Somerset and Northumberland

Question 1

When was Edward VI born?

Answer 1

October 1537

Question 2

When did Edward fall ill?

Answer 2

1552

Question 3

When did Edward die of tuberculosis or chronic infections of the chest?

Answer 3

1553

Question 4

When did Edward come onto the throne and how old was he

Answer 4

1547
9 years old

Question 5

Who was Lord Protector from 1547?

Answer 5

Edward Seymour, Earl of Somerset

Question 6

What was Somerset known as?
and Why

Answer 6

the ‘Good Duke’ because he made attempts to help the poor

Question 7

In why year did England face major crisis?

Answer 7

1549 - rebellions

Question 8

what was the regency council split between and who had majority under Edward

Answer 8

Catholics and reformers
reformers had majority

Question 9

What did Somerset inherit from Henry (3)

Answer 9

• divided religious country
• finances ruined from foreign policy against France and Scotland
• rise in inflation from debasement in coinage and decline in income

Question 10

when was archbishop cranmers homily published

Answer 10

1547

Question 11

what was the arch bishop cranmers homily about

Answer 11

obedience to authority of king was in accordance of will of god - disobedience is a mortal sin

Question 12

Who supported Somerset?

Answer 12

Cranmer, William Paget. Rewarded them with peerage and grants of land.

Question 13

Why was Thomas Seymour executed?

Answer 13

Sought to turn Edward against Somerset and tried to plot with Southampton against the Protector.

Question 14

What were some of Somerset’s policy failings?

Answer 14

His approach to foreign policy, badly mishandled the rebellions in 1549.

Question 15

Who was Somerset’s most important enemy?

Answer 15

Northumberland
, feebleness of Somerset’s response to the rebellions gave him the opportunity to strike.

Question 16

When did Somerset fall from power?

Answer 16

Aug 1549.

Question 17

How did Somerset fall from power?

Answer 17

Stand off between conspirators and Somerset who still had control of King. Retreated to Windsor but in the end Somerset surrendered when he was promised no treason charge

Question 18

What was Northumberland’s title?

Answer 18

Lord President of the Council

Question 19

What determined the religious character of Northumberland’s regime? (3)

Answer 19

Purging of conservatives like Southampton, Cranmer’s support and King’s own increasingly assertive Protestantism.

Question 20

Why was Somerset executed?

Answer 20

Attempted a counter-coup to recover his old position.

Question 21

How did Northumberland respond to the counter coup?

BEHAVIOUR

Answer 21

Became less counciliar in approach to gov - behaved precisely how Somerset had before he was removed. Enemies like Paget were removed.

Question 22

How did Northumberland try to change the succession?

Answer 22

Henry’s will said Edward should be succeeded by Mary, Northumberland tried to alter the succession by declaring Lady Jane Grey as heir.
his daughter in law

Question 23

Why did the Devyse fail?

Answer 23

Edward died in July 1553 before parliament could meet and change the succession, so the Devyse was patently illegal.

Question 24

What was Somerset’s aim with Scottish foreign policy?

Answer 24

Enforce the marriage between Edward and MQS. Scotland was his main priority, unlike it had been with Henry.

Question 25

What was Somerset’s strategy towards Scotland?

Answer 25

Defeat Scots in battle, build and garrison a number of forts on the border and force them into submission.

Question 26

What battle took place in September 1547?

Answer 26

Battle of Pinkie, Scots defeated.

Question 27

How did Somerset’s strategy towards Scotland fail? (3)

Answer 27

Forts were difficult and expensive to garrison
English could not capture significant castles and
Somerset underestimated the cooperation between France and Scotland.

Question 28

What happened to MQS in 1548?

Answer 28

French had control of her, she was taken to France to marry Francis, heir to French throne.

Question 29

Why was Somerset’s foreign policy disastrous? (3)

Answer 29

-Military strategy proved unaffordable at a time of financial pressure

-failed in political objective of marrying Edward and MQS.

• relationship with France deteriorated and led to a threat of invasion at time when he was most vulnerable.

Question 30

How did Northumberland reduce foreign policy expenditure?

Answer 30

Ended wars with Scotland and France (had to return Boulogne, it was draining Crown resources and French paid a large sum to get it back).
Also abandoned garrisons in Scotland.

Question 31

Northumberland got rid of remaining garrisons in Scotland. What does this suggest about his priorities?

Answer 31

That financial benefit outweighed fears about continuing French influence over Scottish affairs.