Mary I

Question 1

What were the dates (years) of Mary’s reign?

Answer 1

1553-1558

Question 2

Give three reasons the devyse failed and Mary I took the throne from Lady Jane Grey.

Answer 2

• Northumberland had interfered with the legitimate succession and acted illegally before the devyse
was ratified by Parliament
• Mary I had much support and was brave/determined
• Northumberland was unpopular in Norfolk after the Kett’s Rebellion which was where Mary
gathered her troops

Question 3

Mary I’s accession to the throne was, on the whole, greeted favourably by the English people. What were the
two possible reasons for this?

Answer 3

• Her devout Catholicism which many people wanted to see return as the official religion
• She was seen as the legitimate queen

Question 4

What problems did Mary I inherit on accession to the throne?

Answer 4

Religious division.
Not brought up to rule.
Economic issues persisted
Loyal and trusted supporters no experience of govt, so had to rely on Edward’s old councillors

Question 5

Name two men who Mary appointed to her Privy Council.

Answer 5

• Bishop Stephen Gardiner and Lord Paget (not Pole)

Question 6

Who was Simon Renard?

Answer 6

• Spanish ambassador to Charles V, her cousin, both of whom she relied on due to mistrust of her
Council.

Question 7

name issues upon which Mary I and her Parliament struggled to agree.

Answer 7

• Some opposed religious change. Monastic lands. Seizure of the land of the Protestant exiles
• Succession – Mary’s marriage and they refused to allow Phillip to have an English coronation

Question 8

Why did Mary I want to marry Phillip of Spain?

Answer 8

• His religion – Catholic; her support from his father, Charles V; politically experienced; heir
• Felt English noble marriage would bring factionalism and divide

Question 9

Who was to succeed Mary I, why was this an issue and how did Mary deal with it?

Answer 9

• Elizabeth her half sister; Protestant
• Imprisoned after Wyatt’s Rebellion, but lessened to house arrest. Least unacceptable option!

Question 10

What were Mary I’s two main aims for English foreign policy?

Answer 10

• Restore papal supremacy
• Marry Phillip, heir to Spanish throne

Question 11

Why did both aims come into conflict?

Answer 11

• When anti-Spanish Pope Paul IV became Pope, he sided with the French against Spain.
• Mary under huge pressure to support her Spanish husband in war with France and thus was fighting
the Pope!

Question 12

Why did England finally declare war on France in 1557?

Answer 12

• Stafford (Protestant exile)’s landing in Scarborough backed by French
• Pressure to support Spain in war against France (Hapsburg Valois War

Question 13

Why was involvement in this war INITIALLY successful for England?

Answer 13

• Thwarted Scottish invasion in north
• On winning side at St Quentin, but more Spain/English involvement minimal.

Question 14

Why ultimately was involvement in the war a disaster for England?

Answer 14

• Loss of Calais
• Seen as Spanish pawn

Question 15

Why was restoring Catholicism to England not going to be that straightforward for Mary I?

Answer 15

• Pockets of support for Protestantism esp in London and South
• Protestantism protected by statute law
• Issue of the monastic lands

Question 16

What did the following laws change? Be specific!
• First Act of Repeal
• Second Act of Repeal
• Twelve Decrees

Answer 16

• First Act of Repeal - Parliament refused to repeal the Act of Supremacy, but did reverse all of the
Edwardian Reformation – revived Mass, transubstantiation & clerical celibacy. Church back to 1547
under the Act of Six Articles.
• Second Act of Repeal - Undid all anti-papal legislation since 1529 and the Henrican Reformation
• Twelve Decrees - London Synod’s plan to restore clerical discipline- against absenteeism, pluralism,
simony and heresy

Question 17

17) How many Protestants were burned under the Heresy Laws? Name 3 famous people who were killed.

Answer 17

• 289; Cranmer, Hooper, Latimer, Ridley

Question 18

Why is it difficult to assess the impact of the burnings?

Answer 18

• Well attended but no public outcry although govt did have to ban certain groups from attending
• Did not stamp out heresy

Question 19

What economic problems persisted during Mary’s reign?

Answer 19

• Population growth and inflation;
harvest failures in 1555 and 1556;
still recovering from debasement;
sweating sickness 1557 and 1558

Question 20

Name three improvements the crown made to the financial administration of the country which helped in the
longer term.

Answer 20

• Court of the Exchequer combined with the old Court of First Fruits and Tenths (dealing with papal
income now going to crown) and Court of Augmentations (money from monastic lands), but
adopted their superior methods – streamlined and more efficient under Treasurer Winchester.
• Plans for re-coinage (although happened during Eliz’s reign)
• New Book of Rates improved customs revenue

Question 21

In what year did the Wyatt’s Rebellion take place?

Answer 21

1554

Question 22

What were the causes of this rebellion?

Answer 22

Anti-foreign marriage; religion; textiles; LJG/Eliz

Question 23

When was the critical turning point of this rebellion which arguably saved Mary?

Answer 23

• Crown forces held London Bridge, so rebels could not cross the river at Southwark. Defeated then at Ludgate.