Mary's government

Question 1

Privy council

Answer 1

-Supporters had little experience so had to rely on Edward’s councillors
-Gardiner became a councillor (after his imprisonment in Edward’s reign)
-Appointed 50 councillors (caused factions)
-Councillor was more an honour title because working council was actually smaller
-Lost faith in Paget as he opposed reforms
-Never fully trusted Gardiner because he didn’t support Catherine (he died in 1555 which left gap)
-Forced to trust Phillip and Spanish ambassador
-Kenninghall faction = served Mary

Question 2

Parliament

Answer 2

-Cautious cooperation with Mary
-80 MPs opposed reversal of Edwardian legislation
-Concern for property rights ensured that monastic lands wouldn’t be given back to the church
-Couldn’t agree about succession

Question 3

Economy and Finance (positives)

Answer 3

-Given away crown lands to re-establish monastic foundations
-Planned to remove debased coins but Mary’s death meant it wasn’t implemented
-1551 = English ships began trading along north African coast
-1552 = proposed to revise custom rates
-1558 = new book of rates issued which increased custom revenue from £29,000 to £85,000
-Rents and entry fines increased due to a commission

Question 4

Economy and finance (negatives)

Answer 4

-General economic system grew worse
-Series of bad harvests
-Epidemics of sweating sickness, bubonic plague and influenza
-Towns had high mortality rates and food shortages
-Restricted movement of textiles from towns to countryside in hopes of reducing unemployment
-Real progress wasn’t made until Elizabeth’s reign

Question 5

Reform of navy and army

Answer 5

-Navy declined under Northumberland
-Improvements made to dockyards
-Naval expenditure increased
-Militia and arms act of 1557 = arrangements made for raising and maintaining the Militia (long term improvements)
-Six new ships built
-Allocated £14,000 to the navy

Question 6

Poverty

Answer 6

-Population increased which caused inflation to increase
-Debasement of coinage caused inflation
-Harvest failures caused food shortage and wage strain
-Taxation increase because of war with France
-Government more active in poor relief