Edward VI 1547-1553

Question 1

What did Henry’s last will and testament order?

Answer 1

December 1546, a council of sixteen made up of equal members to be appointed during the royal minority, the line of succession was to be Edward then Mary then Elizabeth then came the collateral heirs, by the third succession act of 1543 the rights of Mary and Elizabeth although illegitimate were maintained

Question 2

Who were Henry’s collateral heirs to the throne?

Answer 2

The descendants of his younger sister Mary to inherit first, Francis Duchess of Suffolk her daughters the three Grey sisters. Then his sister Margaret of Scotland’s grandchildren, Mary Queen of Scots and Henry Lord Darnley

Question 3

Why was Henry’s death kept secret?

Answer 3

28th January kept secret these days while councillors Edward Seymour, earl of Hertford and duke of Somerset, and William paget, veteran of Tudor government and Henry’s former diplomat, negotiated, they persuaded council that Henry did not wish for a collective government by a council of equals but for Edward Seymour his brother in law to be Protector. Other councillors bought off with new titles and lands

Question 4

How is Somerset viewed? Compare to Northumberland

Answer 4

Incompetent idealist, inept, of overweening self confidence, high Protestant ideals led him into sharp practices eg trying to destroy Westminster abbey and building Somerset house out of ruined churches, followers were moderate Protestants and stood for paternal social reforms. By contrast Northumberland was more ruthless and corrupt and lacked Somerset’s high ideals but identified with more extreme Protestant elements

Question 5

How did Somerset fail as a first class military man?

Answer 5

Put intolerable strains on the treasury by his invasion of Scotland which drove the Scots further into their alliance with France eg by victory at the Battle of Pinkie 1547 but had aimed to create a peaceful union symbolised by marrying Edward VI to the Scottish child queen Mary Stuart but she was shipped off to France to marry the dauphin, by invading Scotland he had provoked Henry II of France into declaring war and Henry’s one conquest Boulogne was lost and by autumn 1548 French troops set about recouping all that English held in Scotland

Question 6

Describe financial problems under Duke of Somerset in 6 points

Answer 6

Crown wealthy during 1540s due to Henry’s great debasement of the coinage and dissolution of monasteries and Henry and Somerset spent around £3.5 million on six years of warfare in France and Scotland, by 1552 the crown was bankrupt and would never conduct such major military campaigns like those of France and Spain, debasement and dissolution contained under Edward because a price rise followed by a boom in export of cloth and wool hastened the enclosure movement which led to unemployment and poverty, land prices increased steeply due to run of bad harvest coincided with setbacks in overseas trade, yeomen and husbandmen could profit from rise in price of farm produce but the cottager class became further impoverished, 1549 rebellion demanded fines and enclosure of common land for deer parks and sheep

Question 7

Describe religious change under Duke of Somerset in 7 points

Answer 7

Somerset turned out leading catholics from his circle which gained him popularity in London, Thomas Cranmer ordered Henry’s heresy laws and act of six articles to be repealed and as parliament met London mobs broke church images and whitewashed walls and broke up altars and sold off vestments to city tailors which was all encouraged throughout land by broadsheets, homilies published by royal authority ignored mass and roman practice of communion in one kind and an act ordered administration of the sacrament to all those who desired so in both kinds, an act swept away presence of bishops and arranged for their appointment by letters latent issued by king, Cranmer produced fresh Protestant Prayer Book in England and it was enforced by a mild act of Uniformity in 1549, emphasis put on vernacular scriptures and services in English and preaching and pulpit and congregation rather than on altar and priest and sacraments and good works, book of common prayer 1549 dictated decidedly Protestant mode of worship but Howard Duke of Norfolk and Stephen gardiner bishop of Winchester (both in tower) resisted Cranmer arguing the supremacy belonged to the council now not the king

Question 8

What was the Chantries Act and what happened afterwards? 4 points

Answer 8

1547 ordered some two thousand chantries (chapels in which priests say souls for the dead and properties of all guilds) to be confiscated which caused strong opposition in commons and rebellion in Cornwall, foreign scholars from Germany and Italy like Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr and many supporters of Zwingli from Zurich like Hooper brought into unis to educate new clergy in reformed doctrines, royal chaplains began to read all church services in English, commissioners visited unis to give new statutes but encouraged destruction of images and stained glass windows and church organs

Question 9

Why was there resentment during Somerset’s time in power?

Answer 9

1548 enquiry into enclosures made him even more unpopular with nobles, Hugh Latimer course of sermons on the iniquities of the rimes highlighted what was wrong with the regime, ketts rebellion 1549 caused by resentment of economic depression and high prices and coinage debasement and religious innovation and social reforms which failed to deliver the promised results and Somerset’s inability to work with the rest of the council

Question 10

How were the rebellions crushed by Somerset?

Answer 10

Rioting broke out in Norfolk, Suffolk, Devon, Cornwall, most of Midland Shires and in Yorkshire and in the south west and East Anglia the government had to employ full scale military action in which about 6000 perished in a series of sieges ans battles, earl of Warwick future duke of Northumberland took charge of putting down these rebellions with German mercenaries and Welsh gunners which led to the downfall of Somerset because his enemies claimed credit for restoring law and order

Question 11

What was the Thomas Seymour conspiracy?

