Mary I And Her Ministers Flashcards
What did Mary do in learning of Northumberlands intentions?
She gathered together catholic supporters, including the nobility in Norfolk. Northumberland sent troops and a naval squadron to intercept Mary, but with little support there due to the Kett Rebellion, the ships he sent were disloyal to him and supported Mary. She was proclaimed queen on 19th July 1553.
What problems did Mary face?
- She inherited a country which was religiously divided.
- She was Catholic in a country with substantial Protestant minority.
- She wasn’t brought up to rule, so had little political instinct.
- Her loyal and trusted supporters had little experience in government (eg. Robert Rochester).
- Mary would have to rely on those who had served her half brother and were therefore implicated in the introduction of religious reforms that were distasteful to her.
Who were her new councillors?
- Bishop Stephen Gardiner, who had been her fathers secretary and had been a steadfast upholder of religious conservatism during Edwards reign in which he had suffered imprisonment.
- Other churchmen, who had been excluded from influence during Edwards reign.
- Some of the more conservative councillors who had at various times served Edward, most importantly Lord Paget.
Why was Mary’s government inefficient and faction ridden?
Mary appointed 50 councillors during her brief reign which may be a reason why this led to inefficient decision making. This claim is backed by Mary’s most important decision, marriage, not being formally discussed in Council.
What argues against the idea that Mary’s Council was inefficient?
She seemed to regard councillor as an honorary title; her working council board was much smaller and dominated by experienced figures such as Gardiner, Marquis of Winchester and Paget.
Why was Mary never quite at ease with her key councillors?
She lost confidence in Paget because of his opposition to her religious programme, she never fully trusted Gardiner, who hadn’t supported her mother, Catherine, at the time of the break of Rome.
How did Mary make a mistake in her Council?
When Gardiner died in 1555, this left a gap in the Council which was never satisfactorily filled, especially as Cardinal Pole distanced himself from secular issues. This meant that Mary was thrown back on to the advise of the two foreigners whose judgement she trusted implicitly: her husband from 1554, Philip of Spain, and Simon Renard, the ambassador of her cousin and father in law, Charles V.
Examples of opposition to Crown policies.
- A substantial minority of MP’s (about 80) opposed the reversal of Edwards religious legislation.
- Concern for property rights, motivated by self interest, ensured ex-monastic property would not be restored to the Church.
- A bill in 1555 to allow the seizure of property of Protestant exiles was defeated.
- Mary quarrelled with Parliament over the issue of the succession.
Evidence that Mary acted independently (didn’t take advice)
- Gardiner offered Edward Courtenay as a candidate for marriage, which may have caused factional rivalry, as the husbands family would inevitably become more influential.
- English public opinion was hostile to Mary’s choice of marrying Philip, as Gardiner had predicted. A parliamentary delegation had attempted unsuccessfully to dissuade Mary from her intentions.
Evidence Mary’s parliament was efficient.
In an attempt to allay fears, a detailed marriage treaty was drawn up:
1. Philip was given the title King, but none of the powers that came with it.
2. No foreigners could withhold an English office.
3. If Mary predeceased Philip, he would have no claim to the English throne.
The marriage took place in 1554.
How did Mary try to stop Elizabeth succeeding?
Following the Wyatt’s rebellion, Elizabeth had been confined to the Tower of London, but without proof, Mary couldn’t pursue treason charges.
Attempts to change the succession through acts of Parliament came to nothing.
Mary formally named Elizabeth as her successor in November 1558.
What were Mary’s foreign policy aims?
- To restore England to papal supremacy.
2. To marry Philip, the heir of the Spanish throne.
When did England declare war on France?
1557, following a bizarre landing of French troops in Scarborough led by Thomas Stafford, grandson of the Duck of Buckingham who had been executed in 1521. Stafford may have been set up by Paget who was the English minister most anxious for war.
How was foreign policy successful despite the situation?
The English assisted Spain in the successful siege of St Quentin and dealt easily with a minor incursion into England by the Scots.
How did England do badly in foreign policy?
In January 1558, England lost Calais, which had been in the hands of the English for centuries.
No attempt was made to recapture the town and an attack on the port of Brest in the summer of 1558 failed dismally.
