Edward VI Flashcards
What is the historiography around Somerset?
Was historically known as the ‘good duke’ as he cared for the poor
Why did Edward have a difficult inheritance?
The country was divided religiously, crown finances were ruined by wars, debased coinage led to inflation and the crown had sold off monastic lands on discount to raise money quickly
What was the Regency Council?
Council set up by HVIII for Edward with a balance of Protestants and Conservatives
What were the problem with the accession of a 9-yr-old?
Was a minor so could be an easy target to invade
Who was Edward Seymour?
Earl of Hertford, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector
Who was John Dudley?
Viscount Lisle, Earl of Warwick, Duke of Northumberland, Lord President
What were the religious reforms under Somerset?
(1)
Was sympathetic to reformist ideas but knew major changes would lead to divisions
Nov 1547 - Parl passed minor religious changes but major ones not made until 1549 Act of Uniformity
What were the religious reforms under Somerset? (2)
1549 Act of Uniformity made English the primary language in worship, offered both bread and wine to the congregation
1549 - moderate Book of Common Prayer by Cranmer established a single form for services within the CofE and translation services to English
What is iconiclasm?
Breaking of religious images, radical Protestants assumed images were prohibited because of 10 commandments
What was Somerset’s foreign policy?
Aim to secure marriage between Ed & MQS like HVIII wanted in his will but Scotland refused this to go ahead
Biggest issue was S (& F)
Eng attack S by building forts and garrisons after F sent 4000 troops to S
1547 Battle of Pinkie - Eng victorious over S but not so significant as couldn’t occupy major territory and garrisoning too expensive
1549 - Somerset withdrew troops due to discontent and Western rebellion
Overall, Somerset failed to secure marriage to MQS
What were Somerset’s biggest issues regarding the economy?
Inflation and increasing size of population
Agrarian issues (enclosure and bad harvests)
Taxation
What was Somerset’s economic policy?
Continued debasing coinage to finance war against S - this heightened inflation and added to social distress, bad harvest in 1548 added to this
Set up investigation for enclosure - this upset commissioners but its rate did slow down
Taxes for Scottish wars = discontent, introduced sheep tax to deter enclosure but this put pressure on farmers to rely on sheep for subsistence
What were the main reasons for rebellions?
Religious motives
Agrarian and social grievances (riots/uprooting of enclosure)
What was the 1549 Western rebellion?
Prayer Book rebellion
In response to new prayer book, wanted to reverse religious reforms
In resentment of sheep tax and grievances over taxation
Somerset responded slowly as he underestimated it and dispatched troops to defend North from Scotland
What was the 1549 Kett’s rebellion?
In protest of land enclosures, hatred of local gov officials and resentment of abuse by landowners
Original attempt to crush rebellion by Earl of Northampton failed so sent army under Warwick to deal with rebels
Kett tried and hanged
How did the fall of Somerset come about?
Two rebellions cause significant threat and his inability to deal with these allowed Earl of Warwick and other council members to strike against him
Tried with treason and executed in 1552
Council organised coup to rid of Somerset, N launched counter-coup directed at conservatives so he could exercise unlimited power
What were some religious reforms under Northumberland?
He had a more radical approach to Protestantism, aided by:
Cranmer who introduced a more radical Book of Common Prayer in 1552
More radical senior clergy becoming influential
Continental reformers
King believed it was mission to destroy idolatry
What was foreign policy like under Northumberland?
Reduced FP expenditure to stabilise the crown’s finances
Ended wars with F & S by returning Boulogne to F - at first was seen as humiliating but actually improved crown’s financial position as it was draining resources
Abandoned garrisons in S
What was Northumberland’s economic policy?
Achieved a measure of stability in finances
Brought in £133,333 as French payment for return of Boulogne
One final debasement, then stopped
Increased revenue from church by melting church plate for bullion
Plans were made for streamlining financial administration
What were some problems with the succession?
Northumberland’s reputation was tarnished and seen as evil councillor
Mary was next in line according to HVIII’s will but N didn’t want as she was Catholic
Edward was becoming sick in 1553
What was the Devyse?
Ed & N’s plan to alter succession
Wanted to exclude Mary and Eliz
N wanted Lady Jane Grey as monarch since she was married to his son
June 1553 -M & E declared illegitimate
Parliament was called to ratify new succession but Ed died in July 1553 so Devyse was patently illegal
LJG proclaimed queen by N
Who was John Cheke?
Edward’s protestant tutor (Humanist)
What was the Dry stamp?
A way for Somerset to use Edward’s signature to approve documents
How was Edward similar to HVII?
Was intelligent and shrewd, wrote his own ‘Chronicles’, attended Privy council meetings at age 14, age of succession was lowered from 18 to 16,
How does Penry Williams describe Edward?
As the “King on a chessboard”
How can Somerset’s rule be described as?
Autocratic
What years do some historians consider as the mid-Tudor crisis?
1547-1563
End of HVIII’s reign, Edwards & Mary’s reign, start of Elizabeth’s reign
