Edward VI Flashcards
The secession of Edward
the secession of a nine year old created many problems. The country was divided in terms of religion. Crowns finances were ruined by wars with Scotland and France. The coinage was debased to pay for wars, leading to inflation and decline in real wages and the crown sacrificed long term stability by selling monastic lands.
Henry VIII in his will set up the regency council to govern England until Edward came of age. This was made up of 16 members supported by another 12 to assist when required. This council was under the control of Edward Seymour (Edward’s uncle). Other members of the council included Thomas Cranmer, Anthony Denny and conservatives like the Earl of Southampton, Lord St John and Gardiner.
Problems that Seymour faced as lord protector
Factionalism dominated Somerset’s time as regent. The Earl of Warwick convinced Thomas Seymour (Edward’s brother) to plot against the protector because he hadn’t named him on the Privy Council. Thomas even tried to turn Edward VI against Somerset. This failed and Somerset charged his brother with 33 counts of high treason and had his brother executed in 1549 – an unpopular move. It was incidents like this that made Somerset avoid the council as much as possible – he was very authoritarian.
Somerset wanted to fix the social problems that had been brought about by land enclosures. He was also a believer in moderate religious reform. People referred to him as the Good Duke. Somerset faced an impossible situation as Lord Protector as he was only temporary which reduced his power and the country was in crisis by the end of his regency in 1549.
Religious reforms
Somerset was sympathetic to protestant ideas. However he realised that a moderate approach would be the best thing to do in the situation. Unfortunately pressures were mounting making a cautious approach difficult. Exiled Protestants in the Netherlands began returning home, causing unrest in communities, the reform faction dominated the government – they wanted reform and the press censorship was relaxed by the government – pamphlets against Catholicism were circulating in numbers, containing the writings of Luther and Calvin.
The government tried to stall for time but change did come. They led a full-scale enquiry into the state of the Church of England. The Six Articles of Faith 1539 were undone – new rules strengthened the rule that services and bibles should be in English, parliament met in 1547 but only to underline Protestant changes that were already happening, the treasons act was repealed and the chanteries act abolished chantries (places where the dead would be prayed for – Catholic idea).
The government passed the Act of Uniformity 1549. This was designed to standardise worship and end religious confusion. English was to be used as the language of worship and the bread and the wine would be given to the entire congregation. However this wasn’t entirely protestant. Apart from the language churches remained the same and priests dressed and behaved as they previously did.
Cranmer introduced a new prayer book in 1549, setting out the new form it should take. However this was called a masterpiece in vagueness. For example the book did not deny that transubstantiation took place but it also gave the impression it was simply commemorating events. The Privy Council hoped these moderate reforms would satisfy reformers without antagonising religious conservatives.
Foreign policy
Somerset was bound by Henry VIIIs will which was to arrange a marriage between Edward and Mary Queen of Scots. This was extremely unpopular in Scotland. Somerset had to deal with the twin powers of Scotland and France – he hoped to isolate Scotland by making an alliance with France. However, Francis I died in 1547. The new King Henry II of France wanted to assert his authority and he sent 4,000 troops to Scotland.
Somerset decided to intervene with a land and naval invasion – he would build forts across the south of Scotland and force the Scots into submission. This proved to be expensive. The Scottish army was large but poorly equipped against the English cannons and cavalry. The Scots were defeated at the Battle of Pinkie September 1547 giving Somerset control of the border region. But the English army was not strong enough to control all of Scotland.
Mary Queen of Scots was moved to France in 1548 with the intention of marrying the heir to the French throne, Francis. This meant Somerset’s costly foreign policy (£600,000) strengthened the French-Scottish alliance. As problems in England got worse in 1549 Somerset withdrew the troops from Scotland.
Somerset was criticised for his foreign policy. Although he was a good general (he never lost a battle) he was not decisive as a leader. He also failed in the one thing that Henry instructed him to do – Edward marry Mary. However, he did inherit a difficult situation that led to a war that could not be won.
Somerset and economic problems
New laws passed in 1548-9 put a tax on sheep and cloth – this angered many gentry’ farmers. Although a well meaning policy this angered landowners who felt their livelihoods were being taken away by reversing the pattern of enclosing land and the poor who only gained in the short term – future government would need the landowners on side to maintain law and order.
The major problem was inflation. The biggest rises were seen for foods like bread, cheese and meat. The rising population also put pressure on agriculture to feed the country. Wages were failing to keep pace with rising prices. The 1540s saw a peak of both prices and population growth, causing massive economic and social problems that hit the poorest.
Western Rebellion 1549
Signs of resistance were beginning to stir in 1547 when the government sent out commissioners to check their moderate church reforms. For example William body was killed by a mob in Cornwall after trying to remove Catholic statutes and images from the church.