Answer 11

Lord High Admiral and brother of Duke of Somerset, married Catherine Parr and hoped to consolidate his power by marrying lady Jane grey to Edward VI and when Parr died he entertained hopes of marrying Princess Elizabeth, January 1549 Somerset disposed of him by act of attainder and the clock on Tower Hill, executed for treason 20th March 1549

Question 12

When was Duke of Somerset executed?

Answer 12

January 1552 on Tower Hill to be replaced by Duke of Northumberland earl of Warwick who studiously avoided title of protector

Question 13

Describe Duke of Northumberland’s military successes

Answer 13

As Lord lieutenant of the army under Somerset his forces ravaged the lowlands of Scotland and burnt out Edinburgh and in 1547 decisively defeated the Scots at pinkie, as president of the council of wales he recruited there heavily for the army for the wars against France and Scotland

Question 14

Describe religious change under Duke of Northumberland in 7 points

Answer 14

Confiscated more church properties, appointed bishops made to pay for their conservations with episcopal property eg see of Gloucester suppressed and Durham refounded which resulted in substantial gifts to Northumberland, Second book of common prayer and Cranmer forty two articles of religion imposed by a second act of uniformity in 1552, clerical vestments forbidden and altars became communion tables, attendance at church enforced by fines and imprisonment for absence, more violent wage or iconoclasm ensued, government would not oubliette Cranmer revised Canon law for the Church of England as Edward and parliament did not trust episcopal courts to impose discipline effectively, continued confiscation Of property of builds and chantries and annexing episcopal lands which led to the founding of some Edwardian grammar schools

Question 15

How did Northumberland try to subvert the succession?

Answer 15

To maintain the Protestant interest and his own he thought at one stage of bypassing Mary for her sister Elizabeth, tried to repeal the succession act of 1543 and to later or set aside the will of Henry III but this required parliament cooperation and consent of the king so he persuaded Edward to exclude his sister in the name of religion and settle the succession firstly on the male heirs of Lady Jane Grey, the ‘Device’ layer altered by erasure and inserted to read ‘the Lady Jane Grey and her heirs male’

Question 16

What happened after Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen in London?

Answer 16

Two days later Mary had herself proclaimed queen in Framlingham in Suffolk and within the next ten days the nation made its choice for Queen Mary as rightful successor so Lady Jane grey was only queen nine days, she and her husband put in tower and Northumberland was already there so he was executed for high treason on Tower Hill 22nd August 1553

Question 17

How was Northumberland successful in his handling of the finances?

Answer 17

His treasurer, the marquis of Dorchester, laid the foundations for fiscal reforms which stabilised the currency and prices and thereby curbed inflation

Question 18

How did Northumberland Break the trade monopoly of the German Hansa towns in Northern Europe?

Answer 18

Promoted the Russian Company of Merchant Adventurers under the expedition sent out under Sebastian Cabot, Hugh Willoughby and Richard Chancellor which reached Moscow

Question 19

What did Edward draw up in 1552?

Answer 19

A memoranda for parliament in twelve bills for a reorganisation of government which suggested he may have been an able administrator

Question 20

How was Edward the single exception with regards to Tudor monarchs?

Answer 20

He was born to rule whereas Henry VII was a usurper and the other three inherited the throne because a sibling died

Question 21

Describe Edward’s upbringing

Answer 21

He lived apart from his father and family and has his own household which moved between palace and royal houses such as Hunsdon, Hatfield and Tittenhanger. By the age of seven he was practicing Latin grammar and composition by writing to all of his family as well as to his godfather Thomas Cranmer

Question 22

Describe Edward’s education

Answer 22

Henry and Katherine wanted him to have the best Erasmian education, he was taught by two Cambridge scholars Richard Cox and John Cheke who gave him a formidable grounding in Latin and Greek grammar, he read books of Ancient Greek and Roman orators and writers, he was trained in rhetoric (art in public speaking testing an argument and persuading an audience) and mathematics and French and theology, he spoke French and Italian and likely read some Spanish, he and Henry shared a passion for astronomy

Question 23

What was Edward’s ‘Chronicle’?

Answer 23

He began fighting this in English soon after he became king but took it up with greater energy in 1551 when he was 13 perhaps under the supervision of John Cheke, this was a jumble of facts and events in Edward’s life and in the activity of his royal court and government, there was a bloodless entry recanting the execution of Duke of Somerset

Question 24

What two things made Edward’s royal minority particularly controversial?

Answer 24

Successful effort of the elder of Edward’s two maternal uncles Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset and Earl of Hertford to appropriate kingly power. Speed and intensity of the full scale Protestant revolution

Question 25

What is an example of Edward being manipulated by powerful men eg Thomas Seymour?

Answer 25

In a printed pamphlet directed at rebels involved in uprisings in 1549 Edward wrote ‘rule we will because God hath willed: it is as great a fault in us, not to rule, as in subject not to obey.’ which had been scripted for him. When Somerset’s authority collapsed later the same year the duke seized the king and used him to try to face down his opponents in the King’s council

Question 26

How did it seem when Edward was 14 that he could be a suitable king?

Answer 26

He was briefed by his advisors and wrote papers on subjects they interested him like military campaigns and the reform of the currency

Question 27

How was Edward possessed by a powerful sense of self in 1551?

Answer 27

When his lord chancellor refused to accept a document signed by the king because it had not been countersigned by his advisors Edward wrote ‘it should be a great impediment for me to send to all my council ans I seem to be in bondage’

Question 28

What was the ‘Devise’?

