Duke of Northumberland

How did John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, later Duke of Northumberland, seize power

• Warwick brought in allies and removed opponents to secure Protestant majority

• rumours of a Catholic plot in 1550 to remove Warwick gave him opportunity to dismiss key enemies on the Council, e.g. Earl of Arundel

• Warwick made Lord President of the Council + placed important supporters around EVI

EVI’s health and succession?

• early 1553, EVI’s health began to decline - by summer he was dying

• Succession Act 1546 and H8’s will stated Mary should inherit throne

• plot developed to exclude Mary from succession, known as the ‘Devise for the Succession’, first issued May 1553.

How did Northumberland try to benefit himself in the succession?

• He arranged the marriage of Guildford Dudley, his son, to Lady Jane Grey

• this was followed soon after a change in EVI’s will to name Jane as successor

• EVI’s death kept secret while prominent men in London sign devise + Council order sheriffs and JPs to raise forces

What suggests EVI was the driving force behind the alterations to succession?

• played a greater role in government, attending Privy Council meetings and setting some agendas

• EVI was committed to Protestantism and so may have excluded Mary in order to preserve the religious reform programme

• Northumberland was astute enough to recognise EVI’s skills and was therefore quick to involve him in consultation and government

• Northumberland dismissed his personal army in 1552 + no propaganda launched in preparation

• When Guildford Dudley married Jane she was not heir to the throne

• Northumberland was an experienced soldier, so unlikely him as the plot was poorly managed + had sufficient forces to ensure control but dismissed forces in 1552

Why was the question of legitimacy important for nobility?

• if they supported the wrong claimant, they could be severely punished

• this forced the Privy Council to respond to Mary’s letters claiming the throne

How was Mary able to take the throne?

• she proclaimed herself Queen in East Anglia + was able to raise a large force

• Northumberland left London to confront Mary - his departure have members of the Privy Council a chance to reconsider their views

• most had been forced to agree to the advise and most of them declared for Mary

• Northumberland did not gain support as he marched towards Mary + many deserted him

• Northumberland forced to abandon march towards Framlingham (Mary’s base) and retreated to Cambridge, where he proclaimed Mary queen

• when she entered London, she was greeted with enthusiasm