Other factors were concern over gentry’ families gaining land after the dissolution of the monasteries and problems associated with the population increase – inflation, unemployment and high taxation. For example Somerset mobs tore down fences and hedges used for enclosing land. Leaders in the revolt in Cornwall demanded restoration of Catholic doctrines and practises, including the mass in Latin and a ban on English Bibles. When the new prayer book was introduced in 1549 full scale war broke out.
The rebels gathered at Crediton where they met the local landowner. The rebel defences were ’accidently burnt’ which prevented any chance of quick settlement. The rebels advanced past Exeter and set up camp –there was no attempt to march towards London. Instead they brought the South West to a standstill and waited for the government to come to them. It was difficult for Somerset to respond to the rebellion. By the time the rebels gained control of the South West, there was another protest.
Kett Rebellion 1549
In Norfolk there was a similar situation of widespread social and economic problems – bad harvests and rapid price rises. Their demands including dismissing non-resident clergy suggested rebels were actually Protestant sympathisers. However religion was not their main motive. Gangs were emerging to break enclosures. Kett was a landowner who was attacked but he agreed to end enclosures. He even offered to lead the rebels to secure their rights. They never reached London but they set camp near Norwich. They ran a largely peaceful campaign to end enclosures, improve government and secure better quality clergymen. At the height of the rebellion they had 15,000 men.
Fall of Somerset
The Western and Kett rebellions threatened a complete breakdown of government in two regions of England. Somerset’s response was slow. The Western Rebels were finally beaten by the royal army in 1549. The Earl of Warwick put an end to the Kett’s rebellion in a bloody confrontation that cost 4,000 lives on both sides. Neither rebellion led to change in policy on either religion or enclosures.
Somerset was arrested on orders of the council in October 1549 and he was imprisoned in the Tower. He was released and in 1550 and re-joined the Privy Council. However, rumours spread that he was gathering support to take control again. Somerset was arrested again, tried for treason (for plotting to assassinate rivals on the council) and he was executed in January 1552.
The Earl of Warwick
The earl of Warwick was the person who benefited the most from Somerset’s fall from power. The Earl of Warwick let the troops to defeat the Kett rebellion and he had supporters in government. However the Earl of Warwick had no direct link to the young King, he had to work for his support on the council and he led a failed attempt to get Thomas Seymour to betray his brother.
The Earl of Warwick gained the title Duke of Northumberland, but this was not until 1550 when he was fully in charge of the council. He also has the title of Lord President of the Council; this gave him authority over the Privy Council.
Religious change under Northumberland
Resistance to change –the hierarchy of the church remained the same (with Archbishops and Bishops). The second act of uniformity made it illegal to not attend church which shows that there was some resistance to the new reforms. The treasons act also shows there must have been some more resistance to religious change, as Northumberland brought back the treasons act which Somerset had removed.
Willingness to reform – the works of Erasmus was translated into English and some humanists were leading to Protestantism. The treasons act was brought back; it became an offense to question the royal supremacy or the beliefs of the Church of England. The second act of uniformity was introduced and it became an offence for the clergy and the laity not to attend churches. The 1552 prayer book removed all traces of Catholicism and the mass, the significance of the Eucharist was reduced which an emphasis of it being a commemorative ceremony. 1553 instructions sent out to bishops to ensure altars were replaced and the clergy should not wear special clothes when taking services. There was an attack of church wealth as commissioners began the removal of gold and silver places in churches. The 42 articles of faith in 1553 were completely protestant.
Foreign policy under Northumberland - success
Successes – Northumberland realised that future relationship with France might be valuable if the main enemy was Spain. A 1550 peace treaty was signed with France (treaty of Boulogne) to secure an alliance. The alliance was agreed and a future marriage alliance between Edward VI and Henry VII’s daughter Elizabeth was agreed.
Northumberland foreign policy - failures
Failures – the treaty of Boulogne represented an English defeat. Boulogne and Calais has been English possessions but the treaty meant Boulogne had to be given back to the French. The English had to remove their remaining garrisons from Scotland and the border was restored to what it was before Henry VIII’s Scottish campaigns. Also relations with Charles were mostly bad. He was angry with the move towards Protestantism that was being implemented in England.
Northumberland’s economic policy - success
Successes – he re-issued the same silver content the same as what it was in 1527. The sheep tax of 1548 was repealed in 1550; this benefitted landowners and caused less social unrest. Anti enclosure legislation was enforced, the unpopular enclosure commission ended and acts were passed to protect arable farming. New poor law 1552 made parishes responsible for raising money to look after the poor. The 1550 treasons act helped to restore law and order.
Northumberland’s economic policies - failures and problems
Failures and problems – poor harvests in the early 1550s made grain prices raise. The population was still rising which put more pressure on food supplies and prices. The cloth trade with the Netherlands suffered problems. Drop in exports in 1551 due to problems with trade at Antwerp; this led to unemployment in East Anglia and the west of England. The government had to borrow money from European bankers. The government had to sell chantry lands to start paying off loans.
