Mary 1 and Her Ministers Flashcards
Faced with the Lady Jane Grey challenge what did Mary do?
Acted bravely, decisively and quickly, she gathered catholic supporters among and nobility and gentry and won over those who resented the brutality with which the Kett’s rebellion had been suppressed and as a result was proclaimed queen
When was Mary proclaimed queen?
July 1553 - popular support for Mary quick to appear after L]G being proclaimed queen
What were two weaknesses of Mary when she first became queen?
She was a committed catholic in a kingdom where reforms in favour of Protestantism were we advanced (substantial
Protestant minority).
Neither she or her most loyal supporters (Robert Rochester, Edward Waldegrave etc) had any real political experience
Despite being female what was Mary determined to do?
Play an active role in government
What did Mary immediately do regarding government?
She selected a large group of Privy Councillors to help her in government, including:
Catholic nobles and churchmen such as Bishop Stephen Gardiner.
Moderates from Edward’s reign such as William Paget
What role did Bishop Stephen Gardiner have until his death in 1555?
Lord Chancellor
What did using moderates from Edward’s reign such an William
Paget do?
Why did Elizabeth keep them?
Brought some factional rivalry but it provided Mary with experienced officials
Who did the Queen increasingly ignore and why did she turn to instead?
Increasingly ignored the Council and turned to Simon Renard (the ambassador of Charles V and later the advisor of Philip II)
He had tremendous influence over Mary and until her marriage to Philip of Spain in 1554 (which he promoted), virtually directed
English affairs.
Who else did Mary heavily rely on?
Cardinal Reginald Pole, who arrived in England in 1554 and became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1556
What was Mary’s relationship with parliament?
One of cautious cooperation - They generally cooperated despite a few disagreements over Mary’s religious policies and the succession
What were four key disagreements with
Parliament?
A significant minority of MPs opposed the reversal of Edwardian religious legislation (about 80).
MPs proved reluctant to restore ex-monastic property to the Church, out of concern for property rights (and probably self-interest.
Parliament defeated a 1555 bill to allow the seizure of property of
Protestant exiles.
There was opposition over the issue of succession
What was Mary keen to do?
Mary (who was already 37) was keen to marry and produce an heir as soon as possible in order to guarantee a Catholic succession - regarded it as essential - raising the issue of who she marry
Who did Gardiner suggest that Mary marry, why and why wasn’t Mary keen?
Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon (possible to prevent a foreign marriage) but marriage to an Englishman was likely to provoke factional rivalries and the husband’s family would inevitably become more influential
Courtenay also lacked courtly skills and was therefore seen as an unsuitable candidate by many (Mary never took him seriously as a potential husband)
Who did Mary want to marry and who did/ didn’t support this?
Her Catholic cousin, Philip of Spain (who received Paget’s support) and her main advisor on the issue was Simon Renard (himself a Spanish subject, Catholic and politically experienced)
Charles V (Philips father) - had offered advice and moral support through Mary’s years of unhappiness and was more keen on the match than his son but Philip was prepared to ‘to his duty’
But English public support was hostile to a foreign marriage (as
Gardiner had predicted)
Who attempted to stop Mary going ahead with the marriage and
what was the outcome?
A Parliamentary delegation failed to dissuade Mary and without consulting the Privy Council, Mary chose to go ahead with the Spanish marriage
What was agreed in the marriage treaty (to allay fears)?
It gave Philip the title of King but no actual power
Forbade foreigners from holding English office
Ruled that Philip had no claim on the English throne if Mary died before he did
Absolved England from any involvement in or, financial support for, Philips wars