Answer 28

Written by a dying Edward (rapid and fatal disease of lungs) in 1553 for the succession. He insisted with some force that the entire political and judicial establishment should sign up to the ‘Devise’ which ignored lawful claims of Mary and Elizabeth and placed on the throne his blood kindwoman Lady Jane Grey who was horrified by this

Question 29

What do royal portraits of Edward tell us about him?

Answer 29

One portrait of Edward depicts him with the same stance and clothing as his father which suggests he will be a powerful ruler and follow in Henry’s footsteps. A portrait of the family has Edward Henry and Parr in the middle seated and Mary and Elizabeth are separated stood away to the sides just like they were removed from the succession however it is surprising they are even in the Painting which reveals parr’s impact on reconciling the family

Question 30

What was the Vagrancy Act?

Answer 30

The number of poor people was increasing and the poor were becoming more mobile in response to the rapid development of towns such as London. The Vagrancy Act known as the Slavery Act introduced in 1547 said that able bodied people who had been out of work for three days were branded with a V and sold into slabery for two years. Children were to be taken from their parents and made to work as apprentices. None of these conditions were ever put into effect but were an attempt to alleviate the concerns of landed classes. Local councils ordered to provide housing for all ‘idle, impotent, maimed and aged persons’ who were not vagabonds. Sunday collections in parish churches provided and erection of cottages for impotent poor, arrangements to be made for children of beggars to be brought up in honest callings and an appeal for public works programmes

Question 31

How did Somerset deal with enclosures?

Answer 31

April 1549 set up commission to investigate enclosures in the midlands as established under John Hales although it failed to bring any cases, in June 1548 proclamations were issued enforcing ask statutes against enclosures for grazing. Somerset passed an act protecting copyholders (tenants) on their own land. Political problem: raised hopes of peasants that government was genuinely protecting them, deeply worried landed classes. Policy of enclosures linked to Kett and Weatern rebellions. Tried to limit number of sheep by imposing poll tax on them Match 1549 (repealed after eight months as ineffective and difficult to enforce)

Question 32

How did Somerset rule?

Answer 32

His authority not granted by parliament but he ruled by Proclamation as he had control of the Privy Seal and the Dry Stamp which gave royal authentication to rulings. In less than three years Somerset issued over 70 proclamations which led to criticism that he ruled autocratically but his contemporaries at his trial did not accuse him of misusing proclamations. He also used his own household servants as government officials and his style of leadership led to intense opposition

Question 33

How was Parliament used under Edward?

Answer 33

Frequent parliamentary sessions, used to pass religious laws but not used to establish or destroy the protectorate

Question 34

How did Somerset debase the currency?

Answer 34

His overriding concern with the Scottish war led him to continue heavy military expenditure, campaigns against Scotland 1547-1549 cost £580,000 and Boulogne continued to be fortified. Policy of debasement continued at full speed but Somerset attempted no reform of government finance

Question 35

What was the Privy Council like during Edward’s reign?

Answer 35

Somerset came to power with the support of the privy council but effectively bypassed them during his time as protector, the council that he called frequently met at Somerset house rather than in the royal palaces and his group of household servants who he relied upon were nicknamed the ‘new council’

Question 36

How did Somerset tighten government control in 1548?

Answer 36

Spreading rumours became a crime and so did unlawful assembly

Question 37

How was inflation a problem when Somerset was protector?

Answer 37

Biggest price rises in food such as cheese and bread and meat, rising population of time contributed to inflation as there was more pressure on resources, this fuelled social and economic concerns and was not tackled by Somerset

Question 38

What happened when Mary was sent to France and why was she sent?

Answer 38

1548 sent to be Dauphins bride to secure catholic alliance against Protestant England which strengthens auld alliance. Pro French fraction run while she is out of country by her mother Mary of guise which controls Scotland. Strong French presence on Scottish Borders

Question 39

How was 1549 a crisis year for Somerset?

Answer 39

Two regional rebellions and kett rebellion turned into series of rebellions, Somerset easy to blame as government was centred on his own household, rebellions timed when French forces in Scotland, noble faction led by Lord Dudley earl of Warwick and lord great chamberlain

Question 40

Who was John Dudley?

Answer 40

Received various court posts under Henry VIII including master of Horses for Anne of cleaves, on Henry’s death became earl of Warwick and lord great chamberlain, August 1549 crushed kett rebellion which Somerset failed to crush, planning Somerset’s downfall by October

Question 41

When was Somerset executed?

Answer 41

22nd January 1552

Question 42

How many councillors did Henry nominate in his will to govern during Edwards minority?

Answer 42

16

Question 43

How was it easy for Somerset to be appointed lord protector?

Answer 43

Without prevailing influence of a strong kind the concept of a leaderless privy council assuming responsibility for government was alien to these men so easy for Somerset to gain support to be appointed lord protector of England. The council imposed the condition that he should act only upon their advice. By early 1549 councillors were frustrated by his overbearing attitude and his failing policies

Question 44

Describe religious reform under Somerset

Answer 44

accepted by majority of people, early 1549 Book of common prayer introduced setting England on road to becoming Protestant country and treason laws were relaxed which the populace welcomed but it was viewed by those in authority with concern.

Question 45

How did Somerset’s policies in Scotland fail?

