Edward VI Flashcards
Why was it expected that Edward would continue protestant reform?
Since he was raised with protestant tutors from his father. Also received a more protestant regency council.
What were the problems of a minor on the throne?
Factionalism: factions could easily gain control of the Regency Council, thus
dictate what happened in England and Edward was too weak/young to
control this.
Fear of unrest: There was a fear that civil war could occur.
Leadership in War: He was too young and lacking in experience to lead
troops into battle as was the custom.
His Image: He could not be portrayed as powerful or military adept and
there had been rumours that he had been sickly as a child thus some feared
he could still be ill.
How did Somerset gain power in 1547?
On 31 January, the privy council elected him to be regent in order to lead as a clear voice. Seen as an obvious choice since he was trusted and an experienced solder from the 1540’s conflict in Scotland. Also was Edward VI’s uncle.
When and why was the Anti-Somerset faction created?
In 1549 in response to all of the conflict.
The unrest of 1549 caused the ruling elite to become concerned. Included nobles such as Paget and Warwickshire who wanted power and was angered by religious reform.
Also garnered opposition in his handling of foreign policy and the unrest of 1549.
What was the year 1549 nicknamed?
The year of the many headed monster
Why did Somerset loose his position?
Realised he was losing power and so decided to kidnap Edward VI at Hampton Court Palace.
During this, he proclaimed how further unrest would amount at the removal of him and disagreed with the king on matters about the kidnapping which was illegal. Resulting in a trip to the Tower of London.
Edward sneakily escaped the grips of Somerset by up playing his cold symptoms. The monarch dying during Somerset kidnapping him would be a big no no.
How did Northumberland gain power in late 1549?
Stepped up to power and aligned himself with Somerset and not executing him. Thus gaining support from his followers.
Released Somerset but swiftly executed him in Oct 1549 for plotting against Northumberland.
Why was Somerset seen as the ‘Good Duke’?
He established a court of requests at his own household.
Refused to allow anyone to be tortured or burned. Vagrant or not.
Wanted to fix the high rents from inflation (and debasement of coinage).
Abolish enclosure which caused the brokies to like him. This was as he wanted more public land for the servants to farm on instead of them to be enclosed for sheep farming.
How did people suffer from enclosure?
Many poor families in the Midlands and the south had lost their lands and customary rights when landowners had converted fields from open strips for crop production into fenced-off pastures for sheep grazing.
How did Somerset try to help those who had suffered from enclosure of land? Was it successful?
A commission was established to investigate the legality of recent enclosures.
It led to frustration and fury among both rich and poor. The landowners feared that the drift towards enclosure of land would be reversed and this would severely limit their scope for enterprise and wealth creation. The poor had high hopes that the government would protect them against enclosures, but succeeding governments needed the support of the landowners to maintain law and order in the localities.
Religion: What happened in the year of 1547?
The First Attack on Catholicism
Somerset slowly began to attack catholicism in England. The Book of Homilies was created and the treason act repealed. This allowed for more opinions to be spread.
What percentage of Londoners were protestant in 1547?
20%
What was the Book of Homilies?
Published in July 1547.
Included clergy expected to give sermons in English, have an English bible present and to remove any superstitious pictures promoting idealism.
Religion: What happened in the year of 1548?
Radical Activity
Radicalism occurred after the Treason Act was repealed. This was the opposite wanted effect as more people expressed their want for catholicism.
This resulted in restriction in who could preach and in September, all public preaching was banned.
Religion: What happened in the year of 1549-52?
Protestant Worship
Act of Uniformity in January 1549. This ordered that clergy could marry, sacraments were just communion, services were English and singing for souls were stopped. It did cause unrest however.
Religion: What happened in the year of 1553?
A fully reformed church
The 2nd prayer book and Act of Uniformity
were introduced. They removed all traces of Catholicism. The prayer book
was used but did not represent all views. The 42 Articles outlining doctrine
and belief were drawn up but never became law because of Edward’s death.
What were the causes of rebellion?
Population growth: Between 1525-1551 the population roe from 2.3 million to 3 million. The 1st
increase since the Black Death.
Rising prices: The rising population and the difficulty of the agricultural industry providing enough
food led to a growing demand for food and price rises. By 1530 prices had risen by 69% compared
to 1508.
Poor harvests: The failure of harvests led to prices rising further and small villages increasingly in
poverty.
Increasing poverty: Enclosure and a slump in the cloth trade increased unemployment.
Enclosure: The focus on larger farmers and change to sheep farming meant that villages dependent
on this land were left struggling for food/work.
Religion- While the protestant changes were made imposing these changes were harder as the
legislation needed shows. The Western Rebellion of 1549 is a good example of unrest.
Summarise the Western Rebellion, 1549
A large number of people gathered
in Bodmin to protest the Act of Uniformity, further groups gathered in Sampford
Courtenay on Whitsunday to protest against the new Prayer Book. Protests spread
across Devon and Cornwall.
The rebels wanted to restore traditional doctrine and assert a belief in
transubstantiation and purgatory. The mayor of Exeter provided poor relief to
prevent them from taking it. The government sent troops but were slow to get
there as they had to stop other rebellions in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
The rebels were defeated at Sampford Courtenay and 3,000 rebels were killed.
Summarise the Kett’s Rebellion, 1549
Beginning in Attleborough and Wymondham, rioters were
angry at local enclosure. Kett raised 16,000 men who marched to Norwich
and set up camp at Mousehold Heath. They captured Norwich rather than
take the royal pardon.
The rebels were concerned about Agriculture, rising rents, religious changes
and the gentry’s manipulation of local government.
The Marquis of Northampton was sent with an army but failed and so the
Duke of Northumberland was sent. His force massacred the rebels, killing
3,000. Kett was hung for treason but many rebels were treated leniently.
How did the succession occur in 1553?
In 1553 Edward VI’s health was failing and a plot emerged to leave Mary out of the
succession.
Most argue Northumberland was in control as he needed to preserve his power and
he would loose this as a Protestant if Mary returned to Catholicism.
Northumberland married Guildford Dudley (his son) to Lady Jane Grey and
Edward’s will was changed naming lady Jane Grey and her sons his heirs.
Edward died on 6 July and lady jane Grey was proclaimed Queen on 10th July but
this lasted just 9 days.
Why would both Edward VI and Northumberland want Lady Jane grey on the throne?
Since Edward did not want all of his protestant reforms done by his openly catholic sister.
Northumberland would loose all of his power when no longer being regent. He had lots to gain as well since LJG was married to his son, Dudley.
Who was archbishop during Edward’s reign?
Cranmer the Archbishop
He drafted the new English church’s 39 Articles and the Book of Common Prayer. After the death of Edward VI in 1553 he supported Lady Jane Grey’s unsuccessful bid for the throne and was convicted of treason.
What was transubstantiation believed to be?
A protestant version was believed where the blood and wine was simply symbolic. Not the actual skin and blood of Jesus.
What were Somerset’s achievements in religion?
1547, Book of Homilies
Model sermons published to be used for clergy who were unable to preach themselves.
1547, Chantries Act
Act of dissolution revived from Henry VIII’s reign (1545). Contained a new preamble condemning all prayers for the dead.
1547, Treason Act Repealed
Removed the old heresy, treason, censorship and proclamation laws so people could discuss religion freely. Without fear of arrest or imprisonment.
1548, First Prayer Book
Manual written by Cranmer which outlines the liturgy to be followed in services.
1549, Act of Uniformity
Made the common book of prayer the official liturgy. Did stir up conflict though. Most notably, the Western Rebellion of 1549.
