Edward's Inheritance: Somerset Flashcards
What attempts did Henry make to ensure Edward wouldn’t be usurped?
- he was crowned king shortly after his accession
- government of country in hands of balanced Privy Council
- Edward was educated by tutors with Protestant sympathies to ensure continuation of separation from Rome
What signs showed that Edward’s reign had the potential to go well?
- he was crowned king of independent sovereign state
- seemingly more stable than in the War of the Roses
Within weeks, who had control of government?
- Edward Seymour, Edward’s uncle
- in February 1547 he secured leadership of the Regency Privy Council for “better conduct of business”
By the end of February 1547 what had Edward Seymour achieved?
- he had secured the support of majority of councillors and was made Lord Protector
Why was the conservative weak at this point and what did this contribute to?
- Norfolk had been disgraced
- Earl of Surrey had been executed
- this contributed to the reformist faction’s ability to control the Church
What three factors contributed to the decision to create a Lord Protector?
- Seymour’s personality
- support of William Paget
- need for a strong military leader when England was still in a war on two fronts
Was it Henry’s plan to have power vested in the hands of the Duke of Somerset?
- no, far from it
What did Cranmer preach at Edward’s coronation and what significance did this have?
- he preached a sermon drawing similarities between Edward and King Josiah
- he was encapsulating his hopes for Edward’s reign to rebuild the Church and country as a new Jerusalem ie. that Protestantism could be established and embedded
Was Edward’s death anticipated?
- no
- up his last 6 months he was healthy and increasingly involved in government
What evidence is there that Edward was quite actively involved in government?
- he wrote plans for the economic developments of England which would have established a form of bureaucracy not developed until the 19th century
- his notebook contained a detailed account of state affairs including a clinical account of his uncle’s execution
How was government admin in the first two years of Edward’s reign similar to that of Henry?
- it followed the pattern established by Henry
- the personnel were very similar
- the Privy Council used the same methods and machinery of government
How is opinion divided over the views of Somerset and Northumberland?
- Somerset as ‘Good Duke’ and Northumberland’s policies as tyrannical
- Northumberland had to rescue England from near anarchy in 1549 as a result of Somerset’s failures
What do people who regard Somerset as the ‘Good Duke’ emphasise?
- him as a leader who sought to establish a Protestant Commonwealth
What do critics of Somerset say about him?
- that he was incapable of effectively dealing with the problems inherited from Henry VIII
(though undoubtedly Henry’s legacy was almost impossible to maintain)
What short term problem did Somerset have in regards to the wars with France and Scotland?
- it was imperative that national pride was maintained through wars
- the war against Scotland had to be continued as it was seen as the way Edward and Mary Queen of Scots would marry and the succession would be secured
- 1548: Somerset issued appeal to Scots proposing union between countries - rejected by Scots
