Edwards Government + Dom Pol

Question 1

Rise of Somerset

Answer 1

H had to est a regency council to run until Ed was 16…. W/in Days regency council had delegated its powers to Ed Seymour
Regency council had 16 membs- 12 more supporting them. Mix of relig conservatives such as Wriothesley and relig reformers such as Som

Question 2

Som in gov

Answer 2

Ruled as King in all but name. Use of prods… used 77 to bypass parliament, didnt object bc crisis.
Set up his own inner council, made up of 6 men, only 1 actually on PC
V strict w/ ed.. lim no of ppl in eds household + his money
Som controlled dry stamp- orig by 4 men now just him, cold stamp/ sign anything on eds behalf
Som promoted his own sups + governed largely w/ members of his own household….
Controlled the privy chamber by appointing his brother-in-law… Sir Michael Stanhope, as groom of the stool and chief gentleman of the privy chamber
Created enemies among old sups for ex Wriothesley dismissed from chancellorship, losing his seat on the PC
Som’s bro, Thomas Seymour, conspired w/ Southampton to turn Ed against som… Seymour charged w/ treason… Wriothesley denounced Seymour allowed back in PC

Question 3

Northumberland in gov

Answer 3

Initially tried to avoid the concentration of power that had caused Som’s downfall
Made no attempt to re-establish the protectorate and presided as LC
Moved away from conciliar gov and Paget (who had tried to draw up new guidelines) com to the tower in 1551
More pragmatic and capable than Somerset (crushed 1549 Rebs and brought about some stab to the country)
Educated ed in gov. Sup prot reform and the work of cranmer

Question 4

Somerset’s positive pol

Answer 4

March 1549 5% tax on all personal property, cared about commons (however little effect, except gentry farmers)
Soms proclamation on enclosure lead to him becoming the head of the enclosure commission 1548
Vagrancy act 1547 (a lot of negs but) duty for towns to provide more outdoor relief. Children of vagrants taken to work as apprentices

Question 5

Somerset’s negative policy

Answer 5

Cranmer published ‘On Obedience’ to be read in Parish churches… disobedience to the king was a mortal sin
Vagrancy act 1547… V branded on the heads of undeserving beggars, then sold into slavery for 2 years
Continued debasement

Question 6

N’lands dom pol

Answer 6

Moves to end debasement April 1551- May 1551 one last debasement to make prof of £114k
1550 worst year of debts at £300k by 1553 reduced to £180k sold crown and chantry land to achieve this
Didn’t cont som’s anti encl policy, felt it had caused kett’s reb
1550 sheep tax repealed
1547 Vagrancy act repealed… kept good bits ab proves for disabled + child apprentices
1551 NL took control of stocks of grain in case of famine
1550 into new treason law to stop Rebs… lord lieutenants and nobs to keep order
1552 acts to protect arable farming.. an act to stop excessive charging on interests on debts. Helped deserving poor

Question 7

Succession

Answer 7

1544 succession act, Mary was next in line
N’lands enc Ed to write devyse to alter suc
June 1553 both Mary + Eliz declared illegitimate, in favour of LJG who was married to N’lands son
B4 parl could ratify, ed died, Devyse had no meaning
9th July 1553 N’lands proclaim LJG = queen
Privy council initially agreed, crews aboard N’lands ships sent to prevent Mary from sailing to Norfolk… changed allegiance cause was lost
LJG ruled for 9 days, ruling elites wanted Mary as Q
N’lands exec in Aug 1553, LJG followed in Feb 1554