Answer 45

Combined weight of Scottish and supporting French forces against English troops has a detrimental effect upon function of the garrisons and military costs left the government short of money

Question 46

What happened after the April 1549 riots against Somerset’s policies?

Answer 46

For more than four months government worked to regain control during widespread rebellions, Exeter under siege and Norwich in hands of rebels, order restored end of August after major assaults by government forces in east anglia and western counties. Privy councillors lost confidence in Somerset so in October 1549 they closed ranks and ina. Coup detat by John Dudley Somerset was removed as lord protector and had a brief spell in the tower

Question 47

What did Northumberland do when Somerset returned to government?

Answer 47

Arrested his opponent 16th October 1551 because he was so ambitious for power and on 1st December 1551 Somerset found guilty in part due to fabricated evidence by his adversary of planning to raise an unlawful assembly to imprison and kill Northumberland and two other councillors. Languished in tower for seven weeks

Question 48

How was Edward involved in Somerset’s execution?

Answer 48

10th November 1551 the council agreed that in futute the kings signature alone was sufficient for any document rather than also needing the authority of the great seal which had to be counter signed by six privy councillors. Somerset could be sent to execution on authority of Edward and lord protector or he could be sent to tower or pardoned. Northumberland encourages edwed to get involved in government under his guidance so Edward writes papers on ideas for government and prepared notes for council meetings. 19th jan council decided Somerset be executedthree days later.when execution warrant was issued to lord protector it bore Edwards signature

Question 49

What did Edward do 8th jan 1552?

Answer 49

Drew up an agenda of council business, next day in his inner privy chamber at Greenwich in presence of 15 other councillors king handed agenda to William Paulette of marquis of Winchester for consideration by privy council. Third item of agenda referred to men involved in Somerset’s conspiracy to kill Northumberland. During hours between writing agenda and handing it to Winchester document altered with words inserted but most seemed to be Edwards writing (probs manipulated by Northumberland)

Question 50

Who was appointed lord chancellor on 19th jan?

Answer 50

Thomas Goodrich keeper of the great seal because only the lord protector authorised to use great seal on an execution warrant

Question 51

Describe Northumberland’s style of governance

Answer 51

Initially driven by his need for self preservation so organised the government and council to secure his position (staffed the Household with his men eg Sir John Gates became Vice Chamberlain and allowed to control dry stamp), extended use of privy council which he became Lord President of so he had power to fix agendas of meetings and bar councillors who opposed him, took over kings power to appoint new councillors

Question 52

How did Northumberland deal with social problems?

Answer 52

Repealed vagrancy act but provisions for care of the disabled were retained, treason laws 1550 re unstated censorship and used Lords Lieutenant and retainers of trusted nobles to keep order, by 1551 Northumberland’s government took action to control stocks of grain to relieve crisis caused by successive harvest failures

Question 53

How did Northumberland deal with economic problems?

Answer 53

Shut down commissioners about enclosures and repealed unpopular sheep tax 1550 but enforced existing anti enclosures legislation, proclamations issued to reduce value of coinage 1550 but debasement not ended til 1551 after offsetting some of crowns debts, instructed people to lower prices and trust current coinage, 1552 fixed silver content in coins to 1527 level, collapse of Antwerp market 1551-2 caused problems for cloth trade

Question 54

Who were two key individuals with regards to crown finances under Northumberland?

Answer 54

William paulet, Marquis of Winchester, appointed Lord Treasurer in February 1550 to reform finances. Sir Thomas Gresham authorised to pay off royal debts in Antwerp (collapse of markets meant money borrowed over the years must be replayed) he made 40 trips across the channel and not only repaid debts but renegotiated loans at a reasonable 12% interest rate (Charles V was borrowing at 16%)

Question 55

What did Northumberland do to reform crown finance?

Answer 55

Enforced stricter methods of accounting, commissions were established to enquire into the state of the finances, emergency household fund (privy coffer) established, drastic reductions in military and household expenditure ordered, Boulogne returned to France for £133,333 and garrisons withdrawn from Scotland, debts reduced 1550-53 from £300,000-£180,000, Northumberland did this by selling crown and chantry lands which raised £210,000 (not good in long term as no longer earned rents for crown) and raising extra ordinary parliamentary taxes which raised £336,000 and clawing back debts owed to the government raised £16,000 and he continued borrowing from Europe

Question 56

How did Somerset deal with Kett rebels?

Answer 56

Wrote nine letters to various gatherings of Ket rebels July 1549, one stated Thetford rebels should be allowed to choose their own enclosure commissioners, his summons on 8th July of a new enclosure commission empowered not simply to ‘hear and determine’ like it’s predecessor but to take direct action, promised to bring forward calling of parliament from 4th November to 4th October ao rebels with own representatives could present a ‘bill’ of complaints

Question 57

How did Somerset act like a friend to the poor and to the society?

Answer 57

Repealed statute by which poisoners were thrown alive into boiling pitch and spared those convicted of witchcraft some of the full rigours of the law, made no use of torture or of the pillory for other types of offender

Question 58

Describe parliament under Somerset

Answer 58

Freedom of debate in parliament throughout course of protectorate, journal of commons began in this period and that of the upper house often recorded prolonged discussions, lively controversy and rejection of bills introduced by government, Somerset deprived none of his opponents of their positions and the royal assent to a bill passed by parliament was never refused and he never interfered with elections, parliament consulted on foreign policy

Question 59

How is it clear Somerset didn’t make an effort to install passive placemen?

