EDWARD VI NOTE
- Legacy of Henry VIII and the minorit
- Religious changes under Somerset and Northumberlan
- Relations with Scotland under Somerset and Northumberlan
- Social and economic change under Somerset and Northumberlan
- Rebellions 154
- Fall of Somerse
- Was there a mid-Tudor crisis
Question
1) With how much success did Tudor governments in the period 1547-1603 deal with the
problems of poverty and vagabondage? (2010
2) How damaging to the Tudor monarchy was the rule of a minor and a woman in the
period 1547-58? (2011
3) How consistently troubled was the reign of Edward VI? (2012
4) How effectively did Tudor governments in the second half of the sixteenth century deal
with the problems of poverty and social distress? (2013
5) Consider the view that religion was the chief cause of instability in the period 1547-58.
(2013
6) ‘A time of continuous and profound crisis.’ Discuss this view of the reign of Edward VI.
(2014
7) Should we accept or reject the idea of a Mid-Tudor Crisis of government in the period
1547 to 1558? (2015
8) Why was the reign of Edward VI so unsettled? (2016
BACKGROUN
Edward has been seen traditionally as a monarch who was bound to be insigni cant, because he
died as a child. However, recently historians have begun to think that Edward was in fact a highly
intelligent, con dent and opinionated young man by the time that he died just four months before
he took full power
Child monarchs before Edward had all been disastrous. e.g. Edward V came to the throne aged
twelve, but was probably murdered on the orders of the later Richard III.
Edward was not constantly sickly as is popularly believed. Apart from measles and smallpox at 14,
his chest infection (which later developed into septicaemia and killed him) of 1553 was his only
illness
Edward was well-educated and studious. Sir John Cheke (his principal teacher) was a Protestant.
William Thomas (Clerk to the King’s Council) wrote ‘Discourses’ for Edward on topics such as
religion and the economy
The Legacy of Henry VII
Legacy of Henry VIII
- Economic degeneration due to constant debasement of the coinage
- Crown debt
- Confused religious settlement
- Proposed council unmanageable and unrealistic. Henry’s will dictated that the government
should be run by a regency council of sixteen, each member having equal power. However, the
Duke of Somerset was made Lord Protector by the council. Before his death, Gardiner’s
expulsion and Norfolk’s arrest meant that the Protestants were in the majority. The plan was
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, impractical anyway as the Council needed a chief executive to work. This paid the way for the
factional struggle of Edward’s reign
- Dif cult relations with both France and Scotland
- Henry’s egotism had given England ambitions beyond realistic expectation (e.g. Boulogne was
too costly to maintain)
- There was also a continuity of personnel (e.g. Somerset had already been involved heavily in
Scotland), the Treaty of Greenwich (1543, which set out Edward’s marriage to Mary), the Treaty
of Ardres (1546, leaving Boulogne to the English until 1554) and the ‘auld alliance’ remained
Sharp policy turns were against the instincts of 16th century politicians, especially in a minority,
and Henry’s in uence was still strong. Edward’s minority effectively committed the regency
government to an unrealistic and hence unsuccessful foreign policy
Henry’s image-cultivation meant that English people believed that his policies had been a great
success. Somerset therefore continued them lest he be seen to be acting against England’s
interests (e.g. by ending foreign wars)
Edward and the government (1547-1549
Norfolk’s fall made Somerset the obvious leader. Despite personal drawbacks, he was the king’s
uncle, had a strong military reputation and had been in favour for the last part of Henry’s reign.
New titles and land grants were handed out to win over opposition
Somerset’s aims
- Secure personal power and centralise government around Somerset the ma
- Continue a policy of doctrinal refor
- Secure a protestant, Tudor dynast
- Continue the foreign policy of Henry VIII in Scotlan
Somerset
- Was strict with Edward, reducing the number of servants in his household and controlling
Edward through his brother-in-law, Sir Michael Stanhope
- Ruled using the dry stamp and proclamations
- Was based not at court but in Somerset House
Aged 12, Edward had little involvement in politics as his time was taken up by education. He was
according to Penry Williams ‘a cypher in politics’
However, Edward could still have a decisive in uence on politics. In the autumn of 1549, Somerset
retreated to Windsor Castle with Edward, who complained loudly about the cold he had caught
(‘Methinks I am a prisoner here.’). Edward’s support could have saved Somerset. However,
Edward condemned his uncle by saying that Somerset had threatened to create riots in the streets
if he were overthrown. Somerset therefore fell from power
Guy: “His autocracy as much as his policies provided Warwick’s counter-coup.
Edward and the government (1550-1553
Edward began to assume a much more signi cant role in the government due to changing
government personnel and Edward’s growing maturity
By mid-1552, Edward was: - learning through practice rather than through lessons
- cultivating links with foreign ambassadors
- making independent use of his secretaries Cecil and Petre
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, By November 1552 he was : - attending Privy Council meetings regularly
- setting some agenda
In Spring 1552, in recognition of his precociousness, the Council agreed that Edward would reach
his majority at sixteen instead of eighteen
Northumberland was careful to ensure that Edward was involved more in government than under
Somerset. Northumberland’s title Lord President of the Council showed his diminished role.
However, Northumberland placed limits on what Edward could be involved in (e.g. not foreign
policy)
Northumberland placed his men around the King and in the Privy Council, but was circumscribed
by Edward’s well-known views (e.g. Protestantism)
Conclusion - who held power
Often in the reign of a minor whoever had ‘control of the King’s person’ held the reigns of power. To
this extent, historians correctly study the relations of the two Dukes with Edward
Also, it is necessary to look at the extent to which Edward gained control of his own person as the
reign progressed, and how Edward changed during this time
Edward was not a political irrelevance and the fall of Somerset gave him a chance to increase his
involvement
How did Northumberland gain power
The reasons why Somerset was unpopular
- Poor leadership: Somerset alienated many through his high-handed management, reluctance to
delegate and bypassing the Council
- Mishandling of foreign policy: The failed Scottish campaign and the declaration of war by France
in August 1549 disappointed the Council, who saw foreign affairs as very important
- Favouritism: e.g. Sir Michael Stanhope was made Groom of the Stool
- Money making and extravagance: He built lavishly, accumulating fees, salaries, of ces and
chantry lands and he added £5,000 to an already substantial income
- Social policy: His views on social justice alienated the aristocracy and were seen as a major
cause of the Western rebellion and Kett’s rebellion in the Summer of 1549
- Religious policy: Many leading Catholics such as the Earls of Arundel and Southampton were
opposed to religious reforms
Northumberland allied with the conservatives to out Somerset. However, after the coup, he
disassociated himself with them and replaced several conservatives with Protestants on the
council. Northumberland became Lord President of the Privy Council
Northumberland tried to reconcile with Somerset. By mid-1550, Somerset had returned to Court,
had his goods restored and married his daughter to Northumberland’s son. Somerset continued to
plot and Northumberland fabricated details to get Somerset executed in 1552.
Policy considerations in 1547
1. Foreign polic
Pursue the Scottish war with different tactics
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