Edward VI's Reign - Somerset's Protectorate Flashcards
What legislation was passed in the Parliament of 4th November 1547?
Treason Act
Chantries Act
Vagrancy Act
What were the advantages and disadvantages of the Chantries Act 1547?
It was a plot to get money under the disguise of religious reform - the rejection of the belief in purgatory rendering chantries, where prayers are said to the souls still in purgatory, useless - therefore in 1548 Commissioners could collect all plate & silver and make coins
BUT it was bad because the currency was being debased until 1551, debasement led to higher food prices and peasants discontent
What was the Vagrancy Act 1547 and what were its benefits and negatives?
It was a very harsh and savage attack on those the Government thought were responsible for causing unrest. Any able bodied person out of work for more than 3 days was to be branded with a V and sold into slavery for 2 years, further offences would lead to permanent slavery
Good: slaves children were to be put into apprenticeships for useful occupations and it proposed housing and collections for the disabled
Bad: It was so harsh it was hardly enforced by any county or urban authority - it did nothing for Somerset’s humanitarian image
What problems did Somerset inherit on his rise to power in 1547?
WAR: to continue it or not? Described as a typical soldier, Somerset carried it on as a matter of pride, he was tied to Henry’s wish for Edward to marry MQS
RELIGION: the 1539 Act of 6 Articles had prevented religious change but Somerset had used the Protestant faction to gain power at the expense of the conservatives and Catholics - Somerset had to make concessions to avoid a Catholic Revival
REVENUE: in 1547 the country was bankrupt due to Henry spending a fortune on war - instead of reforming taxes Somerset seized more monastic land and debased the coinage - exacerbating the problems
SOCIAL: the population was rising and thus so did inflation meaning a fall in living standards and wages and more unemployment and vagrancy. Harvest failures and enclosures were making things worse
What years did Somerset rise, fall and die?
1547 - Rose to power as the uncle of the King
1549 - fell from power as an aftermath of his poor actions and reaction to rebellions
1552 - after a brief return to the Privy Council he plotted to re take power and was therefore executed
What is the Auld Alliance?
An alliance between Scotland and France - specifically Anti-English. Scotland and France were at this time considered the natural enemies of England
How did Somerset try and deal with the Auld Alliance threat?
He tried to isolate Scotland with a defensive pact with France but failed due to the death of Francis I and uncooperation of Henry II
He defeated Scotland at the Battle Of Pinkie on the 10th September 1547
What was the rough wooing?
Somerset’s want to enforce the Treaty of Greenwich and get Mary of Scotland to marry Edward. He raided Scotland because scotland withdrew from the bethrothment and won several key battles
Was the rough wooing a success of failure?
Failure. English attacks on Scotland united the quarrelling Scottish nobles to work with Mary of Guise and get a marriage between the Dauphin and MQS - meant the end of the treaty of Greenwich which Henry VIII had wanted
Could Somerset have been more effective in policy towards Scotland?
He could have used Scottish resentment at French domination to his advantage.
Somerset strengthened defences in Boulogne, Calais and Newhaven. Was this effective foreign policy?
Good: he was preparing for a French invasion when no alliance was obvious
Bad: because he was so committed to his foreign policy and the continuation of war for national pride that he refused to free up troops from garrisons in France and Scotland to deal with the 1549 rebellions thus undermining his position as regent and allowing Warwick’s coup to be effective and depose him
What was the Sudeley affair?
He was Somerset’s brother and Edward’s uncle who fell out with Somerset in 1547 when he refused to allow him to be Governor of the King. Sudeley was an ambitious man, marrying key reformist and Edward’s friend Catherine Parr. He gave Edward pocket money for favours and had a countrywide network of men.
He schemed to marry Elizabeth and by Christmas 1548 there was rumour Liz was pregnant!
He tried to get Wriothesley to plot against Somerset but was denounced by W and on 17th January 1549 he was arrested.
He was charged with 33 counts of high treason (overkill?) and found guilty by Act of Attainder and executed on the 20th March 1549
What were the consequences of the Sudeley affair?
People were shocked that Somerset had killed his own brother on exaggerated charges, he hadn’t received a trial because they thought the evidence wouldn’t stand up in court.
After the 1549 coup some nobles called Somerset a ‘blood-sucker, murderer, parasite and villain’ but this may have just been an after thought for justification of the coup!
Was Sudeley himself a threat to Somerset?
Yes - he was also a member of the royal family and knew power came through his networks of men. A marriage to Elizabeth would have top trumped Somerset
Was killing Sudeley the correct thing to do?
Killing him made nobles think Somerset’s judgement was impaired and then the rebellions happened. Nobles saw that Somerset would kill nobles but not crush these Rebels - the nobles feared their treatment so rallied around Warwick and his coup.