Answer 59

First to last he appointed only three new councillors just to fill vacancies but Two of them took part in his fall.

Question 60

How did the star chamber change under Somerset and Northumberland?

Answer 60

Reduced activity of Star Chamber and mitigated its severity, under Henry VIII it prononced more than four sentences per month but Somerset reduced it to one but under John Dudley the figure rose to unheard maximum of 11

Question 61

How did the treason laws change under Somerset?

Answer 61

Mall additions to various treason laws since Edwards III statute of 1352 repealed so it was no longer treason to deny the royal supremacy in words even sermons and a man could only be accused on treason on evidence of two witnesses, all accusations in England had to be brought within 30 days but within six months I’d committed abroad

Question 62

Describe Somerset political visions in Scotland

Answer 62

Endgame did not involve overlordship but centred on royal marriage on real terms with all rights and laws and liberties preserved and a United country enjoying free trade. After battle of pinkie 10th September when Scots were defeated edinburgh was spared a second sack and he checked the privations of surrounding area, the garrisons he established were designed to protect and encourage an English party among Scottish Lords and were funded by English races

Question 63

why would Somerset have wanted to get rid of his brother Thomas Seymour?

Answer 63

He gathered armed retainers about himself and manipulated the mint at Bristol to produce his own debased coinage and wounded out Thomas Weiothesley for an intrigue against his brother and as Lord High admiral made a secret compact with Channel pirates giving ground of complaint to France and refused to serve in pinkie campaign

Question 64

What is the evidence against the theory that northumberland overthrew Somerset?

Answer 64

Feb 1550 he ordered Somerset’s release and two months later his readmission to the council, in June Northumberland married his son to Somerset’s daughter Anne. Leadership in overthrowing someesrt included Northumberland, Wriothesley, Arundel and St John. Poner regarded Wriothesleh as leader

Question 65

How was Northumberalds agrarian policy more effective than Somerset’s?

Answer 65

1550 Act for Improvement of Waste Ground and 1552 Act for Tillage and Increase of Corn were sensible measures which recognised there were wide variations in the nature and impact of enclosures. Prosecutions for illegal enclosure at Exechequer increased

Question 66

How did Northumberland deal with debasement?

Answer 66

Weight of shilling coin remained at 80g and silver content reduced from 50-25%, calling down (shillings valued at 9p not 12) on 8th July, further calling down reduced shillings to 6p on 16th August, finally October 1551 restoration of coinage announced with new shilling coins at 96g with silver content 92.5%, led to major fiscal crisis in may 1552 when gov came close to bankruptcy

Question 67

Describe religion under Northumberland

Answer 67

Prayer book 1552 more radical than 1549 one, rejected catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, 12th June 1553 42 articles issued including Protestant doctrine of justification by faith and denial of Catholic doctrine of purgatory

Question 68

What evidence is there than Somerset’s privy council meetings were sham?

Answer 68

‘Acts of the Privy Council’ were neither an accurate account of business transacted nor a true record of when the council met because it shows Somerset’s attendance when he is known to be out of london and his signature was added later. Even during his last few months in power when formal meetings were resumed he generally rejected advice offered

Question 69

What did the council decide in October 1553?

Answer 69

He would assume full control of the kingdom on his sixteenth birthday because he has been attending council meetings since august 1551

Question 70

Why did Northumberland feel worried about Edwards death?

Answer 70

If Mary became queen he, the Protestant minister of a deceased Protestant king, would face certain loss of office and probably imprisonments and possible execution

Question 71

When did the French army land in Scotland?

Answer 71

June 1548 and attacked Boulogne 8th August 1549 then a peace treaty signed with France March 1550 and Boulogne lost because the defence of Boulogne had swallowed up resources out of proportion to its strategic value, Edwards chronicle 25th match records the rejoicing when peace was declared

Question 72

When did Somerset become Leader of the Council of Regency?

Answer 72

1st feb on Edwards accession then becomes lord protector 12th March

Question 73

When and where the rebellions in 1549?

Answer 73

June-Aug Devon and Cornwall, July-Aug Kets rebellion in Norfolk

Question 74

When did Northumberland proclaim lady Jane grey as queen?

Answer 74

10th July 1553 4 days after Edwards death, 21st June Mary and Elizabeth declared illegitimate

Question 75

When was Somerset executed?

Answer 75

22nd jan 1522

Question 76

Describe Somerset’s foreign policy in Scotland in 8 points

Answer 76

Aimed at dynastic Union of Scotland and England through marriage of Edward to Mary Stuart but when marriage policy failed he sought to place permanent garrisons in Scotland, late 1547 and early 1548 failed diplomatic overtures to individual Scottish Lords in the main unsuccessful, failed to encourage Protestantism into Scotland, by April 1548 Dundee/Arxbroath/Dumfries/Haddington added to list of garrison towns, tracts such as the Epistle to the Nobility of Scotland were pieces of propaganda to justify English governments policy, bibles distributed and preaching encouraged to attract Scots to Protestant and English cause but force became order of the day as Scots harassed garrisons, these garrisons were not large enough to defeat French or provide sufficient protection for Scots who’d given ‘assurances’ to English so these Scots changed to ally with French in 1548, garrisons proved too expensive and Somerset spent £580,000 on two years of war with Scotland

