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Edward VI 1547-1553The Regency of Somerset 1547-1549
The Young Edward VI
Edward was born October 1537, the son of Jane Seymour and third child of Henry VIII
Henry VIII was delighted to gain a male heir, and Edward’s life was precious.
When he became King at the age of 9, he was the first to succeed to the titles of
Supreme Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith
Edward was very clever and skilled with languages and theology.
He seemed to have been very serious and impressed everyone with his learning and
started training in outdoor activities, such as riding.
By his early teens he was beginning to have significant influence on the Council’s
decisions, in particular over religious change
He contracted measles in 1552 but recovered and died 1553 of what was described as
Tuberculosis.
Legacy of Henry VIII
Political legacy
Political difficulties stemmed mainly from the fact Edward was a minor when he
ascended the throne
Henry VIII did as much as he could to ensure stability and continuity in royal government.
In Henry VIII’s last will and testament he made arrangements for the government of the
kingdom after his death as he knew the government would become a ‘battleground’ for
contending factions to gain power
Successful faction would be able to exercise enormous power and acquire considerable
wealth at the expense of the monarchy.
To avoid the power battle Henry’s will stated the country should be ruled after his death
by a Regency Council, whose members were named and membership could not be
changed
The council’s decisions must be corporate, with no member having greater prominence
than any other
There were equal numbers of ‘conservatives’ and ‘progressives’ = Henry tried to ensure a
political equilibrium until Edward was old enough to take charge of government
Court factions
Conservatives – led by Duke of Norfolk
Favoured keeping the teachings and practices of the Church as traditionally Catholic.
, King should seek advice from leading nobles than men of common birth
Progressives – Earl of Hertford
Favoured religious reform and the adoption of some aspects of Protestantism.
Cranmer was more interested in religious reform than political power
Arrest of Duke of Norfolk had weakened the conservatives
Religious legacy
As soon as the Act of Supremacy came into action Henry VIII was under pressure to
formulate an acceptable doctrine
Progressives advocated introduction of moderate Lutheran ideas, but conservatives
wanted minimal change to basic Catholic doctrines
From 1534 to 1547 royal favour swung between the two factions as the Act of Ten
Articles was established but 3 years later the Act of Six Articles removed many of the
Lutheran beliefs
By 1547 the doctrines of the Church were a compromise and contained many
inconsistencies which were unacceptable to both progressives and conservatives =
remained unresolved
Legacy of foreign policy
During the reign of Henry VIII peaceful foreign policy had been abandoned in favour of
military confrontation
Final years marked by fronts in France and Scotland
By 1546 over £2 million had been mainly raised by the sale of monastic lands
Serious security problems for successor because of cost of foreign policy
Did succeed in maintaining England’s position as a major player in European politics
while defeating the Scots at Solway Moss and capturing Boulogne.
Had caused a great deal of resentment and tension between the countries was large,
with uncertain peace
Economic legacy
Weak as used to fund foreign policy – debasement of the coinage and sold off Crown
lands
Threatened financial stability.
Protector Somerset
Jane Seymour, sister of Edward Seymour, married Henry VIII in 1536
When Edward was born the following year Seymour was guaranteed an important place
in the royal household
Gained riches and titles including Lord High Admiral and Lieutenant General of the North
, Seymour controlled the situation following Henry’s death, taking charge of the Regency
Council and gained the titles of Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector-In possession of
Henry VIII’s will and dry stamp (signature)
Had important supporters in the council who wanted moderate religious reform to
continue also-Combined to block those more conservative in their belief
Somerset also tried to implement social reforms following the bad effects on the
peasants of land enclosure and inflation in the reign of Henry VIII
As Lord Protector he had a lot of power (e.g., could issue proclamations in the King’s
name) but position was by definition temporary until Edward came of age
All problems from Henry VIII were fraught with complexities.
Decisions Why the government should take Why the government might
facing the decision regret the decision
Protector
Somerset’s
government
Henry VIII partly revived the conflict Henry VIII had already gone into
to prevent France from using debt and brought England close to
Scotland to weaken England. bankruptcy to pay for the war.
o Weak succession in 1547 It was likely that by attacking
Should the
kept the danger. Scotland France would be drawn
war with Over £2 million had been spent on into the conflict.
Scotland be war with no real result. o Danger of invasion in the
resumed? o Question of pride being lost south whilst dealing with
if they withdrew. Scotland
Nobles and the gentry had raised
forces and led troops in the
campaigns of the 1540s and were
anxious to see war continue to win
personal fame.
Reform group dominated the Most people followed traditional
council and key government posts. Catholic rituals and practices.
Protestant minority in parts of the o Question of open rebellion
country, especially in London and by changing faith via law
Should
the south-east who were anxious to Too much change might alarm the
religious see further change Catholic powers of Europe
reform along (especially Charles V) at a time
Protestant when England were already at war
lines be with war with France and Scotland
encouraged
officially?
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