Why was Edward's reign not secure?

What did Henry VIII leave behind for Edward’s reign?

• Regency Council with 16 men - believed council was too ambition & unusual to work

• After Death of H8 - Earl of Hertford, Edward Seymour made regent

• Seymour promoted himself to Duke of Somerset & became the Lord Protector

Who cared for Edward growing up?

• Nurse: Mother Jack

• Catherine Parr offered maternal affection

• Anne of Cleves & Catherine Howard had little to do with him

What was Edward’s relationship like with Henry VIII?

Traditional relationship!

• Henry saw Edward very infrequently

What did Edward’s household look like growing up?

• Had an army of servants - hardly ever alone: 3 gentlemen & 5 grooms always present

• Never allowed to partake in danger or contact sport

• Walls & Floors of his apartment were cleaned 3x a day

• Fed with great quality food

What was Edward’s character like?

Serious Child

• frequent examples of coldness - no reference to death of his Grandmother (Margaret Seymour), only two mentions of his sister Elizabeth

• clearly distrustful & vindictive

What was Edward’s character in hobbies?

• Sport - enjoyed hunting, rackets, archery, jousting (observer) and horse riding

• scribbled notes in Greek

• enjoyed listening to difficult Sermons

When was Edward receiving a formal education?

Began on 1545 - ended when he was 14 in June 1552

Who was involved in Edward’s formal education?

Richard Coxe & Sir John Cheke (principle teachers)

• Both Humanists

• Coxe was Protestant

What was Edward taught in his formal education?

• Good manners

• Fencing

• Horsemanship

• Rules of Hunting

What was the State of England in 1547?

• Increase in population - pressure on food supply, jobs, rents & inflation

• Enclosed sheep farming

• Resentment at the growth of governmental interreference in individualistic decisions (faith)

• Over-ambitious foreign policy (jealousy rivalry with France) led to debasement of coinage & the sale of crown lands - threatening financial stability

• Religious debate increasing & Protestant influences taking root in England

What was Henry VIII’s Religious Legacy?

England was Catholic in teaching but had changed its name to the ‘Church of England’

• dissolved monasteries & sold off their land - could not be recovered

• severed relationship with Roman Catholic Church

• ‘Six Articles’ 1539 - kept doctrine of Transubstantiation

What was the impact of humanist thought on Edward’s reign?

Emphasised importance of individuals

• many of Edward’s tutors were humanist (John Cheke & Richard Cox)

• Cranmer invited reformers to England to give ideas on changing the church & preaching to others

What were Edward VI’s strengths upon succession?

• crowned king = could not be ignored or contradicted

• healthy upon succession

• highly intelligent, confident & opiniated

• encyclopaedic knowledge of the nobility & gentry

• described as ‘old beyond his years’

• his uncle was his Lord Protector

What were Edward VI’s weaknesses upon succession?

• Only 9 when he became king

• England was suffering! - increasing poverty/hardship & religious upheaval

• Henry VIII depleted the coffers by spending £2 million on war with France

• Growing popular discontent over issues of enclosure & breakdown of traditional village communities