Edward VI - Somerset and Northumberland Flashcards
When was Somerset elected as Lord Protector?
31st January 1547
Who were some Protestants on the Regency Council?
Hertford
Cranmer
Sir Anthony Denny
Who were the religious conservatives on the Regency Council?
The Earl of Southampton
Lord St John
What was the Homily on Obedience?
Published by Archbishop Cranmer in 1547 that reflected the government’s fear for good order and security
How many proclamations did Somerset make?
Over 70 in three years
How did the Earl of Northumberland take power away from Somerset?
August 1549 - Northumberland and Southampton decided that Somerset’s control should be brought to an end.
October 1549 - The conspirators were ready to strike. Somerset and Edward retreated to Windsor where Somerset was arrested. He surrendered as he was promised that no treason charges would be brought against him. He was promptly sent to the tower.
What was the Battle of Pinkie?
Somerset defeated the Scots in September 1547 but the forts proved difficult and expensive to garrison, and the English could not capture the strategically important castles in Dunbar and Edinburgh. Somerset failed to block the Firth of the Forth properly, which enabled France to gain control of Mary Queen of Scots.
How did Northumberland improve the Crown’s financial position?
He returned Boulogne to the French, which they were paid £133,333 to do
What was the debt of the Crown like?
1550 - £300,000 in debt
1553 - £180,000 in debt
What was the English prayer book?
1549
What was the Devyse?
June 1553 - Mary and Elizabeth were declared illegitimate
Edward died 6 July 1553, before parliament could ratify the new succession that would place Lady Jane Grey as Queen. This made the Devyse patently illegal.
What was the Vagrancy Act?
It was introduced in 1547, and it said that any able bodied person who had been out of work for three days were to be branded with a V and sold into slavery for two years
What was Somerset’s policy on enclosure?
A commission to investigate enclosure in the Midlands was established under John Hales although it failed to bring any cases against enclosers.
June 1548 - proclamations were issued enforcing all statutes against enclosure for grazing.
March 1549 - 5% tax on personal property and a special tax on sheep were passed against stiff opposition.
What were Northumberland’s social policies?
Sheep tax was repealed in 1550. Unpopular 1547 vagrancy act was repealed. By 1551 Northumberland’s government had taken action to control stocks of grain to relieve the crisis caused by the harvest failures. He introduced new treason laws in 1550 and used Lord Lieutenants and retainers of trusted nobles to keep order.
What were Somerset’s economic policies?
Heavy military expenditure due to the Scottish war. Campaigns between 1547 and 49 cost £580,393. Policy of debasement continued at full speed and Somerset made no attempt to reform the government’s finances
