Edward VI under Somerset and Northumberland Flashcards
Legacy of Henry VIII
-Complicated will
-split from Rome (head of Church)
-Financial difficulty: debasement of the coinage (causing inflation) AND the fact monastic lands had been sold cheaply and quickly in order to raise money
-increased cloth trade
-new schools of though being developed as a consequence of the reformation
-Divided country but Edward had no problems with legitimacy
Background of Edward VI
Son of Jane Seymour
Popular among the people
received a full education, influence of protestant tutors
Edward was a radical reformist, seen by his papers
Regency
a period of time in which someone OR a collective rules on a kings (Edwards) behalf because they are too young
Protector
The title given to the person ruling Edward (lord protector)
Who was Edwards protector
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset- he was named protector by Henry VIII regency council
Thomas Seymour
was left out of the succession due to his marriage to Paar
1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley
Duke of Northumberland
John Dudley
Soldier with a political career
had a good relationship with Somerset to begin with but this soon deteriorated and he overthrew Somerset in 1549 to become Lord President of the Council
Sir Michael Stanhope
Married to Somerset’s sister
close to king but imprisoned after Somersets downfall
Later executed for his involvement in somersets coup
When was Somerset in Power
1547-1549
Somerset’s rise to power
Supported by influential figures like Cranmer and William Paget (a successful advisor to Henry after Cromwell’s death)
Lord Protector of Edward
Somerset’s actions
made his family members his governors
Gave himself and his supporters peerage
brought treason charges up against Thomas Seymour (wanted to turn the King against him- worked and later denounced by Southampton)
Somerset’s failures
mishandled foreign policy
incited and failed to handle rebellions well
arrested members of the privy council which made him unpopular (earl of Southampton)
had an arrogant and dictatorial style of governing
began to look weak in the eyes of previous supporters
Regency council
made of a balance of conservative (eg Lord St John) and protestant influencers (eg Archbishop Cranmer)
however, noble families were underrepresented and the regency council did not last long and it was Hereford (title before Somerset) who took charge
Hertford’s supporters
earl of Warwick- later Duke of Northumberland
Cranmer
Sir William Paget (diplomat/administrator who served Henry VIII, Edward and Mary I)
How did everyone else feel about Somerset’s takeover
People genuinely feared the breakdown of law and order (not helped by the rebellions)
Cranmer’s homily on obedience from 1547 reflected this, the homily was to be read in all parish churches
downfall of Somerset
Plotters include Warwick and Southampton
Originally tried to gain the support of Princess Mary
When this failed they prepared to overthrow Somerset and in October 1549, there was a stand-off in London
Eventually ended with a deal that Somerset would not be charged with treason and he was thrown in the tower.
Why did Warwick/Northumberland choose not to be Protector
centralisation of power made Somerset so unpopular, Northumberland chose to be Lord President of the Council instead (presiding over it)
Northumberland’s time in power
1549-1553
Northumberland’s successes
Appointed his own men to important positions in the household to maintain control (eg Sir John Gates as vice-chamberlain)
Operated an effective government through the privy council (for a while)
the 2nd coup
Implements reformations to the privy council suggested by Paget
Extends the council to 33 men
Northumberland’s 2nd coup
1550
while planning his first coup with conservatives (Southampton) Northumberland himself was a strong protestant
Conservatives hoped for a regency led by Mary
In fear of being kicked out by conservatives, Northumberland had a second coup (supported by Cranmer) to kick the conservatives out of court
Impact of Somerset’s countercoup
Northumberland panics and his government starts to fail
power moves into the hands of Northumberland and his vice-chamberlain, Gates
In a reaction to Somerset’s coup Northumberland becomes less and less conciliar, expels presumed enemies from his court (Paget was sent to the tower) and essentially rules like Somerset did
Somerset’s countercoup
1551
Readmitted to the privy council
plotted a takeover but was outwitted by Northumberland
Somerset is executed in 1552
How effective was Somerset’s ruling
not at all
he was very unpopular
caused France to declare war on them
battles with the Scottish
didn’t solve financial issues
caused 2 rebellions
How effective was Northumberland’s governing
partially, for the period prior to Somerset’s counter coup (1549-52) he led a rather successful government
made peace with France and scotland
Stopped the debasement of the coinage and reduced inflation
However, in his final years powershifts and changes to the succession made him increasingly unpopular
Northumberland’s Devyes
Henry VIII will states that after Edward, Mary then Elizabeth should following in succession
Both instances would oust Northumberland from power
in an attempt to retain his power, Northumberland tried to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne (who he made marry his son)
Edward’s health
rapidly declines following an illness in the start of 1553, by February he is set to die- as a strong protestant (like Northumberland) he does not want Mary on the throne as she would restore Catholicism
Succession (what actually happened)
in June 1553, both Mary and Elizabeth are declared illegitimate
Plans to call parliament to ratify the Devyes are put in place but the Kings sudden death in early July meant the document was never sanctioned and officially illegal
3 days later, Lady Jane Grey is declared queen
Somerset and Scotland
Rough wooing
restated the ancient claim of Edward I to the Scottish throne
high priority for Somerset
wanted a marriage between Edward and Mary Queen of Scots (MQS)
built numerous garrisons to beat the Scots into submission
impact of Scottish policies
although the Scots were defeated at Pinkie in 1547, this was their only significant victory
the policy was expensive and unpopular
Somerset, Scotland AND France
Auld alliance, the French get involved and due to English failure to block the firth, the take Edinburgh back (under English from Henry VIII)
France
France- gain control of MQS and take her to France to marry the Dauphin
real threat of a French invasion since they declared war on England in August 1549
Recent rebellions left England vulnerable
Northumberland and Scotland
Ends the war and abandons remaining garrisons
Northumberland and France
Ends aggression by returning Boulogne to the French, while this looked like a humiliating defeat, it massively improved crown finances as the French paid £133,333 to recover the port
Summary of Somersets foreign policy
engaged in an unaffordable military strategy at a time of financial pressure
How did Somerset change relations with foreign powers
didn’t really
still aggressions towards France, although through a Scottish lense
increased aggression towards to Scots
How did Northumberland change relationships with foreign powers
made peace with both France in Scotland, greatly improved relations at the expense of English prestige. However, this allowed him to focus inward on national policies to improve England’s dire situation
In the rule of Edward, how was succession secured
It wasn’t really
Devyes was a work of both Edward and Northumberland but how much say Edward has is unclear- he was very ill BUT a very strong protestant
a new line of succession was created however, many advisors (like William Cecil) were loyal to the Tudor line and not Northumberland. This resulted in Northumberland loosing support- in favour of Mary- in the time he most needed it
Historiography of Northumberland
Previously seen as ruthless and amoral/unscrupulous (coups) as well as incompetent (Devyse)
Recently, these opinions have changes (Dale Hoak) claim he was much more remarkable in his handling of the problem inherited by Somerset
