Key dates in Edward’s Reign
1537 - Birth of Edward
Jan 1546 - Accession of Edward at the age of 9 yrs
Jan 1547 - Edward Seymour made Lord Protector
Feb 1547 - Coronation of Edward VI
1549 - Somerset’s Protectorate dissolved
1550 - Northumberland appointed Lord President of the Council
1551 - Edward began attending meetings aged 14
Jan 1552 - Somerset Executed
1552 - Privy C decided Edward would become king in October 1553 at 16
Feb 1553 - Edward seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis
June 1553 - Edward changed his will to name Lady Jane Grey as the successor
July 1553 - Death of Edward
, Final Years of Henry’s reign: rise of factions
1540 – execution of Thomas Cromwell 1542 – execution of
1543 – marriage to Catherine Parr; Catherine Howard plot by
Conservative faction to arrest Cranmer
1544 – succession Act
1545 – Sir William Paget became important member of Privy Council
1546 – Sir Anthony Denny = Chief Gentleman of King’s Privy Chamber; Norfolk + Surrey arrested
1547 – Execution of Surrey; death of Henry VIII; regency for Edward VI dominated by
reformers under Hertford (Duke of Somerset)
Problems Edward VI Faced Upon Ascension:
RELIGION:
Protestant church but was unstable -> most still practicing Catholicism
Country in divided + incoherent
SE + London = Protestant minority growing
FOREIGN POLICY:
Everyone turned against England through order of papal bull -> Isolated – few allies
BUT hadn’t invaded as of yet – interested in other areas
ECONOMY:
By 1546, £2m raised by sale of monastic lands spent
Debasement of the coinage – diluted quality of the metal -> inflation up + decline in real
income for many
SOCIETY: Seymour -> Somerset
Enclosure still a problem Uncle of E
More slipping into poverty due to inflation + lack of monasteries
Population rise + growing unemployment Dudley -> Warwick ->
Northumberland
GAINING CONTROL AT THE END OF HENRY’S REIGN
Control of the Dry Stamp was critical to enabling Henry’s inner circle
Clear Edward would success throne as minor but would still inherit supremacy
o Supremacy would be vested in the council
Henry didn’t name just 1 regent (suspicious of power hungry individuals)
Edward Seymour (prince’s uncle) = leader of those acting on Edward’s behalf
On H8’s death E Seymour was able to take possession of E6
o Reformers could consolidate control
o E Seymour declared Lord Protector as soon as E6 succeeded throne
THE PROBLEM OF THE SUCCESSION: 1544-1547
Concern about child monarchs – reflected in story of E6 (believed murdered by Uncle)
Mary was to succeed E if he died childless -> problem as Catholicism would be restored
(+Northumberland ruined)
The Devyse:
Encouraged by Northumberland -> June 1553
Mary + Elizabeth = illegitimate + L J Grey favoured (Protestant + married to
Northumberland’s son Guildford D
BUT E died before P ratified this so Devise had no status BUT 9 July 1553 L J Grey still
declared Queen by Northumberland
P Council initially agreed BUT when Northumberland’s ships (meant to prevent Mary sailing
from Norfolk) changed allegiance, cause = lost
Most of ruling elites abandoned Grey + after 9 days sent to Tower
1537 - Birth of Edward
Jan 1546 - Accession of Edward at the age of 9 yrs
Jan 1547 - Edward Seymour made Lord Protector
Feb 1547 - Coronation of Edward VI
1549 - Somerset’s Protectorate dissolved
1550 - Northumberland appointed Lord President of the Council
1551 - Edward began attending meetings aged 14
Jan 1552 - Somerset Executed
1552 - Privy C decided Edward would become king in October 1553 at 16
Feb 1553 - Edward seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis
June 1553 - Edward changed his will to name Lady Jane Grey as the successor
July 1553 - Death of Edward
, Final Years of Henry’s reign: rise of factions
1540 – execution of Thomas Cromwell 1542 – execution of
1543 – marriage to Catherine Parr; Catherine Howard plot by
Conservative faction to arrest Cranmer
1544 – succession Act
1545 – Sir William Paget became important member of Privy Council
1546 – Sir Anthony Denny = Chief Gentleman of King’s Privy Chamber; Norfolk + Surrey arrested
1547 – Execution of Surrey; death of Henry VIII; regency for Edward VI dominated by
reformers under Hertford (Duke of Somerset)
Problems Edward VI Faced Upon Ascension:
RELIGION:
Protestant church but was unstable -> most still practicing Catholicism
Country in divided + incoherent
SE + London = Protestant minority growing
FOREIGN POLICY:
Everyone turned against England through order of papal bull -> Isolated – few allies
BUT hadn’t invaded as of yet – interested in other areas
ECONOMY:
By 1546, £2m raised by sale of monastic lands spent
Debasement of the coinage – diluted quality of the metal -> inflation up + decline in real
income for many
SOCIETY: Seymour -> Somerset
Enclosure still a problem Uncle of E
More slipping into poverty due to inflation + lack of monasteries
Population rise + growing unemployment Dudley -> Warwick ->
Northumberland
GAINING CONTROL AT THE END OF HENRY’S REIGN
Control of the Dry Stamp was critical to enabling Henry’s inner circle
Clear Edward would success throne as minor but would still inherit supremacy
o Supremacy would be vested in the council
Henry didn’t name just 1 regent (suspicious of power hungry individuals)
Edward Seymour (prince’s uncle) = leader of those acting on Edward’s behalf
On H8’s death E Seymour was able to take possession of E6
o Reformers could consolidate control
o E Seymour declared Lord Protector as soon as E6 succeeded throne
THE PROBLEM OF THE SUCCESSION: 1544-1547
Concern about child monarchs – reflected in story of E6 (believed murdered by Uncle)
Mary was to succeed E if he died childless -> problem as Catholicism would be restored
(+Northumberland ruined)
The Devyse:
Encouraged by Northumberland -> June 1553
Mary + Elizabeth = illegitimate + L J Grey favoured (Protestant + married to
Northumberland’s son Guildford D
BUT E died before P ratified this so Devise had no status BUT 9 July 1553 L J Grey still
declared Queen by Northumberland
P Council initially agreed BUT when Northumberland’s ships (meant to prevent Mary sailing
from Norfolk) changed allegiance, cause = lost
Most of ruling elites abandoned Grey + after 9 days sent to Tower
