Government under Mary

what problems did Mary face upon her succession?

England was religious divisive, Mary Catholic England had a protestant minority, not been brought up to rule, her supporters had no experience in gov, she had to rely on her brother’s ministers who brought about protestant reforms

Mary inherited a kingdom that had…

fundamental religious divisions

Mary was Catholic in a kingdom that…

had a substantial Protestant minority

Mary had not been brought up…

to rule & did not know how to cope with the political challenges she confronted

Mary’s loyal & trusted supporters had no…

serious experience in government

who were Mary’s loyal supporters

Robert Rochester, Edward Waldegrave, Sir Henry Jeringhem & Sir Henry Bedingfield

why was it a problem that Mary had to rely on those who served her brother?

they were implicated in the introduction of protestant reforms - which she opposed

what did Mary do to her government initially

appointed new councillors, churchmen who had been excluded from influence during Edward’s reign, and some of the more conservative councillors who had at various times served Edward

what new councillors did Mary appoint

Bishop Stephen Gardiner, who had been her father’s secretary & had been a steadfast upholder of religious conservatism during Edward’s reign so that he had suffered imprisonment

who was a more conservative councillor that had served Edward that Mary appointed

Lord Paget

Mary appointed… councillors during her reign

50

what did it mean that Mary appointed 50 councillors during her reign

inevitably led to inefficient government & factionalism

what supports the fact that their was inefficient gov & factionalism during Mary’s reign

Mary’s most important decision - to Marry Phillip - was never discussed in Council

what contradicts the idea that Mary’s gov was inefficient & had factionalism?

Mary regarded the title of ‘councillor’ as honorary and the working council was much smaller and dominated by experienced figures

what experienced figures did Mary have in her council

Stephen Gardiner & William Paget

what problems did Mary have with her councillors?

she lost confidence in Paget when he opposed her religious programme & she never fully trusted Gardiner who failed to support her mother Catherine during the break from Rome

what was the relationship like between Mary & parliament?

cautious cooperation

A substantial minority of MPs opposed the…

reversal of Edwardian religious legislation & opposed crown policies.

How did Mary quarrel with parliament over?  

many who had gained land during the dissolution protested giving it back & Mary did not push, her bill to allow the seizure of property of protestant exiles in 1555 was also defeated