Mary I Flashcards
What was Mary’s early life like?
- She was born on the 18th of February 1516 in Greenwich palace
- Catherine of Aragon and Margaret Pole catholically educated her
- She was initially close to Henry as he affectionately called her the princess of Wales
- In 1531, she was banned to see her mother and later banished from court to be Elizabeth’s lady in waiting
- She held onto her catholic beliefs from her mother who later died in 1536
- In 1537, she became Edward’s godmother
- Mary wrote a letter to the Pope and Charles V reuouncing her loyalties but close confidant chapuys wrote about Mary’s strategy
- She was returned to the line of succession in 1544
What happened to Mary during Edward’s reign?
- She still held Catholic mass in a secret chapel
- Whilst she was planning to leave Spain, she stayed as she was a symbol of English Catholicism
- Eventually she couldn’t practice mass in her own household so Charles V put a request in the privy council to lift this from her
When was Mary declared queen?
19th of July 1553
What does Christopher Haigh argue about Mary’s government?
To the surprise and embarrassment of those politicians and local leader who had no choice but to obey Northumberland, Mary was swept into power through revolution
Name the key Catholic councillors and their roles in Mary’s government
- Sir Henry Bedingfield - responsible for Elizabeth’s custody in the Tower of London
- Edward Waldegrave - member of the privy council
- Robert Rochester - comptroller of the household
- Sir Henry Jerningham - member of privy council
- Cardinal Pole - Archbishop of Canterbury in 1554
What were the issues with Stephen Gardiner and Lord Paget?
They were conservatives during Edward and Henry’s reign causing them to be mistrusted. Gardiner failed to support Catherine of Aragon during the break from Rome
What were the problems with Mary’s government?
- Mary had little political instinct
- Religious divisions due to the Protestant minority
- Her loyal and trusted supporters had no experience in government forcing her to rely on some of Edward’s conservative ministers
- Many questioned her legitimacy as she was previously removed from the line of succession
- Problems over marriage and succession
- Issues surrounding property especially monastic
- A bill in 1555 allowing the seizure of property belonging to Protestant exiles was defeated
- She had 50 councillors leading inefficiency and factions
- 80 MPs were opposed to the religious changes
Who replaced many JPs?
Catholic landowners
What was the proposed county milita?
It s aims was a create a small army of every man aged 16 - 60 capable of bearing arms to helps in times of crisis but it failed due to needing more regular drills and wealthy contributions. People were supportive of it as they helped to pout down local revolts of Wyatt’s rebellion and people brought their own weapons despite the limited support
What were the reasons for Mary’s marriage with Philip of Spain?
- She needed to produce a Catholic heir
- Simon renard supported it
- Charles V wanted his son to support Mary
- It would stop an English family becoming too influential to reinforce Catholicism
What were the reasons against Mary’s marriage with Philip of Spain?
- Gardiner wanted her to marry Edward Courtenay, Duke of Devon to maintain English connections but his rank was lower and he lacked courtly skills
- The public were against the marriage
- Parliament dissuaded Mary from marrying him
What happened in relation to the marriage?
- Took place on the 25th of July in 1554 after only meeting 2 days earlier
- The weather was miserable and Philip faced hostile from government
- Philip soon resolved to spend little time in England
- Government proclaimed he had the rule of king with no power, no foreigners could hold English offices and he would have no claim to the throne if Mary died before him
- In 1554, parliament rejected a proposed law on treason that would of included Philip
- In 1555, parliament prevented Philip’s coronation as king
What were Mary’s slightly achieved foreign policy aims?
- To restore papal supremacy
- To marry Philip
What happened relating to foreign policy?
- England couldn’t remain neutral in the Franco - Spanish war
- Anti - Spanish pope Pope Paul IV was elected in May 1555 who instigated the war so going against France meant going against the pope
- Thomas Stafford landed French troops on Scarborough causing England to declare war on France in April 1557
- Nobles were supportive to regain favour with the crown
- The easily dealt with a minor incursion by the Scots
- England successfully seized St Quentins with Spain
- In January 1558, Calais was lost
- The full scale attack on the port of Brest in the summer of 1558 failed
- England was still at war by the time Mary died
How was the navy and military reformed?
- Administration and finances of the navy were reorganised
- 6 new ships were built and many were repaired
- The crown budgeted £14,000 to the navy
- Benjamin Gonson (treasurer of the navy) was answerable to the Lord treasurer
- Methods to raise an army were improved
- These outcomes were only seen in Elizabeth’s reign
