly lay with Northumberland and his henchmen Sir John Gates, who had possession of the dry stamp with which he could put Edwards signature on documents.
Northumberland ruthless or able governor?
Ruthless: coups against Somerset and then the Conservatives, tried to change succession, execution of Somerset.
Able governor: solved many problems inherited from Somerset, operated effective govt and Privy Council, restored stability.
Describe problems of Succession of Edward
1553 Edwards health declined rapidly. Under 1544 succession act Mary next in line. But this would return Catholicism and ruin Northumberland. So Northumberland encouraged Edward to write the Devyse to alter the succession.
June 1553 Mary and Elizabeth declared illegal in favour of prot lady jane grey, Northumberland’s daughter in law.
July 1553 Edward died before parliament could ratify, giving the devyse no legal status. 9th July Northumberland declared LJG Queen anyway.
Privy Council agreed initially but the crews on Northumberland’s ships stopping Mary from sailing from Norfolk changed allegiance and the cause was lost. Ruling elite deserted LJG and after just 9 days as queen her and husband put in tower. Northumberland was executed the following month.
Describe the foreign policy legacy of Somerset.
Somerset inherited a war with both France and Scotland. Chose to continue war hoping to unite crowns of England and Scotland through marriage between E6 and MQS.
1547 Somerset’s armies defeated the Scots at the Battle of Pinkie but too expensive to garrison border forts and failed to prevent the French from relieving Edinburgh. This allowed the French to take MQS to France in Aug 1548 to marry heir to French throne.
Costly and unpopular military strategy.
Describe the foreign policy legacy of Northumberland
1549 England threatened by French invasion. Northumberland negotiated peace, abandoned eng garrisons in Scotland and returned Boulogne to France.
Although humiliating, immediately improved crown finance as Boulogne was a drain on resources and French paid £ 133,333 to recover the port.
Financial benefits outweighed fear of French influence in Scotland.
Overview of religious change in Edward’s reign
Although royal supremacy changed structure of the church, there was little doctrine change by 1547.
Under Edward religious policy moved firmly towards protestantism. E6 took role as head of church seriously and saw it as his mission to destroy idolatry.
Religious changes under Somerset 1547-49
- 1547 Treason Act allowed religion to be discussed and removed censorship. Prot material allowed to be brought to Eng.
- 1547 chantries act abolished chantrues and property seized by crown. Attack om Catholicism as ended practise of masses for souls of the dead.
- 1547 injunctions attacked traditional Catholic practises e.g. pilgrimages, stained glass windows and processions.
- 1549 Book of Common Prayer. To be used in all church services. Translated traditional services into English. Eucharist ambiguous to allow belief in transubstantiation.
What was Northumberland’s strategy in relation to the church?
- Continue prot reforms of Somerset.
- Plunder more of the church’s wealth.
Religious changes under Northumberland 1550-53
- Reforming church services combining Calvinist and Lutheran elements.
- 1552 Book of Common Prayer- removed remaining conservative elements, rewriting services to be prot, replaced wafer with ordinary bread to affirm consubstantiation, banned ‘popish’ vestments, restricted use of music.
- 1553 Cranmer’s 42 articles of religion provided the official prot statement of doctrine although Edward’s death meant it was never implemented.
Impact of Edwardian reforms on society?
People less likely to leave money to church as scared it would be seized
Decline in priests and church attendance
Church slowly lost wealth as its land was seized
Radical reformer Bishop hooper admitted pace of reform hampered by public who didn’t support them
Survival of old beliefs shown in how quickly traditional practices adopted following Mary’s accession in 1553.
What happened to inflation under Somerset?
Inflation had been increasing rapidly at end of H8 reign. Became even worse under Somerset as he continued disastrous policy of debasing coinage to finance war with Scotland.
How did Somerset try to stop enclosure?
Main reason for enclosure thought to be from converting arable land to pasture for sheep.
To try to stop enclosure Somerset introduced a sheep tax. However main effect of tax was put huge financial pressure on small farmers who relied on sheep for subsistence.
How did Northumberland achieve reasonable stability in national finance?
Brought end to war in France and Scotland. Also brought £133,333 as payment for return of Boulogne. After one final debasement he discontinued the practise.
Also increased crown finance through church by unscrupulous methods. E.g. melting down of church plate.
Causes of the Western Rebellion 1549 (prayer book Rebellion)
- The book of Common prayer: calling the book a ‘Christmas game’ the rebels wanted to reverse religious reforms they believed were destroying the way people experienced religion with rituals and wider role of church in society being gone.
- Sheep tax: intended to stop enclosure. Seen as action of uncaring govt in London.
