Mary's Key Advisers

Stephen Gardiner

Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor

• previously imprisoned in Edward VI reign by Northumberland

Simon Renard

The imperial ambassador from Charles V

Reginald Pole

Cousin of Mary

• became Papal Legate with a brief to restore papal authority

Charles V

Mary’s Cousin and Holy Roman Emperor

• Mary maintained a regular correspondence with him throughout his reign - regarding him as a father figure

Phillip II of Spain

Son of Charles V and Mary’s Husband

Julius III

Pope when Mary ascended to the throne in 1553

• wanted all ex-church lands to be returned to the Church before England could reconciled with Rome

Paul IV

Pope from 1555

• fiercely anti-Habsburg

• brought England into conflict with the Papacy