21. Mary- Government

Question 1

similarities between Edwards and Mary’s government?

Answer 1

• money

- maintaining law and order

Question 2

explain problems of succession?

Answer 2

• in her will she named her unborn baby her successor
• however due to pressure from Privy council, convinced to name Elizabeth as successor
• showed the tudor dynasty was still strong
• BUT… France had declared MQofS the queen of England = difficulties for Elizabeth’s reign

Question 3

explain her reformed parliament?

Answer 3

• only had 5 sessions
• not many acts passed, due to the lack of leadership in the house of Lords
• sessions characterised as brief, with absenteeism (politically motivated)
• royal authority and positive relations were maintained because of a shared fear of social revolution

Question 4

explain acts that were passed?

Answer 4

• 53/55- acts of repeal

- 1558: book of rates- improve crown income from custom duties

Question 5

explain the privy council?

Answer 5

• privy maintained a role as the centre of administration
• but a problem was that it was too large to conduct business effectively= a lot of factional divisions
• criticised for having councillors with no political ability, evidenced by first few weeks of her reign she chose new catholic councillors loyal to the church (catholic noblemen)
• furthermore she had to choose councillors from the royal household as well= several moderate members of Northumberland’s council had been sworn in as councillors

Question 6

explain the inner council?

Answer 6

• later in her reign Mary worked with an inner council inc. spanish ambassador, as her reign progressed she made less use of the Privy Council= her ministers were angry about being marginalised
• by the end of her reign her relationship with her ministers had deteriorated