The Regency Council and Somerset Flashcards
1
Q
What illnesses led to Edward’s death?
A
- 1552 = contracted measles, then smallpox
- recovered well - 1553 = died of tuberculosis (more accurate = chronic infection disease of the chest)
2
Q
What was Somerset’s link to the King?
A
- Edward Seymour = brother of Jane Seymour
- Edward = King’s uncle
3
Q
How did Somerset rise to power?
A
- Became Lord High Admiral
- Became Lieutenant-General of the North
- Following H’s death, took charge of Regency Council
- Became Duke of Somerset
- Became Lord Protector
- Had important supporters within the Regency Council who wanted moderate religious reform to continue
4
Q
What were the dilemmas facing Somerset in 1547?
A
- Should war with Scotland be resumed?
- Should religious reform along Protestant lines be encouraged officially?
- Should the gov make economic and financial reform a priority?
5
Q
What were the Pros for continuing the war in Scotland?
A
- H8 had revived conflict to prevent France using Scotland to weaken England
- Over £2 million already been spent on war = no real result = could gov risk national pride by withdrawing?
- Nobles and gentry raised forces and led troops in 1540s campaigns - anxious to see war continue to win personal fame = could gov afford to alienate powerful families?
6
Q
What were the Cons of continuing war in Scotland?
A
- H8 already in debt and brought England closer to bankruptcy
- Attacking Scotland = likely France would be drawn into conflict = risk of invasion in South whilst dealing with Scots in North
7
Q
What were the Pros for encouraging religious reform towards Protestantism?
A
- Reform group dominated council and key government posts
- Protestant minority in parts of country (London and South-East) who were anxious to see further change
8
Q
What were the Cons of encouraging religious reform towards Protestantism?
A
- In most regions, people followed traditional Catholic rituals and practices = Gov could create open rebellion by using law to change people’s faith
- Too much change could alarm European Catholic powers (England already at war w/ France and Scotland)
9
Q
What were the Pros for the government making economic and financial reform a priority?
A
- Growing discontent over enclosure, price rises and breakdown of traditional village communities
- Action could reassure people that something was being done
10
Q
What were the Cons of the government making economic and financial reform a priority?
A
- Making changes (e.g.: enclosure rights_ would attack gentry class on whom gov depended for support
- Trying to improve national finances by raising tax = unpopular and lose support
11
Q
What was Somerset’s approach to religious reform?
A
- Sympathetic with Protestant ideas
- Realised sensitivity of making religious changes = adopted moderate and cautious approach
- Happy that Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury) supported him in this
12
Q
Why was there mounting religious tension?
A
- News of H8’s death = exiled Protestants who’d fled persecution returned from Netherlands and Germany, settled in towns on east coast and brought radical demands = clashes
- Reform faction in control of gov but English bishops evenly split on whether to support further changes
- Press censorship relaxed –> increase in number of writings against Catholicism and free circulation of Martin Luther and John Calvin’s writings
13
Q
What was the government’s initial reaction to religious tension?
A
- Logical policy to stall for time
- Launched full-scale inquiry into state of Church of England
- Measures undid the Six Articles Act
- Rules meant services and Bibles to be in English
14
Q
What was the Act of Uniformity?
A
- 1549
- Designed to imposed a single standard of worship across England to end religious argument
- English to be used as language of worship
- Congregations should be offered bread and wine during communion (Catholicism = wine reserved for priests)
BUT
- Services conducted along familiar lines
- Priests dressed and acted same as always
15
Q
Why was Cranmer’s Prayer Book vague?
A
- Set out the form services should take
- Didn’t deny central Catholic idea that priests transformed bread and wine into Jesus’ body and blood
- BUT it gave impression that Priest was simply commemorating an event = reassuring Protestants