Question 77

Describe England’s relations with France under Somerset in 9 points

Answer 77

March 1547 Francis I signed treaty with Somerset and after his death discussions were opened up with his successor Henry II regarding sale of Boulogne before stipulated date 1554, Henry repudiates Francis treaty and demanded not only return of Boulogne but also Calais so talks collapsed, if France aided the Scots Somerset wanted to ensure that French ships would be unable to use the Netherlands ports, Anglo imperial amity deterred Henry II from declaring war on England immediately and sending very large army to Scotland, Henry determined to prevent pro French party in Scotland from succumbing to English pressure, June 1547 he dispatched Leo Strozzi with few thousand men and some artillery and they seized some military strongholds, Henry took up status of ‘protector of Scotland’ and June 1548 10,000 French troops landed in Scotland occupied edinburgh and carried off Mary Stuart to marry the dauphin in France, Henry didn’t declare war until august 1549 after summer risings in England and Charles V refusal in July to give assurances that he would help England withstand any future French attack on Boulogne, French unable to invest the forts around Boulogne until late august and heavy rains in early September put end to campaign without recapture of the town

Question 78

Describe England’s relations with France under Duke of Northumberland

Answer 78

As early as November he decided to sell Boulogne and had support of paget and other members of the council, issues for negotiation included how much the French would be prepared to pay for the town and whether Henry II would be prepared to continue paying the pension to the English king. Henry originally stipulated he would only pay 159,000 écus for Boulogne but he finally paid 400,000, treaty allowed English to remove equipment and munitions provided by them since 1544, French pension never again paid, agreement took place with France at angers in 1551 hoping Henry II would be deterred from attacking Calais because England could no longer afford to fight

Question 79

Describe England’s relations with Spain under Somerset

Answer 79

Tried to keep Charles V friendship since his goodwill was needed for supply of foreign mercenaries, Somerset tried to present himself to the imperial ambassador as a religious conservative so he delayed introduction of religious reform

Question 80

What was the Royal Visitation?

Answer 80

1547 commissioners went to all bishoprics to examine state of clergy and doctrine and practices of church, episcopal authority suspended until visitation completed in autumn

Question 81

What were the Book of Homilies and Erasmus’ Paraphrases?

Answer 81

July 1547 it was ordered that book of homilies (collection of model sermones to be read out by clergy who were unable to preach themselves) and Erasmus’ paraphrases (summaries of New Testament) to be placed in every church, book of Homilies contained some Protestant sermons by Cranmer eg one about justification by faith alone, both established in all parish churches by end of 1549

Question 82

What was the Chantries Act?

Answer 82

4th Nov - 24th Dec 1547, act of dissolution revived from Henry’s last parliament (1545) but condemned all prayers for dead to reduce purgatory (new), nearly 247 dissolved which provided £160,000 per annum some of which used to endow schools

Question 83

When was the Act of Six Articles repealed?

Answer 83

4th Nov - 24th Dec 1547. Left church effectively without official doctrine

Question 84

When was the treason act repealed?

Answer 84

4th Nov - 24th Dec 1547, removed old heresy treason censorship and proclamation laws which allowed people to discuss religion freely without fear of arrest or imprisonment and to publish and print freely. Radicals spread their views and destroyed some Catholic images and altars, government stripped themselves of powers to curb these outbursts, Protestant pamphlets attacked the mass and catholic’s in general

Question 85

When was the proclamation stating only authorised clergy to preach?

Answer 85

24th April 1548, government felt this necessary due to flood of unauthorised Protestant preachers after repeal of treason and heresy laws

Question 86

When was the proclamation stating no preaching until new liturgy introduced?

Answer 86

23rd September 1548, liturgy is insurrections setting out how a church service be performed and this showed that government felt situation was slipping out of control

Question 87

What was the first prayer book?

Answer 87

Dec 1548 a manual written my Cranmer outlining the liturgy to be followed in services

Question 88

When and what was the act of uniformity?

Answer 88

Made the book of common prayer the official liturgy Jan 1549, effectively enforced despite pockets of resistance eg Western Rebellion

Question 89

When was the new Treason Act?

Answer 89

Jan 1552 made it an offence to question the royal supremacy or any articles of faith in Church

Question 90

What was the second Book of Prayer?

Answer 90

Jan 1552, highly protestant document produced by Cranmer with advice from Bucer, removed all traces of Catholicism and clearly established Eucharist ceremony in line with Calvin's belief in a 'spiritual presence', prayers for dead and vestments removed, opposed by some reformers who resented being forced to kneel during Communion

Question 91

What was the second Act of Uniformity?

Answer 91

April 1552. Enforced Second Book of Common Prayer, it became an offence for clergy and laity not to attend Church of England services, practice introduced into every parish 1552-3

Question 92

What was the 'Black Rubric' proclamation?

Answer 92

Nov 1522. Explained that kneeling to receive Communion was for the sake of good order not out of idolatry, edward personally intervened in debate, changes tone of faith (active denial of transubstantiation)

Question 93

When were the 42 Articles submitted and what were they?

