Reform Under Somerset

Question 1

Who was Edward Seymour?

Answer 1

Edwards uncle

He was also the Duke of Somerset

He controlled the regency council and made decisions for the young king as the Lord Protector of England.

Question 2

Foreign policy: what did he do?

Answer 2

Somerset was bound by Henry’s will to arrange a marriage between Edward and Mary Queen of Scots. However, Scotland did not want this.

The new French king Henry II was keen to assert himself and renewed the Anglo-Scottish alliance. He then sent 4,000 troops to Scotland.

Battle of Pinkie- England won

Question 3

Was his foreign policy a success or failure?

Answer 3

This was a failure because:
- England was left isolated
- Even more added debt. Cost £600,000
- Mary was sent to France and married Francis II

Question 4

Economic policy: what did he do?

Answer 4

He desired to help the poor which gained him the nickname as the ‘good duke’

A commission was established to investigate the legality of recent enclosures. However, the commission does nothing.

1548-1549= new laws which put tax on sheep and cloth

inflation= affected food

Question 5

Was Somerset’s economic policy a success or failure?

Answer 5

Failure because…
- The investigation of enclosure led to fury and frustration among the rich and the poor. The rich (the gentry) feared loss of their livelihood and the poor had high hope but was angry when nothing happened.

Question 6

Fall of Somerset

Answer 6

• Somerset’s popularity fell in court as he was becoming more arrogant about his increasing power and connection to the king.
• He began to act without the privy council which angered many leading nobles.
• He also lost support as he was seen as inept and handled the peasant uprisings poorly which threatened their livelihoods in the regions.
• Many gentry did not like his religious reforms- the New Prayer Book
• He then was challenged by John Dudley (Northumberland).
• Edward also unhappy with Somerset- Somerset controls all his money and didn’t give the king any pocket money. Also, Somerset take Edward in the middle of the night from Hampton court to Windsor castle. Edward did not like Windsor as the gardens were too small and was sick of being treated like a child by Somerset.
• Thus, Somerset was charged with 29 charges of treason and beheaded 2 years later.