key profiles

Question 1

Sir Michael Stanhope
d. 1552

Answer 1

• Nottinghamshire gentleman who owed his position to the marriage of his sister to the Duke of Somerset (Edward Seymour)
• Two remained closely linked and Stanhope was a key household officer under Edward VI as Groom of the Stool and Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber (the King’s keeper)
• Was imprisoned when Somerset fell from power and executed following his involvement in Somerset’s attempted coup against Northumberland

Question 2

John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland
1504-53

Answer 2

• Son of Henry VII’s tax gatherer, Edmund Dudley
• Soldier whose political career progressed during the 1540s
• Initially had a good working relationship with Somerset but deteriorated
• Overthrew Somerset in October 1549
• Became Lord President of the Council and Duke of Northumberland
• Executed for treason after failure of plot to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne

Question 3

Sir William Paget
c1505-63

Answer 3

• Diplomat and administrator under Henry VIII
• Appointed clerk of the Privy Council in 1540
• Became one of Henry’s 2 principal secretaries
• Close to Somerset but also served Northumberland and Mary
• Excluded from Privy Council by Elizabeth

Question 4

Sir John Gates
1504-53

Answer 4

• Owed his initial advancement to the support of his brother-in-law, Sir Anthony Denny
• Became Vice-Chamberlain of the household and one of the Chief Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber
• Incurred the animosity of Princess Mary by preventing her from attending Mass
• Executed along with Northumberland

Question 5

Lady Jane Grey
1537-54

Answer 5

• Great grand-daughter of Henry VII
• Married Guildford Dudley, son of Northumberland
• Became the object of the Devyse
• Declared Queen by the Privy Council after Edward VI died
• Deserted by most of her councillors once they realised Mary’s popular support
• Initially spared by Mary but was executed for treason in 1554

Question 6

Nicholas Ridley
c1500-55

Answer 6

• A Cambridge-educated reformer
• Was a chaplain to Henry VIII and quickly emerged as a prominent reformer in Edward VI’s reign
• Successively Bishop of Rochester and London
• Burnt as a heretic in Mary’s reign

Question 7

John Hooper
c1495-1555

Answer 7

• Edward VI’s most radical bishop
  -Travelled extensively in Protestant. areas of Europe and returned to England in 1549
• Appointed a chaplain to Somerset
• Northumberland appointed him Bishop of Gloucester
• Burnt as a heretic in Queen Mary’s reign

Question 8

Cardinal Reginald Pole
1500-58

Answer 8

• Grandson of Edward IV’s brother, the Duke of Clarence, went into exile in Italy rather than acceding to Henry VIII’s religious reforms
• Made a cardinal in 1536 and was made an influential figure under Popes Paul III and Julius III
• Returned to England as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1554 under Mary
• Wider influence diminished under Pope Paul IV who disliked him and regarded him as a heretic

Question 9

Philip of Spain
1527-98

Answer 9

• Was the son of Mary’s cousin, Emperor Charles V
• Was ruling the Netherlands on behalf of his father in 1554, whom he succeeded as king of Spain in 1556
• Shared Mary’s devout Catholicism

Question 10

Sir William Cecil, first Baron of Burghley
1521-98

Answer 10

• Enjoyed prominence under Somerset but managed to transfer allegiance to Northumberland
• Enjoyed the trust of Princess Elizabeth and managed her succession smoothly
• Served Elizabeth when she became queen for almost 40 years
• Was first principal secretary and then became Lord Treasurer in 1572