Northumberland

Question 1

Fall of Somerset

Answer 1

• Somerset’s popularity fell in court as he was becoming more arrogant about his increasing power and connection to the king.
• He began to act without the privy council which angered many leading nobles.
• He also lost support as he was seen as inept and handled the peasant uprisings poorly which threatened their livelihoods in the regions.
• Many gentry did not like his religious reforms- the New Prayer Book
• He then was challenged by John Dudley (Northumberland).
• Edward also unhappy with Somerset- Somerset controls all his money and didn’t give the king any pocket money. Also, Somerset take Edward in the middle of the night from Hampton court to Windsor castle. Edward did not like Windsor as the gardens were too small and was sick of being treated like a child by Somerset.
• Thus, Somerset was charged with 29 charges of treason and beheaded 2 years later.

Question 2

Who was the Duke of Northumberland?

Answer 2

• John Dudley. Also knows as the Earl of Warwick.
• Protestant- was more of a radical Protestant that Somerset
• Most associated with the attempt to get Lady Jane Grey on the Throne after Edward- the failure of this led to his execution.
• Skilled political schemer- had a working relationship with Somerset- was this to get close to the king?

Question 3

Northumberland’s foreign policy

Answer 3

• His aim was to restore order in the country and to do this he needed peace abroad.
• He decided to sell Bourgogne back to the French (1550)
• Henry II originally hoped to pay 159,000 but he ended up paying 400,000 instead.

Question 4

Foreign Policy as success of failure?

Answer 4

FRANCE
+ Treaty of Angers (1551)- marriage between Edward and Henry II’s daughter Elizabeth.
- this marriage never happened.
- Relations remained tense- only a matter of time before Henry II attacked Calais.
+ England got 400,000 crowns- more than Henry II wanted to pay
+ England and France made a defensive alliance- England was to remain neutral.