Rule of Northumberland, 1549-1553 Flashcards
Who was the Duke of Northumberland?
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, was the person who led the troops which defeated Kett’s Rebellion, and had supporters in government.
Religious changes under Northumberland, 1550-53
During his time, Protestant reformers had the most influence in government and changes were made that took the Church of England into a Protestant position. Reformers continued to flood into England, with some holding extremist views.
Northumberland was keen to support people with radical views. Conservatives lost prominent positions in the Privy Council, e.g. Bishop Gardiner, a prominent pro-Catholic, was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Several new reforming bishops were appointed in the Privy Council.
Treason Act of 1552
It became an offence to question the Royal Supremacy or any of the beliefs of the English Church.
Second Act of Uniformity of 1552
It became an offence for both clergy and laity not to attend Church of England services. Offenders were to be fined or imprisoned.
Prayer Book of 1552
Removed all traces of Catholicism and the mass. The significance of the Eucharist (now referred to as the Last Supper) was reduced, with more emphasis on it being a commemorative ceremony.
1553 Instructions to Bishops
In 1553, instructions were sent out to bishops informing them to ensure that altars were replaced by communion tables, and that clergy should not wear vestments when taking services.
Attack on Church Wealth
Party motivated by government needs, this meant that commissioners began the removal of all gold and silver plates still held in parish churches - this process had only just begun when Edward VI died.
Summer 1553
By this time, the Church of England was definitely Protestant. The 42 Articles were drawn up listing its doctrines, influenced by John Calvin, as well as Martin Luther.
However, the hierarchy and government of the Church of England remained the same with its archbishops, bishops, and dioceses.
Religious beliefs under Edward VI and the influence of humanism…
When Mary I became Queen and enforced Catholicism, many were happy to acquiesce. Landowners appeared to favour Protestantism (likely influenced by their gaining of monastic land). However, for many, there was acceptance rather than enthusiasm.
Humanism gained a new impetus in the reign of Edward VI. Some of the works of Erasmus had been translated into English during the young king’s reign. Humanism had not been ‘Catholic’ or ‘Protestant’, but many humanist ideas became linked with the emerging Protestant doctrines being introduced in the reign.
Humanism was becoming the focus for the development of religious thought and its ardent followers in Edward VI’s reign became the core of the ruling group at the beginning of Elizabeth I’s reign.
Publishing Explosion in the Mid-16th Century…
Humanists were keen to spread their knowledge and several volumes of metrical psalms were published to reflect Calvinistic expectations of music in church services. Various clergy published theological books written in Tudor prose.
One example is the publication of ‘Sermon of the Plough’, preached at St Paul’s in 1548 by Hugh Latimer. His writing reflects Protestant ideas but also stresses social morality - the notion of the people of England being part of a commonwealth, needing to work together for the common good.
Foreign policy under Northumberland, 1549-53
Northumberland was willing to sacrifice influence in Scotland in order to concentrate on urgent internal problems in England and realised that an alliance with France might be valuable if the main enemy was Spain and the HRE - ruled by hard-line Catholic, Emperor Charles V. At this time, the Counter-Reformation was starting in Europe, as Catholic countries began to regain ground lost to the Protestants.
Relations with Charles V were mostly bad due to his anger over the move towards more extreme Protestantism that was being implemented in England.
Treaty of Boulogne (1550)
Peace treaty signed with France, representing an English defeat. Rather than succeed in Henry VIII’s policy of extending territory in France, Boulogne was given up to the French. The English also removed their remaining garrisons from Scotland, and the Anglo-Scots border was restored to what it was prior to Henry VIII’s Scottish campaigns.
On the positive side, an alliance with France did agree on the future marriage of Edward VI and Henry II’s daughter, Elizabeth of Valois.
Economy, trade, and exploration…
Following the expense of Somerset’s war, the govt had no money and had to borrow heavily from European bankers. William Cecil and Thomas Gresham were put in charge of financial planning - including the sale of chantry lands.
Successive debasements of the coinage under Henry VIII had encouraged inflation, so the coinage was called in and re-issued with the silver content the same as it had been in 1527. Even so, more Crown lands had to be sold off and the govt decided to increase revenue by raising Customs and Excise rates.
Other social and economic problems in addition to finance…
> Population figures continued to rise, putting pressure on food supplies and prices.
> Poor harvests in the early 1550s made grain prices rise rapidly.
> There was considerable social unrest after the uprisings of 1549.
> The cloth trade with the Netherlands was suffering problems. There was a sudden drop in exports in the summer of 1551 due to a temporary problem with trade at Antwerp. This led to increased unemployment among textile workers in East Anglia and western England.
Northumberland’s policies reflected these problems…
> The Sheep Tax of 1548 was repealed in 1550.
> A new Treason Act of 1550 re-imposed censorship which helped restore law and order.
> Despite little pressure to enclose more land, anti-enclosure legislation was enforced and the commissions ended. Acts were passed to protect arable farming.
> A new poor law was passed in 1552, making parishes responsible for raising money to look after the deserving poor.
