Mary I and her ministers - 2022 exams version

Question 1

When was Mary proclaimed queen?

Answer 1

July 1553 - popular support for Mary quick to appear after LJG being proclaimed queen

Question 2

What were two weaknesses of Mary when she first became queen?

Answer 2

She was a committed catholic in a kingdom where reforms in favour of Protestantism were well advanced (substantial Protestant minority).

Neither she or her most loyal supporters (Robert Rochester, Edward Waldegrave etc) had any real political experience

Question 3

Despite being female what was Mary determined to do?

Answer 3

Play an active role in government

Question 4

What did Mary immediately do regarding government?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What did using moderates from Edward’s reign such an William Paget do?
Why did Mary keep them?

Answer 5

Brought some factional rivalry but it provided Mary with experienced officials

Question 6

Who did the Queen increasingly ignore and why did she turn to instead?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Who else did Mary heavily rely on?

Answer 7

Cardinal Reginald Pole, who arrived in England in 1554 and became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1556

Question 8

What were four key disagreements with Parliament?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What was agreed in the marriage treaty (to allay fears)?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Why was the marriage of 1554 not a success?

Answer 10

Philip found the English unwelcoming and was unimpressed by his new wife so he determined to spend as little time as possible in England.

In 1554 Parliament rejected a bill that would have included Philip and Mary in a proposed new law of treason (Parliament unimpressed by the marriage).

In 1555 Parliament prevented Philip’s coronation as King.

No heir was produced.

Question 11

What had the 1544 Succession Act, confirmed by Henry’s will provided?

Answer 11

That Mary would be succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth should she die childless - this had been restored after Mary’s overthrow of Northumberland and Edward’s Devyse

Question 12

When did Mary confine Elizabeth to the tower and what was the outcome?

Answer 12

After Wyatt’s rebellion in 1554 , despite Mary’s suspicions, no proof could be found of Elizabeth’s involvement in the rebellion so she was released after 2 months.

Question 13

What did the election of fiercely anti-Spanish Pope Paul IV in 1555 lead to?

Answer 13

A renewed war between France and Spain and despite the terms of the marriage treaty, Mary decided to support Spain therefore going to war against France and indirectly the papacy (who was anti-Spanish) - significant considering M was a loyal daughter of the Catholic Church
It was evident from the beginning that it would be impossible for England to remain neutral in any Franco-Spanish conflict

Question 14

What was the outcome of the French expedition?

Answer 14

Militarily the campaign had a promising start, assiting the Spanish with a successful siege of St Quentin and the English successfully repulsed a minor invasion by the Scots the same year, the French campaign quickly became disastrous with the humiliating loss of Calais (the last English possession in France) in January 1558 why had been in English hands for centuries

Question 15

Why did Northumberland’s plan involving the ‘Devyse’ fail?

Answer 15

He had attempted to interfere with the legitimate succession by promoting the claims of his son’s wife (leading people to draw conclusions that it was simply an attempt on power)
Behaviour = illegal
Mary generated support quickly

Question 16

On learning of Northumberland’s intentions to proclaim LJG queen, what did Mary do and what was the outcome?

Answer 16

Gather Catholic supporters, including members of the nobility (Norfolk)
Northumberland immediately summoned troops and sent a naval squadron to wait off the coast by Great Yarmouth to intercept Mary should she set sail
There was little love for Northumberland in Norfolk because of the cruelty which he had put down the Kett’s rebellion and the ships he sent proved disloyal - declaring allegiance to Mary
Other members on the council decided to proclaim M queen on 19th July 1553 - Northumberland realised his plan had failed and proclaimed Mary queen at Cambridge on 20th July

Question 17

What two problems did Mary face when coming to the throne?

Answer 17

She inherited a kingdom that had fundamental religious divisions.

She had not been brought up to rule and had little in the way of political instinct to help her cope with challenges.

Question 18

Who did Mary’s new councillors include?

Answer 18

Bishop Stephen Gardiner, who had been her fathers secretary and a steadfast upholder of religious conservatism in Edward’s reign in which he was imprisoned
Other churchmen who had been excluded from influence during Edward’s reign
Some of the more conservative councillors who had a various times served Edward - most importantly Lord Paget

Question 19

What happened in January 1554?

Answer 19

Marriage treaty between Mary and Philip drawn up

Wyatt’s rebellion against the Spanish marriage

Question 20

What was the final FP failure after the loss of Calais?

Answer 20

No attempt was made to recapture the town and a full-scale attack on the port of Brest in the summer of 1558 failed dismally

Question 21

What were the naval changes under Mary?

Answer 21

A complete reorganisation of the administration and finance of the navy.

6 new ships were build and many other repaired.

Allocation of £14,000 to the navy (a sum that E later reduced) during peacetime.

The system worked effectively with the highly efficient treasurer of the navy (Benjamin Gonson).

Question 22

What did the naval and military reforms do in the long-term?

Answer 22

Laid the basis for the organisation of the navy which (crucially for E) was to defeat the Spanish Armada

Question 23

Was Mary’s reign a success?
In terms of succession and FP.
What was the reason she couldn’t succeed?

Answer 23

FP - loss of Calais = failure

Marriage failed in most basic requirement - preventing Elizabeth succeeding her and overturning the religious change M was introducing.

But M showed determination when seizing the throne and when facing rebellion.

Her main failing was something she couldn’t control - dying after just 5 years on the throne.

Question 24

What role did Bishop Stephen Gardiner have until his death in 1555?

Answer 24

Lord Chancellor