Mary I
Character
● Driven by conscience + faith + symbol of resistance
● “Pearl in the world” - Henry VIII
● Learnt Latin, a masculine subject, from her mother to prepare her for rulership
● 9 yrs - sent to Ludlow as nominal head for the govt of Wales = symbolic = regarded
as the heir, 1st princess. Birth of Elizabeth took Mary’s title as Princess of Wales +
declared her a bastard = disowned by H8 + was refused to see her mother
● Death of Anne Boleyn TP for reconciliation with H8 on her terms = H8 refused +
Mary should surrender, she should accept royal supremacy + her own illegitimacy =
drew up a statement ordering Mary to sign, refusal would assign her a traitor +
would be subject to a traitors death = reluctantly signed, betrayed herself, mother,
faith
● Turned to cousin Charles V (saw as real father) to flee to Catholic Europe - leave
may never return, stay fear for her life/faith, choose to stay
● New found confidence led Mary to act swiftly, make good of her claim by force -
proclaimed queen in Gloucester, Yorkshire e.c.t = following of 15,000 men
● Travelled to London without bloodshed, welcomed joyfully
Path to becoming Queen
● H8 3rd Succession Act still valid, Lord Chief Justice refused will that incorporated
Edward’s Devise, for danger of treason, Northumberland branded him a traitor
● Will signed/swear to the Devise by Cranmer, Lord Chancellor, Privy Councillors,
Lord Mayor of London
● 10th July Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen against her wishes
● Mary proclaimed herself Queen in East Anglia (gathered troops)
● Northumberland sent his sons + 2,000 troops, unsuccessfully, to intercept - afraid
to leave PC, PC refused to send in requested reinforcements, remaining force
deserted on rumours of Mary’s supporters totalling 30,000
● Northumberland sent a naval squadron to wait off the coast by Great Yarmouth to
intercept should she try to set sail - result of the cruelty of the handling of the Kett’s
rebellion the ships proved disloyal + declared alliance to Mary (+members of the
Council, persuaded also by Northumberland's illegal attempts to alter the
succession to cling to power)
● Northumberland gave in + proclaimed Mary queen 20th July 1553
● 22nd Aug Northumberland executed
● Popularity of accession reflected the devotion of the English people to Catholicism =
Mary’s appeal
, Government
1. 1st Act of Parliament put right an injustice of H8 reign - states there had been a
conspiracy, led by Cranmer, to divorce her parents + make Mary a bastard.
Therefore, their marriage was legitimate + Mary was rightfully Queen
2. Restoration of the Catholic faith took priority over all issues - so obscured other
problems
3. Inherited a kingdom with deep religious divides
4. Substantial Protestant minority
5. Not been brought up to rule = inexperience, lacked instinct
6. Loyal trusted supporters, Robert Rochester, Edward Waldegrave, Sir Henry
Jerningham, Sir Henry Bedingfiels, no political experience
7. Would have to rely on those those served Ed VI
8. Appointed 50 - historians believe in inevitability of factions = inefficiency (“Mary got
mostly what she wanted. There is no evidence that her government was cripppled
by faction” -Rex) - marriage to Philip of Spain never discussed formally in Council.
However, Mary regarded ‘councillor’ as an honorary title, the working council small.
Real problem was Mary’s failure to seek a chief minister
9. Aimed to preside over a ‘consensus’ govt = radical Protestants + Northumberland’s
close associates excluded - Writs (written commands/law) for Mary’s Parliament
called on shires + boroughs to return the ‘Good Catholic men’ to the HoC, PC wrote
to burgesses (representatives) of Coventry with shortlist of candidates for Mayor
(Catholic)
10. New Councillors (Never at ease with councillors):
➔ Bishop Steven Gardiner - H8 secretary, conservative religious ideas
(imprisonment under Ed as a result). Never fully trusted , failed to support
her mother
➔ Churchmen - excluded from influence under Ed
➔ Conservative councillors - Lord Paget. Lost confidence on account of his
opposition to her religious programme
➔ Advisor Cardinal Pole - trusted, was never a member of PC. Distanced
himself from secular issues (Pope’s legate + Archbishop of Canterbury)
11. Gardiner regarded his death as indispensable leaving a gap in govt. Consequently,
Mary turned to her husband and Simon Renard (imperial ambassador), trusted
implicitly
12. Relationship with Parliament = cautious cooperation - substantial minority of MPs
(80) opposed reversal of Ed’s religious legislation/ Property rights (motivated by
self-interest) ensured that ex-monastic land wouldn’t be restored to the Church - a
bill 1555 to allow the seizure of property of Protestant exiles was defeated
