How well-prepared was Edward for kingship?

Quality of Education - good

• Recieved formal education 1543-1552

• Teachers Richard Coxe and Sir John Cheke, both prominent humanists and Coxe was a Protestant

• Learned good manners, fencing, horsemanship and hunting

• Tutored in statecraft and government

• Encyclopedic knowledge of nobility and gentry

• Spent hours studying

Edward’s Character/Personality - so and so

• Naturally studious, intelligent and devout

• Enjoyed hunting, rackets, archery, horse-riding and watching jousting

• Self-disciplined, rarely laughed

• Cold towards others, showed no remorse towards Somerset’s death

• Only warm towards his friend Barnaby Flitzpatrick/the royal whipping boy

Edward’s Ideas - good

• Wrote a memo about reorganising the Privy Council and limiting its function

• Wrote of economic problems, especially inflation

• Knew a lot about Habsburg-Valois Wars

• Wanted to reform the Church, especially bishops

Edward’s Upbringing - unrelated

• Not allowed to participate in contact sports

• Great care over cleanliness and quality of food

• Maternal affection from Katherine Parr (1543)

• Army of personal servants

• Rarely saw his dad

Causes for concern

• A minor, vulnerable to manipulation

• Break with Rome was big for a minor to deal with

• Ruthless king, soon feared

• Family rift with Mary, threatened his sister

• Henry’s will amended to say council has full power

• 3 consecutive bad harvests