The Stability of the Monarchy Flashcards
What year was the third succession act?
1543
What year was the treason act repealed?
1547
What year was the chantries act?
1547
What year was the vagrancy act?
1547
What year was Northumberland made lord president of the council?
1550
When was the ‘act declaring Mary I legitimate?’
1553
When was the ‘act concerning the regal power’ and what did it do?
1554, reinforces fact woman can rule over a country
Who were Mary’s two marriage prospects?
Edward Courtenay, favoured by Gardiner and Philip of Spain, supported by Paget
Who was against Mary’s marriage to Philip?
Gardiner
Where did Somerset take Edward to?
Windsor castle
What were the events leading to Somerset’s eventual execution?
Plot with earls of derby and Shrewsbury
Where did Northumberland take lady Jane after Edwards death?
Syon House
Significance of the Third Succession Act
Reintroduced Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession. Reversed the previous succession acts
Somerset religious reform
Anxious to keep support from reformers such as Ridley and Latimer but also to stop Catholics like Mary from rebelling
Long term problems to Somerset
Population increase caused inflation, poverty and vagrancy
Somerset’s Treason Act
1547- abolished the idea that word could be treason
Somerset’s Vagrancy Act
1547- able-bodied workers unemployed for 3 days were sold into slavery for 2 years
Northumberland’s finances
end debasement, reduce expenditure, pay debts
Edward’s involvement in government
Attended privy council meetings 1551 onwards and wrote various papers showing his close interest in policy
Proclamation Act
1539- stated royal proclamations should be obeyed as if they were Acts of Parliament
Revenue and finance
By 1550 the government was virtually bankrupt, Somerset had spent 1,356,000 on the war. By 1553 (under Northumberland) the finances had been stabilised
Foreign policy under Northumberland
Treaty of Boulogne with France- English had to withdraw from Boulogne and had to remove their garrison from Scotland= unpopularity
Who was Simon Renard?
Spanish embassador in England. Exercised considerable influence over Mary to the point where some believed he was virtually directing English affairs. Arranged Mary’s marriage to Philip
Mary and her privy council
Large council, divisions between moderates led by Paget and Catholics led by Gardiner, Renard jealous of the council, Mary frequently did not consult the council until she had decided matters of policy with Renard
Somerset’s coup
Edward Seymour (Earl of Hertford and later Duke of Somerset) and Paget secretly agreed that, regardless of Henry’s wishes for a balanced Regency Council, the earl would take power as Lord Protector. Bribed other councillors
Somerset’s unpopularity
Preoccupation with war abroad distracted him from mounting problems at home. Somerset seemed unable, or unwilling, to solve the problems in 1549. Unwillingness to act maybe out of sympathy. Lack of money made it difficult to raise a new mercenary troop but Somerset was reluctant to withdraw troops from his garrisons in Scotland and France. Members of the Privy Council were offended by Somerset’s arrogance in using his own household instead of the council to conduct business- nicknamed ‘the new council’
Somerset’s fall
John Dudley (Earl of Warwick and later Duke of Northumberland) had crushed Kett’s rebellion and returned to London, where he immediately began to negotiate with Henry Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel, and Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, leaders of the conservative party. Somerset issued a proclamation ordering all troops in England to return to their garrisons in Scotland and France but there was no response, and Somerset removed the royal household from Hampton court to Windsor Castle for security. The Privy Council issued a proclamation blaming Somerset for the rebellions. Eventually, Somerset agreed to negotiate and was taken into custody October 1549.
Northumberland’s coup
Pretended to be a Catholic sympathiser, he successfully conspired with the conservatives, which gave him control of the council. Plotting with the progressives at the same time, particularly Cranmer. With Cranmer’s help he gained control over the administration to the royal household, which gave him access to Edward. This enabled him to win the confidence of the king and consolidate his power, becoming Lord President of the Council. He achieved complete power in October 1551 when Somerset had been executed and he had assumed the title of Duke of Northumberland
