Edward under Seymour

Accession of Edward VI

1547: Became King following the death of Henry VIII.

Seymour’s Rise to Power

Edward Seymour (Somerset) emerged victorious from factional scrambles, supported by radicals like Cranmer and Paget. Edward’s coronation emphasized power directly from God, not the Pope.

Religious Changes (1547)

Turned toward Protestantism; removed Catholic images and features from churches. Issued radical Royal Injunctions and dissolved chantries to fund foreign policy.

Book of Common Prayer (1549)

Written by Cranmer; established a single English-language service for the Church to enhance understanding of religious texts.

Economic Crisis under Somerset

Continued debasement of the coin to fund the Scottish war raised £537,000 but caused rapid inflation. A 1548 bad harvest further heightened social distress.

Enclosure and Sheep Tax

Somerset’s attempts to curb enclosure failed; they annoyed landowners while raising the poor's expectations. A new sheep tax put massive pressure on subsistence farmers.

Policy Failures (Somerset)

His arrogant and dictatorial style created enemies like the Earl of Northumberland. Inherited a ruinous foreign policy and drained the treasury.

Rough Wooing of Scotland

Somerset's aggressive policy to force a marriage between Edward and Mary QOS. Included the successful but expensive Battle of Pinkie (1547).

Failure in Scotland

Somerset failed to capture Edinburgh or Dunbar and ignored the Franco-Scottish alliance. Mary QOS was moved to France to marry the Dauphin, ruining English plans.

Western Rebellion (1549)

Centered in Devon and Cornwall; driven by religious grievances and the new Prayer Book. Put down by Lord Russell.

Kett's Rebellion (1549)

Located in East Anglia; rebels demanded more radical religious changes and captured Norwich. Defeated by the Earl of Northumberland; Kett was hanged for treason.

Fall of Somerset (1549)

Rebellions and his dictatorial style led to a strike by Northumberland and Southampton. Somerset fled with the King to Windsor but eventually surrendered.