Government + Politics under Mary Flashcards
What were the main reasons people supported Mary as Queen?
The most prevalent reason majority of ordinary people supported Mary was due to religion + her devout Catholicism - the hope being shed restore Catholicism in England + the papacy.
What was Marys key problem throughout her reign?
One of Marys core weaknesses was that she was too fixated + obsessive over religion and Catholicism that England’s needs weren’t a priority and religion took priority over all issues of government.
What were Marys considerable problems in Government + Politics as Queen?
- She inherited a kingdom with fundamental religious divide
- She was attempting to restore Catholicism in a kingdom with substantial protestant population
-She had never been brought up to rule + had little skills in government or political instinct seen through the vast challenges she was confronted with
- Her loyal + trusted supporters such as Robert Rochester + Edward Waldergrave had no serious experience in government
- She was forced to rely on those who served Edward
What were Marys key agendas in Government + Politics
- Convince the old privy council of her right to rule
- Decide what to do with Northumberland + his supporters
- Restore the catholic religion
- Restore her legitimacy + get Elizabeth cut out of the succession
-Choose privy councillors
Who were Marys Key Councillors throughout her reign?
- Bishop Gardiner
- Lord Paget
- Cardinal Pole
- Churchmen
Mary appointed 50 councillors in her short reign + historians argue the large number in such a small period of time inevitably led to an inefficient + faction-ridden government
Did Mary trust + work well with her Councillors?
- She failed to properly discus her decision to marry Phillip of Spain which , as councillors feared, sparked a rebellion.
- Mary never fully trusted her English councillors (loosing confidence in Paget due to opposition toward religious policies +Gardiner due to reluctance to stand up for her mother
Mary was thrown on to advice of 2 foreigners who’s judgment she trusted implicitly;
Simon Renard + Charles V
Who were Marys suiters for her marriage?
Mary was anxious to marry as soon as she was crowned Queen + there were 2 key candidates;
- Sir Edward Courtnay (an English Earl of Devon)
- Phillip of Spain (heir to Spanish throne)
Marriage to an Englishmen would lead to rivalry of factions + husbands family would inevitably gain substantial power + influence.
Edward lacked skills + was therefore deemed by Mary as unsuitable but her preference was was Phillip.
However it was challenging. The English public = incredibly hostile + a parliamentary delegation was attempted, unsuccessfully, to dissuade Mary from her intentions.
What were the Terms of Marys Marriage?
The marriage took place in 1554
- Phillip was to be given the title of King but was to exercise none of the powers which went with the title
- No foreigner’s were permitted in old English offices
- If Mary preceased Phillip then the latter could have no claim to the English throne.
What was the Wyatt’s Rebellion?
The Wyatt’s rebellion too place in 1554 + was caused for a variety of reasons - the main one being Marys marriage to Phillip
Explain the Wyatt’s rebellion + the vents that took place
The Wyatt’s rebellion described 4 uprisings across England.
A Rebellion had been planned in November 1553 where there were to be 4 simultaneous uprisings In;
- Devon (led by Edward Courtney)
- Hertfordshire
- Leicester
- Kent
But the plans leaked in January 1554 forcing the rebels’ into action. However only Kent had a serious rising with 3,000 men (led by Thomas Wyatt)
What was the cause/Rebells motives behind the Wyatt’s Rebellion?
Motivations are largely mixed
-Many were motivated by religion + many Wyatt supporters came from Maidstone - a Protestant stronghold
-Xenophobia motivated many rebels
-The decline in local cloth trade/industry prompted poorer rebels as means of expressing social + economical grievances.
Overall opposition to Spanish marriage was the main motivation for the rebellion
Why was the Wyatt’s Rebellion significant?
- It showed, though protestants were a minority, their religious opinions couldn’t be ignored
- Demonstrated the extent there was a popular suspicion of the proposed Spanish marriage + alliance
- Resulted in the execution of Lady Jane
- Elizabeth was arrested + confined to the tower as Mary was convinced she was implicated but lacked evidence
- Wyatt came close to success, had he succeeded in taking the city, Marys reign may have ended even more prematurely.
Did Mary have Positive Relations with Parliament?
Yes;
- Mary had strong support from Lords (especially once Cranmer, Latimer + Ridley were executed)
- Both houses seemingly co-operated during her reign
however the Spanish marriage was unpopular + caused parliamentary opposition
- Most debates were constructive + Mary had sense not to press her views on parliament
No;
- A substantial minority around 80 opposed her religious measures
- Parliament did refuse to exclude Elizabeth from the succession + Philips coronation as King
- Mary held 5 parliaments leading to 106 Acts that weren’t very productive + Lords seemed less effective during this period at initiating legislation
Explain the religious changes/reform Mary I introduced during her reign
The legislative attack on the protestant/English church began in a meeting of parliament in Oct 1553
- 1st act of Repeal stated all religious laws that were passed during Edwards reign would be revoked
- The doctrine at the time of Henry VIII death was restored
- Attacked the clergy who had married during Edwards reign by withdrawing all their earnings
- The legal status of the church was upheld
- 2nd Act of Repeal In Jan 1555 which abolished all doctrinal legislation passed since 1529 which reinstated the pope as the head of the church (Papal supremacy)however former monastic lands were not returned.
Marys brutal policies of persecution began in Feb 1555 following the Heresy Laws that were revived in 1554 sparked the beginning of mass executions + the burning of protestants. 289 protestants were murdered which led to worsening opposition toward her catholic reforms as prpttetants and become marters like Bishop Cranner in 1556.
