Edward VI and Mary I- stability of the monarchy

When did Edward VI become king?

28th January 1547, when he was 9 years old

What is a regency council?

A group of ministers, usually nobels and landed, who ruled on behalf of the king until they become of age

Henry VII created one consisting of 16 members (no leader) for Edward he died

Why were they concerned about a minor being king?

Afraid it would cause further instability from from foreign powers

Edward wouldn’t be able to lead troupes to war and the fear of people attempting to exploit the king.

Fears of a civil war returning , factions etc

Who was Somerset

Edward Seymour, Edward’s uncle, built up a reputation for military skills during wars with Scotland (1540’s)

How did Somerset affect instability early on?

Claimed power and leadership of the regency as the lord protector

Could cause instability as many questioned the legality of his leadership as it went against Henry VII will

Who was part of of the Anti-Somerset faction?

Thomas Wriothesley - opposed to religious policies

Warwick (Northumberland) - wanted to claim more power at court

Pager

Why did Somerset fail?

Unrest through Ketts and the prayer book rebellion, Somerset’s style of government

How did Somerset react to losing his power?

Retreated to Hampton court (5th October 1549), ordered loyal subjects to defend him and the king

Moved to Windsor Castle (6th October 1549), took Edward with him but Edward with him but he got ill due to the cold conditions

How did Edward react?

Claimed he was a prisoner and abandoned Somerset

Claimed Somerset threaten to start riots in the streets if he lost his power

How long did Somerset stay in power?

About 1 week more

He denied Edward’s claim ( contradicting the king!)

Did Northumberland claim power easily?

The council contained religious conservatives who didn’t trust Warwick

Brought in his own allies to the council and removed his opponents and so he could have a Protestant majority.

What was the plot against Northumberland in December 1549?

A plot to remove Northumberland as he was seen as Somerset’s friend by catholics

What action did Northumberland take in January 1550 regarding Catholics in the council

He used the plot against him as a excuse to remove them from the council

Which Earls were removed from the council be Northumberland?

The earls of Arundel and Southampton

What position was Northumberland decalared after removing Catholics from the council?

Lord President of the council

Who did this force Northumberland to ally with?

More religiously radical members of the council - would later impact his religious changes

How did Northumberland try to reconcile with Somerset?

Somerset was released from prison, his goods were restored, his daughter married Northumberland’s son

Most importantly he was reinstated at court and became a member of the privy council

What did Somerset do?

Continued to plot against Northumberland, which led to his execution ( 22nd January 1552)

Some believed that the accusations brought against him were untrue and used to get him executed

When did Edward start to deteriorate?

The early months of 1553

What was the succession according to Henry VII’s will?

Throne was to pass to Edward’s half-sister Mary

What did the new succession attempt to do?

Exclude Mary ( she’s catholic)

Place LJG Edward’s cousin on the throne

Who was the driving force for altering the succession?

Northumberland, as it could cement his power in England

His son ( Guildford Dudley) married LJG soon before the change to Edward’s will

What evidence is there that Edward was true driving force for the succession?

Edward was playing a much more crucial role in government, attending privy council meetings and setting some agendas

Edward was very committed to Protestantism so may have wanted to preserve his religious reform.

What was the problem with the original Devise?

First issued in 1553, set out that his crown would go to LJG’s son (didn’t exist yet)

Edward’s health was declining rapidly and the original devise was of little use as there were no male heirs and not enough time for one to be born before Edward died

How did they alter the divisive?

They made LJG the heir to the throne instead of her future children

Edward’s death

Died 6th July 1553 - kept quite for 2 days

Council ordered sheriffs and justices to raise troupes

How did Mary respond?

Proclaimed herself as the true queen of England, sent letters to the privy council and towns informing them

Made clear that anyone who opposed her was opposing her legitimate ruler

Why was legitimacy important to the ruling classes?

If you supported an illegal claimant all laws could be challenged and the right to the there land questioned

In there interest to support the rightful ruler and avoid civil war and anarchy

July 10th 1553

Against her wishes LJG was proclaimed queen

How did Mary respond to LJG’s claim?

