Mid Tudor Government

Question 1

Why was Edward’s minority a problem?

Answer 1

• Couldn’t lead his forces in battle.
• Relied on advisers - often disliked.

Question 2

What was the Regency Council?

Answer 2

• Established by Henry VIII.
• Council containing 16 men who would rule during Edward’s minority. * Supposed to rule in agreement.

Question 3

Who dominated the Regency Council?

Answer 3

Somerset. Made Lord Protector with the help of Paget and Denny.

Question 4

Was Somerset a friend of the poor?

Answer 4

• Hales Commission on Enclosure.
• Sheep Tax.
• Crushed the 1549 rebellions.
• Vagrancy Act.

Question 5

Why was Somerset unpopular?

Answer 5

• Issued proclamations.
• Ruled from Somerset House like a monarch.
• Economic problems - debasement
• Failure of the war in Scotland.

Question 6

When did Somerset fall from power?

Answer 6

1550. He was executed in 1552 for conspiring against Northumberland.

Question 7

Who was Edward’s second Protector?

Answer 7

Northumberland - John Dudley also known as the Earl of Warwick.

Question 8

What was the Devise for the Succession?

Answer 8

Edward’s attempt to pass the throne to Lady Jane Grey and bypass his sisters Mary and Elizabeth.

Question 9

Why did Lady Jane Grey have a claim on the throne?

Answer 9

She was the granddaughter of Henry VIII’s sister Mary.

Question 10

Who was responsible for the Devise?

Answer 10

Northumberland
* Wanted to maintain power.
* His son was married to Lady Jane Grey.

Edward
* He wrote the Devise in his own hand.
* He persuaded members of his Council like Cranmer.
* It reflected his religious wishes.

Question 11

Why did the Devise fail?

Answer 11

• Northumberland was not prepared
• Northumberland left London.
• Northumberland did not have Mary under his control.
• Mary rallied her forces in East Anglia.
• Mary was popular and many believed that she was the rightful heir.

Question 12

What problems did Mary’s gender cause her?

Answer 12

• Difficulties of marriage and providing an heir.
• Inability of a woman to lead troops into battle.
• Perceptions of the weakness of women.
• Failures of previous female monarchs like Matilda.

Question 13

Why was Mary’s marriage such a problem?

Answer 13

• Who would she marry - foreign prince or English noble,
• Who would actually rule - husbands were the dominant force in a marriage.

Question 14

Why did the Wyatt Rebellion take place?

Answer 14

• Mary announced her marriage to Philip of Spain.
• Religious reasons - Philip was Catholic
• Xenophobic reasons - Philip was Spanish

Question 15

How did Mary defeat the rebellion?

Answer 15

• Only Wyatt’s rebellion was successful.
• Mary rallied the Londoners through a speech at the Guildhall.

Question 16

Who led the coup against Somerset?

Answer 16

Warwick and Paget.

Question 17

What did Warwick later become known as?

Answer 17

Northumberland.

Question 18

What happened in October 1549?

Answer 18

Somerset, feeling vulnerable, removed Edward VI to Windsor. Edward claimed to be unwell.

Question 19

How long was Lady Jane Grey on the throne for?

Answer 19

9 days.

Question 20

How many people were in Mary’s Council?

Answer 20

Around 40.

Question 21

Why did Mary have such a large council?

Answer 21

She appointed Catholics as well as keeping Protestant ministers as they were more experienced.

Question 22

How did Mary counter criticism of her large Privy Council?

Answer 22

She created an Inner Council after 1555.

Question 23

When did Gardiner die?

Answer 23

1555.

Question 24

Did Mary face factional tension during her reign?

Answer 24

Yes - between Gardiner and Paget. However, both generally worked well together and Gardiner died in 1555.

Question 25

Who did Mary rely on during her reign?

Answer 25

• de La Pole (Archbishop of Canterbury
• Philip of Spain
• Renard (Spanish Ambassador) - although he may have exaggerated his role.

Question 26

How was Mary’s government weak?

Answer 26

• Female ruler.
• Factional struggles.
• Over reliance on individual (de La Pole/ Renard and Philip).
• Large Council.

Question 27

How was Mary’s government strong?

Answer 27

• Defeated Devise and Wyatt.
• Factional struggles were minimal.
• Passed laws through Parliament.
• Limited impact of de La Pole and Philip as they were not always in the country.
• Established the Inner Council.

Question 28

How was Edward’s reign weak?

Answer 28

• Minority king.
• Weaknesses of Somerset.
• Uprisings of 1549.
• Coup against Somerset and eventual execution.

Question 29

How was Edward’s government strong?

Answer 29

• Edward almost able to rule in his own name.
• Defeated the 1549 rebellions.
• Northumberland was more able and took control.
• Religious reform was enforced.

Question 30

How many men were on Henry VIII’s Council?

Answer 30

16