Royal supremacy and problems with Mary's first Parliament

Question 1

Although Mary was determined to reverse the changes and return England to Rome - what was she also committed to?

Answer 1

• she would follow Henry and not do anything without parliamentary support
• intended that all reversal of policy should be secured by parliamentary legislation

Question 2

What was one feature of Mary’s Privy Council? Who were in it?

Answer 2

• broad and inclusive
• Gardiner became Lord Chancellor
• but also those who had been Edward’s advisors eg. Paget, Paulet, Petre

Question 3

What arrests were made and who was released?

Answer 3

• Cranmer arrested after being deeply implicated in plot to make Jane Queen
• reformers including Latimer and Hooper = arrested
• Norfolk released

Question 4

Although the establishment remained little changed - what was possible?

Answer 4

• members of the court may have had their private views
• some may have shared the concerns of John Knox about female rulers
• ultimately though their position and influence depended on responding to Mary’s desires

Question 5

Who arguably gave the most influence?

Answer 5

• Imperial Ambassador Simon Renard

Question 6

While Mary had chosen to represent a range of experience and viewpoints in the Privy Council - that didn’t mean agreement for her policies was secure. Give an example of how she received resistance to her religious programme from the House of Commons

Answer 6

• rejected her attempt to restore the Bishopric of Durham which had been repressed by Edward

Question 7

What was the issue that dominated Mary’s first Parliament? What were the viewpoints?

Answer 7

• proposed marriage to Philip of Spain

- Gardiner opposed and promoted case of Edward Courtenay as consort

Question 8

What was a success of the first Parliament?

Answer 8

• restored the service in use at Henry’s death

- repealed the religious legislation of Edward’s reign (exception of Chantries Act)

Question 9

What were some areas of limitation/ conflict in the first Parliament?

Answer 9

• refused to reinstate the old heresy laws (possibly on reflection of the riots which followed Somerset’s repeal of the Act of 6 Articles)
• greatest obstacle in re-establishing Church = property
• major beneficiaries of property seized during reigns of Hen and Ed = nobility sitting in House of Lords, gentry, sitting in Commons

Question 10

What was a limitation of the political effectiveness of Marian government?

Answer 10

• little formal training
• most experienced councillors were Protestant/ served Protestant cause
• Catholics were inexperienced and not of highest rank

Question 11

What evidence is there that Mary and Parliament were working hand in hand?

Answer 11

• frequency of Parliament being called and the amount of legislation passed = considerably greater than in Edwardian period

Question 12

In what matters did Mary face opposition from Parliament?

Answer 12

• 3rd Parliament: neither House would proceed with bill to reconcile England to Rome without agreement confirming current ownership of former Church land
• Lords and Commons worked together to curtail Philip’s powers
• rejected Crown proposal to bar Elizabeth from the succession

Question 13

Is the opposition of Parliament a direct opposition to Catholicism?

Answer 13

• no - for example, both Catholics and Protestants worked together to limit Phil’s powers

Question 14

How would you characterise the three parliaments?

Answer 14

1: restoration and repealing, dominated by Spanish match
2: Gardiner’s bills to bring England back to Rome (only bishopric of Durham = passed)
3: England back in Christendom, Statue of Repeal