Government

Question 1

Did Mary try to play an involved role in gov?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

What were the 4 key groups that helped Mary in government?

Answer 2

• Privy Council
• Inner Council
• Husband
• Parliament

Question 3

What did the Privy Council do in government?

Answer 3

Made up of approx 50 councillors

Initially the most important, main centre of government + admin

Question 4

Why did the Privy Council get used less + less under Mary?

Answer 4

It was too large + had too much factional rivalry to conduct business effectively

Question 5

Why was Mary’s Privy Council so big?

Answer 5

• Initially: chose Catholic councillors from her Household she could trust
• Later: chose several moderate members of Northumberland’s council with more political + admin skill/experience

Question 6

Give an example of a Catholic councillor in the Privy Council

Answer 6

Stephen Gardiner

Catholic clergymen - H.VIII’s secretary - imprisoned under Ed VI - Lord Chancellor under Mary until 1555 death

Question 7

Give an example of a Protestant councillor in the Privy Council

Answer 7

Sir William Paget

Question 8

What did the Inner Council do in government?

Answer 8

Made up of fewer councillors

Replaced Privy Council later in reign as most important in gov

Question 9

Why was the Inner Council better than the Privy Council?

Answer 9

• Less members (more efficient)
• Less factional rivalry between members (more efficient)
• Members were selected as the most trusted + experienced

Question 10

Give examples of Mary not trusting her Privy councillors

Answer 10

Gardiner - hadn’t supported her mum in break with Rome

Paget - was (moderate) Protestant

Question 11

Give an example of a trusted member of the Inner Council

Answer 11

Simon Renard
(Spanish ambassador + advisor to Philip)

Question 12

What was the reaction of the Privy Council to its subservient role in later years?

Answer 12

• Angered at isolation + replacement

- Members’ relations with Mary deteriorated

Question 13

What did Mary’s husband Philip do in government?

Answer 13

• Marriage treaty prevented any direct governance

- Mary trusted him + took general gov advice from him

Question 14

What did Parliament do in government?

Answer 14

• Cautious relations between Mary + Parliament

- Parliament could oppose Mary’s actions with a majority vote

Question 15

Give an example of Parliament not being able to stop Mary’s actions

Answer 15

Reversal of Ed VI’s religious legislation (large minority opposed)

Question 16

Give an example of Parliament stopping Mary’s actions

Answer 16

Opposed Pole’s suggestion of restoring ex-monastic land to Church

Question 17

What were the 3 key issues faced by Mary in government?

Answer 17

• Catholic in a country with significant Protestant minority
• Not brought up/trained to rule
• The councillors she trusted most weren’t always best experienced (had to rely on some moderate Protestants)