Edward VI's Succession

Why was Northumberland concerned when Edward VI’s health began to decline?

Mary was next in the line of succession - she would restore Catholicism

What could happen to Northumberland if Mary came into power?

had supported a radical form of Protestantism - would endanger his life and lose power

What was the name of the Plan produced to alter the line of succession?

Devyse

Who originally put the idea of Devyse forward?

Edward VI - anxious to ensure the continuation of Protestantism

• prepared to execute both his half-sisters (Mary I and Elizabeth I) from the line of succession

Who was selected to be Edward VI’s successor?

Lady Jane Grey

Why was Lady Jane Grey a suitable candidate to succeeded Edward VI?

• married to Northumberland’s son, Guildford Dudley

• granddaughter of Mary Tudor (Henry VIII’s youngest sister) - line would continue the royal dynasty if Elizabeth died without an heir

In June 1553 who were declared illegitimate?

Mary and Elizabeth

• preparations were made to call a parliament to ratify the new succession

• throne would pass to ‘The Lady Jane and her heirs male’

Why was the Devyse plan unable to pass through Parliament?

Montague (Lord Chief Justice) refused to sign the Devyse for the ‘danger of treason’

• goes against Mary’s succession

What happened before Parliament could confirm Devyse?

Edward died - left the succession in a dangerous limbo

• Henry VIII’s third Succession Act (1543) - naming Mary next - still valid and stood in opposition to Edward’s wants

What was significant about the events of June 1553?

• Edward undoubtedly had supported a change in the succession; end to Tudors dynasty

• successful coup by Northumberland could have risked returning the country into civil conflict of the Wars of the Roses - could have denied history of Mary I’s and Elizabeth I’s reigns