Mary I and Crisis of Royal Authority

Question 1

What evidence is there that factional rivalry did cause a crisis in royal authority for Mary?

Answer 1

• In Mary’s 2nd Parliament Paget and his supporters blocked 15 bills proposed by Gardiner
• At the 3rd Parliament nearly a quarter of all eligible peers stayed away from the entire session - 106 members missing

Question 2

What evidence is there that factional rivalry did NOT cause a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 2

• At Mary’s 1st Parliament, Acts of Repeal were passed which enforced Mary’s Catholic views and were opposed by only 80 out of 359
• At the 5th Parliament Lords and Commons were able to unite to raise taxes to fund the war with France e.g. Act for the Taking of Musters & Act for House Armour and Weapons

Question 3

What evidence is there that the Spanish marriage did cause a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 3

• Philip demanded Mary’s help in the Hapsburg-Valois conflict. Mary joined and this resulted in the loss of Calais
• Calais had been in English hands since 1347 and was England’s last French territory this surrender was a humiliating defeat and have Protestant propagandists a failure to capitalise on

Question 4

What evidence is there that the Spanish marriage did NOT cause a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 4

• In March 1557 Philip came to England to ask Mary for funds, troops, and naval support and Mary refused
• Mary only joined the war after Henry II started openly tolerating English Protestant exiles thus implying she went in out of her own religious convictions rather than pressure from Philip

Question 5

How did Mary’s gender limit her royal authority?

Answer 5

• There was no precedent for a queen regnant (last queen being Queen Matilda of the 12th Century)
• She was already 37 years old so producing a legitimate catholic heir to secure a dynasty would be difficult if not impossible
• When a woman got married, even a queen, she was expected to submit any power to her husband - anxieties over an english boble family or foreign king taking power

Question 6

How did the Marriage Treaty ensure Mary’s gender wouldn’t be an issue?

Answer 6

• Gave Philip no claim to the throne in the event of Mary’s death
• Philip received the title of ‘king’ but possessed no sovereign authority in his own right
• He was not allowed to promote foreigners to hold office in England

Question 7

What evidence suggests Mary’s accession revealed a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 7

• Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen
• Many important people including the Lord Chancellor, Privy Councillors, Lord Mayor of London signed the devise saying that Mary was not to inherit the throne
• Northumberland was executed on the 22nd August showing his threat had to be taken seriously

Question 8

What evidence suggests Mary’s accession did NOT reveal a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 8

• Many people were apprehensive to sign the devise and only did so after being forced by Northumberland
• Lady Jane Grey was made queen against her will
• The devises were not legally binding whereas the Third Act of Succession was statute