Edward VI, Mary I Summary Notes / Knowledge organiser for AQA History Breadth Study component of the a level.
Mid Tudor Crisis section of the Tudor Breadth study component of history a level - written by student awarded high A Star Grade in 2024 A Level examinations.
Organised by theme in ch...
‘Edward’s life, was played out mainly in the privy chamber, the focus of the court’s political life …. Until the
protector’s fall, Edward was a cypher in politics, exercising little influence of his own.’
Sir michael stanhope : owed position to duke of somerset - closely linked ( he was groom of the stool
and Chief Gentlemen for Privy Chamber - imprisoned and then executed after Somerset’s fall.
ROYAL AUTHORITY :
Edward’s accession created issues : not a trouble free accession :
- Country divided religiously
- Crown finances ruined by war against France and Scotland.
- Coinage debased to pay for the wars - inflation rates rising and decline in real income.
- Crown compromised long term security by selling off monastic lands - at a discount- to raise money
quickly.
REGENCY COUNCIL : Set up by Henry to govern England during Edward’s minority.
- 16 members, supported by a further 12 - decisions to be made by majority.
- Balance between Protestants (hertford, Cranmer) and conservatives (Wriosthley).
- There were lawyers and administrators who were expected to ensure good government.
- Noble councils under-represented - it did not long - quickly allocated power to hertford (somerset).
- Government feared good order and security : Cranmer’s homily on Obedience - read in parish
churches - made it clear that obedience to the authority of the King was in accordance with the will of
God.
The duke of somerset : relied on Cranmer, Viscount lisle (who became earl of warwick and then
northumberland) and William paget….
- He rewarded his supporters with promotions within the peerage and substantial grants of crown
lands
- Immediately awarded himself control - governed with members of his household : only Sir Thomas
Smith appointed in the Privy Council.
- Reinforced power by appointing Michael stanhope as chief gentlemen.
- Resentment in the privy council towards him - Earl of Southhampton had been arrested - no
guarantee of public acceptance of Somerset (fears for law and order).
The atmosphere = soured by factional rivalries :
- Thomas Seymour : tried to plot with the Earl of Southhampton and to turn Edward against Somerset.
He was charged for treason with Southhamptons assistance (Readmitted to the council).
POLICY FAILINGS UNDER SOMERSET : at the heart = poor FP
- Mishandled rebellions of 1549 but prior, there was growing discontent about his arrogance and
dictatorial manner.
- His style of government and his policy failures = combined to weaken him.
- Enemy = the earl of warwick (northumberland).
August 1549 : it was decided that Somerset’s control had to end.
- Earl of Southhampton and Warwick - tried to attain Mary’s support - she avoided.
- Stand off between conspirators based in london, Somerset was at Hampton court with the King -
retreated to Windsow and surrendered.
,NORTHUMBERLAND : anxious to avoid the excessive concentration of power that brought Somerset
down - no attempt to re=establish a protectorate.
- Lord president of the council - but unclear what his regime would look like.
- Many of his supporters were conservatives, some wanted Mary to be regent.
- Warwick staged a second coup directed at the conservatives - it was assumed that he had planned
this to exercise unlimited power - but may be due to his fear that the conservatives would eject him.
- Purging of Southampton and Arundel - Cranmer supported him - King’s own assertive protestantism
— determined religious character.
- He became Duke of North…. Appointed John Gates as vice chamberlain of household
Histiographically : northumberland = the bad duke + somerset = the good duke.
GOVERNMENT :
- Northumberland initially operated an effective government - via the privy council - made easier by
expulsion of conservatives.
- There was a set of guidelines for operating the privy council - drawn up by Paget (and
Norhtumberland).
- Paget’s role was lessening - William Cecil - was able to become key administrator,
Collective approach to government - did not survive Somerset’s counter coup.
- He was readmitted to council, plotted to take back his old position - Northumberland wins.
- SOMERSET EXECUTED : saving england from a revival of the chaos.
- Northumberland - became less conciliar - removed presumed enemies (paget sent to the tower).
- Power = with Northumberland and his henchman, they had dry stamp.
SUCCESSION ISSUES :
- In H will : if edward was to die – princess mary to take over….
- Edward poor health in February 1553 - reported he was dying.
- ISSUE FOR NORTHUMBERLAND - if mary was to come to the throne- catholicism would be
restored.
- Northumberland = radical protestantism….. Put him and religion of country at risk.
THE DEVYSE : a plan to alter the succession (may have come from Edward).
- Ensured the continuation of Protestantism - Edward willing to exclude Mary and Elizabeth from
succession — he saw them as illegitimate.
- Northumberland - wanted Lady Jane Grey (his daughter in law).
- June 1553 : Mary and Elizabeth declared illegitimate - plans to ratify.
BUT Edward died on the 6 July - before parlaiment could sanction the Devyse - it was illegal.
Northumberland - had no plans for what to do if the King died…. Only proclaimed Lady Jane Grey Queen on
9th July,
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS:
SOMERSET - a ruinous FP :
- Aggressive approach to scotland - determined by object of reasserting the claim of Edward I to
scottish throne.
- Wanted to enforce marriage between Mary queen of Scots and Edward VI.
- For Henry - aggressive FP against scotland = a sideshow of France, Scotland = Somerset’s main
priority.
- Wanted to defeat scots in battle, build and garrison forts in the borders and south - forcing Scots into
submission.
, Battle of Pinkie Sep 1547 - success :
- BUT - began to unravel - too expensive to garrison the forts, english could not capture strategically
important castles - Somerset underestimated Scottish-French relationship and failed to block the
Firth of Forth — The french relieved Edinburgh.
- RESULT = France take Queen Mary of Scots - taken to France to marry french heir.
SIGNIFICANCE ?? Disaster for Somerset - his choice to pursue a military strategy which was unnafordable
at a time of financial pressure.
- Failed in his political objective : to secure marriage between Mary and Edward.
- Deteriorating relationship with France : threat of war in 1549 and prospect of a french invasion — at
a time of heightened vulnerability as a result of rebellions
- Resentment = high among members of Privy Council about his autocracy.
-
FOREIGN POLICY UNDER NORTHUMBERLAND - comparably better :
- Reduced expenditure to stabilise finances.
- Ended wars against France and Scotland - forced to return Boulogne to the French to end the war
- Perceived as humiliating - BUT improved finances straight away as Boulogne was a drain on
resources.
- French — paid £133,333 to recover it - financial gain reinforced….
- Abandoned garrisons in Scotland - financial benefit outweighed fears about French influence
ELTON : ‘Edward was a boy tyrant. Whoever really devised the policy, could not afford to ignore the King’s
religion’
QUESTION : ‘Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in
these three extracts are in relation to the quality of government in the years 1485 - 1553?’ This style of
question = synoptic, covering Henry and Wolsey - each extract in Isolation
THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC CHANGE UNDER EDWARD VI :
MAJOR religious changes in reign - chronology
July 1547 Issue of radical royal injunctions
Dec 1547 Dissolution of the chantries
Jan Act of Uniformity - laid down book of common prayer
May 1549 Book of Common prayer
Mar 1552 Second Act of Uniformity - laid down 2nd Book
Dec 1552 Revised Book of Common Prayer
Jun 1553 42 articles published
Religious changes under somerset - a considerable move towards Protestantism :
- SOmerset = a genuine convert to Protestantism - welcomed radicals.
- Policy was cautious : Book of Common Prayer 1549 written by Cranmer - who was cautious and
anxious to avoid religious tension.
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