Gender, politics and government Flashcards
How old was Mary when she came to the throne?
37.
What did Somerset allow Mary to do while he was in power?
Follow her religion in private.
She remained in good terms with him and Edward.
Why might have the reformers refrained from putting extreme measures on Mary to conform to Protestantism?
Due to their fear of the Habsburgs - Charles V gave constant support and advice to Mary.
Who did Mary execute when she became queen?
Northumberland and two of his closest confederates.
What were the reasons for the growing unpopularity of Mary after 1555?
- She failed to produce an heir to consolidate her position.
- Outbreak of war with France.
- Losing Calais.
- Declining economic position.
- Her burnings.
What was the problem of Mary being queen and having to marry?
-She would be subject to the authority of her husband.
- To marry a member of the English nobility was considered unacceptable because his elevation to power would cause jealousy and rivalry that might lead to conflict.
- To marry a foreign prince might drag England into continental conflicts.
What did Mary do when she chose who to marry?
Limited his constitutional power within the kingdom - shows her authority.
What was Mary’s government like?
- Mostly unchanged and the Privy Council remained as the centre of the administration.
- Her Privy Council had been deemed too big to conduct business effectively. It also contained too many members who had no real political ability and lacked administrative experience.
- For her Council, she chose members from her own household, Catholic noblemen who had supported her and several moderate members of Northumberland’s Council.
- There was a strong rivalry between the Catholics - Gardiner - and the moderates - Sir William Paget.
- She did not seem to exert any leadership, or show any real confidence in her Council.
- Often, she did not consult her Council until she had already decided matters of policy in consultation with Renard - imperial ambassador.
What was Parliament like?
Little evidence that Mary controlled the H o C by packing it with Catholic supporters through rigged elections.
She had strong support from the higher clergy in the H o L, especially after the execution of Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer.
Although both houses disliked the marriage with Philip, they both cooperated with the administration throughout her reign.
What drastic financial reforms were made in 1554?
- Exchequer restored as the main financial department. The Court of First Fruit and Tenths dealt with taxes paid by the senior clergy. The Court of Augmentations administered income from monastic and chantry lands.
- The court of wards - collected a tax levied on the heirs to great estates - and the Duchy of Lancaster - administered lands belonging to the monarch.
- Planned to remove the number of debased coins in circulation and restore the full silver content of the coinage - died before this could happen in 1560.
- 1558 new Book of Rates introduced - increased custom revenue from £29,000 to £85,000 a year.
- 1555 full survey of all crown lands carried out. Rents and entry fines raised in 1557.
How did the economic situation get worse in Mary’s reign?
- Series of bad harvests.
- Epidemics of sweating sickness, plague and influenza.
- High mortality rates and severe food shortages in towns.
What was the Devise for the Succession May 1553?
The re-written Succession, which wrote Mary and Elizabeth out of it. Lady Jane Grey was Edward’s successor.
Why did Northumberland want the Devise?
Edward’s health was declining.
-It was essential to preserve his power.
-As a Protestant he would lose his power when Mary came to power.
What evidence is there to support that Edward was behind the Devise?
-He was playing a greater role in government, attending Privy Council meetings and setting some agendas.
-He was a committed Protestant and wanted to stop the throne from passing to his Catholic half-sister.
-He wanted the religious reform programme he started to continue.
How long was Edward’s death kept a secret?
2 days.
