5 - faction under mary Flashcards
The Stability of the Monarchy
evidence of factional struggle early in Mary’s reign
- disagreement over who she should marry
- fears that Spanish marriage would create factional issues between English courtiers (stressed over their positions & patronage)
Why was Mary’s Privy Council so large?
she’d brought in her own supporters who’d helped her gain the throne, as well as keeping many experienced administrators
evidence that Mary’s Privy Council was still effective despite its larger size
- rare for all councillors to be present at meetings
- average size of meetings = similar to those held under Northumberland
- committees established in 1554 excluded casual councillors
- ‘inner council’ established in 1555
- Philip’s departure & death of Gardiner (Nov 1555) allowed Paget to dominate
When was Philip’s departure & Gardiner’s death?
November 1555
clashes between Gardiner & Paget
- initially over Mary’s marriage
- over the revival of heresy laws
When did parliament initially reject the reintroduction of heresy laws?
April 1554
Why did parliament initially reject the reintroduction of heresy laws?
- didn’t agree until they had guarantees that monastic lands would not be restored to the church (unpopularity of Mary’s religious policies)
- factional struggle between Paget & Gardiner (only passed once Paget & his supporters backed it)
Why did Mary trust Cardinal Pole & Simon Renard over her Privy Council?
- Mary was aware of divisions among councillors & so didn’t trust their advice
- she referred everything to Cardinal Pole or Simon Renard (Spanish ambassador)
Simon Renard’s role
Spanish ambassador (Mary referred almost everything to him)
Who did Mary refer almost all matters to, over her Privy Council?
Cardinal Pole & Simon Renard (Spanish ambassador)
Were the debates over policy in the Privy Council ineffective?
- no, largely constructive
- Elizabeth later used it to great effect
- no evidence that the struggles created inefficiency or prevented govt from working
