Edward VI Flashcards
What was Henry VIII’s legacy?
- Break from Rome
- had 6 wives
- develops army and navy
- 1534, becomes the supreme head of the Church of England
What was England like in 1547?
- At war with France and Scotland
- Not a major power
- Captured Boulogne
- Spent money on war
- Debased coinage- reduced the amount of gold/silver in coins
- King relied on nobles and churchmen for advice- but too much, they began to gain too much power- Thomas Cromwell
- Ruled without a chief minister
- Regency council
Who became the Head of the Church?
The monarch- Henry
What was the Act of Six Articles?
- Act passed by parliament in 1539
- Remained Henry’s policy towards reforms until his death
- Referred to as the ‘bloody whip with 6 strings’ by Protestants
- First, that in the most blessed sacrament of the altar, by the strength and efficacy of Christ’s mighty word (it being spoken by the priest), is present really, under the form of bread and wine, the natural body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, conceived by the Virgin Mary; and after the consecration there remaineth no substance of bread and wine, nor any other substance, but the substance of Christ-God and man.
- Secondly, that communion in both kinds is not necessary ad salutem, by the law of God, to all persons; and that it is to be believed, and not doubted of, but that in the flesh, under the form of the bread, is the very blood; and with the blood, under the form of the wine, is the very flesh; as well apart, as though they were both together.
- Thirdly, that priests after the order of priesthood received, as afore, may not marry, by the law of God.
- Fourthly, that vows of chastity or widowhood, by man or woman made to God advisedly, ought to be observed by the law of God; and that it exempts them from other liberties of Christian people, which without that they might enjoy.
- Fifthly, that it is meet and necessary that private masses be continued and admitted in this the King’s English Church and Congregation, as whereby good Christian people, ordering themselves accordingly, do receive both godly and goodly consolations and benefits; and it is agreeable also to God’s law.
- Sixthly, that auricular confession is expedient and necessary to be retained and continued, used and frequented in the Church of God.
Name some key religious differences between Catholic and Protestant practices
Roman Catholic: Pope = head of church Services = held in Latin and had mass Decoration shows the majesty of God Richly decorated Priests and robes Purgatory
Protestant: monarch = head of church services = own language (English) Simple decorations and ornaments Don't need priests or bishops to believe in God No purgatory
Edward was not Catholic like his father, but Protestant for he was brought up by his Protestant tutors
What had Edward inherited? (Edward’s minority)
D- debt, serious inflation and and a serious deficit (his expenses were more than the money he had raised) due to going to war 6 times
R- religious uncertainty- not clear how many people were nominal protestants and people were divided over Protestant doctrine
S- stability (political)- Privy chamber had established itself, the administration of government was more efficient, less lawlessness and the succession was secured
What was Henry’s plan? What happened?
Regency council- 16 members. 8 Catholics and 8 Reformists
Edward (boy) then Mary (eldest) then Elizabeth
Bishop Gardiner expelled from the Privy council and the Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard) had been arrested-reformists dominate in the council
What were Seymour’s two changes? (Lord Protector) (Duke of Somerset)
The council had ‘full power and authority’ to do whatever action was necessary for the good of the country while Edward was under 18
The council were allowed to bestow gifts and titles intended for people before Henry died. But he had not made this official
What did Seymour’s changes mean for the council?
Hertford (Seymour also Earl of Hertford) made himself Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector
To cement the deal and prevent opposition he bestowed gifts and titles to the other councillors.
Eg: John Dudley = Earl of Warwick
Thomas Seymour (Edward Seymour’s brother) became Lord Seymour
Thomas Wriothesley = Earl of Southampton
What problems did a minor on the throne create?
People were concerned that a minor on the throne would create instability- states may exploit this potential weakness.
There was also fear of civil war like the War of the Roses in the 15th century
and the image of the king was difficult to portray as powerful or military adept due to how young he was
Why did Somerset come to power so easily?
His rise to power was natural and unsurprising- brother in law of Henry- brother of his favourite wife Jane Seymour- who gave him a son.
- Somerset had built up a reputation of a successful soldier. He had fought in Henry’s wars in Scotland in the 1540’s
- Henry’s death was kept quiet until Somerset had possession and control of Edward
Why do some people believe Henry’s will was hijacked?
The conspiracy Is that Stephen Gardiner and Thomas Howard were removed by Henry from the council under extreme pressures from an ‘evangelical faction’ that consisted of Seymour, Dudley and Paget, who were all united in their evangelical and eagerness for further religious reformation
Who was Anthony Denny?
He was in charge of the dry stamp- Henry’s signature of approval and he had access to Henry’s private chambers
Who was William Paget?
The private secretary of Henry and he controlled the written information that reached the king, and filtered who and what reached the king
What were Edward’s social problems?
Enclosure- common land being taken up
Common man has less land
Economic decisions create tension between the rich and the poor
What was Henry’s financial legacy?
Heavy expenditure- built lots of palaces
Debasement caused inflation (price rises)
Borrowed money
What did Somerset do to deal with these social and economic problems?
Put in place a financial policy
Had heavy military expenditure going into Scotland
Debasement continued at full speed
To deal with enclosure, Somerset stated he was a keen supporter of anti-enclosure and was a friend to the poor
An investigation into enclosure in the Midlands was put into place by John Hales- made it look like they were doing something
What was Somerset’s Vagrancy Act?
‘Slavery Act’ of 1547-able bodied workers that had been out of work for 3 days were branded with a ‘V’ and sold into slavery for two years- harsh punishment to the poor
-not put into action
What were the key phases of the Edwardian Reformation?
Royal Visitations Act of Six Articles Book of Homilies Royal Injunctions Chantries Act Treason Act repealed Series of Proclamations Removal of images Only authorised clergy could preach First prayer book Act of Uniformity Western rebellion etc
What were the Royal Visitations of 1547? (End of Henry’s reign)
Investigations into the church
What was the Book of Homilies? 1547 (Removal of Catholicism)
Contained some Protestant sermons, ordered to be placed in every church
What was the Royal Injunctions? 1547 (Removal of Catholicism)
Clergy told to preach in English, have an English bible and Protestant literature in every parish church. Superstitious images were to be removed
What was the Chantries Act 1547? (Removal of Catholicism)
Removal of the chantry land- an Act of Dissolution
When was the Act of Six Articles repealed? (Removal of Catholicism)
November and December 1547- left the church without an official doctrine
When was the Treason Act repealed? (unofficial Protestantism)
November and December 1547- removed the old heresy, treason, censorship and proclamation laws
Allowed people to discuss religion freely without fear of imprisonment or arrest.
What were the series of proclamations issued for in early 1548? (Jan-March) (Unofficial Protestantism)
To dampen Protestant unrest, The Privy Council felt the need to assert that transubstantiation was still technically in force and that the Catholic rites still needed to be adhered to. Trying to achieve order while Cranmer produced the new prayer book
