15-Mary I and her ministers

Royal Authority

  • Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queen in 1553

    • Mary’s popular support quickly grew, and she was able to gather support from nobility, gentry, and the ordinary people.

The Failure of the Devyse

  • Northumberland's plan (The Devyse) to make Lady Jane Grey queen failed for several reasons:

    • It attempted to interfere with the legitimate succession.

    • Northumberland promoted the claims of his son’s wife, leading people to believe it was more about Northumberland holding onto power.

    • His actions were seen as illegal and caused anger even among his own supporters in the Council.

    • Northumberland had less hostility than Somerset but had little positive support from those around him.

    • Mary, in contrast, acted quickly and decisively, gaining support from nobility, gentry, and common folk.

Royal Government under Mary

  • Mary’s accession was greeted favorably, either due to the legitimate succession or her promise to restore Catholicism.

  • Catholicism was the most important issue for her reign.

Problems for Mary’s Accession

  • Inherited a kingdom with deep religious divisions.

  • Mary was not brought up to rule and had little political experience, which made it harder to handle the challenges of governance.

  • Her loyal supporters, such as Rochester and Waldegrave, had little experience in government.

  • Mary had to rely on those who had served her half-brother, Edward VI, some of whom had introduced religious reforms that were against her Catholic views.

How Did Mary Act at the Beginning of Her Reign?

  • Mary acted impatiently, interpreting her popular support as a sign that her subjects were eager for the return of Catholicism rather than simply rejecting Northumberland and Lady Jane Grey.

  • She quickly reversed the religious policies of the 1540s and 1550s.

  • Her marriage to Philip of Spain turned some of her popularity into doubt and dislike.

Royal Authority and Mary’s Policy of Persecution

  • Leading Protestant churchmen, such as Archbishop Cranmer, were arrested, and other Protestants were replaced by committed Catholics.

  • By the end of 1553, the senior clergy had been purged of Protestant elements.

  • Parish priests who had married were ordered to either give up their families or leave their jobs.

  • Heresy laws, revived by Parliament, were used to burn Protestants at the stake.

    • Executions began in February 1555.

    • High-profile victims, such as Cranmer, were executed along with ordinary people.

    • Around 300 Protestants were burned in total, asserting Mary’s royal authority.