Mary I & Her Rule Flashcards
Who was Mary I?
Daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
How were Mary’s early years, before her reign?
- During her childhood, Mary received a thorough education.
- Following Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn, Mary was deemed illegitimate.
- Following years of conflict, Mary reluctantly recognised her father as the head of the Church of England.
What was Mary’s main aim?
The primary aim was to restore Catholicism to England.
Who were Mary’s ministers?
- Mary I did not have many allies in the Privy Chamber.
- Stephen Gardiner, a Catholic who had been imprisoned during Edward VI’s reign, became a key advisor to Mary I.
- He was made the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor.
What changes were make to the Privy Council under Mary?
- Mary increased the size of the Privy Council and included more Catholics.
- She also included experienced moderates from Edward VI’s reign, like Paget.
How did Mary use the Privy Council?
- The Privy Council became increasingly important, especially managing the day-to-day business of government.
- Mary did not consult her Privy Council over her marriage but turned to Charles V’s ambassador, Simon Renard. She also relied on him heavily for advice.
How did Mary restore papal supremacy?
- Heresy laws were restored in 1554 by the Act of Repeal.
- Denying the papal supremacy was a heresy punishable by death. -The Act of Supremacy was passed in 1555.
- This meant Papal supremacy over the English Church was restored.
How did Mary treat Protestants?
- Following the heresy laws, Mary I persecuted Protestants, e.g., Archbishop Cranmer was arrested.
- 284 Protestants were executed.
- Protestants who were burned at the stake soon became martyrs.
What was Mary’s relationship like with Parliament?
- Overall, parliament cooperated with Mary. There was opposition to some measures, but not enough to derail her most important policies.
- Mary’s religious legislation passed through parliament although a significant minority of MPs opposed it.
- In 1555, Parliament defeated Mary’s bill to seize the property of Protestant exiles who had fled abroad.
- Parliament would not agree to restore lands taken in the dissolution of the monasteries to the Catholic Church.
How is Mary remembered historically?
- Mary I is often remembered as an unpopular queen.
- Protestants constructed this image after Mary I’s death.
- Although she did execute Protestants, her father did the same. This forces us to question her nickname, ‘Bloody Mary’.
What problems of succession did Mary face?
- Marriage issues
- No heir
Why was Mary’s suitor a problem for England?
Phillip II of Spain was Catholic and a man; in 16th-century marriages, the wife was subordinate to her husband. If this was so, Philip II would become the effective King of England.
- If Philip II was King of England, it was feared that he would subordinate England’s interests to Spain’s.
How did parliament try to limit Phillip II’s power?
- Through a treaty in 1554
- Philip II would have the title ‘King of England’ and would be joint sovereign, but would have no sovereign authority in his own right.
- Any heir born would inherit England and the Netherlands but not Spain.
- England would help the Netherlands if they were invaded by France.
- Philip II could not have a claim to the English throne if Mary I died without children.
Why was Mary and Phillip’s marriage unpopular?
- Their marriage was one of political convenience, not love. Philip II spent little time in England.
- In 1554, Parliament rejected a proposed law that would have included him alongside Mary about treason.
- In 1555, Parliament prevented Philip’s coronation as king.
Why was having an heir a problem for Mary?
- Mary was 37 when she came to the throne. Although she twice thought she was pregnant, she was not.
- Without an heir, the Protestant Princess Elizabeth would become England’s next monarch. This was unacceptable to Mary because:
- Mary I only named Elizabeth as her heir when it was clear she was dying and only 11 days before her actual death.