Answer 93

24th Nov 1552. Issued by government 9th June 1553 but never became parliamentary law, based on Cranmer's ideas, articles strongly protestant based on doctrine of justification by faith alone and loosely on Calvin's belief in predestination, basis for 39 articles in elizabeth's reign

Question 94

What did the first Prayer Book outline about liturgy in churches? 10points

Answer 94

Services in English, sacraments (Eucharist, baptism, last rites, confirmation, marriage), communion in both kinds, clerical marriage allowed, unclear on purgatory, no prayers for dead, worship of saints discouraged, traditional robes in church, transubstantiation, fast and holy days remained

Question 95

What did the second book of common prayer outline about church litany? 5points

Answer 95

Clearly established Eucharist ceremony in line with Calvinist belief in a ‘spiritual presence’, Eucharist now called ‘lords supper’ and communicants were to kneel, traditional robes not to be worn, altars replaces by communion tables for eating not sacrificing, in confirmation the sign of the cross was abolished

Question 96

Why was the ending of prayers for the dead so important? 4 points

Answer 96

Catholics believed that prayers after they died would help their souls in purgatory so chantries/colleges/land endowments for masses/confraternities/monasteries established to pray for the dead, chantries played an integral role in many communities so the attack on them affected parishes more than the destruction of the monasteries, Edward’s commissioners dissolved 3000 chantries and 90 colleges and 110 hospitals and thousands of confraternities (groups/guilds of lay men formed under patronage of particular saint which provided their members with prayers for them when they died) and confiscated thousands of minor parish endowments (gifts for poor), some chantries turned into schools or money from their dissolution was redirected into parishes but these were the exceptions

Question 97

Who was Archbishop Cranmer? 7 points

Answer 97

Drafted prayer books and 42 articles, judged what position the church took on key issues, remained his masters loyal servant and confined his thinking to what he knew the king would find acceptable, when Edward ascended the throne Cranmer was able to edge towards his own theological position, in his homilies 1547 he asserted the Lutheran belief of justification by faith alone and in the second prayer book he achieved a fully Protestant position, recent research emphasises the role played by European reformers all invited to England by Cranmer and especially Bûcher in shaping documents produced finally by Cranmer, he had an unshakeable belief that the head of the church was the monarch

Question 98

Describe the clergy during Edward’s reign

Answer 98

Balance of bishops favoured Catholicism (eight undecided, nine reformers, Ten Catholic), under Northumberland active reformers were appointed to sees of London/Durham/Gloucester/Rochester/Chichester/Norwich/Exeter/Worcester, Bishop Hooper discovered in a visitation of his own diocese that out of 311 clergy 10 could not recite Lord’s Prayer and 171 could not repeat Ten Commandments

Question 99

What was probably the greatest problem faced by the nationwide Reformation?

Answer 99

On the whole the lack of preachers. Pockets of Protestantism were fostered by effective preachers in London, East Anglia and some large towns eg Newcastle and Exeter, ports were a hot bed of Protestantism

Question 100

Who was John Hooper? 5 points

Answer 100

Leader of the evangelical Protestants who place great emphasis on the bible and believe their faith should be spread to others, aimed to sweep away all remaining aspects of Catholicism and enforce radical and pure form of Protestantism, every day allowed four poor people to share his table after instruction in the creed and Lord’s Prayer and Ten Commandments, gained the favour of Edward and Northumberland so was made bishop of Gloucester in 1550, his compromising nature brought him into conflict with other Protestants eg his clash with Cranmer and Ridley over whether bishops should wear ceremonial garments when being ordained but he was imprisoned before finally giving in

Question 101

What did the European reformers do? 9 points

Answer 101

1547-53 40 of Europe’s reformers came to reside in England mostly invited by Archbishop Cranmer, main contribution was to bring ideas and preaching talents to Reformation of England, they are increasingly recognised as having influenced the direction of religious change by putting pressure on a move towards Protestantism and for abandonment of mass, Cranmer second book of common prayer heavily influenced by Bucers criticisms of the first, Cranmer in close contact with Melanchthon (leader of Lutheranism after Luther death), Calvin kept a critical eye on developments in England, Edward warmly welcomed reformers and was well regarded by them, move towards consubstantiation in the communion was Zwinglian, encouragement of iconoclasm was Calvinist

Question 102

Who were the three principal reformers that came to England?

Answer 102

Martin bucer arrived March 1549 and was made regius professor of divinity at Cambridge and his lectures were regularly packed, peter martyr arrived December 1547 and became regius professor of divinity at Oxford and asserted that transubstantiation has to go, Bernard Ochino arrived with Martyr and was appointed to a prebend at Canterbury

Question 103

Describe opposition to Edward’s Reformation in 5 points

Answer 103

Period notable for lack of opposition and virtual absence of persecution particularly of the lower clergy, only serious organised resistance western rebellion (6 June 1549 – 17 August 1549) successfully suppressed in 1549, only two high profile opponents were Stephen gardiner bishop of Winchester and Edmund Bonner bishop of London who were both stripped of bishoprics and replaced by reformers, Gardiner opposed to services in English and toleration of image breaking and any doctrinal change of the church and was sent to the tower 1548 til Mary’s accession for openly expressing his views, Bonner less confrontational only began to oppose when privy council instructed him to represent about holy communion but he responded by preaching at St. Paul’s about transubstantiation so he was sent to prison

Question 104

Describe government greed during the last three years of Edward’s reign in 5 points

Answer 104

Attention turned to extracting remaining wealth of church, 1552 survey of bishops and all clergy worth more than £50 per year discovered that total untapped wealth of church was £1,087,978 (bishoprics worth £606,511, other ecclesiastical offices £481,467), 1553 Northumberland ordered the expropriation of plate/vestments/objects associated with mass but there was not enough time to complete collection and sell or melt down metals before Edward’s death halted the activity, acquisition of bishops wealth to be achieved by reallocation of resources on appointment of a new bishop, eg when bishop Tunstall was imprisoned in tower in October 1552 it was proposed that Durham was to be allocated £1320, Newcastle £665 and surplus of £2000 went to crown but this was not put into effect due to death of Edward

Question 105

What were the 5 causes of the Prayer Book rebellion 1549?

