This document provides you with detailed notes on the reign of Edward VI and Mary I (). It covers the stability of the monarchy, religious change and rebellion and unrest. It is from OCR history H505, and the code for this specific unit is Y106.
Still at war in 1547 when Henry dies; depleted militarily.
Broke away from Rome, excommunicated by 1 pope; potential for Catholic crusade.
Not considered to be major power.
Most people still identify as Catholics and Protestants executed.
28th January 1547 – death (Palace of Whitehall). Nobody had the guts to tell him he was
dying, as that was treason.
Death kept a secret for two days.
Edward VI proclaimed King (9 years old), not so great as very young. Henry VIII
ensured his son had advisors to help him rule.
70,000 potentially executed because of Henry VIII and executed a monarch which was
unheard of.
Deteriorating monarch.
Dissolution of monasteries has a social impact because the monasteries educated people.
Recaptured Boulogne + started to invest in England’s navy: built warship called Mary
Rose.
Relied on chief ministers but executed them so stability then instability.
More Protestant. Henry deliberately did that.
Faction in the 40s.
Cost of living rising but wages are the same (1540s).
Not strong economically as spent it all on war and he debased the coinage.
Isolated in Europe.
Population growing but food shortage.
, Political instability because of minor on throne. However, Edward has two uncles who
are very powerful but Henry dislikes them.
Last time there was child on throne, it was bad (princes in tower).
Parliament not consistent as only called for taxation and war - Amicable Grant.
Enclosure Act and more land becoming arable (animal farming) - led to starvation.
Acts of Succession
1533:
o Henry wants marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. This is successful and he deems
Mary I, his child with Catherine of Aragon, to be illegitimate.
o Marriage to Anne Boleyn seen as legitimate. Places Elizabeth I as successor and any
children she has.
o Might see it as 1534 as it was published in 1534 but actually written up in 1533.
1536:
o Introduced following execution of Anne Boleyn.
o Removes Elizabeth I as successor (seen as illegitimate). Now there’s no clear, obvious
successor to the throne.
o Gives Henry ability to name whoever he wanted as successor.
o Already married Jane Seymour so any children they have = successor.
o If they have no children, the successor will be any other children Henry has with other
people.
1544:
o Deteriorating in health. Starts to think about mortality. Returns Mary and Elizabeth I to
throne if Edward has no children.
Henry VIII’s Will
When Henry dies, Edward will be put on the throne and given the title of France. If he
has no children (these can be illegitimate), it will go to Mary and her children (if she has
children, has to be legal husband. Can only marry if councillors agree). If she has no
children, it will then go to Elizabeth. If she has children, it will go to them.
Elizabeth’s husband would also have to be approved of by the Privy Council. If Elizabeth
has no children, it will pass to children of Mary Tudor (Henry’s sister) (eldest to
youngest).
Frances Grey
, Frances Grey was the elder daughter of Henry’s sister’s marriage to the Duke of Suffolk.
It also meant that children from Henry’s older sister Margaret’s marriage to James IV of
Scotland were excluded.
This would mean that, according to the will, there was no place in the succession for
Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots – Henry’s sister Margaret’s granddaughter).
The will, it could be argued, was also designed to ensure that the Catholic Mary was
excluded and replaced by the Protestant Grey family. Henry was conscious to preserve
royal supremacy, hence the inclusion of the Protestant Grey family and the exclusion of
the Stuarts in his will.
By 1546 it had become clear that the surest way to achieve this, and prevent a power
struggle, or further instability to the country in terms of succession, was to give authority
to Seymour and the reform faction (Edward Seymour – Jane’s brother).
A Regency Council was nominated, consisting of Seymour and 15 of his most trusted
allies.
Members of the Council were to have equal powers and were to rule the country until
Edward reached 18 years of age.
In order to secure loyalty and co-operation of the Council its members were to be
rewarded with new titles and lands taken from the monasteries and the disgraced Howard
family.
Edward VI
Born 12th October 1537.
Coronation in February 1547.
Died on 6th of July 1553 - six-year reign.
Exhortation was involved during his reign.
Quickened the pace of his father’s religious reforms.
England became an officially Protestant country for the first time under his reign.
1547 – Chantries Act condemned intercessory masses for the dead.
1548 – Order of Communion published.
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