Stability of the monarchy

Question 1

What were the problems of Edward being king at 9?

Answer 1

• He was vulnerable to manipulation - Henry’s will altered.
• People thought he was weak so threats likely.
• Unable to lead his troops into battle.
• Concerns of a minority government as he wouldn’t be able to control factional struggles.
• Concerns about his image - hard to portray Edward as powerful or military adept.
• England might return to civil war - Catholics vs Protestants.

Question 2

What was Somerset’s coup d’etat?

Answer 2

Somerset and Sir William Paget secretly agreed that, regardless of Henry’s wishes for a balanced Regency council, Somerset would take power as Lord Protector.

Question 3

What did Somerset’s 1547 Treason Act do?

Answer 3

Repealed the old heresy, treason and censorship laws and thus:
- Allowed people to discuss religion freely without fear of arrest or arrest.
- Enabled the printing, publishing and circulation of books and pamphlets on religion.
- Permitted the importation of Lutheran and Calvinist ( reformer that attacked Catholicism and promoted Protestantism) literature from the continent.

Question 4

What are examples of Somerset ruling strictly?

Answer 4

• Reduced the number of servants in Edwards household.
• Kept Edward under close control of his brother in law, sir Michael Stanhope.

-He ruled using the dry stamp and proclamations, ruling autocratically and alienating everyone at court.

Question 5

Why did Edward and Somerset fail to form a relationship?

Answer 5

• At 12 years old, Edward claimed of a lack of pocket money.

-In autumn 1550, when Somerset was losing his grip on power, he retreated to Windsor castle, crucially taking Edward with him.
- Edward fell ill with a cold and complained of the cold surroundings “Methinks I am a prisoner here”.
- As a result Edward abandoned him and further condemned his uncle by saying that Somerset had threatened to create riots in the streets if he were overthrown.

Question 6

What was the plot against Somerset in October 1549?

Answer 6

Lords and Councillors met at the Duke of Northumberland’s - Earl of Warwick. They published a proclamation against him saying “ sought his own glory, ignored the advice of the councillors … led an evil and malicious government”.

• Somerset fled to Hampton Court on 5th October, then to Windsor Castle 6th October and took Edward.
• Edward’s complaints removed the King’s favour - authority.
• Warwick removed the conservative catholics from regency council to gain a stronger power base.

-Warwick become Lord President - wanted to distance himself from the negative associations with Lord Protector.

Question 7

What did the 1539 Proclamation Act do?

Answer 7

Stated that proclamations should be followed as if they were statute laws. Allowed Somerset more freedom to rule without Parliament

During Henry VIII’s reign there was at least 6 proclamations a year, compared to Edward’s 19 a year.

Question 8

What did the 1547 Chantries Act do?

Answer 8

Closed the Chantries. Commissioners were sent out in 1548 to visit the Chantries, confiscate their land and property and collect all the silver and gold plate attached to them?

Question 9

What did Somerset do to the coins until 1551?

Answer 9

Further debased them with the silver from the Chantries. This meant that there was 25% less coinage in the coins, which further added to the problem of inflation.

Question 10

What were other problems Somerset faced during his rule?

Answer 10

-Inflation.
-Rising population - 3 million people by 1550.

Question 11

What did the new king of France Francis II do in June 1547?

Answer 11

Renewed the Franco-Scottish alliance and sent a fleet of warships with 4000 troops to Scotland.

Question 12

What happened at the Battle of Pinkie 1547?

Answer 12

Scotland was defeated by English troops. This victory meant that Somerset was able to occupy all the main border strongholds.

Question 13

How did Northumberland gain power?

Answer 13

He allied with Cranmer, which allowed him to gain control control over the administration of the royal household, and gave him immediate access to Edward, enabling him to win the confidence of the king.

In 1550 he expelled conservatives from court, became Lord President and also General Warden of the North - gave him military command.

In October 1551 when he had Somerset re-arrested he assumed the title of Duke of Northumberland.

Question 14

How did Northumberland increase his authority?

Answer 14

He enlarged the membership of the Council to 33, selecting councillors on whose loyalty he could rely.
He also chose men with military experience, so in the event of rebellions, he could be sure of immediate armed forces.

Question 15

What did Northumberland do that was different to Somerset?

Answer 15

He used less proclamations, preferring to use Parliament to confirm legislation whenever possible.
He also restored the Privy Council to the centre of government and made it a more smaller, inner committee.

Question 16

How did Somerset virtually bankrupt the government?

Answer 16

He spent £1,356,000 on the war.
Sold crown lands to the value of £800,000.

The government had to borrow £50,000 a year to maintain the royal household.

Question 17

What did Northumberland to help the bankruptcy?

Answer 17

William Cecil - secretary of state - financial planner recommended that the sale of chantry lands and church goods to start paying off government debts.

March 1552 the coinage was reissued with the silver content restored to that of 1527 - slowed the rise of inflation.

1552 a commission recommended that the number of revenue courts should be reduced from five to two - the Exchequer and the Office of Crown Lands.

Question 18

What were the relations between France and England during Northumberlands’s rule?

Answer 18

March 1550 = Treaty of Boulogne The English had to withdraw from Rome in return for a ransom of £400,000 crowns. They also had to withdraw their remaining garrisons from Scotland, and agree not to renew the war unless provoked by the Scots.

Question 19

What were the relations between HRE and England during Northumberlands’s rule?

Answer 19

-Charles disliked the Anglo-France alliance
- Charles annoyed by the attempts to force Princess Mary to abandon her Catholic faith.
- Charles’ Catholic Inquisition - destroy heretics - led to the collapse of the Antwerp cloth market.

Question 20

What were the relations between Scotland and England during Northumberlands’s rule?

Answer 20

March 1552, it was agreed that the Scottish borders would be restored to the line before Henry VIII’s Scottish campaigns.

Question 21

How did the relations worsen with the Continental powers?

Answer 21

-Charles V continued to disapprove of the unpredictable English Foreign policy and the increasing Protestantism.

• When war broke out with Francis II and Charles V in March 1552, Anglo-Imperial alliance began to improve.

Northumberland’s attempts at mediating peace between France and the HRE in 1553 failed as the French were not interested in making peace.

Question 22

Why did Northumberland fall from power?

Answer 22

• Edward’s illness in 1553 led to Northumberland creating the devise - removed Mary and Elizabeth from the succession and named their 17-year-old cousin, Lady Jane Grey as successor. Northumberland also arranged the marriage between his son, Guildford Dudley, and LJG.
• Northumberland knew that Mary’s succession would result in his dismissal from office and possible arrest.
• However, LJG’s rule only lasted 9 days, and Northumberland’s fellow councillors deserted him and declared for Mary, who was proclaimed queen.
• He swiftly recanted to Catholicism, but Mary had him arrested and executed.