Answer 105

Main: Significant religious element – concern at introduction of new more strictly Protestant prayer book by Edward VI, bans on festivals and pilgrimage, hatred of the government’s greedy and careerist main agent in the area, William Body – a protégé of Thomas Cromwell. Subsidiary: Long term economic problems – population/inflation/enclosure, introduction of a poll tax on sheep, 1548 was the first poor harvest for 16 years

Question 106

What was the outcome of the prayer book rebellion?

Answer 106

Siege of Exeter by rebels, battle afterwards in which 4,000 rebels are killed by a government force of German mercenaries. Government does not make concessions to the rebels. Failed because aims were unachievable (rebels’ articles written by Robert Welsh, a Cornish vicar working near Exeter, demanded things the government could not grant, such as abandonment of the Reformation. This forced the government to fight) and rebel leadership poor

Question 107

Describe the course of the Edwardian Reformation under Somerset in 6 points

Answer 107

Moving with a trend rather than trying to establish a new one (reintroduced some of Cromwell’s measures) because Edward had been exposed already to Protestantism and allowed Somerset to continue momentum of change, Somerset more moderate than Henry as there were no heresy executions and recent research has shown him to be more concerned with secular issues eg augmenting his own estates so he pursued a policy of religious reform that kept his options open, important for him to maintain his hold on the council by keeping everyone happy (support for reform from nine bishops eg Cranmer, ten opposed eg Gardiner, eight neutral), Somerset aware of difficulties Charles V could make in Scotland as well as being cautious to satisfy reformers at home without antagonising Catholics, most significant move was dissolution of chantries which ended prayer for dead (Henry had never been able to cut himself off from belief in purgatory), several traditional components left in communion service eg wearing of vestments and lighting of candles

Question 108

Describe the course of the Edwardian Reformation under Northumberland in 6 points

Answer 108

Followed a pragmatic approach because he needed to gain total control of one of two main factions (ended up being Protestant one after Catholics failure to make Mary regent when Mary nd Charles both refused to cooperate) so he quickly dismissed Catholics from council (conservative bishops like gardiner), new set of advisors more likely to press for change so he no longer needed to legislate cautiously to maintain deliberate balance of views and interests, much more radical than somerset and communion became an act of remembrance so favoured by Protestants rather than transubstantiation of Catholic doctrine, state became more actively involved in defining role of church, traditional term of ‘mass’ for communion replaced by ‘eucharist’, Act of uniformity increased expectation of participation of people as attendance was now expected at services ‘upon pain of punishment by the censures of the church’

Question 109

How did Northumberland’s administration strip away the remaining assets of the church?

Answer 109

Following the usual pattern of a government appointed survey and report it deprived the bishoprics of much of their wealth, land with an estimated value of £1,087,000 transferred along with most remaining silver from parish churches

Question 110

How had events on the continent influenced the momentum of change in Edward’s reformation?

Answer 110

Charles V imperial armies shattered Protestant League of Schmalkalden at Battle of Mühlberg meaning England became a haven for large numbers of Protestant refugees, some of these were leading theology and eg Bucer from Strasbourg appointed Regius Professor of Green at Cambridge, most were ordinary people with fervent belief sharpened by persecution who had a direct influence in areas such as Essex, East Anglia and Lincolnshire especially in their enthusiasm for iconoclasm

Question 111

How can Edward’s Reformation be interpreted as a Reformation from below? 5 points

Answer 111

Population interacted with changes from above in effect helping to sustain the flow of Protestantism and reacting to numerous influences coming in from the continent in the form of Zwinglianism and Lutheranism, Reformation spread through conversion, Lollardy background helped prepare local communities for acceptance of new Protestant ideas (Wycliffes works prepared way for translation of New Testament by Tyndale, Lollardy provoked English bishops into a sterile and negative and rigid attitude towards all criticism), England in close proximity to the continent through main routes and channels of intellectual contact which applied to London and East Anglia and Bristol and hull also itinerant cloth workers in Gloucestershire and Essex and Bristol, church authorities too engaged in political or economic issues to take seriously what was going in their dioceses

Question 112

Describe clergy marriages during Edward’s Reformation

Answer 112

Protests allowed to marry 1549 onwards, complete break with catholic doctrine, legitimising substantial number of unions which had already taken place, in London one third of clergy married, one quarter in East Anglia and Essex, one in ten in York and Lincolnshire, figures much lower in Cornwall and Lancashire

Question 113

Describe the religious proclamations issued

Answer 113

A series issued by Somerset two of which stated that all Catholic images were to be removed and only authorised clergy were able to preach, a proclamation was issued to state that transubstantiation was still in force and Catholic rites needed to be adhered to until they were officially repealed by thr Act of Repeal