Declared herself as queen in east anglia

Issued proclamations, the letters of summons and asked the the holy roman emperor (Charles V) for help

What did Northumberland leaving London do?

Gave members of the privy council the chance to reconsider there own views, after being forced to agree with the divise

Many declared allegence to Mary

What happened as Northumberland attempted to confront Mary?

Didn’t gain support on his way, many actually deserted him (despite him increasing there wage)

He was forced to abandon his march and to Framlingham (Mary’s base), retreated to Cambridge and soon after proclaimed Mary Queen

Effects of Marys win?

Entered London to enthusiasm

Many who originally supported the divise wrote to Mary to explain there actions

Successful appeals?

Gardiner and Norfolk were released and were showed leniency

Paget joined the privy council

William Cecil was imprisoned

Unsuccessful appeals?

Northumberland, LJG and Guildford Dudley were all arrested and then later killed

Northumberland executed 22nd August 1553

Why did people fear a female monarchy?

not be able to control faction

Unable to lead an army into battle

Are expected to marry - cause people to question who should Mary marry and though she is the queen, she would have to be subservient to her husband

If marry an Englishman it would cause one family to have a major increase in power and they would dominate court

Married a foreigner the country may become dominated by them

Who were Mary’s marriage candidates?

Edward Courtney - Earl of Devon (supported by Gardiner)

Phillip of Spain (supported by paget)

Why Edward Courtenay?

Descended from royal blood, related to the Plantagenets- could further strengthen the Tudor dynasty

Why Phillip of Spain?

Bring England closer to the Habsburg’s (her mother was related as Charles V was Catherine of Aragon’s nephew.

Phillip was powerful and would be able to help protect England, concerned around Spain dragging England into pricy wars.

How did they decide who Mary married?

27th October 1554, Mary announced that she was planning on marrying Phillip

Parliament petitioned, Mary ignored this and 7th December 1553 marriage treaty was presented to the council and approved in January 1554

What was the reaction to this?

January 1554 unrest broke out (Wyatt’s rebellion)

Involved the political elite, Sir James Croft, Sir Peter Carew and Sir Thomas Wyatt - all held office under Henry VII and Edward VI, now they feared they would lose there influence to Spaniards

Planned a four pronged attack riding in Devon, Leicestershire, the welsh border and Kent (only Kent rose)

What do people believe the rebellion us about?

Many believe it is directly to do with the marriage proclamation, some believe it was religiously motivated as Wyatt was a committed Protestant

Plans of Wyatts rebellion?

Marry princess Elizabeth to Edward Courtney ( didn’t tell Gardiner about this)

Raised the rebellion too early due to bad planning, raised in winter and managed to rise 3000 men

Was Mary worried?

Sent royal force under the Duke of Norfolk to confront the rebels, ended up joining them!

As they neared London, privy council attempted to raise forces and advised Mary to leave (she didn’t)

Finally stoped in ludgate and Wyatt surrendered

Marys reaction

She executed around 100 of the people who rose up against her

Among the leaders Wyatt and Suffolk were executed as well as LJG and her husband

Croft was imprisoned and Carew fled to France

Courtney and Elizabeth were interrogated

Stability of the marriage

Phillip spent little time in England after the marriage and they never successfully created an heir

How were privy councils made more effective

Establishment of committees (1554)- exclude the more casual members

Establishment of an ‘inner council’ (1555)

Phillips departure and death of Gardiner (1555) allowed Paget to dominate and establish a conciliar government

Faction?

Most notably Gardiner and Paget - didn’t impact governments efficiency

Were specific disputes ( heresy laws) but never caused too many issues

Was the monarchy stable form 1447 to 1558?

• Legitimate monarch triumphed

• Crown passed peacefully from Henry to Edward, Mary to Elizabeth

• LJG was only the queen for 9 days

• Ruling elite always supported the rightful monarch

• Somerset’s coup was short lived

Was the monarchy unstable form 1547-1558?

• Rebellions of 1549 ment political elite abandoned there support of the government

• Somerset’s overthrow created instability

• Wyatt came close to overthrowing Mary

• Struggle for power between Northumberland and the catholic faction

• Somerset was able to seize power through manipulating Henry VIII’s will