Mary Stuff

Question 1

Historical opinions of Mary?

Answer 1

Elton - ‘arrogant, bigoted, narrow minded, stupid’
Loades - ‘the country was governed as well at any other time in the country’
Catholic historians ‘courageous, gentle, determined’
Anna Whitlock - ‘Mary failed as a woman but triumphed as a queen’

Question 2

The religious situation she inherited?

Answer 2

1. Immediate aim to restore papal supremacy
2. Only small and wicked minority were actually protestant
3. Beating LDG seemed like the approval from god

Question 3

Main religious changes in Mary’s reign?

Answer 3

1. 1553 Act of Repeal - undid Edwardian reformation - revived mass, warship, transubstantiation - back to 1447
2. 1553 Mary gave up supreme head of church
3. 1554 - mass exile of 800 protestants
4. Royal injunctions - restore holy days ceremonies etc
   5 Nov 1554 - Cardinal Pole returns and Parliament pass second Act of Repeal - undid all anti papal legislation 1529
5. Re foundation of religious houses

Question 4

How many Protestants did Mary burn?

Answer 4

1. Roughly 280 in three years - Eliz only 200 in 45 years
2. Burnings started quickly - first in 1555
3. Numbers mainly based on Foxe’s book of Martyrs

Question 5

Main successes under Mary?

Answer 5

1. Achieved her aims of restoring Roman Catholicism
2. Finances - Exchequer used again & lands surveyed to set more realistic rents - Book of Rates - during time of poor harvests it greatly helped Eliz long run
3. Sensible reforms to improve Navy and Militia - better boats etc and weapons

Question 6

Main failures under Mary?

Answer 6

1. Inability to get a catholic heir
2. Massive humiliation of losing Calais - dragged into needless conflict
3. Persecution of Protestants massively unpopular