3.1 Edward's Government and Foreign Policy Flashcards
What problems did Edward VI face upon his ascension to the throne?
- The country was divided on religious grounds (Catholicism vs Protestantism)
- Crown finances had been ruined in expensive wars against Scotland
- The coinage had been debased in order to pay for wars causing a rise in inflation and a decline in incomes
- The Crown had compromised its long-term security by selling off its monastic lands
- Edward was only 9 years old when he inherited the throne
What was the Regency Council?
A council set up by Henry VIII to govern England during Edward VI’s minority.
It consisted of a mix of conservatives (Catholics) and Protestants.
Who was Edward VI’s main advisor from 1547- 49 and what two positions did he grant himself?
Edward Seymour. On Henry VIII’s death, he was granted Lord Protector of Edward VI.
He also promoted himself from Earl of Hertford to Duke of Somerset.
How did Somerset increase his power in the Council?
- He replaced members of the Privy Council with members from his household.
- He arrested any Council members that he suspected of objecting his rule. Such as the Earl of Southampton and his brother Thomas Seymour
What caused Kett’s Revolt in 1549?
- Hatred towards local officials
- Opposition towards the increase in local enclosure, landlords and Somerset’s enclosure laws.
- There was a fear that they would be blamed by commissioners for the food shortages
What were the events of the Kett rebellion?
8th July: Hedges were turned down near Wymondham
9th July: Protesters march towards Norwich, the 2nd largest city in England, which falls to the rebels on the 22nd.
Somerset sends Northampton to quell the rebels but he is unsuccessful
27th August: The Earl of Warwick (later Duke of Northumberland) defeats the rebels.
Why did Somerset want to continue Henry VIII’s war (Battle of Rough Wooing) with Scotland?
Somerset claimed aggression over Scotland, claiming Edward’s ancestral rights over the Scottish throne and thus a marriage to Mary Queen of Scots.
This differed from Henry who had been more interested in victory in France.
How successful was Somerset’s foreign policy against Scotland?
He had initial success with victory over the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.
However Somerset failed to capitalise on using the castle of Dunbar and Edinburgh strategically.
This allowed French troops to easily sail up the Firth of Forth and relieving Scottish troops.
This led to France marrying the Dauphin to Marry Queen of Scots, which destroyed Somerset’s main motive.
What were Somerset’s enclosure laws?
And how did this anger peasants?
March 1549 Enclosure Act: Introduced tax on sheep and cloth to remove profit from enclosure. This was later abandoned as the levy was too hard to enforce.
Somerset then issued a proclamation that repeat offenders of enclosure would be punished which led to joyous gangs of peasants destroying hedgerows and fences.
Somerset hastily issued another proclamation forbidding the tear down of hedges.
Somerset’s indecisiveness led to rebels continuing to destroy hedgerows.
Why did the Earl of Warwick coup against Somerset?
Somerset had made costly blunders, most notably his failure in Scotland.
Somerset’s failure to secure enforced enclosure laws.
Somerset had struggled to deal with both the Western Rebellion and Kett’s revolt.
What did Northumberland do differently to avoiding another coup?
He avoided the excessive amount of power Somerset had by naming himself Lord President of the Council rather than Edward’s Protector.
However his inclusion of the Council was short-lived, as after Somerset was executed for plotting a Coup, Northumberland, like his predecessor, relied less on the Council.
What was Northumberland’s foreign policy?
He promptly ended war with Scotland as an economic priority.
Treaty of Boulogne 1550: Northumberland managed to sell the recently captured Boulogne back to France for £133,333.
What was the Devyse?
Why did it fail?
This was an alteration in Edward’s will that declared Elizabeth and Mary illegitimate, favouring the Protestant Lady Jane Grey as next in line.
However it failed due to having no legal traction, as it was not passed in Parliament until after the kings death.
Why did Northumberlands Coup Fail?
The Devyse was never passed through Parliament whilst Edward was alive, making it illegal.
Northumberland failed to capture Mary, who built up an army that he was unprepared for.
Mary’s army, through luck, came into possession of powerful artillery from the Royal Navy.
What happened to Northumberland?
Upon receiving a letter detailing rumours of Mary’s foreign and Royal Navy support, Northumberland surrendered.
He was arrested the next day by the Earl of Arundel and later executed in London.
